Bidspirit auction | Colin Hodgkinson signed 'Best Foot

Colin Hodgkinson signed 'Best Foot Forward: The Autobiography of Colin Hodgkinson', hardback book by Colin Hodgkinson and a foreword from Sir Archibald McIndoe, 1957, dedicated. Inspiring personal account of one of only two men who successfully flew as operational Royal Air Force (RAF) fighter pilots during World War II after losing both of their legs. Originally published in 1957 by Odhams Press, the book chronicles his life-changing injuries, medical recovery, and eventual return to the skies. Born in Wells, Somerset, Colin Gerald Shaw Hodgkinson joined the Fleet Air Arm for pilot training in 1938. In May 1939, he survived a devastating mid-air training crash that resulted in the immediate amputation of his right leg at the thigh and left his left leg severely traumatised. At just 19 years old, when his remaining left leg repeatedly failed to heal, he decisively told his doctors: ”Chop the damned thing off and let's be done with it.” He was treated by the legendary plastic surgeon Sir Archibald McIndoe, making him a member of the famous ”Guinea Pig Club”. Using legendary pilot Douglas Bader as his ultimate blueprint, Hodgkinson mastered walking and flying with a hand-tailored pair of tin legs. He transferred to the RAF, eventually flying Spitfires with 611 and 501 Squadrons, and successfully shot down two German fighters. His frontline combat career ended in November 1943 when he crashed in occupied France and became a German prisoner of war. Despite being repatriated in 1944 as unfit for duty, he continued piloting for the RAF until 1946 and later flew jet fighters with the Auxiliary Air Force until 1952. Only one signed copy is on Abebooks, with a price of £172.