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IRVING, LAWRENCE: : GREAT INTERRUPTION - An Autobiography 1939-45

UK.SHREWSBURY,SALOP.AIRLIFE PUBLISHING LTD.,1983.

ISBN 0906393299.

UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn.FINE/FINE.No owner inscrptn,and no price-clip to dw/dj.Laminated, colour pictorial illustrated upper wrap+spine/ backstrip from an original oil painting by Frank Wooton: RAF Mustang of 35 P.R.Wing photographing a V.1 site,Pas de Calais.Negligible shelf-wear to edges,corners and spine/backstrip - no nicks or tears present - and no bumping to corners. Head of spine/backstrip minisculely bumped with reciprocal creasing and slight sunning to spine/ backstrip.Top edge though very lightly dust-soiled clean,fore-edge bright,clean; contents bright,tight and clean also.Clean,brown paper-covered boards with bright,crisp,blocked gilt letters to spine/backstrip and clean plain white endpapers - number excepted.UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn,vii-xxpp+1-235pp includes half-title+title pages,acknowledgements+contents pages,author foreword,Pts 1-IV,appendices (3,A- C),40pp b/w contemporary photographs throughout text,and an index. Lawrence Irving was recalled to the R.A.F. in October 1939 to serve in the Intelligence Dept. at the Air Ministry.In March 1940 he was posted to H.Q. British Air Forces in France to be responsible for writing official comminiques and persuading accredited war correspondents to abide by the principle of censorship accepted by their editors.After the surrender of France he returned to the Air Ministry convinced that a system of local defence could have brought the German armoured thrust to a halt.A memorandum he wrote to this effect led to his posting as a Staff Officer to H.Q. 12 Corps.,then sparsely equipped to repel a German invasion,to help Peter Fleming to recruit and train an underground force of saboteurs to harass the enemy if a bridgehead was established in Kent and Sussex.When South Eastern Command took control of military operations in that area it was allotted an R.A.F. reconnaisance Wing of three Squadrons and an Air Staff to promote Army/Air co-operation.As Senior Intelligence Officer of 35 Wing,Irving studied and furthered the technical and tactical resources of low level photographic reconnaisance and the prompt distribution of intelligence derived from it.The unacceptable casualties incurred by 35 Wing in supporting the raid on Dieppe were proof of the tardy recognition by Army/Air planning staffs of the need for total co-operation between the Services in action if the liberation of Europe was to be achieved.The theme of this book is the contribution of 35 Wing to the preparation and achievement of Operation Overlord,the reconnoitering of VI missile sites in France that subsequent bombing rendered inoperable and, above all,its services to 1st Canadian Army throughout the ensuing campaign.This personal record reflects an abiding memory and admiration of the skills,the devotion to duty,the light hearted companionship and dauntless courage of pilots inspired by exemplary and discerning commanding officers. Please contact seller,because of the value of this item,for correct,insured shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas buyers - BEFORE ordering through the order page! ** N.B. ALL buyers please note,stocks' actual shipping/P+p costs are adjusted and any difference is refunded,after order's receipt and before the order's despatch,especially if the item(s) are offered either P+p included/FREE. ** N.B. US/Canada customers please be aware: Standard AIRMAIL postage from UK to these destinations can now cost more than the price of the book! If speed is not of the essence,then Economy rate is recommended - at approx. anything from a 1/3rd to 1/2 of the standard AIR quote/rate - sometimes arriving sooner than the 42 days - but not always.

UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn.
Not SIGNED.

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