HIGH BLUE BATTLE: The War Diary of No.1 (401) Fighter Squadron, RCAF.

First edition, first printing. Signed and inscribed by the author to "Laddie" Lucas. Publisher's original blue cloth with titles in silver to the spine, in dustwrapper. Illustrated with black and white photographs. A fine copy, the binding square and tight, the contents clean and crisp throughout. Complete with the near fine dustwrapper which has just a hint of fading to the spine. Not price-clipped ($24.95 to the front flap).

Signed and inscribed by Dave McIntosh in blue ink to the title page "To Laddie Lucas, / fellow warrior in freedom's / cause, in appreciation / and high regard, / Dave McIntosh / March, 1990". The wartime diary of 1/401 Fighter Squadron, RCAF, edited and annotated by the writer and journalist Dave McIntosh, himself a veteran of RCAF Squadron No. 418. The present copy was warmly presented by McIntosh to the legendary spitfire pilot Percy Belgrave "Laddie" Lucas, CBE, DSO and Bar, DFC (1915-1998). Lucas joined the RAF in June 1940, travelling to Canada to undertake flying training at the Flying Training School. On completion, he was assigned to 66 Squadron in August 1941, with whom he flew combat missions until the end of 1942. Arriving in Malta in February 1942, he commanded No. 249 Squadron during the Battle of Malta, after which he was awarded the DFC. In 1943, he took command of No. 616 Squadron, later commanding the Spitfire wing at RAF Coltishall, and then, between 1944 and 1945, serving with the RAF Second Tactical Air Force in North-West Europe. Lucas was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in January 1944, and then a bar to his DSO in October 1945 for making numerous attacks on enemy communications, often in dangerous conditions. A nice association copy.