1st Day Cover Royal Air Force Sealand, Signed Douglas Bader
(Signatures)	Group Captain Sir Douglas Robert Stuart Bader, CBE, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar, DL, FRAeS ; 21 February 1910 to 5 September 1982)
(Dimensions)	165mm x 110mm
Price	£175.00

Description

Postal First Day Cover from Great Britain postmarked June 10, 1971...This first day cover commemorates the visit of H.R.H. Princess Margaret Countess Of Snowden to the Royal Air Force Sealand Station during the 55th Anniversary year of the station...Mint Condition...Flown Cover...Issued: 10 June 1971...Stamped Royal Air Force Oakington 2 June 1971 & Royal Air Force Tern Hill Market Drayton Shropshire �£ June 1971 on the reverse...Mint Condition...Signed by Legendary RAF Battle of Britain Fighter Ace Group Captain Sir Douglas Robert Stuart Bader, CBE, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar, DL, FRAeS ; 21 February 1910 to 5 September 1982) was a Royal Air Force flying ace during the Second World War. He was credited with 22 aerial victories, four shared victories, six probable's, one shared probable and 11 enemy aircraft damaged. Bader joined the RAF in 1928, and was commissioned in 1930. In December 1931, while attempting some aerobatics, he crashed and lost both his legs. Having been on the brink of death, he recovered, retook flight training, passed his check flights and then requested reactivation as a pilot. Although there were no regulations applicable to his situation, he was retired against his will on medical grounds. After the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, however, Douglas Bader returned to the RAF and was accepted as a pilot. He scored his first victories over Dunkirk during the Battle of France in 1940. He then took part in the Battle of Britain and became a friend and supporter of Air Vice Marshal Trafford Leigh-Mallory and his "Big Wing" experiments. In August 1941, Bader baled out over German-occupied France and was captured. Soon afterward, he met and was befriended by Adolf Galland, a prominent German fighter ace. Despite his disability, Bader made a number of escape attempts and was eventually sent to the prisoner of war camp at Colditz Castle. He remained there until April 1945 when the camp was liberated by the First United States Army...priced @ �£175.00.