Bidspirit auction | WW2 Battle of Britain pilot

WW2 Battle of Britain pilot A Leigh multiple signed RAF VTOL 1st Flight cover. other RAFVR pilot, The son of a regular soldier, Arthur Leigh was called up at the outbreak of war. After finishing his flying training he was posted to 7 OTU and then on to convert to Spitfires in August 1940. Arthur Leigh flew with 64 Squadron at Leconfield and 72 Squadron at Biggin Hill during the Battle of Britain before transferring to 611 Squadron. Awarded the DFM in September 1941, Leigh had then completed 50 sweeps, had destroyed two Bf 109s, probably destroyed another four and shared in the destruction of a Do 17. After a spell instructing and ferrying Hurricanes from Gibraltar to Cairo, he returned to operations with 56 Squadron flying Typhoons from Manston. He was shot down on his first sweep by flak, near Calais but was picked up by an ASR launch. In late 1943 Leigh was posted to 129 Squadron at Hornchurch and was awarded the DDC on completing his second tour in December 1944, spending the rest of the war as an instructor. Also signed by Sir Peter Terry joined the Royal Air Force in 1945 and joined the RAF Regiment in 1946. He elected to become a pilot and passed earnt his wings in 1953. He attended the RAF Staff College in 1962 and subsequently was the Commanding Officer of No 51 Squadron from 1966-68. He was then posted as Station Commander, RAF El Adem until he was posted to the Ministry of Defence in 1970 as Director, Air Staff Briefing. He moved to become Director of Forward Policy for the RAF in 1971 followed in 1974 given the job of Assistant Chief of Staff (Policy and Plans). In 1975 he went to SHAPE for a three year tour before returning in the UK in 1977 to become the Vice-Chief of Air Staff. In 1979 he return to Europe as Commander ­in ­Chief (C-in-C) RAF Germany and Commander 2nd Second Allied Tactical Air Force, followed by a posting as Deputy Commander­ in ­Chief, Allied Forces Central Europe in 1981. Shortly after he was made Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe. In 1985 he was Governor and C­ommander in ­Chief, Gibraltar until 1989. QCVSA ~ 1959 and 1962; AFC ~ 1968; GCB ~ 1983; KStJ ~ 1986. Good condition. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide.