FAREWELL TO WINGS
Cecil Lewis
Illustrated by Leonard Bridgman
TEMPLE PRESS BOOKS, London, 1964
Cecil Lewis was a WW1 RFC flying ace with the celebrated 56 Squadron, serving alongside legendary fliers including Albert Ball, 'Beery' Bowman and Arthur Rhys David. Farewell to Wings is his memoir of 24 iconic aircraft that he flew in combat on the Western Front: from nimble scouts like the Sopwith Pup, Spad, Nieuport Scout and Sopwith Camel, to the cumbersome Vickers Vimy Bomber. Illustrated throughout with line drawings and plates by the well known aviation artist Leonard Bridgman.
Cecil Lewis (1898–1997) was a WW1 British fighter pilot. He went on to co-found the BBC, and enjoyed a long career as a writer. Lewis joined the Royal Flying Corps in 1915 and learned to fly at Brooklands. In 1916, he flew the Morane Parasol in combat with No. 3 Squadron and was awarded the M.C. for his actions during the Battle of the Somme. Flying over the battlefield on 1st July 1916 to report back on British troop movements, Lewis witnessed the blowing of the huge mine at La Boiselle. He later described the early morning scene in his book Sagittarius Rising. As he watched from above the village of Thiepval, almost two miles from where the mine exploded, Lewis saw a remarkable sight: 'At Boiselle the earth heaved and flashed, a tremendous and magnificent column rose up into the sky. There was an ear-spitting roar, drowning all the guns flinging the machine sideways in the repercussing air. The earthly column rose, higher and higher to almost four thousand feet.'
During May and June 1917, when he was flying the SE5 with No. 56 Squadron, Lewis was credited with eight victories. Back in England, Lewis served with Nos. 44 and 61 Squadrons on Home Defence before returning to France in late 1918 with No. 152 Night Fighter Squadron, flying the Sopwith Camel.
Condition:
In very good condition. The boards are in very good condition, with only minor signs of wear. The dust jacket is in very good condition, and is protected by a removable archival film sleeve. The binding and hinges are very good and secure. The text and illustrations are in very good condition.
Published: 1964
Illustrated with drawings
Original dust jacket, blue boards
Dimensions: 165mm x 190mm
Pages: 84
