Bidspirit auction | WALLIS BARNES: (1887-1979)

WALLIS BARNES: (1887-1979) - WALLIS BARNES: (1887-1979) English scientist & inventor of the bouncing bomb used in Operation Chastise (The Dambusters Raid) on 16th May 1943. A good, amusing World War II date A.L.S., your hungry & devoted B , two pages, 4to, White Hill House, Effingham (Surrey), 5th February 1945, to Baron Leo d´Erlanger ( ´My dear Leo´ ). Wallis seeks forgiveness for having been so long in thanking his correspondent for their ´charming note of congratulations & good wishes; and also for the very enjoyable luncheon´ , remarking ´Next time I will not speak a word, but will listen to you on High Finance, & Wings on Flying Round the World; meanwhile eating all I can! So be prepared for a Dumb but Hungry Guest!......Till my next meal MEAL....´ and in a postscript adding ´Am not mad - only happy´ . To the verso Wallis has written a further seven lines of text, ´I never say how much I owe to you - for all your friendship & wonderful support in times of trouble - we all seem to take you for granted as it were - but I do feel it, & am so deeply grateful to you - you have become a very large factor in my life´ . Accompanied by the original envelope. VG Baron Leo d´Erlanger (1898-1978) English merchant banker and air transport promoter, a co-founder of British Airways. During World War II d’Erlanger invested in military aircraft and worked with Barnes Wallis.