Bidspirit auction | WW2 Rare Battle of Britain

WW2 Rare Battle of Britain Sailor Benn 219 sqn, Peter Fox 56 sqn multiple signed RAF cover. 50th ann BOB JS50/40/6 also signed by J Booth 600 sqn, Archie Winskill 603 sqn, John Keatings 219 sqn, R Wolton 152 sqn. Flown by the RAF and also signed by the pilot. G W Benn By January 1938, Benn had returned to the United Kingdom and joined No. 217 Squadron as a corporal air gunner, flying Avro Ansons on coastal patrols and VIP evacuations from the Channel Islands in the lead-up to war. At the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939, he transferred to the newly reforming No. 219 Squadron at RAF Catterick, equipped with Bristol Blenheim night fighters. During the Battle of Britain from July to October 1940, Benn flew operational sorties, including a notable interception on 15 August 1940 against 42 Junkers Ju 88 bombers approaching Flamborough Head from Norway; crewed with Sergeant F. G. Nightingale in Blenheim L1240, they damaged an enemy aircraft before evading friendly Spitfires, with Benn sustaining a knockout injury in the turret. He completed the Battle of Britain period with No. 219 Squadron, qualifying for the 1939-1945 Star with Battle of Britain clasp, Air Crew Europe Star, and other campaign medals. Post-Battle of Britain, Benn continued operational flying until 1942, after which he served in maintenance roles, including at No. 53 Maintenance Unit at Charlwood supplying munitions. In August 1945, he deployed to Singapore with No. 5353 Airfield Construction Wing to build runways at Changi Airfield for repatriating prisoners of war via Avro York transports, followed by duty at No. 314 Maintenance Unit at Seletar disposing of Japanese ordnance with Japanese POW labour. Returning to the UK in 1948, he was posted to a radar unit at RAF Chicksands and then to RAF Luqa in Malta in 1949, before his final UK assignment and discharge to pension on 16 October 1954 as a warrant officer, having earned the Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-1945, and Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. Nicknamed ”Sailor” due to his early naval aviation experience, Benn's full medal set was later replaced and presented in 2004 through efforts by fellow veterans and the Battle of Britain London Monument. Peter Fox Peter has always described his involvement in the Battle of Britain as `one of the also rans` but I am sure that is a very modest view. He joined the RAFVR in June 1939 and after converting to Hurricanes, he joined No 56 Squadron at Boscombe Down on 17 September 1940. On the 30 September he was shot down in combat and was forced to bale out over the Portland area. On the 16 November he and PO Ingle-Finch were flying a Miles Magister when it crashed at Okeford and both were admitted to hospital. In June 1941 Peter joined 234 Squadron at Warmwell. Unfortunately on 21 October 1941 his luck ran out when he was shot down over France and taken POW. After being freed on 16 April 1945, he rejoined the RAF until 1946. . Good condition Est.