{"product_id":"douglas-bader-s-fight-for-the-sky-signed-from-the-library-of-air-marshall-lord-portal","title":"Douglas Bader’s Fight for the Sky, Signed, from the Library of Air Marshal Lord Portal","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"27\" data-end=\"144\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"27\" data-end=\"106\"\u003eBADER, Douglas. Fight for the Sky: The Story of the Spitfire and Hurricane.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"106\" data-end=\"109\"\u003eLondon: Sidgwick and Jackson, 1973.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"146\" data-end=\"724\"\u003eA striking signed first edition of Bader’s account of the Spitfire, Hurricane and fighter war, with exceptional provenance. Bader was one of the most famous RAF fighter pilots of the Second World War, credited with major success despite the loss of both legs before the war, and closely associated with 242 Squadron, the Duxford Wing, Tangmere, the Battle of Britain and the fighter offensive over Europe. Portal, as Chief of the Air Staff from 1940 to 1945, stood at the summit of the RAF during the same conflict, responsible for the overall direction of British air strategy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"726\" data-end=\"1094\"\u003eFirst edition, first impression. Quarto. Original blue boards, silver lettering to spine, red endpapers, photographic and colour illustrations throughout, in the original dust jacket. Signed by Douglas Bader on the front free endpaper. From the personal collection of Marshal of the Royal Air Force Charles Frederick Algernon Portal, 1st Viscount Portal of Hungerford.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1096\" data-end=\"1428\"\u003eThe link is direct and important: Bader was one of the public legends of Fighter Command; Portal was the wartime professional head of the entire Royal Air Force. This copy therefore unites the fighter pilot as celebrated combat leader with the senior air commander under whose strategic authority Britain’s wartime air arm operated.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1430\" data-end=\"1927\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003eThe book is especially attractive in this condition. The dust jacket is notably bright and fresh, with strong colour, very little fading and only light handling. The original price remains visible on the flap. The red endpapers are clean and vivid, and Bader’s signature sits boldly against the front free endpaper. A highly desirable copy, combining Bader’s signature, first edition status, outstanding visual condition and provenance from one of the central RAF figures of the twentieth century.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Douglas Bader","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53095283392779,"sku":null,"price":500.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20260428_092309793_iOS.jpg?v=1778059902","url":"https:\/\/www.archbooks.co.uk\/products\/douglas-bader-s-fight-for-the-sky-signed-from-the-library-of-air-marshall-lord-portal","provider":"Arch Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}