FLIGHT TO EVERYWHERE - 1944

1944. DMITRI, Ivan. FLIGHT TO EVERYWHERE. Illustrated. NY: Whittlesey House/McGraw-Hill Book Company, [1944]. Quarto, tan & red cloth in dust jacket; 240 pages. First Edition. An in-depth look at the far-flung operations of the Air Transport Command, Army Air Forces and a valuable contribution to the understanding of America's heroic air accomplishments. An exceptional copy! Signed presentation from the leader of the Army's Air Transport Command on the lower border of his portrait frontispiece: "To Lieut. Col. Nicholas G. Staub: With best regards, Harold L. George." George [1893-1986] was an American aviation pioneer who helped promote and shape the concept of daylight precision bombing. He was a big proponent of heavy bombers and leader of the so-called "Bomber Mafia." George helped institute the Order of Daedalians and served as its first wing commander. During World War II George led the Air Transport Command, taking it from a rag-tag group of 130 obsolescent aircraft to 3,000 modern transports, operated by 300,000 airmen. Following the war he worked for Hughes Aircraft and was twice elected mayor of Beverly Hills, California. In addition to George's signature, this copy has been signed by another 47 servicemen associated with the Air Transport Command on the verso of the front endpaper & on a front blank page. Staub has also penned his name, rank & address on the front endpaper. Probably a one-of-a-kind book! Very Good (contents clean & tight; moderate darkening to front cover & spine); few short tears & small chips d/j. $285.00.