Bidspirit auction | Rare Battle of Britain pilot

Rare Battle of Britain pilot M A Birrell signed Navy cover Shooting Down Enemy Aircraft Catapult Ship signed. George C. Baldwin Captain & M. A. Birrell Commander Multi signed FDC. 40th Anniversary of the First Shooting Down of an Enemy Aircraft from Captain Ship 'Maplin' by a Hurricane Fighter 3 August 1941. RNSC(3)10. Single Stamp plus Single post marked 3 Aug 81. M A Birrell Battle of Britain. 3 Aug 81BFPS 1751 40th Anniv. of the 1st Shooting Down of an Enemy Aircraft from Catapult Ship Maplin by Hurricane Fighter. Personally signed by Cdr M A. Birrell 79 Sqn, Battle of Britain Pilot, ( Died 1990) Later 1st pilot shot from Catapult Ship 1941. In response to Churchill's request to the Admiralty for pilots Birrell was one of those loaned to the RAF in Mid - June 1940. After conversion to Hurricanes he Joined 79 Sqn at Biggin Hill. When the Squadron was rested he was posted to 804 ( FAA ) Squadron at Hatston. After a short spell with 802 Squadron he returned to 804 Sqn when it became a Catapult Fighter unit. Birrell was the first pilot to be catapulted from a CAM ship. He sailed in the Michael E on 28th 1941 bound for New York. Five days out from Belfast they were torpedoed by a U Boat and Birrell was among the survivors picked up after 20 hours in the boats. His next ship was the Ariganuam. On 26th August he was shot off in a Fulmar to deal with a FW Condor. He fired one burst before it vanished into cloud. Later the Ariganuam was sunk by U Boat. Good condition. Part of Single Vendor collection. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide.