BRIEF GLORY

Signed on the front end paper by the book’s former owner,

Dr A Buchanan Barbour
ATA Chief Medical Officer

The book has Dr Buchanan Barbour’s bookplate on the inside front cover and he is mentioned on page 95

Harborough Publishing Company first edition 1946.  246 pages and profusely illustrated with photographs. The appendices contain valuable information including a list of ATA pilots, ferrying figures and lists of types of aircraft flown.

A Near Fine condition hardback book  in blue boards with gold gilt titles to the front and spine. With a Very Good condition unclipped dustjacket which is complete apart from a small amount of loss at the corners and on the spine. It is a little rubbed but looks smart in its protective cover.  This is a very scarce book, particularly in an original double-sided dustjacket.  This copy comes with the original correspondence relating to its purchase between Harborough Publishing Co and Dr Buchanan Barbour dated November 1946 which confirms that the book was ‘from the first delivery from the binders’. There are also a number of newspaper cuttings relating to ATA pilots.

‘Brief Glory’ was the first authentic, insider account of the rise to fame and ultimate disbandment of Air Transport Auxiliary, the largely unsung Ferry Pilot service of the war.  Starting with 30 amateur pilots, the numbers finally totalled over 700 who, between 1939 and 1945 ferried more than 308,000 aircraft of more than 100 different types.

The stories of their adventures is told simply and often amusingly, but the tale of their losses gives an indication of the hazards of the job.  With few exceptions they flew alone and entirely without the aid of wireless in almost any weather.  It is worth remembering that during the war years every RAF aircraft seen in the sky had been, or would be, flown at some point of its life by a pilot of ATA.

This is a very collectable book for any aviation library with an excellent and relevant association.

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