Byrd Aviation Books

[kirkh]

A couple weeks ago I was browsing The Aerodrome website links page and came across Byrd Aviation Books. I looked to see where they are located and lo and behold they are located in Williamsburg, VA which is where I was going on vacation the following week. After a couple days in Williamsburg I had a couple hours free so I thought I'd give them a call. Nobody answered so I left a message. An hour or so later Mrs. Byrd called me back and gave me the directions to their store. It's located in a building behind their house in the outskirts of Williamsburg. I drove there and Mrs. Byrd came out of the house to greet me and show me the store. When I walked in I knew I would be in trouble. If I had any say in the matter that's where I would have spent the rest of my vacation. Mrs. Byrd told me to stay as long as I liked and if I wanted to purchase anything to come get her at the house. The room was filled with WWI books, posters, models, and even a three foot length of Fokker DVII fuselage fabric behind glass. For someone like me who is constantly frustrated by the lack of WWI aviation books in big chain bookstores, this was WWI aviation heaven. I stayed for only an hour because my family was at the hotel and itching to go do something, but I would have liked to stay much, much longer. I picked out what I wanted to buy (which was a bunch of back issues of Over the Front and the James McCudden book "Flying Fury") and headed back to the house. Mr. Byrd and I chatted for a little while and then I checked out and headed back to my hotel. I almost hate to say it, but even though Colonial Williamsburg and the Tall Ships in Norfolk and the food and swimming were great fun, my trip to Byrd Aviation Books was probably the highlight of my week. I urge anyone in the Williamsburg area to give them a call and visit if you have a chance. They're wonderful people and the store is a haven for any WWI aviation buff.

www.byrdaviationbooks.com/