THE VALIANT FEW
- Limited Edition
- £125.00 (inc VAT)
THE VALIANT FEW
by Nicolas Trudgian
The long days of early August 1940 witnessed the most intense period of fighting during the Battle of Britain. Following their first action of the day when the Hurricanes of No. 501 Squadron scrambled to intercept a morning raid, they now descend towards their forward base at Hawkinge to be refuelled and rearmed.
For a few minutes they share the sky with fellow pilots flying their Spitfires back to Manston. Soon, these brothers in arms will be airborne again as another large wave of enemy aircraft is detected crossing the Channel.
From the 10th July to the 31st October 1940, the tireless resolve of Fighter Command’s pilots bolstered Britain’s thin but impenetrable Front Line and would forever earn them the title ‘The Few’.
Along side Nicolas Trudgian no less than EIGHT Hurricane Pilots from the Battle of Britain have signed this superb release.
THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN SIGNATURES:
The MAIN edition limited to 85 copies worldwide
is signed by TWO Hurricane Pilots who fought in the Battle of Britain
Air Commodore John Ellacombe CB DFC*
John Ellacombe joined the RAF in 1939 on a short service commission. After training he was posted directly to 151 Squadron where he quickly learned to fly the Hurricane. In the Battle of Britain, on the 24th August, he shot down an He 111. Six days later, while in combat with another He 111, his Hurricane was damaged by return fire and John elected to force-land his damaged aircraft. To his amazement, the bomber he had attacked crashed in an adjoining field. The following day he attacked a Ju 88 and was again hit by return fire and this time he had to bail out. Suffering from burns he was admitted to Southend Hospital. After convalescence he rejoined the Squadron in December 1940.
Flight Lieutenant Len Davies
In July 1939 Len Davies joined 608 Squadron Aux AF as an aircraft hand. On the 24th August he was called up and re-mustered as an airman u/t pilot. On the 15th July 1940, after completion of training, he joined 151 Squadron at North Weald and on the 28th August, following combat over the Thames, he was wounded in the leg. Losing a lot of blood he decided to make a crash landing at Eastchurch. ‘Control’ fired a flare to alert him to the bomb craters on the airfield but he had no option but to try and land. His Hurricane overturned in one of the craters but Len survived. After convalescence he rejoined the Squadron until January 1941 when he was posted to Malta.
