Bidspirit auction | Sqn Ldr Jock Maitland DFC

Sqn Ldr Jock Maitland DFC signed cover COF46 The Helicopter at War Korea. 2004 Century of Flight official series cover, superb illustration, special postmark. He joined the RAF in 1942 and trained in the US and UK before being posted to a Spitfire squadron in Palestine. After returning to the UK he volunteered for duties with the USAF and flew an F-86 Sabre in Korea with 25th Fighter Interception Squadron. He flew regular missions into North Korea and by the time the war ended, in July 1953, he had flown 77 operational missions. He was later awarded the American DFC and the Air Medal. In June 1956 he was given command of No 249 Squadron, based in Amman, Jordan. He left England in his own light aircraft and en route to Jordan landed at his old fighter base at Abu Sueir in the Canal Zone. With the Suez Crisis looming he was accused of being a spy and the British air attaché had to arrange his release. As the Suez crisis escalated, No 249 moved to Cyprus and his Venom fighter-bomber squadron was heavily involved in the actual conflict. When attacking trucks, he always flew over them first to allow people to escape before he destroyed the vehicles on a second pass. In June he was stationed in Oman to provide support for ground forces engaging rebel forces attempting to seize the Sultanate. He subsequently left the RAF in the wake of defence cuts announced in 1957. Good condition. Part of Single Vendor collection. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide.