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McDONALD, PAUL: : MALTA'S GREATER SIEGE & ADRIAN WARBURTON, DSO*,DFC** DFC (USA)

UK.BARNSLEY,SOUTH YORKSHIRE.Pen and Sword Aviation/an imprint of Pen and Sword Books Ltd.,2015.

ISBN 1473860083.

UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,illustrated,1st edn. FINE/FINE. No owner inscrptn and no price-clip to dw/dj. Bright,crisp,clean,matt,colour pictorial artwork paintings by Ivan Berryman,illustrated front+ back of dw/dj with author's name in capitalised, matt white lettering; capitalised,matt,black-lettered main title,another title [ADRIAN WARBURTON] in capitalised brown letters and with a white-lettered strapline to same,to front of dw/dj; spine/backstrip with subject's contemporary colour portrait thumbnail photograph at head of same,and similarly coloured+lettered author name+title as the front's and publisher’s black-lettered,b/w illustrated colophon to foot of same,rear panel of dw/dj artists painting illustration with montaged b/w+colour photographs.Negligible shelf-wear to edges and corners – no nicks,tears or splits present.Top+fore-edges bright crisp, clean without foxing/spotting; contents bright, tight,clean,solid and sound – no dog-ear reading creases to any pages’ corner tips – appears unread,apart from my own collation.Publisher’s bright, crisp,clean/unblemished,sharp-cornered, original plain blacl cloth boards with bright, crisp,blocked silver gilt capitalised lettering to spine/backstrip,a black headband,and immaculate plain white endpapers.UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,illustrated,1st edn,ix-xviiipp+2-324pp [paginated] includes Acknowledgements,author and Bill Carr -Warburton's commanding officer - Foreword,a Prologue,19 chapters and an Epilogue, profuse contemporary b/w photographs,b/w maps etc.,in 2 blocks of 8pp and 16pp apiece between pp92/93 and166/67 respectively,and 16pp of modern colour photographs between pp274/75,an Appendix [Gallantry Awards and Citations],a 3pp Bibliography & Sources,and an Index; plus [unpaginated] half-title with a dedication to its verso,title page,a Contents list/table with Plates list/table to its verso,Maps list,and to the rear,2pp blanks.                              Visually the exterior appearance is exceptional and particularly internally,is also in an exceptional condition/state of preservation and presentation for a book of its near 10-year-old age.It really is an exceptional,exemplary example for its cleanliness,brightness and lack of detracting faults.                         This is a true historical account of war in the air, at sea and on land in the battle for Malta's survival in the Second World War. It was a battle which decided the outcome of the war in North Africa and the Mediterranean.              Adrian Warburton, the airman described in this book's sub-title by Marshal of the Royal Air Force Lord Tedder as 'the most valuable pilot in the RAF',went missing in 1944 in a single-seat American aircraft.He had flown at least 395 operational missions mostly from Malta. Unusually for a reconnaissance pilot, 'Warby' as he was known, was credited with nine aircraft shot down. He lay undiscovered for sixty years. He is the RAF's most highly decorated photo-reconnaissance pilot. In Malta, Adrian met Christina, a stranded dancer turned aircraft plotter in the secret world deep beneath Valletta's fortress walls.She too was decorated for heroism. Together, they became part of the island's folklore. How important was Malta and the girl from Cheshire to the man behind the medals?  This tale takes the form of a quest opening in a cemetery in Bavaria and closing in another in Malta.          In between, the reader is immersed within the tension and drama surrounding Malta's Greater Siege retracing the steps of the main characters over the forever changed face of the island following its heroic victory. Please contact seller,for correct,insured (optional) shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas customers - 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 US AIR quote/rate - sometimes arriving sooner than the 42 days - but not always. **

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

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