Bidspirit auction | WW2 Spitfire Grp Capt David

WW2 Spitfire Grp Capt David Green OBE signed RAF cover First Flight of the Supermarine Spitfire 2003 COF31 Century of Flight official series cover, superb illustration, special postmark. I started aged 18 (1940) when I volunteered for aircrew service and carried out my pilot training as a member of the first course to go to the USA (much to our surprise as the US was still neutral at that time). Within four months I was back in the UK as a Sergeant Pilot, achieving my ambition to fly Spitfires. There followed a long and complicated story through the war (1941-1946) spent flying Hurricane night fighters (Desert Air Force), Spitfire fighter/ground attack in Italy and Yugoslavia and a 'rest' tour as a test pilot with 720 aircraft of many types in one year and 120 operational sorties. Then peace and the lean years with British European Airways on the ground heaving mail bags until 1948 when the RAF invited me back. Spitfires again, in the UK and Hong Kong, then Vampires and Meteors. On to instructing at Oxford University Air Squadron (Harvards and Chipmunks; to HQ Fighter Command (Bentley Priory); back to Vampires (instructing again) followed by a one off tour at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst; then promotion to Wing Commander to take over the RAF's largest squadron at that time, No 34 (Beverleys) in Singapore, Far East Air Force. Back to the UK to the College of Air Warfare before three years of imprisonment in the MOD as the Far East specialist planner then back to the College of Air Warfare ( directing staff). Further promotion to Group Captain followed to become British Air Attache, Islamabad, Pakistan just in time for the Indo/Pakistan war ( 1971) and finally back home to command the RAF's School of Recruit Training at RAF, Swinderby, Lincolnshire. After my retirement I became county director (Kent) for the British Red Cross before going to for a while Hong Kong to set up a Vietnamese Refugee Camp for 14,500 men, women and children. After that I decided to 'do my own thing' so turned what had been a hobby (painting and drawing) into something more meaningful. I haven't turned my back on that activity but have extended my activities to writing. But I still needed more with the result in 1983 I designed the Spitfire Society, launching it in 1984 and later turning it into a registered charity. Good condition. Part of Single Vendor collection. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide.