The DANGEROUS SKIES

Signed on the title page by

Air Commodore Arthur Clouston. ’77

Published by Cassell.  First edition, first printing 1954. 187 pages and photographs

A Very Good condition hardback book and Near Fine condition unclipped dustjacket. NB. The colour portrait of Clouston, above, is for illustration only.

Born in New Zealand, Clouston came to Britain in 1930 to join the RAF where he became a fighter pilot with 25 Squadron and was part of the Hendon display team, performing tied together aerobatic routines.

Appointed as an RAF test pilot with the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough in the 1930s, he tested new aircraft and competed in air races (breaking the records for the London-Cape and London-Australia flights in the DH Comet), investigated icing and the effects of barrage balloons on airframes. During the Battle of Britain he was a fighter test pilot at Farnborough and this did not stop him making patrols and shooting down at least one aircraft.  He flew night fighter Beaufighters with 219 Squadron and later commanded a Liberator anti-submarine Squadron. After the war, he commanded the Empire Test Pilot’s School before retiring in 1960.

A very scarce signed Battle of Britain memoir and an interesting account of a diverse flying career.