Bidspirit auction | WW2 RAF W/O Harold Kirby

WW2 RAF W/O Harold Kirby 97 Sqn signed Avro Lancaster Bomber Bookplate. 7 x 5 inch limited Special edition printed card with border, perfect for matting or use as bookplate. 16 Operations with 467 Squadron, 28 with 97 sqn. He started life in the RAF training as a Flight Mechanic and Fitter (Airframes) as I was originally considered as medically unfit for flying duties. During training volunteers were required to train as Fight Engineers for the four-engined aircraft. I applied and this time passed the medical and was accepted. After a few months working as a Fitter on 460 Squadron at Binbrook I was posted to RAF St Athan where I did my Flight Engineer training. I was then posted to 1661 Heavy Conversion Unit at Winthorpe where I joined my crew, ( all the rest being Australian ). These were Bill Ryan (Pilot), Les Sabine (Navigator), Jim McPhee (Bomb Aimer), Johnny Nichols (Wireless Operator), Bert Newing (Rear Gunner), and Norm Johnston (Mid-Upper Gunner). After a period at LFS based at RAF Syerston we were posted to 467 Squadron at Waddington where we completed sixteen operations before transferring to 97 PFF Squadron at Coningsby where we completed our first tour of operations and went on to complete fourteen further operations before the end of the war. The duties of a Flight Engineer were quite involved including checking various features of the aircraft prior to taking off. At take=off operating engine control such as throttle levers to leave the pilot free to operate flying controls, and, during flight, operating flap and undercarriage controls and bomb doors as required. Also keeping an eye on oil temperatures and pressures and recording the same at set intervals and operating the fuel tank controls as necessary. When not doing this keeping a look-out for enemy air-craft. The F/E also had to be ready to take over from the pilot if the latter became incapacitated. to keep the aircraft flying more or less straight and level and on courses ordered by the Navigator, and takeover from the Bomb Aimer if necessary. I never had to take over from the pilot except during training, but towards the end of the war I did act as Bomb Aimer while the usual Bomb Aimer assisted the Navigator with some radar equipment. Shortly after leaving the target on our very first operation the Rear Gunner suddenly shouted ”Cork-screw” as he spotted a two-engined aircraft approaching from behind. The pilot immediately dived at the same time as shots were exchanged, one from the other aircraft passing through the rear turret and the gunners clothing, cutting off his heating supply. The two-engined air craft overshot us and disappeared into the darkness and fortunately we never saw it again, On a daylight operation against a V1 storage site in France the mid-upper gunner shouted there's a Lanc above us has just opened its bomb doors, but before we could take evasive action we heard two thumps as we had a bomb through both wings the one on the port side taking away the undercarriage on that side, and putting all the hydraulics out of action, We came back with three engines and the pilot decided to do a belly landing at Wittering which, at that time had a grass runway. Both these incidents occurred while we were with 467 Squadron and we had no similar serious problems when with 97 Squadron. Single Vendor collection. Good condition. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide. UK postage from £5.99, EU from £7.99, Rest of World from £9.99.