Five of the Few pencil signed WW2 Battle of Britain

Description: Five of the Few signed WW2 Battle of Britain Tony & John have also signed on their title page next to their photos Tony Pickering AFC, 1 vic, joined the RAFVR in 1939 before being called up on September 1st 1939. Pickering was posted to 32 Squadron at Biggin Hill in July 1940 before a change to 501 Squadron. He was shot down in his Hurricane on September 11th and on October 29th claimed a Bf109 before his posting to 601 Squadron. He returned from OTU in 1943 with 131 Squadron as a Flight Commander, serving with this squadron until January 1944. In 1945 he was posted to the Middle East and became a Squadron Commander at the BGS, El Ballah before returning to the UK in December and his release as a Squadron Leader.John Ellacombe CB DFC* - joined the RAF in 1939 and was posted to 151 Squadron in July 1940, on Hurricanes. Posted to 253 Squadron where he took part in the Dieppe operations. Converting to Mosquitos, John was posted to 487 Squadron RNZAF, and during the build up to the Normandy Invasion and after, was involved in many ground attacks on enemy held airfields, railways, and other targets of opportunity. He completed a total of 37 sorties on Mosquitos. Flying a de Havilland Mosquito XIII with a devastating set of four 20mm cannon in the nose, John Ellacombe flew deep into occupied France on the night before D-Day searching out and destroying German convoys and railway targets. As the Normandy campaign raged on, 151 Squadron intensified its interdiction sorties - including night attacks on Falaise and the Seine bridges. On August 1st Ellacombe took part in the famous attack by 23 Mosquitoes on the German bar-racks in Poitiers, led by Group Captain Wykeham Barnes.Terry Clark DFM - Called up in 1939, he joined 615 Squadron, Auxiliary Air force, and flew as a gunner in Hawker Hectors before he qualified as an Air Gunner and also a Radio Observer. He joined No.219 Sqn at Catterick in July 1940 and flew on Beaufighters throughout the Battle of Britain. By September 1940, the conflict had reached its zenith and at night the feared Blitz began in earnest. More radar specialists were needed to deal with the threat so he was sent onto Beaufighters. He did not receive any training and still wore the AG brevet, but people began to ask why a plane without a gun turret had an air gunner on board, so he was given a badge that said RO. Eventually, in recognition of his new role, Terry was awarded his third flying badge – N for Navigator. His job was to track enemy aircraft and guide the pilot towards the selected contact. It was while flying the Beaufighter that he was awarded the DFM on 8th July 1941 after assisting his pilot to down three aircraft at night. He joined 1455 Flight in 1941, forming at Tangmere with Turbinlite Havocs, then flew the same aircraft with 1451 Flight at Hunsdon, locating enemy aircraft by Radar in the Havoc for accompanying fighters to attack and destroy. Commissioned in May 1942 from Warrant Officer and in May 1943 he was posted to No.488 Sqn RNZA flying Beaus and Mossies.Peter Olver DFC - March 1938 he joined the RAFVR at Derby and was called up for full time service on September 1st 1939. After 10 hour training he converted to Spitfires before joining 611 Sqn. on September 29th 1940.Moving to 603 Sqn. at Hornchurch on October 24th.The very next day on his first operational sortie he was shot down by Bf109’s, and was slightly wounded. He finished the war as an Ace with 6 victories. As photos. Postage will be combined for multiple sales at actual cost i.e. two books likely same price, 3 or more gets heavier and puts it up a little but I will not use that to realise extra profit. I have spent the last 30 years collecting WW2 memorabilia and particularly art prints by Robert Taylor, Nicolas Trudgian and others, with an eye to the print but also the signatures. It has been such a privilege to have travelled the length of the country to meet so many veterans of WW2 who have kindly signed my prints and books and these memories remain but now that I have retired I must make adjustments to my collection and - whilst still seeking out 'missing' signatures - I am gradually selling off parts of my collection.

Price: 10 GBP

Location: Newcastle

End Time: 2024-11-11T18:16:01.000Z

Shipping Cost: 19.12 GBP