A PRIDE of UNICORNS

Tucked-in letter signed by

Air Marshal Sir Richard ‘Batchy’ Atcherley KBE CB AFC

Published by Oldbourne. First edition 1960. 240 pages plus photographs.

Fine condition hardback book in a Near Fine condition unclipped dustjacket, complete and bright with just a little rubbing and edge wear. Included is a review of the book from ‘The Aeroplane’ 1961.  

The letter, written on official stationary, is to the aviation author JWR Taylor and is dated 11 March 1958 and it relates to Taylor’s book ‘Birthplace of Air Power’ about the Central Flying School (CFS) to which Atcherley contributed. It reads in part:

“I congratulate you on what I think will be a very interesting and lively record of the Central Flying School, in which
you seem by some magic, to have brought to life all the old characters once more”.

The Atcherley brothers were legendary figures in the RAF. The identical twins rose rank by rank through outstanding wartime careers until AVM David Atcherley was posted missing in 1952 on a flight in a Meteor from Egypt to Nicosia, in circumstances which remain a mystery to this day and Air Marshal Sir Richard Atcherley retired in 1960 (and died in 1970).

Richard Atcherley was an exceptional pilot and was a member of the successful 1929 Schneider Trophy team and also won the Kings Cup Air Race. He was a squadron commander at the outbreak of WWII and became a senior commander in the Desert Air Force. He had a very colourful career and at one time kept a pet lion which he frequently took flying!  

The exploits and achievements of the Atcherleys are well and amusingly recounted in this interesting and scarce double biography and is enhanced by the letter with a seldom found ‘Batchy’ Atcherley signature.