This auction is live!
You need to be registered and approved to bid at this auction.
Watch the auction
Click on the image to see full size
Use mouse wheel or two fingers to zoom in
Loading ...
1
GBP
18 - 22 GBP
19.95 %
3 %
Live auction
Lot closed
Lot location
., .
WW2 Dambuster raid Les Munro signed rare RAF cover Cheshire VC Gnome and Rhone Aero engine Factory Raid. 9 Feb 00 Woodhall Spa Cheshire VC Cover Gnome and Rhone Aero engine Factory Raid Personally Signed in Pencil Les Munro Dambuster pilot with 617 Sqn. Operation Chastise May 16/17 1943. On the 2nd Wave with Lancaster ED921, 'AJ-W', which sustained heavy flak damage, and with the Wireless and Intercom rendered unserviceable was forced to return back to base. Details enclosed. Certified Copy no 10 of 10 Signed. Squadron Leader John Leslie Munro, CNZM, DSO, QSO, DFC, JP (5 April 1919 - 4 August 2015) was a Royal New Zealand Air Force pilot during World War II and the last surviving pilot of the Dambusters Raid of May 1943. Munro learned to fly in Tiger Moths at the RNZAF's Flying Training School at Bell Block near New Plymouth, and on graduation chose to fly bombers so was posted to Canada for initial bomber training. He trained on twin-engine aircraft in Saskatchewan[5] at RCAF Station Saskatoon, the present-day John G. Diefenbaker International Airport in Canada. He moved to England in October 1941 for further training, and joined 97 Squadron at Woodhall Spa in Lincolnshire. There, he flew Avro Manchesters and then Avro Lancasters in 1942/43 and while there his Distinguished Flying Cross was gazetted, on 11 June 1943. On 25 March 1943, Munro, along with Flight Lieutenant Joe McCarthy and Squadron Leader David Maltby, were transferred to 617 Squadron to be part of the secretive Dambusters raid forming at RAF Scampton. The squadron was created to attack the dams of the Ruhr in an effort to wreck the industrial capacity of Germany. It was initially called Squadron X, as the speed of its formation outstripped the RAF process for naming squadrons. Twenty-one bomber crews were selected from existing squadrons in 5 Group. These crews included RAF personnel of several different nationalities, as well as members of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), who were frequently attached to RAF squadrons under the Empire Air Training Scheme. Munro (the only RNZAF pilot in the squadron) took part in the Upkeep trials on 12 May; flying ED921. In Operation Chastise Munro was in Wave 2 in ED921 W. Of the 19 Lancasters that flew on that full-moon night, only 11 returned. Munro, as pilot of W-Willie, was scheduled to bomb the Sorpe dam. Over the Netherlands, his aircraft was damaged by flak which knocked out all communications, so it turned back to land in Lincolnshire, still carrying its mine. His Distinguished Service Order was awarded while he was with 617, on 28 March 1943. Munro was promoted to squadron leader on 14 February 1944 and was posted to command 1690 BDTF Squadron (Bomber Defence Training Flight) on 13 July 1944. His logbook shows that when departing Scampton to bomb Bremen with four 500 lb general-purpose bombs, his aircraft crashed and burned shortly after take-off, but the crew escaped. Munro took part in Operation Taxable in conjunction with the D Day landings in Normandy in which the Lancasters flew precise, elongated circuits dropping Window (aluminium strips), to convince German radar installations that a huge flotilla of ships was approaching Cap d'Antifer. The ruse was successful and the last of No. 617 Squadron Window droppers witnessed German shore batteries firing on the Ghost convoy. Munro described the operation in his logbook as: The creation of a tactical surprise to support the landing of troops on the opening of the second front. The most hazardous, difficult and most dangerous operation ever undertaken in the history of air warfare. Involved flying within at least nine miles of the enemy coast without fighter cover, and in conditions of bright moonlight and at a height of not more than 3000 ft (three thousand) at which the aircraft was open to attack by the deadliest of all weapons - light flak. Munro's co-pilot on this operation was Wing Commander Leonard Cheshire, the squadron's commanding officer who later was awarded the Victoria Cross. When Cheshire was stood down, Cochrane also stood down 617's three flight commanders Dave Shannon from Australia, Joe McCarthy from Canada, and Les Munro. Munro was not happy as he had flown 59 ops and said: I would have preferred the round figure of sixty ops. I never thought it would have been pressing my luck to go on. I don't think any of us did. We were all very close-knit and ran a very efficient operation during the Cheshire era. He exuded confidence in his own abilities, in flying, in operations and running the squadron, and that skill and professionalism filtered down to all of us. So Munro was released from the Royal Air Force on 5 February 1946, and retired from flying. He was known (sarcastically) as Happy or Smiler because he was famed for his dour demeanour. In a 2006 interview, Munro said of his war experiences that he . would be the first to admit that I was pretty lucky. Most blokes who survived even a couple of operational tours would say that luck was on their side. Good condition. All autographs come with a Certificate of Authenticity. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide. UK postage from £5.99, EU from £7.99, Rest of World from £9.99
Live
Venue address
Internet Only
We Arrange Shipping On All Lots
., .
.
United Kingdom
Autograph Auction WW2 Space Battle Of Britain Luftwaffe Uboats Bomber Command Dambusters Great War US aces.
Auction dates
06 Nov 2024 18:00 GMT
|
Auction currency
|
GBP |
|
Buyer's premium
|
19.95 % |
|
Online commission
|
3 % |
|
Accepted cards
|
|
|
Other payment methods
|
All items are sent by either Recorded or Royal Mail Special Delivery. The UK delivery cost start from £4.99 for items up to £50 and from £6.95 for items over £50, plus any additional insurance to cover the full lot value. Overseas orders will be charged at cost. If you have special delivery instructions, do not hesitate to call us on 0800 1701314
All autographs and first day covers will come securely packaged with an envelope stiffener in a board-backed envelope. Larger photographs and prints are sent in a tough tube, and books and oversized/framed items will be packaged with bubble wrap and sent in a box.
Buyers Terms & Conditions
1. Default
For all purposes of a sale the Auctioneers (Chaucer Covers) shall be deemed to be the agent of both the Seller and the Purchaser and they shall not be considered responsible for any default on the part of either the Seller or Purchaser.
2. Warranty of Title
The vendor warrants to Chaucer Covers and the buyer that he is the true owner of the property or is properly authorised to sell the property by the true owner and is able to transfer good and marketable title to the goods free from any third party claims.
The vendor warrants to Chaucer Covers and it's servants and agents and the buyer against any loss or damage suffered by either in consequence of any breach of the above on the part of the vendor
3. Bidding
The highest bidder for each lot shall be the Purchaser of it. No one is entitled to retract a bid. The Auctioneers reserve the right of refusing any bid without giving any reason and of altering, adding to, dividing, consolidating or withdrawing any lot or lots for sale.
The Auctioneers reserve the right to fix a reserve price for any lot at a figure no higher than the lower estimate.
The Auctioneers reserve the right to bid on behalf of the Seller on lots which are subject to a reserve price. The Seller shall not be entitled to bid where the Auctioneers have reserved such a right.
The Auctioneers will accept commission bids from any person who is unable to attend the sale. Bids will also be accepted by telephone, email and fax at the sender's risk.
5. Online Bidding via www.the-saleroom.com
Chaucer Covers offer an online bidding service via the-saleroom.com for bidders who cannot attend the sale.
In completing the bidder registration on www.the-saleroom.com and providing your credit card details and unless alternative arrangements are agreed with Chaucer Covers you authorise Chaucer Covers if they so wish, to charge the credit card given in part or full payment, including all fees, for items successfully purchased in the auction via the-saleroom.com, and confirm that you are authorised to provide these credit card details to Chaucer Covers. through www.the-saleroom.com and agree that Chaucer Covers are entitled to ship the goods to the card holder name and card holder address provided in fulfilment of the sale.
Please note that any lots purchased via the-saleroom.com live auction service will be subject to an additional 4.95% commission charge + VAT at the rate imposed on the hammer price
6. Risk
All lots shall be the sole risk of the Purchaser from the fall of the hammer. The Purchaser shall take all lots in the condition in which he finds them. It is the responsibility of all intending Purchasers to satisfy themselves by inspection or otherwise as to the authenticity in the authorship, date, age, period, condition or quality of any lot.
7. Liability
Neither the Seller of any lot nor the Auctioneers make or give nor has any person in the employment of the Auctioneers any authority to make or give any representation or warranty in relation to any lot and any implied conditions or warranties are excluded. All statements contained in the Catalogue as to the authenticity, attribution, genuineness, origin, authorship, date, age, period, condition or quality of any lot are statements of opinion only and are not to be taken as or implying statements or representations of fact. Lots are sold subject to all faults and errors in description or otherwise.
8. Indemnity
The vendor shall duly indemnify Chaucer Covers against any claim in connection with any goods sold by Chaucer Covers on the vendors behalf.
9. Payment
The Purchaser shall pay the Hammer Price together with a premium of 19.5% of this Price. An 19.5% premium will be payable by Purchasers outside the European Union (EU). Zero-rated goods such as books will be subject to a premium of 19.5% whether within or outside the EU unless entered by a VAT registered Seller.
Payments for lots must be made in cash, bankers draft or cheque guaranteed by the bank upon which it is drawn. Lots will not be released against cheques from Purchasers unknown to the Auctioneers until cleared by such Purchaser's bank. Payment is accepted by Visa and Mastercard. Payment is also accepted by most debit cards with no surcharge.
Overseas clients are requested to settle accounts by Bank Transfer, Visa or Mastercard.
10. Delivery
Lots will only be released once payment in full has been received from the Purchaser. Lots will be dispatched by Special Delivery, insured or air mail post or courier. Shipping costs will be paid by the Purchaser.
11. Jurisdiction
These Conditions shall be governed by English law and the parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.
INTERNET ONLY AUCTION
PLEASE NOTE: Winning lots will be sent via post.
Viewing of lots is by appointment by calling 0800 1701314
Buyer`s Premium 19.95% + VAT
Lots purchased online with the-saleroom.com will attract an additional charge for this service in the sum of 4.95% of the hammer price plus VAT at the rate imposed
Shipping:
All items are sent by either Recorded or Royal Mail Special Delivery. The UK delivery cost will be £4.95 for items up to £50 and £6.95 for items over £50, plus any additional insurance to cover the full lot value. Overseas orders will be charged at cost. If you have special delivery instructions, do not hesitate to call us on 0800 1701314
All autographs and first day covers will come securely packaged with an envelope stiffener in a board-backed envelope. Larger photographs and prints are sent in a tough tube, and books and oversized/framed items will be packaged with bubble wrap and sent in a box.
Confirm bid removal
Please confirm that you wish to remove your bid
Unfortunately you are no longer able to retract your bid.
Please contact customer services for more help.