Beschreibung:

“Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few” – Sir Winston Churchill 20 August 1940 ‘This officer’s flight encountered about one hundred enemy aircraft. He led the flight in attack against them.' DFC London Gazette 13 September 1940 The outstanding Battle of Britain gallantry group awarded to Hurricane ‘Ace’, Air Commodore Peter Malam ‘Pete’ Brothers, CBE, DSO, DFC & Bar, credited with 16 aerial victories, 10 of them for the Battle of Britain. Brothers also participated in the ill-fated Dieppe Raid as well as over the beaches of Normandy during D-Day Landings and was known to unwind after a sortie by sliding his cockpit hood back and smoking a cigarette. In all, he flew an astonishing 875 operational hours. This remarkable group, together with its set of logbooks, is being sold on behalf of the family, and offers a rare opportunity to acquire one of the last Battle of Britain Ace groups to have remained in private hands. a) The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, 2nd type, Military Division, Commander’s (CBE) neck Badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with neck riband in Garrard & Co case of issue b) Distinguished Service Order, G VI R, silver-gilt and enamel c) Distinguished Flying Cross, G VI R, reverse officially dated ‘1940’, with Second Award Bar officially dated '1943' d) 1939-1945 Star, with Battle of Britain Clasp e) Air Crew Europe Star, with France and Germany Clasp f) Defence and War Medals g) General Service 1918-62, G VI R, 1 clasp, Malaya (Act. Wg. Cdr. P.M. Brothers. R.A.F.), officially engraved in the normal RAF style, contact marks to last 3, therefore good very fine and better, mounted court style as worn, with a number of personal belongings including five logbooks, a Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators medal engraved to Brothers dated 1974-75, cased, bestowal documents for the CBE & DSO plus some general ephemera including a short history of No.32 Squadron plus a Battle of Britain thanksgiving booklet (Westminster Abbey 17 Sept 2000). Logbook 1: commencing 27 January 1936 - 31 October 1938 Logbook 2: commencing 14 October 1933 - 28 April 1949 Logbook 3 : commencing 1 September 1938 - 6 October 1944, it is this logbook which records all Brothers WWII service including the Battle of Britain, Dieppe Raids, D-Day and later service, aerial victories have been confirmed by a red swastika, various comments written by Brothers, some at the time and others retrospectively, various ephemera items pasted or tipped-in including menu dated 27 May 1942 signed by Brothers and other distinguished pilots, original newspaper cutting etc, original cloth boards, spine damaged and crudely repaired with brown tape, some surface loss to upper cover Logbook 4: commencing 22 March 1945 -12 December 1952 Logbook 5: commencing 23 January 1953 - 6 May 1970 (although there is very final entry dated 13 August 2000 which records an aerobatics flight with Nigel Lamb) (Qty: 8) DFC London Gazette 13 September 1940 “During an offensive patrol in August 1940, this officer’s flight encountered about one hundred enemy aircraft. He led the flight in attack against them, but before this could be pressed home, he himself was attacked by a number of Messerschmitt 110s. Turning to meet them, he found himself in a stalled position; he spun out of it and immediately sighted and engaged a Dornier 215 which was shot down. Later in the day he destroyed a Messerschmitt 109. Altogether Flight Lieutenant Brothers has destroyed seven enemy aircraft. He has at all times displayed great courage and initiative.” DFC Second Award Bar London Gazette 15 June 1943 “This officer has displayed outstanding keenness and efficiency. Within recent months he has led a wing in many operations and, by his skilful work and personal example, has contributed in a large measure to the high standard of operational efficiency of the formation. He has displayed great devotion to duty.” DSO London Gazette 3 November 1944 “Wing Commander Brothers