TUMULT in the CLOUDS

Presentation copy from

Lt Col. James Goodson to Wg Cdr Laddie Lucas

To Laddie Lucas whom I am grateful
and deeply privileged to call my friend.
With many thanks, always, Jim

Includes a signed photo of Goodson in the cockpit of his P51 Mustang

Harrop Press revised edition 1990. 238 pages and well illustrated with photographs

Fine condition hardback book and  Fine condition unclipped dustjacket. Clean, tight and bright. A very pleasing copy.

James ‘Goody’ Goodson, a lieutenant-colonel, ranks as one of the leading aces of the Allied Forces in World War II. He is officially credited with destroying 32 enemy aircraft. Goodson was one of the first US volunteers. He survived the sinking of ATHENIA when she was torpedoed. After training he joined the RAF’s 133 Eagle Squadron flew in continuous combat in Hurricanes and Spitfires. Later he transferred to the US 4th Fighter Group flying Thunderbolts and Mustangs.

This book contains great first hand accounts of aerial combat. It also includes stories of the fabulous pilots who flew with Goodson in the Eagle Squadrons and the 4th FG such as Blakeslee, Gentile, Godfrey and Kid Hofer. By early 1944, Colonel Goodson was one of the most famous squadron commanders in the Eighth Air Force.  He was shot down when he strayed over a German airfield whilst attacking an Me163 rocket fighter and this book concludes with him becoming a PoW.

Wing Commandeer PB ‘Laddie’ Lucas was a WWII fighter ace who commanded top scoring 249 Squadron during the Battle of Malta and was later Wing Leader at Coltishall before pursuing distinguished careers in politics, business, journalism and international golf. He was Douglas Bader’s brother-in-law and among many other books wrote Bader’s biography ‘Flying Colours’.

This classic book is well written, exciting and was selected to be re-published as one of the Centenary Collection of books to celebrate 100 years of the RAF. This copy is enhanced by being a very collectable association copy between two distinguished fighter aces of WWII.