The Spitfire Society Books 1-3


Book Description

From the USA Today bestselling author of The Untouchables series comes your next Regency obsession: The Spitfire Society. Meet the smart, independent women who’ve decided they don’t need Society’s rules, their families’ expectations, or, most importantly, a husband. But just because they don’t need a man doesn’t mean they might not want one... Never Have I Ever With a Duke Sparks fly between a penniless young lady and a debt-ridden duke who literally can’t afford to pursue a courtship. Graham Kinsley is shocked when he inherits an insolvent dukedom. He needs an heiress—or to recoup the former duke’s losses. When he meets the alluring Arabella, he’s entranced. Unfortunately, she’s as bankrupt as he is, but if they work together they may be able to recover their fortunes. Though if they keep stealing kisses, they may lose their hearts instead. A Duke is Never Enough When a seductive rake is suspected of murder, a self-declared spinster spitfire may be his only hope for salvation—and love. Notorious rake Marcus Raleigh, Marquess of Ripley, is gracing the gossip pages for a new reason: the rumors he may have murdered his swindling cousin. His quest for answers regarding his cousin’s death leads him to an incomparable self-declared spinster, and he is beguiled beyond reason. After abandoning her philandering betrothed at the altar, Phoebe Lennox won’t risk a relationship of any kind until Marcus sweeps her into his seductive embrace, and her resolve falters. But when the truth about Marcus and the murder come to light, Phoebe could lose everything she holds dear. A Duke Will Never Do A self destructive viscount finds himself under the care of an enchanting spitfire, but when the sins of his past threaten them, he’ll pay any price to keep her safe, including his heart. After failing on the Marriage Mart, Jane Pemberton takes up residence in the official headquarters of the Spitfire Society. When she finds an unconscious viscount on her doorstep, she nurses him back to health—and requests his offered recompense in the form of private instruction of a scandalous and intimate kind. After spiraling into a self-destructive abyss following the murder of his parents, Anthony, Viscount Colton, physically recovers under the care of an alluring spitfire. But when an extortion scheme forces him to face the sins of his past, he’ll have to pay the ultimate price to protect the woman who saved him.




Spitfire


Book Description

The illustrated wartime story of the RAF's iconic fighter plane. Over 300 historic photographs and contemporary illustrations.




A Duke Will Never Do


Book Description

From the USA Today bestselling author of The Untouchables series comes your next Regency obsession: The Spitfire Society... Meet the smart, independent women who’ve decided they don’t need Society’s rules, their families’ expectations, or, most importantly, a husband. But just because they don’t need a man doesn’t mean they might not want one. After failing on the Marriage Mart, Jane Pemberton has two choices: submit to her parents’ edict to marry their boring neighbor or become a self-declared spinster and take up residence in the official headquarters of the Spitfire Society. It’s really no choice at all, and Jane is eager to embrace her newfound independence. She soon finds an unconscious viscount on her doorstep and nurses him back to health. When he offers to compensate her, she requests payment in the form of private instruction of a scandalous and intimate kind. Having spiraled into a self-destructive abyss following the murder of his parents, Anthony, Viscount Colton, physically recovers under the care of an alluring spitfire. But it is her charm and flirtatiousness that soothes his soul and arouses his desire—until an extortion scheme forces him to face the sins of his past. Now, to save the woman who’s given him everything he lost and more, he’ll have to pay the ultimate price: his heart.




Spitfire's Forgotten Designer


Book Description

The Supermarine Spitfire was a classic design, well known for its efforts in defending British shores during the Second World War. However, while Reginald Mitchell is rightly celebrated for his original design of the Spitfire, the role of Joe Smith in the development of the Spitfire is often overlooked. Smith was an integral member of the design team from the earliest days, and on Mitchell's death in 1937 he was appointed design office manager before becoming chief designer. Smith's dedicated leadership in the development of the Spitfire during the war, as well as his efforts on post-war jet aircraft, deserve their place in history. Charting the fascinating history of Supermarine from 1913 to 1958, when the company ceased its operations in Southampton, shortly after Joe Smith's death in 1956, this book tells its story through the eyes of apprentices and many other members of Smith's team. Marvellous photographs add to the sense of what it was like to work under Joe Smith at the drawing boards of one of Britain's most famous wartime aviation manufacturers.




Tomorrow is D-Day


Book Description

The remarkable war story of Stella Rutter, the only woman employed in the Drawing Office of Supermarine, designers of the Spitfire. Stella played the role of hostess at the Farewell Party for the most senior commanding officers on the eve of D-Day.




R J Mitchell


Book Description

The Spitfire began as a near disaster. The developments of this famous aircraft took it from uncompromising beginnings to become the legendary last memorial to a great man - and elegant and, with its pilots, a highly effective, weapon of war. The Spitfire would not have happened at all, however, without Mitchell's indomitable courage and determination in the face of severe physical and psychological adversity resulting from cancer. His contribution to the Battle of Britain, and thereafter to the achievement of final victory in 1945, was so great that our debt to him can never be repaid. This poignant story is written from a uniquely personal viewpoint by his son, Gordon Mitchell.




Spitfire Evolution


Book Description




The Grand Designers


Book Description

The airplane has experienced phenomenal advancement in the twentieth century, changing at an exponential rate from the Wright brothers to the present day. In this ground breaking work based on new research, Dr John D. Anderson, Jr, a curator at the National Air and Space Museum, analyzes the historical development of the conceptual design process of the airplane. He aims to answer the question of whether airplane advancement has been driven by a parallel advancement in the intellectual methodology of conceptual airplane design. In doing so, Anderson identifies and examines six case histories of 'grand designers' in this field, and challenges some of the preconceived notions of how the intellectual methodology of conceptual airplane design advanced. Filled with over one hundred illustrations which bring his words to life, Anderson unfolds the lives and thoughts of these grand designers.




Sigh for a Merlin


Book Description

The enthralling account of Alex Henshaw's life with the Spitfire. Alex Henshaw spent the early days of World War II at Eastleigh, England testing the immortal Spitfire fighter with Jeffrey Quill before being appointed Chief Test Pilot at Supermarine's new factory in Castle Bromwich. Thousands of Spitfires were tested and manufactured at this site throughout the war by the end of which 37,000 test flights had been made with Alex Henshaw flying an estimated ten per cent of all Spitfires ever built. Often landing without aids of any kind, his breathtaking acrobatic style and complete mastery of the aircraft were to save his life on several occasions.




Short Brothers


Book Description

Short Brothers was established in 1908, the first British aircraft manufacturer, with the company moving to Rochester during the early years of the First World War. At Rochester Shorts produced some of their most famous aircraft, beginning with a number of designs for the Royal Naval Air Service. During the inter-war years the company specialised in large flying boats, these undertaking pioneering flights while establishing a series of regular over water air routes operated by Imperial Airways. At Rochester the Company designed and manufactured the Stirling bomber and Sunderland flying boat. Short Brothers: the Rochester Years not only looks at the development of those aircraft, but is a fascinating account of the early years of long-distance aviation and the airmen that used the River Medway at Rochester as a launch pad for flights of hitherto undreamed of distances.