The VIVID AIR

Inscribed, signed and dated on the front end paper by

 Wing Commander Michael Constable Maxwell DSO DFC

To North Weald Restoration Flight
with Best Wishes from
Michael Constable Maxwell
No 56(F) Squadron
RAF North Weald
20 April 1940 – 20 Feb ’41
An Exciting Time!
11 July 1984

William Kimber First Edition 1978.  255 pages and well illustrated with photographs

Near Fine condition hardback book in blue boards. Clean bright and tight with just the usual light even tanning to the pages due to paper quality issues. It has a Fine condition unclipped dustjacket.

This is the story of Gerald and Michael Constable Maxwell – brothers who fought their wars a generation apart in the hostile skies above England and France.

Gerald went to France in 1917, a member of the famous 56 Squadron, a contemporary of McCudden and Ball. By the end of the conflict he had 27 victories to his credit and was teaching a new generation of fighter pilots the art of survival in the skies over France. A quarter of a century later he was to fly again in combat.

Michael, born when his brother was making his mark as a fighter pilot in 1917, grew up to follow in his brother’s footsteps, flying Hurricanes with 56 Squadron during the Battle of Britain and surviving to have a highly successful career as a night fighter pilot and intruder, commanding 604 Squadron and becoming an ace with more than 6 victories.

A surprisingly scarce signed book which would be a worthy addition to any Battle of Britain library.