SPITFIRE on my TAIL

Limited edition bookplate 101/500 signed by Battle of Britain pilots

Ulrich Steinhilper and Bill Skinner

Independent Books 1990. Second edition with 352 pages and 10 additional photographs from the Battle of Britain.

Very Fine condition hardback book in a Fine condition, unclipped dustjacket. Clean, bright and tight. Practically as new – a lovely copy.

This book is one of the rarest viewpoints on the Battle of Britain – that of an ordinary German fighter pilot.

Steinhilper writes with charm, humour and feeling. This book has tremendous atmosphere. Despite the passing of time Steinhilper manages to make the experience of 1930s Germany your own. After joining the Luftwaffe in 1936 he describes his flying training and the build up to war. We follow him onwards towards the Battle of Britain, his combats and his uncompromising views of the conduct of the battle both by the Luftwaffe High Command and the RAF. He was shot down over Kent in October 1940 and the last chapter describes the excavation of his aircraft exactly 40 years later.

A great story with a nicely signed bookplate.