PITFIRE JOHN DIBBS AND -Hotmes Foreworp By Ain Commopore ALAN DEERE DSO, CBE, DFC anv BAR \~S — ee ANNIVERSARY 1936-96SPITFIRE FLYING LEGEND REGINALD MITCHELL'S aeronautical master piece, known as the Supermarine Spitfire, turned 60 in March 1996, Despite the passing of the decades since prototype K5054's first flight from Eastleigh aerodrome, the sight and sound of the AP's most cherished fighter “on the wing’ i still guaranteed to prick the en emthusiats ofall ages. ions of aircrae ‘There are now over wwo-dozen Spiafies fying in the UK today, and John Dibbs has photographed them all in his own breathtaking syle. However, this book is more than just 2 collection of stun- ning images ~ ic aso includes fist-hand combat accounts from surviving Spite pilos of the cal- ibee of Pete Brothers, George Unwin, Raymond Baxter, Don Healey, Ron Hitchcock, ‘Jimmy’ Taylor and ‘Sammy’ Sampson, amongst others. Complimenting images of today’s restored Spitites is a selection ofthe best archival wartime shots available, which show the various marks thir te figing evironmens acts the globe Final a deiled appendices by ex Mins of Air Pblons offer Syd Paine describes ech sed every aia, and iit by both pr fessional shots taken at the time by Vickers- Supermarine photpape sn tine cmt fore. ‘ont cove Spon Grey pours tough the windsean of his Spite LIKE as he pastas the fighter hse in tein’ Joh Dit inthe 8 camerashp high ver CambiosSPITFIRE —— FLYING LEGEND —— 60m ANNIVERSARY 1936-96