Bidspirit auction | Rare Battle of Britain Sqn

Rare Battle of Britain Sqn Ldr Peter F McDonald Davies signed cover. RAF AC8 200th ann of Man's First Flight in The Montgolfier Hot-Air Balloon 21st Nov 1783 cover signed Peter F McDonald Davies 56 sqn and J Donnet RAF FDC. Peter F McDonald Davies On 6th June 1940 a joint 56/151 Squadron formation took off from North Weald at 1215 to patrol Abbeville and Amiens. The first stage was uneventful and the formation refuelled at Rouen/Boos. On the return Davies, in Hurricane P3579, became involved in a combat with six Me109s. Out of ammunition, he took refuge in cloud. On emerging he was out of fuel and had to make an emergency landing in a grass field about 15 miles north of Le Havre. French civilians came to assist and a farmer offered to drive him to a French Air Force base near Le Havre. The staff there appeared to be inebriated and refused to supply any fuel. Seeking help in the town, Davies made contact with a Canadian Army Liaison Officer. After waiting for it to get dark, the three men drove to the unguarded fuel dump at the airfield and loaded their car with as many jerrycans as it could hold. Returning to his Hurricane, the same local civilians assisted in refuelling the aircraft and readying a makeshift take-off run. The following morning Davies was able to take off and hedge-hop to the coast before flying at low level over the sea to land at Tangmere. He returned to North Weald later on the 7th June. His family had already received a telegram to say he was Missing. On 13th August 1940 he was shot down in combat with Me109s. His Hurricane, P2692, was set on fire and he baled out at 20,000 feet over Brabourne, Kent with burns on his hands, arms and legs and minor burns to his face. He was admitted to Ashford General Hospital. His injuries resulted in his being recategorized for non-operational flying only. Davies went on ferry pilot duties in December 1940. In April 1941 he was posted to 29 MU High Ercall as Senior Test Pilot and, apart from a six month illness, he served as a test pilot until August 1945. He was then sent on a Signal Officers Long War Course at RAF Cranwell, after which he held various appointments in Signals and Radar. 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.