RAF

[Battle of Britain, 1940; printed.] Offprint from The Times of ‘An airman to his mother / The fight with evil / “My earthly mission is fulfilled”’.

Author: 
Battle of Britain, 1940 [Royal Air Force; Second World War; The Times]
Publication details: 
Printing House Square, London: ‘Reprinted from The Times, June 18, 1940’.
£80.00

A nice piece of WW2 RAF ephemera, written on the eve of the Battle of Britain. Scarce: the only copies on JISC at the National Library of Scotland and Bishopsgate Institute in London. 3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. The ‘Text of the Letter’ is printed across the centrefold, with an introduction on the first page, reading: ‘Among the personal belongings of a young R.A.F. pilot in a Bomber Squadron who was recently reported “Missing, believed killed,” was a letter to his mother - to be sent to her if he were killed.

[Keith Falkner, English bass-baritone, Director of the Royal College of Music, London.] Two Autograph Letters Signed to ‘Miss Scott’ [the musicologist Marion Scott], the first agreeing to sing at an 'At Home', the second while at work for the RAF.

Author: 
Keith Falkner [Sir Donald Keith Falkner] (1900-1994), distinguished English bass-baritone, Director of the Royal College of Music, London [Marion Margaret Scott (1877-1953), musicologist]
Publication details: 
ONE: 10 June 1928, from 60 Mayfield Road, Sanderstead, Surrey. TWO: 18 August 1941, ‘as from R.A.F. Middle Wallop. / Nr. Stockbridge. Hants.’, on cancelled letterhead of the Officers Mess, RAF ‘Woodlands’, Clamp Hill, Stanmore, Middlesex.
£120.00

See his entry and hers in the Oxford DNB. The two items are in good condition, lightly aged, and each folded once for postage. Neatly and firmly written. Both addressed to ‘Dear Miss Scott’ and signed ‘Keith Falkner’. ONE: 2pp, 12mo. Eleven lines. He will be ‘pleased to sing in the “Peasant Cantata” at the Union “At Home” on June 28th’ and asks to know ‘which version you will be doing as soon as you decide?’ He ends with thanks for her ‘kind sympathy - I do appreciate it very much’. TWO: 2pp, 8vo. Twenty-three lines of text.

[R.A.F. Hospital, Aden; Variety Concert; printed programme] Programme and related photographs. In envelope.

Author: 
[R.A.F. Hospital, Aden; Variety Concert]
Aden
Aden2
Publication details: 
Headquarters N.A.A.F.I. Barrack Hill [...] October 6th to October 10th 1941
£180.00
Aden
Aden2

Programme, 4pp., worn on fold marks but complete, ow good condition, R.A.F. Hospital, Aden. | present the | Aeronuts | in a | Variety Concert | to be held in | Headquarters N.A.F.I. Barrack Hill on [dates given above] | Commencing at 8.30 p.m. | By kind permission of | Air Vice Marshal F.G.D. Hards [Commanding][...]. The programme includes Musical Selections (handwritten list present), Haw Haw's Happy Hour, The Band (handwritten list present), Bare Imagination, Lightning Sketches, etc, etc. WITH names of performers.

Poem, printed in colours for display, regarding the Blitz and 'those blackout times of London' during World War Two, titled 'The Cockney | Dedicated to the Citizens of London'. followed by another poem, by 'Bill Smiff, Esq.', titled 'Victory 1945'.

Author: 
'Bill Smiff, Esq.' [G. J. McCarthy, Bedford Street, Strand; George Reynolds, Stepney, printer; the Blitz; air raids on London; Second World War; Nazi; music hall]
Publication details: 
Printed by George Reynolds, Ltd., 21-23, Stepney Green, E.1., and published by G. J. McCarthy, 38, Bedford Street, Strand, London, W.C.2. [Christmas 1945.]
£65.00

On a piece of thin, shiny card, 33 x 20 cm. The text of the two poems is printed in red capitals, in two columns, with the title and border in brown, and a green design surrounding the words 'Wishing you a Happy Xmas and Prosperous New Year' at the foot, together with green leaves to red holly berries surrounding the title.

[ Laurence Irving, Hollywood set designer. ] Two Typed Letters Signed ('Laurence' and 'Laurence Irving') to 'Teddy' [ set designer 'Edward Carrick',i.e. Edward Craig ], regarding the film industry and his membership of the Society of Art Directors.

Author: 
Laurence Irving (1897-1988), Hollywood set designer, artist and RAF Squadron Leader, grandson of the actor Sir Henry Irving [ 'Edward Carrick' [ Edward Craig (1905-1998) ],; Society of Art Directors ]
Publication details: 
Both on his letterhead, 11 Apple Tree Yard. 23 August and 24 November 1949.
£220.00

Both items in good condition, lightly-aged. ONE: 2pp., 4to. Having returned from 'a rather long painting expedition to France' he finds that 'circumstances have arisen in regard to the administration of the Society' [ the Society of British Film Art Directors and Designers, of which Craig was a leading light], and in the light of these circumstances Irving feels compelled to resign. 'It is [...] unlikely that I shall design any more films.

Photograph of Cambridge University Air Squadron, May 1941

Author: 
[ Cambridge University Air Squadron, 1941 ]
Publication details: 
May 1941.
£280.00

Black & White Group Photograph, image 29 x 22cm, white border, sl. stained and worn, border makes it 43 x 36cm. Ninety-six (96) men. Image in good condition. On reverse pencilled notes "First One | Cambridge University Air Squadron | May 1941, || Officers = [L to P.] [W.H. Turing , F.J.A. Chase, T.S. Sabine, DFC, J.K. Watson - with rank and function, Sabine being W/CDE]. Followed by the names and rank.function of 7 NCOs.

[North West Frontier Province on eve of Second Mohmand Campaign, 1935] Typed secret British RAF Signals report titled 'Tribal Reconnaissance. Northern Area - Bajaur, Utman Khel, & Mohmand Country.' Describing territory from Shabkadr to Abazai Fort.

Author: 
[Corporal J. P. Murray, Royal Air Force Signals Detachment; North West Frontier Province, British India; Bajaur; Utman Khel; Pashtun Tribes; Afghanistan; Second Mohmand Campaign, 1935.]
Publication details: 
Report undated, with latest date references to '25-4-1933', i.e. 25 April 1933. In envelope marked '1-2-37', i.e. 1 February 1937. Envelope addressed to Corporal J. P. Murray, RAF Signals, Bannu, N.W.F.P. [North West Frontier Province]
£400.00

14pp., foolscap 8vo. Carbon copy of typescript, consisting of a covering page and the report itself, paginated 1-13. With a few minor manuscript emendations. In good condition, on lightly aged and worn paper. In brown paper 1937 OHMS envelope ('S.E.6.'), stamped 'SECRET' twice, with red wax seals of the '20 (A.C.) SQUADRON | R.A.F.', and typed address: '513996. Corporal Murray, J.P. | Royal Air Force Signals Detachment (No. 20 (AC) Squadron). | BANNU, N.W.F.P.' The covering page of the report is stamped 'RESTRICTED', and reads: 'SECRET. | TRIBAL RECONNAISSANCE.

[Privy Council Medical Research Council] Printed Item: 'The Application of the Air Force Physical Efficiency Tests to Men and Women.'

Author: 
Lucy D. Cripps, M.B., D.P.H. [Privy Council Medical Research Council; Royal Air Force]
Publication details: 
Special Report Series, No. 84. London: Published by His Majesty's Stationery Office. 1924.
£130.00

48 + [4]pp., 8vo. Stapled. In green printed wraps. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. Divided into ten chapters, including 'Royal Air Force Tests used in the Present Investigation' and 'Types of Respiration, and the Respiratory Apparatus in Men and Women'. An interesting document: the Royal Air Force only having been in existence for six years. With stamp, shelfmark and label of the Board of Education Reference Library. Four copies on COPAC, and uncommon.

Five issues of 'The Childerley Times', illustrated juvenile manuscript magazine edited by Denis Wingfield King of Epsom, with manuscript 'Childerley Chatter' by members of the King family, and two Typed Letters Signed from King to his grandmother.

Author: 
Denis Wingfield King (b.1922) of Childerley, 8 Ridgeway, Epsom, juvenile editor of 'The Childerley Times' manuscript magazine
Publication details: 
Childerley, 8 Ridgeway, Epsom. Between 1935 and 1943.
£500.00

The eight items all in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Each copy of 'The Childerley Times' is a unique manuscript or typescript item produced by the young D. W. King as editor, his twin sister E. W. King as sub-editor, and relatives for circulation among the family. The five issues, ranging from 1935 to 1943, all differ with regard to style and format. ONE: 19pp., 12mo. On loose leaves held together with a paper clip. Undated, but with one contribution dated 14 May 1934. No title, but first page (with pencil drawing of boy in bed with toys) reading 'SILENCE PLEASE !!

Fifteen Royal Air Force aerial photographs of 'BON CHAUNG RU 685739 Sector with MYITTHA River' [Myanmar], taken during the Burma Campaign of the Second World War.

Author: 
[RAF Third Tactical Air Force; Burma Campaign, Second World War; Myanmar; aerial reconnaissance]
Fifteen Royal Air Force aerial photographs of 'BON CHAUNG RU 685739 Sector with
Publication details: 
Taken between April 1943 and September 1944.
£125.00
Fifteen Royal Air Force aerial photographs of 'BON CHAUNG RU 685739 Sector with

The fifteen black and white photographic prints are each roughly 14 cm square. All on 'Crown Copyright' paper. Each is photographed with a dated code at the foot in white ink. All images legible. In fair condition, lightly-creased and worn. Eight of the photographs have brief captions on reverse. The shadow of the reconnaissance plane can be seen in one image.

Six original black and white photographs, all captioned on the reverse and dated April 1940, showing the RAF South Cerney Aerodrome, Gloucestershire and its Airspeed AS.10 Oxford training aircraft.

Author: 
RAF South Cerney, Gloucestershire [Royal Air Force; Airspeed AS.10 Oxford training aircraft]
RAF South Cerney, Gloucestershire
Publication details: 
April 1940. RAF South Cerney, Gloucestershire.
£125.00
RAF South Cerney, Gloucestershire

The six small black and white photographs are all in good condition in a Kodac 'snapshot' card wallet. The captions, in pencil on the reverse and all dated 'April 40', read: [ONE] 'Aerodrome at South Cerney' [an aerial shot]; [TWO] 'Officers' Mess No 3 F.T.S. S. Cerney' [exterior of building]; [THREE] 'Oxfords at No 3 FTS' [three grounded planes]; [FOUR] 'Interior of Oxford' [instrument panel]; [FIVE] 'Interior of Oxford' [back of seats and instrument panel]; [SIX] 'Oxford at No 3 FTS' [grounded].

Autograph Manuscript Notes for 'Deputy Controller's Course', in official Royal Air Force notebook. With two mimeographed typed documents relating to the Course, including one with introduction by Wing Commander Bradford.

Author: 
A. H. Anderson, L.A.C.; Wing Commander J. R. Bradford, Fighter Command, Controllers' Training Unit [Royal Air Force; Deputy Controllers' Course; Second World War]
[RAF] Autograph Manuscript Notes for 'Deputy Controller's Course
Publication details: 
Notebook dated by Anderson on cover 'Woodlands, Clamp Hill, Stanmore. 27 October 1941.' One of the mimeographed documents dated from Woodlands, 26 June 1941.
£250.00
[RAF] Autograph Manuscript Notes for 'Deputy Controller's Course

4to 'Royal Air Force. Notebook for use in Schools', with Anderson's notes in pencil on all but 11 of its 96 pp. Text clear and complete, written in a neat, tight hand, with diagrams and tables. Fair, on aged paper, with slightly dog-eared corners, in worn and creased wraps. Ownership inscription on front cover of 'A. H. Anderson L.A.C. | Deputy Controller's Course | Woodlands. 27.10.'41'. Providing important first-hand insights into the procedure of the RAF during World War II. Subjects include 'Fighter Command Organisation', 'I.F.F. (Identification friend or foe)', 'P.P.L.

Autograph Letter Signed by 'Handley'

Author: 
149 SQUADRON, ROYAL AIR FORCE, BOMBING OF THE RUHR VALLEY, SECOND WORLD WAR
Publication details: 
No date [c.1940-1]; Sgts. Mess, Mildenhall, Suffolk.
£50.00

2 pages, 8vo, both with Royal Air Force letterhead bearing the motto 'PER ARDUA AD ASTRA'. Not in good condition - creased, frayed, torn and discoloured - but a marvellous and immediate piece of history, regarding what one authority describes as the 'strategic bombing [...] principally against the Ruhr, on which No.149 concentrated during the winter of 1940-1'. The letter begins 'Dear Mum, | Just a line to thank you for the photographs, I think that one of you is very good.

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