OUT OF THE BLUE: THE ROLE OF LUCK IN AIR WARFARE 1917-1966. by Lucas, Laddie, ed. (K.R. vand er Spuy, James Byford McCudden, Raymond Chance, P.S. Engelbach, A.A.N. Breckon, R.T. Partridge, C.R. Caldwell, David J. Shannon, Charles Barry, John H. Moutray, R.A. Percy, K.S. Batchelor, - 1987

London: Grafton, 1987. 542 pp, 7" H. B&w drawings. "Beginning in 1917 with Lord Balfour's miraculous safe landing after ejection from his crushed biplane, (this) is an extraordinary compilation of lucky escapes, own goals and near-misses by both famous and unknown war pilots. Captain Len Trent VC tells us how luck saved his life in the legendary Great Escape from Stalag Luft III in 1944. Fighter pilot Yutaka Yokota, who volunteered as a human torpedo in the Pacific, recalls how mechanical trouble stopped him making the supreme sacrifice. And an Australian gunner tells the intriguing tale of his clairvoyant mongrel. Ranging from the horrific to the humorous and the frankly incredible, (this) is a breathtaking assembly of stories by those who have risked their lives in aerial combat." Interior - very light browning to pages, otherwise clean and tight with no previous ownership marks. Exterior - very light browning to edges of text block, minor edge wear, small soft corner crease on front cover and rear cover.. Reprint. Mass Market Paperback. Very Good. Illus. by Michael Trim..