Description
First edition of Last Plane to Shanghai by Richard Tregaskis, inscribed to Admiral John S. McCain, Jr.
Octavo, 249pp. Blue hardcover, cream spine. Title in orange on spine. Stated “First Edition” on copyright page. Solid text block, light wear to front cover, a near fine example. In the publisher’s dust jacket, $4.50 retail price on front flap, light wear along spine and flap folds, short closed tear along top edge, a near fine example. Inscribed on the front free endpaper “For Admiral John S. and Roberta McCain – Outstanding among all Navy family heads as representing the best of the Navy traditions – (like Full Speed Ahead and Damn the Torpedoes!) Much Aloha Rich Tregaskis – March 13, 1971.”
Admiral John S. McCain, Jr. (1911-1981) served in the United States Navy for 45 years. He was the son of Admiral John S. McCain, Sr., a four-star admiral who commanded South Pacific aircraft operations in World War II, and the father of Senator John McCain. During the Vietnam War, Admiral McCain was Commander-in-Chief of all U.S. forces in the Vietnam theater and an ardent supporter of the Vietnamization policy of President Nixon. McCain retired in 1972 and died of a heart attack in 1981. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.