I started out around 11 with what was in my father’s cupboard, can remember reading ‘Bomber’ and ‘Fighter’ by Len Deighton and ‘Bomber Command’ by Max Hastings, the chapter about 82 Squadron and the horrific losses they suffered flying Blenheims had quite an impact on me. Still have them as they came with me when I left home! Does anybody remember the fictional series of books by Robert Jackson with R.A.F. fighter pilot George Yeoman and Hans Richter, his opposite in the Luftwaffe? Dad had ‘Hurricane Squadron’, set in the Battle of France and the final one ‘The Last Battle’ where he flew Gloster Meteors against Richter in an ME262, both survive too!
First book I bought, and still have was ‘Antiques Of The Air’ by Michael F. Jerram which featured all the warbirds that were flying both sides of the Atlantic in the late seventies, a good number of them happily still are now.