{"product_id":"an-illustrated-history-of-the-new-zealand-spitfire-squadron","title":"AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF THE NEW ZEALAND SPITFIRE SQUADRON","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left; background-color: #f7f8f9; padding: 20px; border-left: 4px solid #647382;\"\u003eThe complete illustrated history of 485 Squadron RNZAF, a New Zealand Spitfire squadron formed in 1941. Chronicles their operational career from convoy patrols to combat missions, documenting victories, losses, and decorated personnel.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin-bottom: 13px;\"\u003eCharacteristics\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"table table-striped\" style=\"width: 99.915%; height: 271.432px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%; height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eISBN-10\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 59.0018%; height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e0091593603\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%; height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBook cover finish(es)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 59.0018%; height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eHardcover ( round back binding ) \u003c\/span\u003eDust jacket\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%; height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 59.0018%; height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eNOS (NEW old stock)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%; height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAuthor(s)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 59.0018%; height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKevin W. Wells\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 16.6023px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%; height: 16.6023px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublisher\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 59.0018%; height: 16.6023px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHutchinson Group (N.Z.) Ltd\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%; height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNumber of pages\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 59.0018%; height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e168\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%; height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublished date\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 59.0018%; height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1984\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%; height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLanguage(s)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 59.0018%; height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEnglish\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%; height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSize\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 59.0018%; height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e21.5 x 30.5 x 1.5 cm \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin-bottom: 13px;\"\u003eDescription\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cem\u003e485 Squadron R.N.Z.A.F.\u003c\/em\u003e was formed on 1st March 1941 at Driffield in Yorkshire. For six weeks, the New Zealand pilots flew worn-out \u003cem\u003eSupermarine Spitfire\u003c\/em\u003e aircraft as they learned to operate as a coordinated team.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOf the twenty-five pilots, only eight had already served with operational squadrons. Some had gained their ‘wings’ after being granted short service commissions in the Royal Air Force before the outbreak of war, while the remainder came directly from initial training courses at No. 2 Flying School, Woodburn, Blenheim. Several New Zealand ground crew were also posted to the Squadron at its formation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Squadron was granted operational status on 12 April 1941, and although its first duties were limited to monotonous convoy escort patrols over the North Sea, before the end of the war it had flown 10,717 sorties, destroyed 63 enemy aircraft with 25 ‘probables’, and 32 damaged. In its short period of operations against ground targets, its pilots also destroyed some 10 vehicles and 5 railway engines.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring this time, \u003cem\u003e485 Squadron R.N.Z.A.F.\u003c\/em\u003e personnel were awarded 1 Air Force Cross, 8 Distinguished Service Orders, 55 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 2 Distinguished Flying Medals, 1 \u003cem\u003eCroix de Guerre\u003c\/em\u003e, and 1 American Distinguished Flying Cross. Seventeen of the pilots were taken prisoner and fifty lost their lives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis illustrated history is a tribute to all the pilots and ground crew of \u003cem\u003e485 Squadron Royal New Zealand Air Force\u003c\/em\u003e. It is also, as Group Captain E. P. Wells points out, a tribute to “that beautiful but fragile creature… the valiant \u003cem\u003eSupermarine Spitfire\u003c\/em\u003e.”\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kevin W. Wells","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54007006003546,"sku":null,"price":300.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0270\/3015\/9446\/files\/image1_f4756f3c-b3af-432d-a3d2-9c2a0f27be08.jpeg?v=1776523917","url":"https:\/\/aviation.brussels\/products\/an-illustrated-history-of-the-new-zealand-spitfire-squadron","provider":"aviation.brussels","version":"1.0","type":"link"}