The VIVID AIR

AUGUST    ~    *BOOK OF THE MONTH*

There are some aviation books that are so rare and highly sought after by collectors
from all over the world that it would be unfair to sell such a book on a ‘first come’ basis. 

Therefore, each calendar month, Spitfire Books is offering a rare book for sale
and invites collectors to submit a ‘best offer’ during the month by email or telephone

Presentation copy to MRAF Sir John Grandy GCB GCVO KBE DSO

Inscribed, signed and dated on the front end paper by

 Wing Commander Michael Constable Maxwell DSO DFC

John Grandy
Best Wishes
I had a good time under your control in 1941!
Michael Constable Maxwell
25 Jan 89

William Kimber First Edition 1978.  255 pages and well illustrated with photographs

Fine condition hardback book in blue boards. Clean bright and tight with just the usual light even tanning to the pages due to paper quality issues. It has a Fine condition unclipped dustjacket.

This is the story of Gerald and Michael Constable Maxwell – brothers who fought their wars a generation apart in the hostile skies above England and France.

Gerald went to France in 1917, a member of the famous 56 Squadron, a contemporary of McCudden and Ball. By the end of the conflict he had 27 victories to his credit and was teaching a new generation of fighter pilots the art of survival in the skies over France. A quarter of a century later he was to fly again in combat.

Michael, born when his brother was making his mark as a fighter pilot in 1917, grew up to follow in his brother’s footsteps, flying Hurricanes with 56 Squadron during the Battle of Britain and surviving to have a highly successful career as a night fighter pilot and intruder, commanding 604 Squadron and becoming an ace with more than 6 victories.

John Grandy was appointed CO of 219 Squadron in April 1940 then a month later was given the task of reforming No 249 Squadron as a Hurricane fighter unit.   Whilst OC, one of his Flight Commanders, Flt Lt J B Nicholson, was awarded Fighter Command’s only VC.  Grandy commanded the squadron throughout the Battle of Britain and hence became the only Chief of the Air Staff to have done so.

He relinquished command of No 249 in December 1940 and after a spell at Fighter Command HQ, he became an instructor at No 52 OTU, training fighter pilots.  He was back on operations as Wing Leader of the Coltishall Wing in November 1941 but early in 1942, he was given command of RAF Duxford.  It was here that he became responsible for establishing the first Typhoon Wing in the RAF.  He involved himself in the test flying of this new aircraft, which initially was developing a reputation as something of a problem.  Grandy also flew on operations whenever possible, including during the Dieppe raid in August 1942.

 John Grandy went on to commands in the Far East and then post-war rose through the ranks until his final appointment as Chief of the Air Staff in 1967. He was later Governor of Gibraltar and Constable of Windsor Castle. MRAF Sir John Grandy died in 2004.

A surprisingly scarce signed book. This copy is highly collectable having come from the library of a Battle of Britain squadron commander.