The EAGLES ROAR!

DECEMBER & JANUARY ~ *BOOK OF THE MONTH*

There are some aviation books that are so rare and highly sought after by collectors
from all over the world that it would be unfair to sell such a book on a ‘first come’ basis.

Therefore, each calendar month, Spitfire Books is offering a rare book for sale
and invites collectors to submit a ‘best offer’ during the month by email or telephone

Inscribed and signed on the front end paper by

Lt. Byron F Kennerly

Published by Harper & Brothers. First Edition 1942. 271 pages and well illustrated with photographs.

Very good condition hardback book with black pebble cloth boards and gold gilt titles. The very scarce dustjacket is in near Very Good condition with some small losses at the top and bottom of the spine and along the bottom edge of the front panel. It nonetheless looks smart in its Brodart cover.

At the outbreak of war in Europe, Byron Kennerly (1908-1962) was a 26 year old roustabout in California with little flying experience. Commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the RAFVR in 1940, Kennerly became the oldest original member of 71 Eagle Squadron. This book is a fascinating, though rather unreliable, insight into the early days of that famous Squadron; its characters, its training, operations and social life. Nicknamed ‘Jack’ it appears that Kennerly ‘lacked discipline’ a euphemism for excessive drinking and public disturbances, which was the reason for his early return to the USA where he wrote this memoir with the assistance of Graham Berry a journalist.

‘The Eagles Roar!‘ was picked up by Warner Brothers and formed the basis of a movie film called ‘International Squadron’. Kennerly’s role was played by no less a heroic star then Ronald Reagan.  Kennerly was hired as technical advisor and later went back to flying as an instructor in the United States Army Air Forces. Apparently he was jailed for bank robbery in February 1951. Nothing more is known about the post-war career of Kennerly though he died in 1962 and was buried in Los Angeles. His book was republished in 1980.

This was the first published book about the Eagle Squadron and indeed memoir by a WWII American fighter pilot. ‘The Eagles Roar!’ is a rare and unusual addition to any aviation collection.