Bidspirit auction | WW2 BOB ace Laddie Lucas

WW2 BOB ace Laddie Lucas DFC signed cover. RAF B35 40th Anniv of VJ-Day Martin Baltimore 15 Aug 1985 signed Wg Cmdr P B Laddie Lucas DFC CBE 66 sqn, 219 sqn and 616 sqn WW2 RAF FDC. Percy Belgrave Lucas, CBE, DSO & Bar, DFC (2 September 1915 - 20 March 1998), commonly known as Laddie Lucas, was a Royal Air Force officer, left-handed golfer, author and Member of Parliament (MP). While at Cambridge, he captained the golf team, was the top amateur in the 1935 Open Championship and was considered the finest left-handed player in the world at the age of 19. Lucas joined the RAF in June 1940 and went to Canada to undertake flying training at the Flying Training School as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme. On completion of his training, he was assigned to No. 66 Squadron in August 1941, based in Cornwall, where he flew a Spitfire on convoy patrols. He sought a transfer to Burma for more action but ended up at Malta instead, arriving there in February 1942. During the Battle of Malta, he commanded No. 249 Squadron. In July 1942, Lucas was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. The citation read: Acting Squadron Leader Percy Belgrave LUCAS (100626), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 249 Squadron. In July 1942, Squadron Leader Lucas displayed great courage in an engagement against 3 bombers escorted by 14 fighters. He unhesitatingly led his squadron through the enemy's fighter escort and, diving down, they destroyed all 3 bombers, 2 of them falling in flames. Squadron Leader Lucas has destroyed 3 hostile aircraft and damaged 7 others. In the autumn of 1942, Lucas was assigned as aide-de-camp to the Duke of Kent, but gave it up to his friend Michael Strutt, who was already acquainted with the duke. Two weeks later, on 25 August 1942, both were killed in an air crash when the Short Sunderland flying boat in which Strutt was also a passenger crashed into a hillside near Dunbeath, Caithness, in bad weather. This tragedy troubled Lucas. In 1943, he took command of No. 616 Squadron; later, he commanded the Spitfire wing at RAF Coltishall. Lucas was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) in January 1944. The citation read: Acting Wing Commander Percy Belgrave LUCAS, DFC (100626), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Within the past few months this officer has led his fighter squadron a large number of varied sorties including escorts to bomber formations which have attacked enemy shipping with much success. In all these operations, 13 enemy air-craft [sic] have been destroyed and several others damaged. Much of the success can be attributed to this officer's great skill and gallant leadership. He has rendered most valuable service. After an imposed rest period on ground duties, ””flying a desk””, in December 1944 Lucas asked to be given charge of an operational squadron again. After re-training on the two-crew Mosquito, Lucas took over command of No. 613 Squadron (City of Manchester) Squadron[7] equipped with Mosquitos and based at Cambrai-Épinoy in France (Nord department). He immediately resumed his practice of ””leading from the front””, which gained the respect of the highly experienced squadron air crews. The squadron was involved in low-level tactical support missions and strikes. Between 1944 and 1945, he served with RAF Second Tactical Air Force in North-West Europe. He was awarded a Bar to his DSO in October 1945 for making numerous attacks on enemy communications, often in appalling weather conditions.[8] He resigned his commission in 1945. . Good condition. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide.