Apart from a couple of light dings this 2012 hardback 1st Ed book is in excellent condition. The book features an original pencil Remarqued drawing of a Hawker Hurricane by Steve Teasdale on the title page. The genuine pencil signature of Charles Palliser is professionally mounted underneath the drawing. This is a relatively scarce signature in the UK as Palliser moved to Australia in later life.
Palliser was posted to 3 ITW Hastings, moved to 11 EFTS Perth on 5th December and went to 6 FTS Little Rissington in April 1940. After converting to Hurricanes at 6 OTU Sutton Bridge in July, Palliser joined 17 Squadron at Debden on 3rd August. He moved to 43 Squadron at Tangmere on the 18th and joined 249 Squadron at North Weald.
Palliser shared in destroying a Do 17 on the 15th, damaged a Do 17 on the 21st, destroyed two Me110’s on the 27th, damaged a Do 17 on 21st October and destroyed a Me109 on 7th November. He was shot down on 5th December by Me109’s after a long patrol and crashed with no fuel left.
On 4th February 1941 Palliser shared a Me110 and on the 10th shared in the probable destruction of a Me109. Commissioned in April 1941, he embarked with 249 Squadron on HMS Furious on 10th May and sailed for Gibraltar, where the squadon transferred to HMS Ark Royal. The Hurricanes flew off on the 21st to Ta Kali, Malta.
During the night of 7/8th June Palliser shared in the probable destruction of a SM79, on the 12th shared a Z506B, on the 18th shared a Mc200, on the 19th he shared a SM81, on December 20 destroyed a Ju88 and damaged a Me109 and on the 24th he shared in destroying two Ju88’s.
On 8th January 1942 Palliser joined 605 Squadron at Hal Far as a Flight Commander. He was awarded the DFC (gazetted 30th January 1942) and posted from Malta on 26th February, arriving at 25 Air School, Standerton, South Aftica on 28th March to be an instructor. Palliser was posted to 62 CFS, Bloemfontein on 17th July, to 2 EFTS Randfontein on 19th October and then to 4 EFTS Benoni on 2nd September 1943. He was admitted to Baragwanath Military Hospital in Johannesburg on 21st January 1944 and remained there until leaving for the UK on 24th May.