Spitfire Ace of Aces : The Album: The Photographs of Johnnie Johnson - DILIP SARKAR MBE

Spitfire Ace of Aces

The Album: The Photographs of Johnnie Johnson

By: DILIP SARKAR MBE

Hardcover | 28 September 2021

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Air Vice-Marshal James Edgar 'Johnnie' Johnson CB, CBE, DSO & Two Bars, DFC & Bar, DL was a character literally from the pages of Boys' Own: an individual who became the RAF's top-scoring fighter pilot of the Second World War. A one-time household name synonymous with the superlative Spitfire, Johnnie's aerial combat successes inspired schoolboys for generations.

As a 'lowly Pilot Officer', Johnnie Johnson learned his fighter pilot's craft as a protégé of the legless Tangmere Wing Leader, Douglas Bader. After Bader was brought down over France and captured on 9 August 1941, Johnnie remained a member of 616 (South Yorkshire) Squadron, in which he became a flight commander and was awarded the DFC a month after Bader's devastating loss.

In time, Johnnie came to command a Canadian wing in 1943, when the Spitfire Mk.IX at last outclassed the Fw 190, and participated in some of the most important battles of the defeat of Nazi Germany, including Operation Overlord and the D-Day landings in 1944, Operation Market Garden and the airborne assault at Arnhem, and the Rhine Crossings, throughout all of which Johnnie also commanded Canadian wings.

Johnnie's remarkable career is revealed through this unparalleled collection of archive photographs, the majority of which are drawn from his own personal album or from other members of the Johnson family. Many have not been published before. Between them, they present a fascinating insight into the man himself, the machines he flew, and the men he served alongside.

About the Author

Driven by his passion to research and share the stories of casualties and record the human experience of war, DILIP SARKAR is a best-selling author whose work is highly regarded globally. A noted expert on the Battle of Britain period, who enjoyed a long and very personal relationship with the Few, Dilip was made an MBE in 2003 for 'services to aviation history', and, in 2006, elected to the Fellowship of the Royal Historical Society. He is a sought-after, dynamic speaker, and his work has been exhibited internationally. Dilip continues to work on TV documentaries, on and off camera.
Industry Reviews
"As a photo album of the top Spitfire ace, the book is a fascinating quick look at Johnson. As a supplement to a biography about Johnson or a history of RAF fighters during World War II, the book is a valuable resource to bring the text to life. The images are well curated and make the book truly enjoyable in both roles."-- "The Journal of the Air Force Historical Foundation"
"Johnson's irrepressible zest comes across in this visual feast..."-- "Aviation History Magazine"
"Thoroughly recommended as a general history reference."-- "IPMS/USA"
"Modelers and uniform junkies who want lots of photos of WWII RAF pilots and ground crew with a smattering of celebrities will rejoice with the publication of Johnnie Johnson's photograph collection."-- "Historical Miniatures Gaming Society"

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