Spitfire Pilot - An Autobiography by David M Crook DFC
David Moore Crook, DFC (24 November 1914 – 18 December 1944) was a British fighter pilot and flying ace of the Second World War. Flying the Spitfire Crook participated in the Battle of Britain, flying with No. 609 Squadron RAF (at the time this was a squadron of the Auxiliary Air Force). He initially joined the squadron on 22 September 1938 as an acting pilot officer, this rank was confirmed on 4 May 1940, and later further back-dated to 9 December 1939. He flew continously and courageously throughout WW2 but was killed in action in December 1944.
His autobiographical work about his experiences during the battle entitled Spitfire Pilot, was originally published by Faber and Faber in 1942. This rare and practically unavailable memoir, was printed in 1943 as a fourth impression.
A portrait of Crook by official RAF artist Captain Cuthbert Orde was reproduced on the frontispiece. Crook also wrote Pursuit of Passy, a work of fiction about an RAF pilot who crashes in France and joins the Resistance, published in 1946 by Herbert Joseph. Crook's flying log book is stored at The National Archives in Kew, and is available for public viewing. With such a short life to have these memoirs from David Crook is a gift. We get to see straight from the horses mouth as it were in the immediate aftermath of battle what life was like for fighter pilots on the frontline.
This book retains its dust cover in pretty good condition overall. The book itself is in excellent condition however with a tight binding and no immediately obvious marks, creases, or other damage to the pages. There is a front page inscription and a pencil drawing of a Spitfire. For something so delicate, printed way back in 1943, and now over 80 years old it is a truly marvellous item to have in a collection. Personally I would put an additional sleeve over the dustcover just to try to preserve it from any further disintegration. The book has been reprinted over the years by various companies, so this 1st Edition, fourth print from 1943 is truly a marvel - and all whilst the war was ongoing.