Spitfire pilot, ferry pilot, airline pilot, charter pilot. Philip Gurdon was born in London in 1923, the second son of a First World War fighter pilot ace. The Second World War broke out when Philip was just 16, and after his older brother entered the Royal Air Force shortly ahead of him, he began his own flight training in 1942. By 1988, he had logged 21,562 hours and 25 minutes in a wide range of aircraft and flying conditions.

Spitflyer is his memoir, detailing the remarkable, often hair-raising incidents of his long flying career. This collection of stories is part biography, part aviation history; for Philip, the two were closely entwined. They were written at different times and describe largely unconnected events, but the stories are linked by more than their aeronautical theme. All of them demonstrate a vivid recall of detail and a keen sense of fun.

Spitflyer is a testament to Philip’s love of adventure, large heart – and astonishingly little regard for his own safety.

Spitflyer is available in hardcover with a dust jacket here:
http://www.blurb.com/b/6239969-spitflyer-hardcover-dust-jacket