This book was first published in 1961 in Great Britain -- this is the first edition distributed in the U.S. by the Aerospace Book Club. Its brochure (laid in) states the book is "8-12 by 11 inches full of information [256 pages] plus 300 photographs [and many other illustrations]. The first half...is a narrative, the full story of aircraft development in the Air Force [with many photos].... The next section consists of three-view tone paintings to scale of 70 representative fighter aircraft. Then comes another big photographic section, followed by 12 pages in which the insignia of 333 fighter, fighter-interceptor and fighter-bomber squadrons are reproduced. [And finally] a 16-page section of vital information on no less than 430 different aircraft."
The book has just a few minor touches of wear and a former owner's signature on the ffep. The jacket has edge tears, some small edge chips and some light creasing. A large, heavy, lavishly illustrated volume.