Vintage Flying Helmets
Aviation, Military & Historical Items for Discerning Collectors
Books / Reference Material
The saying goes that you can never have too many books. I have always enjoyed keeping an extensive library of reference materials, history books and publications which I consider valuable research tools. This includes many biographies and documentary accounts and in some cases even fictional literature. Over the years I have acquired duplicates, revised editions and in some cases author signed and first editions, leaving me with books that are surplus to my needs.
The following titles are available. To reserve one of these books, email me with the title and your preferred means of payment (Paypal, personal check, Money Order) and I will send you an invoice.
RARE complete set of five WWII factory manuals + General Service Notes for the USN Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer maritime bomber.
COMPLETE set of five official factory published hardback manuals for the often underrated Consolidated PB4Y-2 aircraft, together with the softcover General Service Notes.
Flight Manual. 92 Pages, dated 1945
Airplane General and Armament. 212 (Airplane gneral) + 42 (Armament) pages. dated 1944
Power Plant. 206 pages. dated 1944
Hydraulics. 198 pages. dated 1945
Electricity. 148 pages. dated 1944
General Service Notes. (softcover) 326 pages. dated 1945
The Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer was a US Navy maritime bomber/ reconnaissance aircraft, sometimes referred to as the US Navy version of the B-24. Overall condition of this amazing set is very good, with a little wear and bumping to the outsides, the gold leaf titling has tarnished with age but the bindings are solid. Softcover shows some wear, rubbing to outside.
$250 / £195 / €230 email for more details
 PB4Y-2 Manuals |
|---|
 PB4Y-2 Manuals |
 PB4Y-2 Manuals |
 PB4Y-2 Manuals |
Author signed copy of "A Fighter Command Station at War" by Mark Hillier.
A photographic record of RAF Westhampnett from the Battle of Britain to D-Day and Beyond. Great book by one of the foremost authors and historians on RAF history. Tells the story of this great fighter station and satellite field to Tangmere in Sussex. Hundreds of previously unpublished photos. 214 pages. Signed by the author (and dedicated to a late great friend by me personally). Published by Pen & Sword. Excellent condition complete with dust jacket.
$25 / £20 / €23
 Signed copy of "A Fighter Command Station at War" by Mark Hillier |  Signed copy of "A Fighter Command Station at War" by Mark Hillier |
|---|---|
 Signed copy of "A Fighter Command Station at War" by Mark Hillier |
Remarkable personalized first edition of one of the classic books on early WWII RAF fighter pilots, "Squadrons Up" by Noel Monks.
​
Squadrons Up was written early in the war and published at the beginning of what we now call the Battle of Britain. It features stories about the men who flew in the Battle of France and focuses on 73 squadron and its iconic New Zealander "Cobber" Kain, the first "Ace" in the RAF. This book was given as a Christmas gift by one of the WAAF nurses who was stationed at Kirton in Lindsey, and who knew these brave men. She attached three personal photographs of the personnel of 73 squadron, including "Doc" Outfin, Cobber Kain and several other notable RAF pilots. Kain was killed in June, 1940 so photos of him are quite scarce and this is a superb piece of history. Noel Monks was the Daily Mail War Correspondent who was "embedded" with the RAF in France and the book itself is highly regarded - but this unique personalized edition is a wonderful piece of history with its own intrinsic value. No dust jacket and has a scorch mark to front cover but otherwise nice tight binding and very good condition.
$125 / £98 / €115
 Squadron's Up by Noel Monks with original photos of Cobber Kain |  Squadron's Up by Noel Monks with original photos of Cobber Kain |
|---|---|
 Squadron's Up by Noel Monks with original photos of Cobber Kain |  Squadron's Up by Noel Monks with original photos of Cobber Kain |
 Squadron's Up by Noel Monks with original photos of Cobber Kain |  Squadron's Up by Noel Monks with original photos of Cobber Kain |
 Squadron's Up by Noel Monks with original photos of Cobber Kain |  Squadron's Up by Noel Monks with original photos of Cobber Kain |
Rare book "Bluenoser Tails" signed by author "Punchy Powell."
Published in 2007, and now out of print, "Bluenoser Tails" is a compilation of war stories from the 352nd Fighter group. The stories were collected and edited by one of its original pilots, Robert H. "Punchy" Powell, and this copy is signed by him and is in excellent condition. 8.5" x 11", $374 pages, hard cover (casebound) with numerous colour and black and white photos, as well as great artwork throughout. A rare book - and author signed copies are great investments.
$175 / £130 / €150
 Author signed copy of Bluenoser Tails |  Author signed copy of Bluenoser Tails |
|---|---|
 Author signed copy of Bluenoser Tails |  Author signed copy of Bluenoser Tails |
 Author signed copy of Bluenoser TailsDSCN1484 |  Author signed copy of Bluenoser Tails |
 Author signed copy of Bluenoser Tails |  Author signed copy of Bluenoser Tails |
Royal Flying Corps Flying Log: The Wartime Story of Reginald Collis, RFC, RCAF by Mark Hillier with Mick J. Prodger.
Very happy to be able to add this new book to our list. Official publication date is September 30, but I am able to offer advance copies for anyone interested.
Reginald Collis joined the newly formed Royal Flying Corps in June 1912 as a mechanic. He was selected for flying training and took his first flight in January 1913, becoming only the third Air Mechanic and the 14th NCO in the RFC to receive Royal Aero Club certification. Collis knew and flew with a virtual Who’s Who of aviation greats, including Trenchard, McCudden and Lanoe Hawker. As an instructor, he trained many future aviation personalities, before being sent to France as second lieutenant with 6 Squadron in June 1915. Collis experienced aerial combat in the earliest days of the war, and recorded every “dogfight”, “Archie” encounter and mechanical failure in great detail.
Large format, casebound laminated hard-cover, 8.5" x 11" - 124-pages, illustrated throughout with black and white and colour photographs, many previously unpublished, including a complete reproduction of the original pilot's log book.
​
$49 / £36 / €42
 Royal Flying Corps Flying Log: The Wartime Story of Reginald Collis, RFC, RCAF by Mark Hillier with |
|---|
Selection of Osprey Vintage Warbirds books. Used but very good condition, minor creasing and foxing.
​
VW 1. Royal Flying Corps in WWI by Raymond Laurance Rimell
VW 2. German Army Air Service in WWI by Raymond Laurance Rimell
VW 6. Fokker Fighter by Alex Imrie
VW 7. Air War over Gt. Britain 1914-18 by Raymond Laurance Rimell
VW 8. German Air Aces of WWI by Alex Imrie
VW 9. WWI in the Air by Raymond Laurance Rimell
​
Price each.
​
$20 / £17 / €19 email to secure this item
 Osprey WWI warbirds book x 6 |
|---|
 Osprey WWI warbirds book x 6 |
 Osprey WWI warbirds book x 6 |
 Osprey WWI warbirds book x 6 |
 Osprey WWI warbirds book x 6 |
 Osprey WWI warbirds book x 6 |
Spitfire Diary by E.A.W. (Ted) Smith
Air to ground combat in World War II. Eakin Press. 1988.
Excellent memoir. Sent media mail ($3 postage) US only.
ISBN 1-57168-046-2
Hard Cover 240 pages.
 Book-SpitfireDiary |
|---|
Desert Flyer - The Log and Journal of Flying Officer William Marsh
Martyn R. Ford Jones
Schiffer. 1997
Excellent memoir. Sent media mail ($3 postage) US only.
ISBN 0-7643-0347-3
Hard Cover 338 pages.
 Book-DesertFlyer |
|---|
1944 Directory of AAF Stations and Activities
Useful and extensive book which lists every AAF Station AND its activities as of April 1944 - tgis includes all bases in the US and overseas. Very valuable research information. I believe this is a more recent reprint but there is nothing that says so. However it is priced accordingly.
£28 / $35 / €30 email for more details
 WWII Directory of AAF bases |
|---|
 WWII Directory of AAF bases |
 WWII Directory of AAF bases |
 WWII Directory of AAF bases |
 WWII Directory of AAF bases |
Behind Enemy Lines: Evasion and Escape Aids of World War II by R.E. Baldwin, published by Elm Grove Publishing, 2015. Soft Cover 104 pages 8.5" x 11". The official catalog from the exhibit of the same name at the Frazier History Museum in Louisville, Kentucky, February to April 2013. Comprehensive list of evasion and escape equipment used in WWII by renowned authority and guest curator of the exhibit. A limited number of original copies available, signed by the author. Priced at $29.95 / £22.95 / €26.95
With Chennault in China: A Flying Tiger's Diary by Robert M. Smith, published by Schiffer, 1997. NOW $10
First US edition. HB with DJ. 176 pages 6" x 9". The story of the American Volunteer Group from the perspective of the man who built and ran their vast and incredible radio cmmunications network. He knew everyone in the AVG and Chennault asked him to write this memoir. A fascinating book with profuse b/w photos previously unpublished. As new condition. Priced at £9.50 / $12.50 / €11.50
German Pistols and Revolvers 1871-1945 by Ivan V. Hogg, published by Galahad Books, New York, 1971. NOW $20
First US edition. HB with DJ and clear acetate cover. 160 pages 8.5" x 11.5" with profuse b/w illustrations and photos. Very good condition. Priced at $25 / £19 / €22
A History of Military Aviation in San Antonio by various authors and contributors, published 1996. NOW $15
Comprehensive and informative history compiled by local military historians. Soft cover 118 pages 8.5" x 11" with many b/w and colour photos. Very good condition with minor creases to cover and slight bumping to edges.
Priced at $20 / £15 / €18
Air Force Spoken Here: General Ira Eaker & the Command of the Air by James Parton, Adler & Adler, 1986. NOW $10 Second edition biography of the commander of the US 8th Air Force in WWII. HB with DJ and acetate protective cover. 558 pages, 6" x 9". with b/w photograohs throughout. Priced at £9.50 / $12.50 / €11.50
Spitfire Ace: Flying the Battle of Britain by Martin Davidson and James Taylor NOW $10 Channel 4 Books, undated first edition of book to accompany the TV series in which the author retraces the footsteps of RAF Battle of Britain aces by learning to fly the Spitfire. B/w and colour photos including many previously unpublished historic images. HB with DJ. 254 pages, 8" x 10". Excellent condition although some of the pages appear to have been bound out of order (all are present). Priced at $15 / £9.50 / €12
Uniforms & Insignia of the Navies of World War II compiled by US Naval Intelligence with an introduction by Andrew Mollo. NOW $10 Naval Institute Press, 1991. Colour illulstrations reproduced from wartime publications of Joint Army and Navy Publications and National Geographic. HB with DJ and protective acetate cover. 112 pages, 10.5" x 8". Excellent condition. Priced at £9.50 / $12.50 / €11.50
The Royal Air Force 1939-45 by Andrew Cormack and Ron Volstad, Osprey Men-At-Arms no. 225, 1990. NOW $10 Researched from the collections of Hendon, The Royal Air Force Museum. Soft cover, 48 pages. 7" x 10". Very good condition with slight foxing to spine.
Priced at £9.50 / $12.50 / €11.50
The Royal Navy 1790-1970 by Robert Wilkinson-Latham and Gerry Embleton, Osprey Men-At-Arms no. 65, 1977.
NOW $10 Soft cover, 48 pages. 7" x 10". Very good condition with minor surface creasing to top corner of cover.
Priced at £9.50 / $12.50 / €11.50
Tropical Headgear of the German Wehrmacht in WW II - Vol 2 by José Figueroa, Figueroa Creations, 1996 first edition. Soft cover, 144 pages. 6" x 9". Very good condition with minor bumps on edge of cover.
Priced at £9.50 / $12.50 / €11.50
Lonely Eagles: The Story of America's Black Air Force in World War II by Robert A. Rose, DDS, published by Tuskegee Airmen, Inc - Los Angeles Chapter. NOW $10 First published 1976, this edition fourth printing, May 1988. 160 pages with many b/w photographs. HB self-cover (no DJ), 6" x 9". Very good condition with minor bumps.
Priced at £9.50 / $12.50 / €11.50
The Quarterly Journal of Military History: Vol 1 No 1, Autumn 1988 various authors, published by Byron Hollinshead. NOW $10 HB self-cover with tip-in colour plate 8.5" x 11". 128 pages. Historic studies from submarines to the RAF, the Romans, Custer, Westmoreland, Spanish Armada, Potemkin and much more. High quality magazine format with hard cover (popular in the 1980s and 90s) and many colour and b/w photos and illustrations. Not sure how long this publication lasted - must have been expensive to produce! Very good condition with minor bumps.
Priced at £9.50 / $12.50 / €11.50