Neil, Tom, — THE SILVER SPITFIRE.

Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London, Nd (circa 2015), reprint, trade paperback, xi, 302pp, 16pp half tone photo ills., photo pictorial montage upper wrapper, during the build-up of American forces in UK in 1943/44 the author, an RAF Squadron Leader, was assigned as RAF liaison officer to the 9th US Army Air Force and he flew and served with 100th Fighter Wing. The 'Silver Spitfire' of the title he discovered on a French airfield in 1944 where it had apparently been abandoned. Most of its identification marks had been removed and he arranged for this to be completed by stripping the aircraft back to bare metal, hence its 'silver' appearance. During his period with 100th Fighter Wing the RAF made no contact with him and the US forces, regarding this 23 year old veteran with something like awe, permitted him to maintain and service his 'personal silver Spitfire' at their expense. He relates his operational experiences, his difficulties in trying to dispose of the Spitfire after his time with 100th Fighter Wing, his subsequent appointment as an instructor and a visit to India and Burma, with an epilogue of what happened to his American friends after the war, slight slant to spine, lightly rubbed at tips, light creasing to spine and cnrs., very good,