Francis K Mason

[Stig Jarlevik]

Dear All

Just received the news that Francis K.Mason has died.
As one of the generation who was formed by his Battle over Britain book I was very taken by the news.

Francis Mason was one of the very first who generated the new kind of aviation book that I came to like and admire. I owe Frank Mason perhaps more than I can express right here and right now.

I never met you Frank, but I owe you more than one

Cheers
Stig

[Brian]

Yes, Stig, I agree with you.

Similarly, I never met Frank or had contact wih him but he was a pioneer researcher. I remember visiting the distributor in London in 1969 to purchase a copy of his book at a whopping £4.4 shillings!

He has taken some stick over the years but ................!

RIP
Brian

[steve sheridan]

Hi, i too was inspired by his work Battle Over Britain and have been smitten ever since.
I never met the chap but his work paved the way, with much interest in this evocative subject. RIP.

Steve.

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Brian

I remember visiting the distributor in London in 1969 to purchase a copy of his book at a whopping £4.4 shillings!

I had to wait a few years (covetously leafing through it in the shop) until I was working. Mine was £6.50 (price on a sticker over the original £4).

A terrific book for the time and still one I'm glad to have.

[Larry]

I agree his BoB book is still a useful reference - and we should not forget his other early works such as his book on the Gloster Gladiator from 1964 which I bought second hand for just 30p! He was also involved with Profile Publications. Who remembers their red / white covered 16 page booklets that were the about the only source available for modellers in 1960-70s? Frank wrote booklets for them on the Hurricane, Lysander, DH Vampire and Hawker P1127 / Kestrel to name a few.

Fair well, RIP in the knowledge that your work lives on.