NINE LIVES

Inscribed, signed and dated by Al Deere on the title page

To a very lovely lady
– I hope you enjoyed this story
Alan Deere
Bracknell,  26 Aug ’59

Sadly, there is no clue as to whom the ‘very lovely lady’ might be…

Hodder & Stoughton First Edition, second impression May 1959. (First published May 1959).  262 pages with 12 pages of photos.

Near Fine condition hardback book in red boards with a Very Good condition dustjacket with some light edgewear at the spine ends and corners.  The book is clean, square and securely bound and is a pleasing example of this iconic book.

Al Deere was possibly the best known of all the New Zealand fighter pilots. Flying Spitfires with 54 Squadron, during four days – 23 to 29 May – Deere shot down three Bf 109s and three Bf 110s and was decorated with the DFC by the King at a special ceremony at Hornchurch.

During the Battle of Britain Deere destroyed seven more enemy fighters and one bomber and was awarded a Bar to the DFC.

Deere took command of No 602 Squadron on 1st August 1941 and on that day destroyed a Bf 109, his first victory for eleven months. In February 1943 he was appointed Wing Leader at Biggin Hill. He flew 121 sorties during his six months’ leadership and increased his personal score to twenty-two confirmed victories, ten probables and eighteen damaged. Deere was awarded the DSO, the Croix de Guerre and the DFC (US). He was also awarded an OBE and retired from the RAF in December 1977, with the rank of Air Commodore passing away in 1995.

Deere wrote of his experiences and his many escapes from death in ‘Nine Lives’, which has come to be recognised as one of the finest personal records of the Battle of Britain with a fulsome foreword written by ACM Lord Dowding and attracted public praise from his fellow pilots:

Douglas Bader ~ ‘A splendid autobiography by one of our great fighter pilots of WWII. Modestly and truthfully written, it captures the spirit of those vital years about which he writes. This book should be widely read, especially by the younger generation’.

Neville Duke ~ ‘I have enjoyed every word of it. I can assure you that it certainly and genuinely brings out the feelings and atmosphere of the fighter pilot’s life – I was with him all the way’.

Johnnie Johnson ~ ‘He writes as candidly of fear and frustration as of success and triumph, gives us a most coherent account of fighter tactics and strategy and vividly portrays the great and sometimes desperate air battles of the last war.  I think Al’s narrative makes an outstanding book’.

A signed copy of this classic book, dating from when Deere was Director of the RAF Staff College at Bracknell, is a rare find and essential for a Battle of Britain library.