{"product_id":"wings-over-the-somme-1916-1919","title":"Wings — Over the Somme — 1916-1918","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left; background-color: #f7f8f9; padding: 20px; border-left: 4px solid #647382;\"\u003eA WWI aviation classic based on letters home from RFC pilot Gwilym Lewis. Flying DH2 and SE5a aircraft over the Somme from 1916-1918, he progressed from schoolboy to decorated fighter ace with 12 victories and a DFC. Edited by Chaz Bowyer.\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%;\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 36.001%;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eISBN-13\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 63.7218%;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e9781872424385\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 36.001%;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eISBN-10\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 63.7218%;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1872424384\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 36.001%;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBook cover finish(es)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 63.7218%;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHardcover ( round back binding )\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 36.001%;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSpecial Features\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 63.7218%;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e• Dust jacket\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 36.001%;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 63.7218%;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLike NEW\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 36.001%;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAuthor(s)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 63.7218%;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGwilym H Lewis\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 36.001%;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublisher\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 63.7218%;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBridge Books\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 36.001%;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNumber of pages\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 63.7218%;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e208 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 36.001%;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublished date\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 63.7218%;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFirst edited in 1976 \u003cbr\u003ePublished in 1994\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 36.001%;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLanguage(s)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 63.7218%;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEnglish\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 36.001%;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSize\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 63.7218%;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e18 x 25.5 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\u003e\u003cem\u003eWINGS OVER THE SOMME\u003c\/em\u003e is a modern classic of military aviation history. First published in 1976, it has long been sought after on the second-hand book market.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe author, Welshman \u003cem\u003eGwilym Lewis\u003c\/em\u003e, joined the \u003cem\u003eRoyal Flying Corps\u003c\/em\u003e in 1915 and was posted to France with \u003cem\u003eNo 32 Squadron\u003c\/em\u003e at the age of eighteen, flying the \u003cem\u003eDH2\u003c\/em\u003e single-seater scout aircraft. Later, after a period as an instructor, he was posted to \u003cem\u003e40 Squadron\u003c\/em\u003e as a Flight Commander flying the \u003cem\u003eSE5a\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring his service, he regularly corresponded with his family, who preserved every letter and later returned them to him. The narrative of this book is based upon these letters, which reflect the development of the author as he witnessed war from the cockpit of what now seem to be frail biplanes. When he first went into action, he was only a few months out of school, and his letters reflect his relative naivety. By the end of the war, he was a veteran air fighter with a \u003cem\u003eDFC\u003c\/em\u003e and a creditable tally of 12 enemy aircraft destroyed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter leaving the RAF, he took up a civilian career before rejoining shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War, becoming a member of Churchill's \u003cem\u003eJoint Planning Staff\u003c\/em\u003e in the underground \u003cem\u003eCentral War Room\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis new, expanded edition includes a selection of letters written by \u003cem\u003eEdmund Lewis\u003c\/em\u003e, the author’s brother who was killed in action in 1916, as well as entries from a diary kept by the author during 1916. The number of photographs has also been considerably increased.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe letters have been edited by noted air historian \u003cem\u003eChaz Bowyer\u003c\/em\u003e and are illustrated with many photographs from Wing Commander Lewis’ own albums.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e‘…a collection of letters written home by a young aviator which has been edited with sense and feeling by Chaz Bowyer; it makes a most enjoyable book.’ \u003c\/em\u003e– RAF Farnborough News\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e‘Gwilym Lewis has poured out pure gold.’\u003c\/em\u003e – Cross \u0026amp; Cockade (GB) Journal\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gwilym H Lewis","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53845227536730,"sku":null,"price":20.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0270\/3015\/9446\/files\/image1_ec980478-48a9-49ff-8fd5-fd9e699ba028.jpeg?v=1773934606","url":"https:\/\/aviation.brussels\/products\/wings-over-the-somme-1916-1919","provider":"aviation.brussels","version":"1.0","type":"link"}