Fighter Aces.

SHORES, Christopher.

$2,250.00

Item Number: 147675

London: Hamlyn, 1975.

First edition of this comprehensive history of the careers of the most successful fighter pilots of the twentieth century. Imperial octavo, original cloth, illustrated with color plates from paintings by Michael Turner and black and white photographs. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “Greg, Good luck! Christopher Shores.” Signed by 55 fighter aces on the half-title page and facing leaf most with the name of their unit beneath their name, Gabby Gabreski on the title page, and by seven more fighter aces within next to their pictures or names, including: Bob Goebel, R. Bruce Porter, W.N. “Bones” Marshall, Cecil G. Foster, Jack “Johnny” Walker, Dale Spencer, Polish Mamor Boleslaw M. Gladych, and many others. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Rare and desirable.

Fighter aces of the twentieth century were pilots who achieved exceptional success in aerial combat, often defined by the downing of five or more enemy aircraft. Emerging prominently during World War I, these pilots became celebrated figures, with names like Manfred von Richthofen (the "Red Baron") and René Fonck epitomizing the romanticized image of the ace. The concept continued into World War II, where advancements in aviation technology and the scale of air warfare elevated figures such as Erich Hartmann, the highest-scoring ace in history, and Richard Bong, the leading U.S. ace. Beyond individual heroism, fighter aces played a strategic role, influencing air superiority in critical campaigns. However, their legacy is often framed within the broader context of evolving aerial warfare, where teamwork and technological innovation increasingly overshadowed individual feats.