Bidspirit auction | RARE Battle of Britain Bell

RARE Battle of Britain Bell Salter, Nutter multiple signed RAF WW2 cover, RAFA 8, 50th ann BOB. Signed 5 Battle of Britain Fighter Pilots Air gunner F W Higginson Ace. 12 destroyed, D B Bell - Salter 253 Sqn Pilot R C Nutter 257 Sqn Pilot James Booth Air Gunner 600 and 23 Sqn. Richard Haine 600 Sqn Ace 5 John Keatings 219 Sqn. 11th Sept 1990 Hawkinge 50th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain Major Assault 18 Aug 1940. Bell Salter - He rejoined 253 Squadron on 13th January 1940 and was sent to France with 'A' Flight on 18th May to Poix. On this day Bell-Salter shared a Hs126. Later the same day he was shot down in Hurricane L1655 by the Me110 escort of the He111's he was attacking south of Vitry. He was unhurt and rejoined the Flight on the 22nd. On the 24th the Flight was withdrawn to Kirton-in-Lindsey. On 2nd September 1940 Bell-Salter was shot down in Hurricane V6640 in combat over the Sussex coast near Rye. He attempted to get out of his cockpit but he was flying without gloves and, with his hood open, his hands were too cold to pull out the harness pin. Down to 1500 feet, he finally managed it and shot out by kicking his feet on the floor. The aircraft, being in a full-throttle dive, made the airflow such as to render him unconscious as he went through it. Bell-Salter came to at only 100 feet from the ground, hanging upside down by one leg with a single rigging line caught behind his knee. The parachute was torn across and flapping and his harness was completely off and hanging beside him. On hitting the ground Bell-Salter passed out again. He sustained several badly-crushed vertebrae, both shoulders were dislocated, one knee was broken and his right heel smashed. He was admitted to Rye Hospital. Bell-Salter was posted from 253 Squadron on 5th October 1940 to RAF Kenley as non-effective sick, with effect from 2nd September. He was in various hospitals for several months. In June 1941 Bell-Salter was instructing at 53 OTU Heston. He was released from the RAF in 1946 as a Flight Lieutenant.