A book of heroes: Remarkable Battle of Britain autograph book signed by 100 members of The Few who saved us from Hitler goes on sale for £20k
The historical record was lauded as the 'book of heroes' by Winston Churchill
A remarkable Battle of Britain autograph book signed by over 100 members of ‘The Few’ who saved us from Hitler has been put up for sale for £20,000.
The historical record of signatures from the legendary pilots, who defended Britain from the German Luftwaffe 84 years ago, was lauded as the ‘book of heroes’ by none other than Winston Churchill himself.
The book is expected to generate a lot of interest from potential buyers at the auctioning firm based in Gloucestershire, as it goes under the hammer next month.
The book was put together by Norman Phillips, who was the mess steward at RAF Martlesham Heath in Suffolk, who asked the Allied airman to kindly sign it.
The record was once shown to Winston Churchill who said: ‘It is not a book of names, but a book of heroes – God forbid it should ever be lost.’
The historical record contains the signatures from the legendary pilots who defended Britain from the German Luftwaffe 84 years ago
Signatures in the book include that of legendary air ace Group Captain Sir Douglas Bader.
Bader, who claimed at least 22 victories, reportedly made the covering which protects the book after cutting the material from a chair in the mess.
More than 20 of the airmen who signed the book were awarded the prestigious Distinguished Flying Cross for gallantry.
Another one of the signatures belongs to tragic ace Flight Lieutenant Hugh Tamblyn, who received the DFC from King George VI on April 1, 1941.
Two days later the Hurricane pilot was shot down off the Suffolk coast by a German Dornier fighter-bomber.
His body was recovered from the sea and he was buried at the nearby Ipswich Cemetery.
Signatures in the book include that of legendary air ace Group Captain Sir Douglas Bader
Wing Commander Robert Stanford Tuck, an ace with 29 enemy aircraft destroyed, also signed the book
The book is expected to generate a lot of interest from potential buyers by the auctioning firm based in Gloucestershire, as it goes under the hammer next month
Another signature was from the extraordinary German-born RAF pilot Count Manfred Beckett Czernin, who went on to become a Special Operations Executive spy behind enemy lines in Italy.
Wing Commander Robert Stanford Tuck, an ace with 29 enemy aircraft destroyed, also signed the book.
After being shot down over France in 1942, he was a PoW at Stalag Luft III where he helped plan the Great Escape.
He was moved to another camp before the famous breakout took place, which probably saved his life as 50 escapees were executed upon their recapture.
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 was put together by Norman Phillips, who was the mess steward at RAF Martlesham Heath in Suffolk, who asked the Allied airman to kindly sign it
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
A remarkable Battle of Britain autograph book signed by over 100 members of ‘The Few’ who saved us from Hitler has been put up for sale for £20,000
More than 20 of the airmen who signed the book were awarded the prestigious Distinguished Flying Cross for gallantry
Powell sold the book in 1985 and it is now being offered for sale by a private collector with Cotswold Auctions of Gloucestershire
The book was lauded as the ‘book of heroes’ by none other than Winston Churchill himself
He sold it in 1985 and it is now being offered for sale by a private collector with Cotswold Auctions of Gloucestershire.
Director Lindsey Braune said: ‘This is a unique record of the names and signatures of those who took part in one of the most significant moments in Britain’s modern history.
‘Without the bravery of these men, many of whom did not survive the Second World War, we might all be living in a very different world today.
‘Churchill certainly wasn’t exaggerating when he called it a ‘Book of Heroes’.
‘Signatures include that of Douglas Bader, one of the most celebrated RAF pilots of the war.
‘We are expecting a lot of interest in the Book of Heroes.’
A total of 1,542 Allied aircrew were killed during the Battle of Britain which spanned from July to October 1940.
The last surviving Battle of Britain pilot is 101 year old Group Captain John ‘Paddy’ Hemingway, who served with 85 Squadron.
Churchill said of their wartime contribution: ‘Never was so much owed by so many to so few.’
The sale takes place on February 6.