These Are Facts The Autobiography of Air Marshal Sir Richard Williams, KBE, CB, DSO
Canberra: The Australian War Memorial and The Australian Government Publishing Service, 1977. Octavo, navy-blue hardcover, spine embossed with gilt lettering, ix, 428 pp., 14 double-sided black-and-white plates, black and white illustrations and some maps included throughout, nine appendices included. Top end of spine a little bumped, gilt lettering on spine a little worn, rear hinge split, top edge of text block foxed, edges of leaves lightly foxed throughout, the first 12 leaves foxed from newspaper articles being kept between them, dust-jacket a little worn; otherwise a very good copy. First edition. The autobiography of Air Marshal Sir Richard Williams, widely recognised as the "Father of the Royal Australian Air Force". Sir Williams recounts his experiences as a pilot during the First World War, his contribution to the Empire Air Training Scheme, his work as the RAAF's representative on the Combined Chiefs of Staff organisation in Washington, and his time as Australia's Director-General of Civil Aviation. He also includes details on the development of post-war civil transport in Australia.
Loosely inserted in this volume are newspaper cuttings of the following articles: "Winds too strong for some trainees", The Sydney Morning Herald, 16.1.1983 (on Point Cook RAAF base); "Father of RAAF dies" and "Sir Richard, one of the magnificent men" (obituary), The Sydney Morning Herald, 8.2.1980; and a photocopy of "New Pilots Warned: Drink Before Flying Unwise", The Sydney Morning Herald, 24.6.1938. Item #4539
Price (AUD): $95.00