Deere Group Captain Alan Dso (3 results)

Hardcover. Condition: As New. Dust Jacket Condition: As New. First Thus. This copy is in as new, unmarked condition bound in cream cloth covered boards with bright gilt titling to a blue panel on the spine. This copy is bright, tight, white and square. Laid in is a copy of the obituary of Air Commodore Al Deere along with a cutting reporting the sale of Al Deere's medals which were bought by the RAF Museum at Hendon.The unclipped dust wrapper is in as new condition. International postal rates are calculated on a book weighing 1 Kilo, in cases where the book weighs more than 1 Kilo increased postal rates will be quoted, where the book weighs less then postage will be reduced accordingly. Air Commodore Alan Christopher Deere, DSO, OBE, DFC & Bar (12 December 1917 ? 21 September 1995) was a New Zealand fighter ace with the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War. He was also known for several near-death experiences over the course of the war. This led to his published autobiography being titled 'Nine Lives'. Posted to No. 54 Squadron, he flew Supermarine Spitfires during the Battle of France and became a fighter ace by the end of May 1940. For his exploits he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) the following month. He participated in the subsequent Battle of Britain, during which he shot down several more enemy aircraft, and had his Spitfire destroyed from under him more than once. His continued accomplishments earned him a bar to his DFC in September 1940. He was soon promoted to squadron leader, and commanded No. 403 Squadron RCAF for several months in 1942. He led a fighter wing from Biggin Hill for six months in 1943, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his achievements. By the end of the war, he was credited with the destruction of 22 enemy aircraft, ranking him the second-highest scoring New Zealand fighter ace. Later research has seen this total revised to 17 victories. Ref A5 4.

2nd imp., paperback, 255pp, map and diagram in text, pictorial upper wrapper (unattrib.), in continuous action from the outbreak of war until 1943, autobiography of a New Zealand RAF fighter pilot, with 22 aircraft destroyed and 10 more probables, his experiences from Dunkirk through the Battle of Britain until the eve of the Normandy invasion, wrappers lightly rubbed and creased, edges tanned, ISBN:0340014415 - very good,

Hardcover. Condition: Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Good. 1st Edition. Nine Lives by Group Captain Alan C. Deere D.S.O., O.B.E., D.F.C. With a foreword by Air Chief Marshal Lord Dowding, G.C.B., G.C.V.O., C.M.G. Publisher: Hodder and Stoughton, London, 1959. FIRST EDITION. SCARCE. Presumed first impression as no later printings mentioned on publishing page. Jacket is different to 3rd impression. Good hardback with jacket. Red cloth boards have a little bumping and fading to edges, vertical crease and slight fading to cloth on spine, minor marks. Large gift inscription dated 1959, plus bookseller's blind stamp to ffep. Some light creasing to first few pages, minor foxing and marks, otherwise pages very good. Price-clipped jacket is rubbed, chipped and marked. 262 pages, illustrated. Alan Christopher Deere is possibly New Zealand s most famous fighter pilot of the Second World War. He was also one of the luckiest, surviving several near-death experiences to become one of the outstanding pilots of the Battle of Britain. Born in Auckland on 12 December 1917, Deere was working as a law clerk in Whanganui when he joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1937. After completing flight training he was posted to No. 54 Squadron along with Colin Gray, who would go on to become New Zealand s top fighter ace of the war. The book's title was a reference to Deere s lucky habit of emerging unharmed from life-threatening situations. During the Battle of Britain he was shot down three times; on another occasion his Spitfire crashed while attempting to take off during a bombing raid on his squadron s airfield.