A DARING airman's tale of love and bravery will be charted in a new book based on his experiences in York.

The Bright Squadrons follows daredevil Frenchman Francis Usai, who flew missions from RA F Elvington during the Second World War, and his blossoming romance with Barbara Rigby, 18, the girl he meets upon arriving in England.

The true story is based on the memoirs of Barbara, now 87, and the 2,000 pieces of correspondence she wrote to Francis, her diary notes and responses, which she has kept all her life.

Barbara Harper-Nelson, as she is now known, collaborated with the French historian Genevieve Monneris, herself the daughter of an Elvington based airman, to compile the book, and is the basis of Cis & Barbiche a play which had its UK Premier at York Theatre Royal in July.

To celebrate the launch of the book, the first 150 hard back copies purchased from the Yorkshire Air Museum between now and December 31 will contain a unique voucher for free admission on Saturday, March 14 to view the world renowned Halifax bomber, similar to those that operated out of Elvington during the war.

Ian Reed, museum director, said: "A copy of this book will make an ideal Christmas gift, particularly coupled with this unique offer to visit the museum and get a close look at this famous aircraft which visitors come from all over the world to see.

"Some lucky ones will even get a chance to also be shown inside the Halifax, a rare experience indeed.

"The Bright Squadrons is one of those books that will make you both laugh and cry, providing an entertaining and thought provoking read."

Holders of the first 50 voucher numbers to be drawn by the author of the book, will be given free entry to the famous aircraft.

Copies of the hardback book containing the voucher will be available from Monday (1) from the Museum Shop, priced at £22 or £25 to include postage in UK & Ireland.

To order a copy call (01904) 608719 between 10am and 3.30pm or e-mail your enquiry to shop@yorkshireairmuseum.org