RAY RICHARDS, LITERARY AGENT AND PUBLISHER

Flying Navy is Ray's latest publishing venture.

He launched this book in Auckland last week, here is part of his address:

In 1940 and 1941 almost 600 New Zealanders signed up to join the Fleet Air Arm, half the eventual total of 1200.

Of the first 600, 127 were killed - that is 21 per cent -

and 470 returned to New Zealand. About 25 are known to be alive today.Nine of them are at this reunion:

Don Nairn

Frank Prosser

Murray Richardson

Nelson Tolerton

Ralph Cocklin

Lex Aspinall

Euan Jones and Ian Darby

The New Zealand Fleet Air Arm Association began in 1950 and so has a history of over 50 years, during which time we have become a family.

This book is dedicated to the men who died, but it is also our memorial.

FLYING NAVY has been published by the Fleet Air Arm Museum of New Zealand supported by the Fleet Air Arm Association, each group having assets of little more than a thousand dollars in the bank.

David Allison and I have been responsible for this book. We have debts to pay. The manufacture of the book has cost over $30,000. We have 1500 copies to sell. When our bills have been paid profits will go to the Fleet Air Arm Museum of NZ.

Orders and cheques for FLYING NAVY are arriving daily,most for single copies. But we had one order for seven copies, another for five copies and one generous purchaser sent us $500 for one copy - which includes a donation of $450.

To date we have received an encouraging number of

orders for books. The omens are good and if we sell the 1500 we have published we may print a second edition.

David dreamed of this book. He researched and wrote it. Earlier this year, in declining health, David was sent to Auckland Hospital.He was in hospital for ten weeks with a virus infection.

Unfortunately, he has had to return to hospital and it is a great pity that he is not here tonight.

The service that David has given to the Fleet Air Arm is double-barrelled - 30 years to both our museum at

MOTAT and to researching and writing FLYING NAVY.

My role followed David’s. Barbara and I were the book’s editors and proofreaders, assisted by our president’s daughter Linda Sperring.

The print brokers and designers were the Egan-Reid family - Gerard, Mary, Sophia and Anna, of Pindar New Zealand. We are more grateful to them than I can

ever explain.

I have been the book’s publisher and fundraiser.

I am not permitted to tell you how the book was funded except to say that we have had two major benefactors and two lenders ; some are acknowledged in the book.

Obviously all books are commercial items. Over several years they will be researched and written: design and manufacture takes another year:then they must be sold. Many books lose money.

Please support your book FLYING NAVY by buying and gifting copies to your family and friends. We have a proud story.

Be proud of your book. Every copy you purchase will generate additional sales and a wider knowledge of our

New Zealand Fleet Air Arm history.

If anyone would like to obtain a copy of FLYING NAVY they can either email Elaine Blake, at rla.richards@clear.net.nz or mail her at FLYING NAVY, PO Box 31-240, Milford, North Shore 0741. The books costs NZ$50 for books ordered and sent in New Zealand and NZ$60 for books sent overseas