Author and friend of the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust Madeleine Duffield launched her new novel at a gathering in The Wing on Wednesday - and promptly donated the income from a busy evening of sales to the charity.
A Total Attraction is set during the second world war and tells a riveting story through the diaries of a female member of the Air Transport Auxiliary, the pilots who ferried new aircraft from factories to front line squadrons, freeing up those on active duties to fight the enemy.
Madeleine's story brings to life the bravery of these pilots, many of them women, who flew Spitfires and Hurricanes as well as heavy bombers, without radios or armaments and helped only by brief "pilot's notes" outlining the peculiarities of each aircraft they flew.
Trust secretary Patrick Tootal praised the "immensely readable and well-researched" work, highlighting how well it told the broader story of the war, including the contribution made by the ground crews and the 'home front'.
Having brought 40 copies to the launch, attended by trustees, volunteers and friends of the Trust, Madeleine had sold 39 copies by the end of the evening, donating all the proceeds to the charity's funds.
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