Air Road to the Isles
The Memoirs of Captain E. E. Fresson
Fresson, E. E. (author) - Blake, John (illustrations)
Captain Fresson was one of the pioneers of British Aviation. He was born on 20th September, 1891, and as a boy he soon became interested in flight. However, he joined a firm of tea merchants who sent him to China in 1911. After travelling there via the Trans-Siberian Express and working there for three years, he volunteered for war Service with the R.F.C. in 1914. He trained in Canada and the U.S.A. and served in Europe.
On demobilisation, he ran a private flying service giving joy rides and aerobatic displays in England and Scotland, and during this time he became what was probably the first official carrier of air mail in the world. He returned to China where he assembled and flew the first aircraft ever to operate in that country, and was involved in various adventurous situations. In the late 1920's he returned to England and resumed flying there.
From 1930-1947, he consolidated his Highland and Islands air services, maintaining them even during the second world war with unarmed aircraft and enforced radio silence.
In 1947, B.E.A. took the Service over and dispersed Fresson's air fleet, eventually dismissing him in most humiliating circumstances. He went into voluntary exile in Kenya temporarily, but returned to Scotland where he eventually died on 25th September, 1963, after writing this, his autobiography. His wife, Mrs. Gwen Fresson, survives him, and it is she who has carried out his last wish to have his manuscript published so that the story can be as widely known as possible.
The book he has written is an authentic historic document and in addition a thrilling story of adventure, courage and perseverance. It is packed with exciting flying incidents and contains most of the great names of British Aviation in some unexpected context.
hardcover with dust jacket
278 Seiten / pages
photos
good condition, dust jacket wrapped in mylar
London - 1967 - David Rendel Ltd
Art.Nr. 15840