THE RAMBLINGS of a Geriatric Ex-Fighter Pilot was the unflattering title Battle of Britain airman Brian Kingcome from Hatherleigh had threatened to give his memoirs, which have just been published in a new edition. Thankfully, Brian's wife Lesley counselled against this — it was Lesley who faced the task of completing the book after Brian died suddenly in 1994. Brian had been working hard on recounting the striking part he played in the defence of the realm, but he had been writing down memories as they came to him, and thus not in chronological order. Lesley contacted a friend in publishing, who set about editing Brian's work and turning the book into reality. Under the more considered title of A Willingness to Die, the book was last month published by Tempus. Brian may have been one of the last Battle of Britain pilots of repute to put his extraordinary story into print. He was looked upon by other members of his squadron as possibly their finest pilot. Brian joined the RAF with a permanent commission in 1938 and was posted to No 65 Fighter Squadron at Hornchurch which was soon to be equipped with the Spitfire. Throughout the war, Brian flew a Spitfire and became acting Commanding Officer for No 92 Squadron at Biggin Hill. He led more than 60 operations, achieving the highest success rate of any squadron in the Battle of Britain. Brain's next exploits were in the Desert Air Force in Malta, which he joined in May 1943. He took command of 244 Wing where he became Flight Lieutenant, acting Squadron Leader, acting Wing Commander, and at 25 was one of the youngest Group Captains in the RAF. The fascinating book takes the reader on a journey with Brian through the early days at Hornchurch, through being shot down and recovering in hospital with a bullet wound to the leg, onto preparations for the invasion of Sicily and Italy. Lesley said: 'I am very pleased the book is in print. It is a great achievement by us both.' After Brian and Lesley married, they continued to live in Hatherleigh as well as having a home in London. Lesley, who still lives in Hatherleigh, said Brian had grown up in Devon and always wanted to live in the county, so it was no surprise he was enchanted by the market town. The new edition features a collection of intriguing black and white photographs, and a foreward by Sqn Ldr Geoffrey Wellum and an introduction by Peter Ford, writer and editor, and ex-National Serviceman in Malaya. A Willingness to Die: Memories from Fighter Command by Brian Kingcome is published by Tempus, priced £9.99 and available from bookshops.