{"product_id":"r-a-f-occasions-by-h-g-first-edition-inscribed-to-air-chief-marshal-sir-charles-portal","title":"R.A.F. Occasions by Hubert Griffith - First Edition Presentation Copy to Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal, with Portal’s Own Wartime Annotations","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"258\" data-end=\"330\"\u003eGRIFFITH, Hubert. \u003cstrong data-start=\"276\" data-end=\"297\"\u003eR.A.F. Occasions.\u003c\/strong\u003e London: The Cresset Press, 1941.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"332\" data-end=\"673\"\u003eFirst edition, first impression. Original cream cloth, lettered in red to the spine. A distinguished wartime association copy, inscribed on the front free endpaper: \u003cstrong data-start=\"497\" data-end=\"600\"\u003e“To Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal, with respect, from a former member of an R.E.8 Squadron…”\u003c\/strong\u003e signed by the author and dated \u003cstrong data-start=\"632\" data-end=\"672\"\u003eR.A.F. Station, Blackpool, June 1941\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"675\" data-end=\"1060\"\u003eFrom the personal collection of Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal, later Lord Portal of Hungerford, wartime Chief of the Air Staff and one of the most important British military figures of the Second World War. Portal directed the RAF through the critical middle years of the conflict, shaping bomber strategy, air defence, operational expansion, and Anglo-American air cooperation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1062\" data-end=\"1278\"\u003eOf particular interest, this copy includes notes made by Portal in the text, apparently relating to his own service and experience, giving the volume a direct personal association beyond the presentation inscription.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1280\" data-end=\"1432\"\u003eThe contents cover squadron life, Cambrai, Coastal Command, the B.E.F. in France, evacuation, recruiting, bomber crews, and the philosophy of air crews.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1434\" data-end=\"1638\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003eVery good condition. Binding firm, cloth lightly toned and marked, spine slightly darkened, with small spots and minor rubbing. Internally clean and sound, with inscription and annotations well preserved.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GRIFFITH, Hubert","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53073295474955,"sku":null,"price":500.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0794\/7848\/9355\/files\/20260424_143215252_iOS.jpg?v=1777104208","url":"https:\/\/www.archbooks.co.uk\/products\/r-a-f-occasions-by-h-g-first-edition-inscribed-to-air-chief-marshal-sir-charles-portal","provider":"Arch Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}