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Bomber Command B1 - 40

Online Catalogue | RAF Museum Souvenir Covers Flown RAF Covers | Bomber Command B1 - 40

B1c

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Bomber Command Cover Signed Sir Arthur Bomber Harris WW1 Pilot
Harris led RAF Bomber Command in World War Two, earning him the nickname 'Bomber Harris'. His implementation of the policy of 'saturation' or 'area' bombing of German cities has made him a
hugely controversial figure.
Leaving England at the age of 16, he travelled to Rhodesia where he worked on a farm becoming the manager by the age of 21. Having fought in South-West Africa, he returned to Britain and joined the RFC, gaining his RAeC Certificate (No 2015) on 6 November 1915. In March 1916, one of his flight, Lt W Leefe-Robinson, brought down the first Zeppelin over England for which he was awarded a VC. With No 45 Sqn he gained his five victories, thereby raising him to 'ace' status. It was in India that he saw the deplorable state of the RAF in the area and at one point even threatened to resign his commission over the situation. He has often been 'credited' with start 'area bombing', but this decision was made before he took over Bomber Command. However, having been given the task he carried it out with vigor. He also attempted increase the profile of the command and within months of taking over command had managed to mount three '1000 Bomber' raids against Cologne, Essen and Bremen. After the war, shunned by the British authorities, he returned to South Africa and became Managing Director of the South African Marine Corporation (Safmarine). He was eventually honoured when Churchill returned to Downing Street in 1953, but at his own request was awarded a baronet rather than a peerage. He died on 5 April 1984 Details & Black & White photo enclosed. Certifified Copy No 1321 of 1500.

B2c

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RAF FDC No1 RNAS Detachment Eastchurch 2 Signed
21 Nov 82 Commemorating Guernsey's own 201 Sqn Special Postmark on 12p inter
- Island Transport Trislander Guernsey stamp. AVRO 204 No 1 Royal Naval Air Service detachment Eastchurch 21 November 1914. Picture cachet of Avro 504's No1 RNAS Detachment Eastchurch attacking Zeppelin sheds at Friedrichshafen 21 November 1914.On the reverse black flown cachet Flown by 201 Sqn crew 4 from RAF Kinloss to Homestead Airforce base Florida USA on 3 Oct 82 and returned on 21 Oct 82 Captain Flt Lt N Ward Aircraft XV 288 Nimrod MR 2 P Route Kinloss, Gander, Homestead and return. Total flight time 19hrs 45 mind. Backstamped Homestead Air Force Base Oct 18 AM 1982.and RAF Post Office Kinloss. Certified Copy No 0042 of 1550 Signed Project Officer.

Personally Signed by Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Le Cheminant DFC and Bar.During the WW11 served in France, North Africa, Malta, Sicily and Italy 1940 to 44 Light bombers, Later Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief of Guernsey 1980 to 85 also Signed by Wing Commander P N Presland Officer Commanding No 201 Squadron. Certified Copy No of 1550 Signed Project Officer £

B3c

Price: £25.00

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1st award of Victoria Cross to an airman Signed Jackson VC
29 Mar 80 kortrijk postmark. Commemorating the First award of the Victoria Cross to an Airman - 2nd Lt.W.B.Rhodes - Moorhouse.Cover depicts 2nd Lt.W.B.Rhodes - Moorhouse in 2 Squadron BE2b bombing bombing German troop train in the Railway Station at Courtal ( now Kortrijk ) Belgium on 26 April 26 April 1915, for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross and 2 Squadron Badge.Blue Flown cachet. Flown in 2 Sqn Jaguar T2 XX843 from RAF Laarbruch ( Germany ) to a point over France and then over the route taken by 2nd Lt.W.B.Rhodes - Moorhouse to Courtral and return to RAF Laarbruch pilot Capt Walpole and co - pilot Wg Cdr Thorn OC 2 Sqn.Hand signed Norman Jackson VC 106 Sqn Engineer of Lancaster ME 669 which was shot down over Germany on 26 April 1944, during the Focke - Wulf FW190 attack. Norman Jackson tried to extinguish a blazing engine & was awarded the Victoria Cross.Details and photogragh of Norman Jackson enclosed

B6c

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RAF Flown Vulcan Signed Air Chief Marshal Sir John Gingell
13 Apr 82 70th Anniv of the Formation of the Royal Flying Corps . Flown cachet on the reverse Blue flown cachet Flown in Vulcan B MK2 MRR XJ 782 of No 27 Sqnthe final flight made by the Squadron before disbandment. Captain Sqn Ldr Danby, Co Pilot Flt Lt J Marham, Navigator Radar Sqn Ldr J Stevenson, Navigator Plotter Flt Lt R B Olive, AEO Sqn Ldr A T Farmer,Chief Technician M J E Archer, Chief Technician M J Banyard. Flight Time 21 mins 15 Secs. . Personally Signed Air Chief Marshal Sir John Ginell KCB CBE RAF.
GINGELL, Air Chief Marshal Sir John, GBE 1984 (CBE 1973; MBE 1962); KCB 1978; KCVO 1992; RAF retired; Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, Serjeant-at-Arms, House of Lords, and Secretary to the Lord Great Chamberlain, 1985-92; b 3 Feb. 1925; e s of late E. J. Gingell; m 1949, Prudence, d of late Brig. R. F. Johnson; two s one d. Educ: St Boniface Coll., Plymouth. Entered RAF, 1943; Fleet Air Arm, 1945-46 as Sub-Lt (A) RNVR; returned to RAF, 1951; served with Nos 58 and 542 Sqdns; CFS 1954; psc 1959; jssc 1965; comd No 27 Sqdn, 1963-65; Staff of Chief of Defence Staff, 1966; Dep. Dir defence Ops Staff (Central Staff), 1966-67; Mil. Asst to Chm. NATO Mil. Cttee, Brussels, 1968-70; AOA, RAF Germany, 1971-72; AOC 23 Group, RAF Trng Comd, 1973-75; Asst Chief of Defence Staff (Policy), 1975-78; Air Member for Personnel, 1978-80; AOC-in-C, RAF Support Comd, 1980-81; Dep. C-in-C, Allied Forces Central Europe, 1981-84, Mem., Commonwealth War Graves Commn, 1986-91. Hon. Bencher, Inner Temple, 1990. Recreations: gardening, walking, music. Club: Royal Air Force.Certified Copy of 1475.

B8c

Price: £12.95

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1st British Sqn Nignt bombing Signed Williamson WW1
1 Feb 82 Jersey 65th Anniversary Formation of No 100. The First British Squadron formed specifically for night bombing No 100 Squadron 1 February 1917. Picture cachet depicts FE 2b's of No 100 Squadron leaving Ochey for a raid on Trier January 24th 1918.Brown flown cachet flown in Canberra E15 WH983 of 100 Sqn from RAF Wyton on 25th January 1982. The flight retraced the night bombing route Nancy / Ochey to Trier of 24/25 January 1918. Personally Signed by Sqn Ldr J C Williamson MBE RAF ( Retd ) Formerly 2nd Lieutenant 100 Sqn RFC. After training at Dover early in 1917 he joined his 1st Sqn No 38 at Buckminster for night anti Zeppelin patrols. Joined 100 Sqn at Ochey in France in January 1918 and carried out 31 night raids until the night of 17th 18th May when his aircraft was hit by anti aircraft fire. Unfortunately the fire revealed their position to the enemy troops and they were captured. English Electric Canberra postcard & Black & White photo enclosed. Details enclosed. RAF ref no B8c Certified Copy of 1500 signed project Officer

B11c

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Flown Tristar Falklands Signed Gp Capt Howie
1 Nov 84 Jersey Reformation of No 216 Squadron Royal Air Force Special Postmark DeHavilland DH 10 Reformation of No 216 Squadron Royal Air Force 1 November 1984. Picture cachet of DH 10 of No 216 Sqn Returning to base Heliopolis 1923. Flown cachet Return of the inaugural flights to the Falklands. This cover was flown on 14th/15th May 1985, in a Tristar ZD 948 of the Royal Air Force. Pilot in Command Wing Commander K D Filbery RAF. Records
1 Mount Pleasant to Ascension Island 7 hrs 18 Mins 50 secs World Record.
2, Ascesion Island to Brize Norton 8hrs 29 mins 40 secs World Record
3, Mount Pleasant to Brize Norton 17 hrs 20 Mins 45 secs World Record.
Verified David Hamilton Vice Chairman Royal Aero Club. Personally Signed by Group Captain G R Howie DSO. He applied for and was granted a short service commission in the Royal Air Force. He was commissioned in September 1932, completed pilot training in 1934, and was posted to No 70 Squadron in Iraq flying Vickers Vimys. On return to UK in 1937 he attended the Central Flying School and became an instructor first at No 7 FTS then at 4 FTS. Joined 216 Sqn in September 1940 flying Bristol Bombays, only heavy Bomber transport in the Middle East and it was in the thick of the fighting. By middle of 1942 had taken part in five separate campaigns, Italian,Syrian,Iraq, Greece and Western Desert flying some 1200 hours in the process.Awarded DSO in 1942 . During the siege of Tobruk he flew supply missions and transported personnel into the area in the face of heavy defending fire. Full details and black & white photo enclosed. Certified Copy no 310 of 1060 Signed.

B12c

Price: £5.95

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Vickers Vimy Signed ACM Sir Kenneth Cross
15 May 85 Jersey 60th Anniversary of No 502 Sqn Royal Auxillary Air Force Special Postmark. Vickers Vimy . 60th Anniversary of the formation of the First Special Reserve Unit No 502 Sqn Royal Auxillary Air Force.Cover depicts Vickers Vimy of 58 Squadron based at Helopolls December 1919. Black flown cachet Flown in Bulldog XX711 of No 13 Air Experience Flight from RAF Aldergrove on a re enactment of operational formation flight made by the Vickers Vimys of No 502 ( Ulster ) sqn.
Personally Signed by Air Chief Marshal Sir Kenneth Cross KCB CBE DSO DFC
Accepted for a five year SSC, he arrived at Uxbridge on 11 April 1930 for his two week 'Officer Training' before proceeding to No 3 FTS at Grantham for his year's flying training course. Graduation from No 3 FTS was followed by his first posting to No 25 Sqn at Hawkinge which at the time was equipped with Siskins. Re-equipment with Hawker Fury's also saw the squadron selected to undertake the squadron formation display at the 1933 and 1934 Hendon Air Displays. It was during this period that Kenneth Cross was part of 'C' Flight which attempted and perfected a barrel roll in formation, the first time this had been achieved, and a manoeuvre incorporated into the squadron display.
Nearing the end of his SSC, he attempted to gain a permanent commission by taking a specialization examination in which he needed to pass in the top 25. Failing to do this he applied for a newly introduced Medium Service Commission which would extend his initial five year engagement to 10. Being accepted, he was then selected for training as a Flying Instructor and left Hawkinge for the CFS at Wittering in late 1934. Qualifying as a QFI he was posted to No 5 Flying Training School at RAF Sealand. During June and July 1936 he was attached to Cambridge UAS during it's Annual Camp at RAF Abingdon. Returning to Sealand he was informed of his permanent posting to Cambridge UAS and so he moved to their base at Duxford. In 1937 the RAF offered the opportunity to those holding medium service commissions of being accepted for permanent commissions, 'Bing ' applied for one and was successful.
Promotion to Squadron Leader, initially as Administrative Officer at Duxford, was quickly followed by a posting to HQ No 12 Group under Trafford Leigh-Mallory as Auxiliary Liaison officer. This involved touring the Auxiliary squadrons in No 12 Group, advising on training as they prepared to convert from biplanes to Hurricanes and Spitfires. A return to the operational environment came with his appointment to command No 46 Sqn equipped with Hurricanes and based at Digby. Operations at this stage was mainly convoy patrols over the North Sea, but then Squadron Leader Cross was told to go to France and recce a site for the operation of 46 Sqn as part of the Air Component BEF. This move never came off however, as 46 was then sent to reinforce British forces in Norway.
Flying their Hurricanes from the deck of HMS Glorious they arrived eventually at their operating base of Bardufoss from where they were to cover operations around Narvik. On 3 June he learnt that Norway was to evacuated completely. Given the choice of flying his aircraft further North, dismantling them and putting them aboard a steamer or leaving them and burning them, he proposed an alternative - to fly them onto the deck of HMS Glorious. Having successfully landed his squadron on the carrier it made it's way independently back to Scapa Flow. Unfortunately, it was attacked by the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau and sunk, 'Bing' Cross and his flight commander, Pat Jameson being the only two pilots of 46 to survive. Scrambling aboard a Cayley float together with about 30 others they drifted for three days and two nights until being rescued by the Norwegian trawler SS Borgund, taken to the Faroes and then to Rosyth aboard HMS Veteran.
Two months convalescence at the Gleneagles Hotel was followed by his appointment to HQ No 12 Group as a Group Controller, he was unable to return to flying due to 'trench foot' as a result of his experience. As his feet recovered he desired to get back in the air and decided to apply for a posting in the Middle East. Originally earmarked for a Staff position, he was appointed to command No 252 Wing responsible for the air defence of western Egypt in view of his recent fighter experience. He was desperate to get into the main operational area and his wish was granted in late 1941 with first a supernumerary posting to HQ Western Desert Air Force and then command of No 258 Wing. However, when No 258 was upgraded to a Group, he found himself back in Alexandria at the helm of No 252 Wing. Promotion to Act Air Commodore brought a move back to Western Desert Air Force as AOC, No 212 Group albeit short-lived as he was moved further West as AOC, No 242 Group initially part of Eastern Air Command, then North-west African Tactical Air Force and finally North-west Coastal Air Force. Continuing to operate from Algiers and Tunisia in support of Operation Husky (the Sicilian invasion) before moving his group onto the Italian mainland, his command expanded from air defence and tactical support to embrace shipping strike and recce.
Following one of his rear visits to the UK on leave during this period, he was due to return aboard a Hudson aircraft which suffered engine problems. To avoid further delays he managed to 'hitch' a flight back on a American C-54. On arriving back in Africa he learnt that the Hudson he should have been aboard had been shot down crossing the Bay of Biscay with all onboard being killed.
After an absence of over three years, he returned to the UK to work once again under his old boss, Trafford Leigh-Mallory, who was now the Air C in C, Allied Expeditionary Air Force. In this capacity, together with his American counterpart, he was tasked with the conversion of RAF and USAAF fighter squadrons from the air fighting role to that of ground attack. With the Invasion of France underway the training requirement was reduced and he requested to return to operations in a reduced rank, however Portal had other ideas and Cross was posted to the Air Ministry as the Director of Overseas Operations (Tactical), the post in which he finished his war service.
With the cessation of hostilities and now holding a permanent commission, he reverted to his substantive rank of Group Capt and the more normal career pattern of an senior officer. Attending the first post war course at the Imperial Defence College he moved to Germany on graduation as a Staff Officer with the British Air Forces of Occupation. This phase of his career included being closely involved in the planning of the Berlin airlift. A lengthy tour in Germany was followed by a return to the Air Ministry. The introduction of the V-Bombers brought with it a re-think of bomber operations, a result of which was the staffing of Bomber Command with Senior officers with fighter experience. It was because of his previous experience in this area that Kenneth Cross found himself AOC, No 3 Group and then AOC in C, Bomber Command. His final post in the RAF saw yet another change of role when he became AOC in C, Transport Command. During his tenure at the helm of Transport Command, he had the pleasure of returning to his old squadron, No 46, when on 27 January 1967, he attended the ceremony at Abingdon to welcome the arrival of the first Andovers with which the squadron was about to be equipped following its re-formation in December 1966.
Always a keen sportsman, he played Rugby for Harlequins as well as the RAF. He met his future wife, Brenda, in 1944 when she worked in the War Room in Whitehall marrying her within a month, remaining happily married until she died in 1991.
Citation for the award of the Distinguished Service Order.
"Acting Group Captain Kenneth Brian Boyd CROSS, D.F.C.
Since the commencement of operations in the Libyan campaign, this officer has displayed inspiring courage and leadership. In spite of his onerous duties on the ground, Group Captain Cross has constantly participated in the air operations and his indomitable courage and skill have contributed materially to the fighting efficiency of the force he commands." With details and Photograph of Air Chief Marshal Cross Certified Copy No of 1190 Signed .

B15c

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59th Anniv 1st Flight Fairey Fox Signed Rutter Pilot
3 Jan 84 59th Anniversary of the First Flight of the Fox Special Postmark. Fairey Fox 59th Anniversary of the First Flight of the Fairey Fox 3 January 1984. Black flown cachet flown in Buccaneer of No 12 Sqn on detachment to Gibraltar, on an attack sorte against the Royal Navy ships en route to the Falkland Islands, Simulating Sea - Skimming missile ( Exocet ) flight profiles. Personally Signed by Air Vice Marshall N C S Rutter CB CBE C Eng FInst Mech E FRAeS RAF ( Ret'd ) In Sep 1926 Aircraft Apprentice, 14th Entry, No 1 School of Technical Training. 1929 Flight Cadet, 'B' Sqn, RAF College, Cranwell 25 Jul 1931 Appointed to a Permanent Commission. He flew a variety of aircraft Avro 504, Bristol Fighters, Atlas and Fairey Fox before joining Nos 12 and 18 Squadrons, 23 Feb 1932 No 39 Sqn.flew Wapiti 1 Apr 1934 No 60 Sqn. Flew Wapiti 8 Mar 1935 Supernumerary, RAF Depot. 23 Sep 1935 Attended Officers' Engineering Course, Home Aircraft Depot/RAF School of Aeronautical Engineering. 31 Jan 1938 Staff, No 1 (General Engineering) Wing, Home Aircraft Depot. 1 Aug 1938 Engineering Officer, No 4 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit. 24 Apr 1940: Transferred to the Technical BranchAttended RAF Staff College. 1945 Senior Engineer Staff Officer, HQ No 47 Group. 1947 Deputy Director of Technical Policy. Attended Joint Services Staff College. Attended Imperial Defence College, 1959 AOC and Commandant, RAF Technical College, Henlow 21 Aug 1961 Senior Technical Staff Officer, HQ Bomber Command. Details & Black & White Photo enclosed.Certified Copy No 1199 of 1384 Signed. RAF Ref no B15c

B18c

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Handley Page Heyford FDC Signed MRAF Boyle.
21 June 83 Jersey First Flight of the Production Version of the Handley Page Heyford. Black flown cachet flown from Jersey to Southampton Airport in Trislander by courtesy of Aurigny Air Services. Route Alderney to Ortac to Frawley to Southampton.
Personally Signed by Marshal Royal Air Force Dermot Boyle ( served with 17 Sqn Aug 1924 to Dec 1925 ) became the first ex-Cranwell Cadet to reach the position of Chief of the Air Staff. He qualified as a QFI at the CFS in 1927 achieving a rare 'A1' rating. Whilst serving at the Central Flying School in 1928, he led the school's display team of two Genet Moths, the other pilot being fellow instructor, Richard Atcherley. However, he nearly did not achieve his ultimate greatness. He was carrying out a low slow roll in one of the School's Tomtits, when the engine cut out. The aircraft crashed and was declared a write-off but Boyle walked away owing to the strength of it's metal construction.
In 1935 he had the privilege of taking The Queen Mother (then the Duchess of York) for her first flight. This took place from the grounds of Sir Philip Sassoon's residence in a Puss Moth. The flight resulted in an instruction from the Air Council that members of the Royal Family where not to be flown "in conditions unbecoming of their station".
Appointed to the staff of the Advanced Air Striking Force in 1939, he was tasked with the organisation of the final withdrawal of the Force's remaining units through Brest and together with his AOC, became one of the last RAF officers to leave France. 28 Jun 1940: Air Staff - Operations, HQ Bomber Command.21 Nov 1940:Officer Commanding, No 83 Sqn.17 Feb 1941:Assistant Secretary, Committee of Imperial Defence.17 Jan 1942: Officer Commanding, RAF Stradishall.17 May 1943:SASO, No 83 Group.26 Aug 1943:Appointed Air ADC to The King26 Apr 1945:AOC, No 85 (Base) Group.20 Jul 1945:AOC, No 11 Group. 2 Apr 1946: Attended Imperial Defence College. 2 Jan 1947 Commandant, RAF Staff College 26 Jul 1948 Director-General of Personnel (1) 2 Aug 1949 Director-General of Manning 5 Apr 1951 AOC, No 1 (Bomber) Group.
Whilst AOC, No 1 Group, he undertook a flight from London to Valetta in a Canberra, setting a new speed record for the journey. In 1952 he flew one of the four Canberras involved in Operation' Round Trip'. This consisted of a seven week tour taking in 14 South American countries covering 24,000 miles. Shortly after taking up his appointment as CAS, he undertook a tour of RAF bases in the Middle and Far East by piloting himself in a Canberra covering around 20,000 miles. Following his retirement from active service he joined ? (Aircraft Company) becoming Vice-Chairman of the British Aircraft Corporation in 1962 until 1971. He was also Master of the Guild of Airline Pilots and Air Navigators (1965 - 66), Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the RAF Museum (1965 - 74) and Deputy Chairman of the RAF Benevolent Fund (1971 - 80 ) Details & Black and White Photo of Marshal Royal Air Force Dermot Boyle Certified Copy No of 1500. Signed project Officer

B21c

Price: £12.00

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31st Anniv last flight Wellington Signed Reid VC
31 Mar 84 Jersey 31st Anniv last flight Wellington. Cover depicts 425 Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force Wellington flying over Yorkshire in the summer of 1942 and 425 Squadron RCAF badge. The Vickers Wellington was designed by Sir Barnes Wallis and served the RAF in many roles from 1938 to 1953. In the early years of WW11 Wellingtons were the backbone of Bomber Command and made their last bombing raid on 9 October 1943.Cover flown in the sole remaining serviceable Avro Lancaster City of Lincoln PA 474 at the Air Show held at RAF Swinderby, RAF Cosford and Duxford on 16th and 17th June 1984..Backstamped black RAF Farnborough 22 Jun 84.Personally Signed by Flight Lieutenant W Reid VC BSc RAF. On 14 December 1943 while flying Lancaster aircraft with No 61 Squadron as bomber Pilot awarded the Victoria Cross following a raid on Dusseldorf in 1943, after recovering from his injuries he was posted to 617 Dambuster's Squadron, was shot down on 31 July 44 by being bombed from above, and became a POW Details enclosed with black and white photo of W Reid VC holders. Certified copy No 0428 of 1397 Signed Randle

B23c

Price: £25.00

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Blenheim Cover Signed B Edrich Pilot and England Cricket Test Player
12 Apr 85 Jersey 50th Anniversary of the First Flight of the Bristol Britain First . Cover depicts Bristol Blenheim of No 107 Squadron attacking German shipping off the Frisian Islands July 1941.Red Flown cachet flown in BAC111 of the Empire Test Pilots School where the Bristol Blenheim was built and from where the Britain First the forerunner of the Blenheim made its first Flight Special Signed. Bill Edrich WW11 pilot awarded DFC.
Aircrew History. I.T.W. Hastings Tourquay June 1940 - July 1940. E.F.T.S. Burnaston, Derby July - 1940 - August 1940 Magisters, F.T.S. Cranwell September 1940 - November 1940, Nav School Cranage Cheshire December 1940 - January 1941 . O.T.U. Upwood Blenheims February 1941 - April 1941 Mk 1V's Operational Great Massingham 107 Sqn May 1941 - July 1941, Watton 21 Sqn August 1941 - September 1941 Staff 2 Group Headquarters Huntingdon September 1941 .!942 180 Sqn Mitchell B 25's off operations medical grounds, 1943 - 45 2 Group Headquarters Nov 1945 Demobilised as Squadron Leaders. and played cricket Norfolk CC.C. 1932 ( aged 16 ) to 1936, Middlesex 1937 - 1958 excepting war years, & England 1938 - 1955 with odd omissions. Born 26 March 1916 died 23 April 1986.
Details enclosed . Certified Copy No of 1157. Born 26 March 1916 died 23 April 1986

B23d

Price: £75.00

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Special Signed By W.J.Edrich Blenheim pilot awarded DFC and Denis C.S. Compton Both played cricket For England .245 numbered & issued

B24c

Price: £19.95

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B234c 1st Victoria Cross awarded Bomber Command Learoyd VC
12 Aug 82 Jersey 1st Victoria Cross awarded to Bomber Command special postmark. Cover depicts Flt Lt Learoyd in 49 Squadron HP Hampden P4403 bombing an aqueduct of the Dortmund - Ems Canal on 12 August 1940, for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross and 49 Squadron badge. The Handley page Hampden High - Speed Day Bomber entered RAF Service in 1938 and was withdrawn from the Bomber Command in October 1943. The Hampden was vulnerable in day bombing and was confined to night bombing and mine laying duties. 2 Victoria Crosses were awarded to Hampden crew members in bombing missions, Wg Cdr Learoyd of 49 Squadron and posthumously to Sqt Hannah of 13 Squdron. Personally signed by Flt Lt Learoyd 49 Squadron HP Hampden pilot bombing an aqueduct of the Dortmund - Ems Canal on 12 August 1940. and Flt Lt White the Jaguar Pilot ,blue jaguar Flight cachet & photo of Wg Cdr Leoroyd VC ,Flown in 2 Squadron Jaguar GR1 XZ111 from RAF Laarbruch ( Germany) overflying the Dortmund - Ems Canal ( where Wg Cdr Learoyd won his VC ) to RAF Laarbruch.. With red 2 Sqn backstamp. Certified copy.

Special. Signed.R. Learoyd VC.

B25aH

Price: £11.95

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As B25a But signed Gp.Capt.G.’Hamish’ Mahaddie DSO DFC AFC.1st Tour Bomber Pilot, later joined new Pathfinders 7 Sqn

B27c

Price: £10.95

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15 Apr 86 Jersey 70th Anniv of 49 Squadron RAF Special Postmark. Avro Manchester 70th Anniversary of No 49 Squadron . Picture Cachet of Manchesters of No 49 Squadron based at RAF Scampton over Lincoln June 1942.Black Flown in Gazelle of the CFS (H) Squadron RAF Shawbury to Manchester . Personally Signed by Air Chief Marshal Sir.August Walker GCB CBE DSO DFC AFC MA
29 Sep 1934: Appointed to a Permanent Commission in the rank of Pilot Officer.
29 Sep 1934: U/T Pilot, No 5 FTS, RAF Sealand.
1 Sep 1935: Pilot, No 99 Sqn. (Mildenhall)
18 Jan 1937: Attended Air Armament School, Eastchurch
1 Sep 1938: Armament Development Staff, Joint Directorate of Research and Development.
3 Jun 1940: Attended/Staff, No 16 OTU.
5 Nov 1940: Officer Commanding, No 50 Sqn.
20 Apr 1942: Officer Commanding, RAF Syerston.
24 Mar 1943: AOC, No 42 Base - RAF Pocklington.
26 Aug 1943: Appointed Air ADC to The King
12 Feb 1945: SASO, HQ No 4 Group.
11 May 1946: Deputy Director of Operational Training.
5 Feb1948: SASO, Rhodesian Air Training Group. (Effective from 21 Feb 1948)
xx xxx xxxx: Appointed Additional Air ADC to the King
26 Apr 1949: Title of appointment changed to ADC to The King
10 Jun 1952 - 31 Jul 1956: ADC to The Queen. (effective from 6 Feb 1952)
28 Aug 1950: Attended Joint Services Staff College.
Jan 1953: Attended Imperial Defence College.
1 Feb 1954: Commandant, RAF Flying College.
3 Oct 1956: AOC, No 1 Group.
15 Jun 1959: Chief Information Officer, Air Ministry
24 Sep 1961: AOC in C, Flying Training Command.
15 Aug 1964: Inspector-General of the RAF.
1 Mar 1967 : Deputy C in C, Allied Forces Central Europe.
9 Nov 1968 - 7 Jul 1970: Air ADC to The Queen.
'Gus' Walker, as he was more commonly known, became famous throughout the RAF due to the loss of his right arm. The incident in which he lost his arm occurred on 8 December 1942 whilst he was Station Commander of RAF Syerston. A Lancaster belonging to one of his squadrons lost some incendiaries just as it was about to take off. Racing to the rescue of the crew, 'Gus' was seriously injured, when he was blown along the runway by the force of an exploding 4000lb bomb, ignited by the incendiaries.

He was born in Yorkshire and attended St Bees School before going to St Catharine's College, Cambridge where he was awarded a University Commission entering the RAF after gaining a MA in 1934. 'Gus' was an extremely good rugby player, playing for the RAF, Blackheath, Yorkshire and England and captaining the RAF team from 1936 to 1939.

Promoted to Air Commodore he took command of No 42 Base. This consisted of the RAF Pocklington and its two satellites at Elvington and Melbourne, all situated just outside York. During Operation 'Musketeer' in 1956, many of his squadrons were detached to Cyprus in order to carry out operations against Egyptian targets. These forces included both Canberra an Valiant units. On 16 April 1959 he was an observer at the first live launch of Thor IRBM by an RAF crew at Vandenburg AFB.

Retirement from the RAF did not mean a rest for Sir 'Gus' as he joined the Board of Philips Electronics, remaining as such until 1982. He also took an extremely active role in a number of voluntary and welfare organisations. These included RAFA (Chairman 1973 - 78, President 1978 - 81), National Sporting Club (Chairman 1973 - 83) and Governor and Commandant, Church Lads' (Lads' and Girls' from 1978) Brigade, 1970 - 79. Following his death, his wife donated a painting of a Halifax to the North & East Region of the Air Training Corps which is presented to the winners of the Region's annual inter-Wing rugby competition. Always a true Yorkshireman, he took a great interest in the formation of the Yorkshire Air Museum at Elvington, being made one of its first patrons. An airman who remembered him from the 1950's sent me this comment: -

B30AJ

Price: £29.95

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31 Dec 81 Jersey Disbandment of No 617 Squadron special postmark. Picture Cachet of Last Operational mission of 617 Dambuster Squadron Berchtesgaden April 25th 1945 and 617 RAF Squadron 617 badge. Blue flown Cachet Flown in Vulcan B MK 2 XL 318 of No 617 Sqn on a 500ft flypast over the bomber command museum site on 27 Nov 81 as part of the appeal launch ceremony. Signed by Sqn Ldr G L Johnson DFM. Bomb Aimer J McCarthy's Crew.On Dams Raid 17th May 1943

B30aM

Price: £25.00

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Signed by Les Munro, Dambuster pilot with 617 Sqn. Operation Chastise May 16/17 1943.

Signed by Les Munro, Dambuster pilot with 617 Sqn. Operation Chastise May 16/17 1943.

B33cG

Price: £55.00

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4 Oct 1983 Washington DC 40th Anniversary of the introduction of the Liberator Mk3 to Royal Air Force Bomber Operations 14 December 1942. Cover depicts B24 Liberators of No 703 Sqn, No 445 bomb group USAAC. Squadron Commander Lt Col James Stewart RAF Badge 104 Sqn Personally signed Lt.Gen.lra. C.Eaker.USAF and Adolf Galland.

Lt Gen Ira C Eaker As World War II commander of both the 8th Air Force in England and the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces, Gen. Ira C. Eaker was one of the most important figures in air warfare. April 1945 marked a turning point for Eaker's career and for the something he called the new Air Force. Gen. Ira C. (Clarence) Eaker one of America's great air pioneers. The Ira Eaker Aviation Museum in Dallas is a fitting tribute to the son of a Texas tenant farmer who enlisted as a private in 1917, got his wings at Kelly Field in San Antonio, and ended his career as a four-star general in 1947. The museum is also another in a long list of honors for the man who commanded both the 8th Air Force and the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces during World War II. Eaker was commander of 8th Air Force when it deployed to England in early May 1942. By April 1945, he had accomplished his task by helping defeat Nazi Germany and freeing Western Europe. Before the end of the war, Eaker, like many other Army Air Force leaders, had made up his mind that the military should be reorganized. He wanted the services unified and the air arm to have parity with the Army and Navy. On April 13, his 49th birthday, Eaker was satisfied that the war in Europe was over, and made plans to go back to Washington, according to his biographer. After returning to AAF headquarters in April 1945, Eaker "was in the forefront in developing force structure, redeployment plans and organizational plans for the postwar Air Force," stated an Air Force history report. The history report also points to Eaker as one of the top men at AAF headquarters in 1945-47, when the AAF fought the successful battle for a separate Air Force. Eaker's executive officer during World War II writes that even before it was fashionable, the general had a nameplate on his desk that read "Air Force Spoken Here." In 1977, when Eaker was 81, he received the Wright Trophy, given annually to a civilian for aiding the cause of aviation. Two years later, at age 83, he received the Congressional Gold Medal an award first given to George Washington in 1777, and regarded ever since as the noncombatant equivalent of the Medal of Honour.
Details and pphoto of Eaker. Eaker died on Aug. 6, 1987
RAF Ref no B33c. Certified copy No of 1520.

Signed Adolf Galland Knights Cross with Diamonds 104 Victories and Helmut Ruffler Knights Cross JG3 Was shot down 5 times 690 missions 98 Victorie

B36c

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40th Anniv award Victoria Cross to Len Trent Signed himself
3 May 83 Jersey Lockheed Ventura 41st Anniv of Ventura and 40th Anniv of the award of the Victoria Cross to Gp Capt L. Trent VC. Cover depicts Sqn Ldr Trent in 487 Royal New Zealand Air Force Squadron Lockheed Ventura bombing Amsterdam Power Station on 3 May 1943, for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross and 487 Squadron RNZAF badge.The Lockheed Ventura was a development of the Lockheed Lodestar Transport. 394 Venturas were built and carried out their first daylight bombing raid on 3rd November 1942. Personally Signed by Sqn Ldr L.H.Trent VC .On 3rd May 1943 Sqn Ldr Trent showed outstanding leadership when he led 11 Ventura aircraft in a daylight attack on Amsterdam's power station.Crossing the Dutch coast 1 aircraft was hit and forced to return.Enemy fighters then shot down 6 Venturas in 4 minutes and of the reminder only 2 reached the target.Sqn Ldr Trent completed an accurate bombing run before his aircraft broke up and he and his navigator became prisoners of war.The other aircraft was destroyed over the target.
Trent was put into Stalag 111 and was appointed to take charge of security matters. On 24th March 1944 the Freat Escaper took place when 76 men escaped, Trent was caught when No 77 was spotted by a sentry.He was a lucky because Hitler had 50 of the escapers shot.
Details and black and white photo enclosed.2 backstamps. Certified Copy No 0289 of 1518. RAF Ref No B36c.

B39c

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Special Signed by Brig.Gen.P.W.Tibbets.AF B29 Super fortress Personally Signed General Tibbets. Cover introduction of Boeing B.29 renamed The Washington 1 to the Royal Air Force 22 March 1950.Blue Flown cachet. Flown in B29 Super fortress 44 62070 N 529B,'Fifi' of the Confederate Air Force from Charlotte North Carolina to Greensborough North Carolina flight time 45 mins. Personally Signed by Brigadier General Paul W Tibbets. He left medical school in 1937 and joined the Army Air Corp. at Wright Field in Dayton, Ohio. Here he could fly at government expense. While stationed at Ft. Benning, GA., and being a shotgun enthusiast, he was assigned to the base Skeet Shooting range. This is where he met George Patton. They became good friends and spent many hours on the shooting range. He also served as Patton's pilot during tank range manoeuvres. He has some great stories to tell about him. Paul flew B10 and B12 aircraft in low flying excercises. Returning from one of these missions in December 1941, he heard on his aircaft radio that the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbour. America was at war.
He was then transferred to the 29th Bomb Group to fly the new B17. He temporarily flew the B18 on antisub duty off the U.S. east coast. He was made Commander of the 40th Squadron, 97th Bombardment Group (Heavy) at MacDill Air Base, Tampa, FL. He trained his crew in the B17 and flew many hours, day and night. Most of this time, he slept in his clothes.
From Bangor, Maine, he flew across the North Atlantic to England. This was the first group of American-manned, tactical aircraft to reach the United Kingdom in WWII.
Paul was made the Executive Officer of the 97th Bombardment Group (Heavy). On August 17, 1942, he flew the first American plane on a daylight bombing raid over German occupied Europe. The mission was to bomb a rail yard in France. This mission was flown in the aircraft named, "Butcher Shop", not his regular plane. His future missions were flown in the "Red Gremlin". Paul had a great attachment to this aircraft and called it, "the Good Gremlin".
He flew many missions over German occupied territory. On one of these missions he was wounded but was able to return to his base.
Before the invasion of North Africa he flew General Mark Clark on a secret mission to Gibraltar. It was from Gibraltar that General Mark Clark directed the invasion of North Africa, "Operation Torch".
He later flew General Eisenhower (sitting on a 2 x 4) to North Africa on an inspection tour. Paul flew many missions in North Africa during 1942-43. He was then moved to Algiers and continued to fly missions. General Doolittle sent Paul back to the states to help develop a new bomber, the B29.
After extensive training with the B29, he was sent to Colorado Springs where he was selected to lead a top secret mission. He was 29 years old at the time. He would command the 509th Composite Group. From the Island of Tinian, Paul Tibbets would go down in history as the first pilot to drop the Atomic Bomb - the target, Hiroshima.
After the war he was consulted frequently about atomic testing and in the late 1940's and 50's he worked very hard to promote the new B47 Jet Bomber.
In 1954 he was a member of the NATO staff in Paris. Later Paul was put in charge of the 308th Bomb Wing in Savannah, GA.
In 1959 he was promoted to Brigadier General and was put in command of the Air Division at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, FL.
In 1962 he was selected to put together the National Military Command Center in Washington DC, at the Pentagon.
During 1964 he went to India to operate the Military Assistance Group, and in 1969, after this very impressive career, he retired from the military service.
In 1976 he was made president of Executive Jet Aviation in Columbus, Ohio, and is now retired. Black & White photo And details enclosed. Certified Copy of 1477 Signed.

B40c

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Breaking London to Capetown & return record Canberra 1953 Signed
19 Dec 83 Jersey 30th Anniversary of the breaking of the London to Capetown to London record by Canberra. 30th Anniversary of the breaking of the London to Capetown return record by Canberra 19 December 1953. Cover depicts Canberra of No 45 Sqn approaching Tengah 1962. Flight Cachet on the reverse flown on a routine training flight from RAF Wyton to RAF Gibraltar and return . Personally Signed by Air Vice Marshal D Bower CBE AFC, Group Captain G G Petty, Wing Commander J McD Craig DFC and Wing Commander R F B Powell AFC Four of the Six crew members of WH699 Aries 1V that set the London to Capetown and Cape town to London World Record 1953. Certified Copy No 0027 of 1400 Signed Project Officer. RAF Ref No

B41c

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25th Anniv Operation Grapple Signed Pilot & Penney Scientist
15 June 82 25th Anniversary of Operation Grapple. Vickers Valiant B1 . Cover depicts Valiant B1 XD 818 No 49 Sqn RAF leaving the dropping zone off Maiden Island 15 May 1957. Red flown cachet Flown from RAF Wittering by a Harrier of No 1 ( F ) Sqn. Personally Signed by Gp Capt K G Hubbard who took command of 49 sqn at RAF Wittering. No 49 Sqn was specifically tasked with the live drops element of British thermonuclear testing, Operation Grapple . The operation culminating on 15th May 1957 with the first live drop of a British megaton yield weapon. The dropping aircraft Valiant B1 XD818 was captained by Wing Commander Hubbard. Also Signed by Lord Penney of East Hendred
was appointed to direct the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment at Aldermaston. He was AWRE Director from 1953 to 1959, the period of Britains emergence as a nuclear power and the weapon tests of operation Buffalo and Grapple. He personally led the scientific team for the first British A Bomb drops at Maralinga.details and photo of Lord Penny.. Certified Copy No of 1400 signed project Officer.

B43c

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30th Anniv 1st Flight Victor Signed Air Vice Marshal I G Broom
24 De 82 Ascension Postmark on 10p B25c Ascension Stamp. Black flown cachet flown from Ascension Island on the 30th Anniversary of the maiden flight of the Victor in Victor K2 XL160 of No 57 Sqn engaged on an in - flight refuelling mission with a Hercules Transport en route to Port Stanley Falkland Islands. The Hercules flight was part of Airbridge Santa Claus transporting Christmas supplies to the Garrison.
Picture cachet of Victor Tanker of No 57 Sqn refuelling Hercules of No 70 Sqn between Ascension Island and the Falklands July 1982.
Personally Signed by Air Vice Marshal I G Broom
Broom Aug 1940: U/T Pilot, No 13 EFTS - RAF White Waltham, No 14 SFTS - RAF Cranfield May 1941: Blenheim Conversion Course, No 13 OTU -RAF Bicester Jul 1941: Sergeant Pilot, No 114 Sqn. Sep 1941: Transit flight to Malta. 18 Sep 1941: Pilot, No 105 Sqn. Pilot, No 107 Sqn. 1942: Attended No 7 Flying Instructor's School 1942:Instructor, No 13 OTU. xx May 1943: Instructor, No 1655 MTU. Apr 1944: Pilot, No 571 Sqn - LNSF. 1944: Flight Commander, No 128 Sqn. Jan 1945: Officer Commanding, No 163 Sqn. 2 Apr 1946 : Appointed to Permanent Commission in the rank of Flight Lieutenant (retaining rank current at the time). [wef 1 Sep 1945] 1 Dec 1945: Command Air Movements Officer, HQ ACSEA. Nov 1946: Officer Commanding, No 28 Sqn. 1948: School's Liaison Officer - East Anglia. Apr 1949: Attended RAF Staff College. Dec 1949: Squadron Commander, No 1 Initial Training School. Apr 1952: Attended RAF Flying College. 15 May 1953: Officer Commanding, No 57 Sqn. Dec 1954: Syndicate Leader. Certified Copy No 1118 of 1460 Signed.

B44c

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RAF Flown Buccanneer FDC Signed AM Sir H Jones
1 June 84 Jersey Buccaneer Presentation of the New Standard to No 208 Squadron RAF 1 June 1984. Picture cachet of The Buccaneer completing labs manoeuvre 1978.Flown cachet flown in Buccaneer of No 208 Sqn one of a formation of 3 Buccaneers which made a ceremonial flypast at RAF Lossiemouth on the occasion of the presentation of the New Standard by Air Marshal Sir Humphrey Edwardes Jones. Personally Signed by Air Marshal Sir Humphrey Edwards Jones KCB CBE DFC AFC.
18 Sep 1926: U/T Pilot, No 5 FTS 22 Aug 1927: Pilot, No 1 Sqn. 19 Dec 1928:Pilot, Station Flight, RAF Duxford. 3 Apr 1929: QFI, No 2 FTS.29 Mar 1930: QFI, No 4 FTS. 21 Jan 1932: Flight Commander, No 208 Sqn. 3 Oct - 5 Dec 1933, 1936: Test pilot, Aeroplane & Armament Experimental Establishment. 3 May 1937: Officer Commanding, No 213 Sqn. May 1940: Officer Commanding, No 17 Sqn. 1940 Officer Commanding, No 56 OTU. 1941:Officer Commanding, No 60 OTU. 1941: Officer Commanding, No 58 OTU. 1942:Officer Commanding, Exeter Sector. 1942:Officer Commanding, No 323 (Fighter) Wing - Algiers. 1 Jun 1943: Group Captain, HQ North-West African Coastal Air Force. 1943: AOC, No 210 Group - Algiers. 8 May 1945: Deputy Director of Operations, HQ Mediterranean Allied Air Forces. Jan 1950:Attended Imperial Defence College. 15 Jan 1951:Director of Plans. 1 Jul 1951 to 6 Feb 1952: Appointed ADC to The King 10 Jun 1952: Appointed ADC to The Queen (effective from 6 Feb 1952) 1 Mar 1952: SASO, HQ 2nd Tactical Air Force 1955: Commandant, School of Land/Air Warfare. 1 Jun 1957:C in C, 2nd TAF 1 Jan 1959:C in C, RAF Germany/Commander, 2nd ATAF
Having gained a BA degree at Pembroke College, Cambridge, John Edwardes-Jones entered the RAF in 1925/26. Whilst based at A & AEE at Martlesham Heath, he was involved in the early test flying of the Spitfire.Certified Copy No 0596 of 1390. Details with 2 Black & White photos.

Online Catalogue | RAF Museum Souvenir Covers Flown RAF Covers | Bomber Command B1 - 40

Bomber Command B1 - 40

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