Important RAF Book of Heroes, a pocket sized autograph book ...

Estimate

£5,000 - £8,000

Important RAF Book of Heroes, a pocket sized autograph book containing 107 signatures of RAF officers collected in 1941, many being Battle of Britain pilots, within a gilt metal glass mounted brass casket, with engraved inscription 'The Battle of Britain 1940, the Book of Heroes', 'Never in the Field of Human Conflict has so much been owed by so many, to so few', Winston Churchill. These autographs were collected by Norman Phillips who was a Mess Steward RAF Martlesham Heath. After acquiring the signatures, Mr Phillips gave the book to his friend Eric Powell, who became a football scout for teams including Manchester City and Everton.The book's covering was apparently cut from a mess chair by Douglas Bader, Winston Churchill was aware of its existence and in a conversation with Bader referred to the book as 'Not a Book of Names, but a Book of Heroes, God forbid it should ever be lost', the book is signed by: Squadron Leader E.R.S Bader, D.S.O., D.F.C and Bar, C.O.242 Squadron.Squadron Leader R.R.Stanford-Tuck, D.S.O., D.S.C and Bar, C.O.257 Squadron.Wing Commander A.D.Farquhar, D.F.C, 257 Squadron.Squadron Leader AWA Bayne, D.F.C.17 Squadron, many American volunteers, 71 American Eagle Squadron and other Canadian, Australian, Polish and Czech pilots amongst others, many of whom did not survive the war. More than 20 of the airmen who signed the book were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. One signature is of Flight Lieutenant Hugh Tamblyn, who received the DFC from King George VI two days before he was shot down off the Suffolk coast. He is buried at Ipswich Cemetery. German-born RAF pilot Count Manfred Beckett Czernin, who went on to become a British spy in Italy, also signed. Another signature is of Wing Commander Robert Stanford Tuck, who shot down 29 enemy aircraft and helped plan the Great Escape while a POW at Stalag Luft III after being shot down over France in 1942.

Provenance: the collection of Mr George Ridgeon, Gloucestershire
Bonhams, Oxford, 2nd August 2011, lot 316