109 Squadron - De Havilland
Mosquito
A 600 Series Limited Edition Cover
No 109 Squadron was first formed in 1918 as a bomber training unit and disbanded in 1919. In December 1940 the squadron was re-born from the Wireless Intelligence Development Unit (WIDU). Using Anson and Wellington aircraft it was engaged during the next two years in development of radio counter-measures and also new radar aids, notably the blind bombing system known as Oboe. In August 1942, No 109 moved to Wyton to become one of the original units of the Pathfinder Force. In December it converted to Oboe Mosquitoes and made history by flying the first Oboe sortie over enemy territory on a calibration raid against a power station at Lutterade in Holland. On the night of 31 December 1943, it made history again when it pioneered Oboe target marking for a following force of heavy bombers. One of No 109's most outstanding successes was on 5/6 March 1943, when its Mosquitoes led Bomber Command's devastating assault on Essen which laid waste more than 160 acres of that city and heralded the Battle of the Ruhr. Included among the squadron's many other wartime claims to fame is the claim that the last bombs to be dropped on Berlin were dropped by one of its Mosquitos at 2.14am on 21 April 1945.
The first variant is quite remarkable in that the two signatories have completed over 200 Operations between them; Squadron Leader Ron Curtis DSO
DFC*, who started his RAF career as a Navigator on Hampdens with No 144 Squadron, before being transferred to No 44 Squadron to replace the Lancaster crews lost on the Augsburg Raid and was awarded his first DFC at the end of the tour. He then went on to join No 109 Squadron as a Pathfinder Navigator and completed tour after tour, having flown over 130+ operations they finally stopped him flying. The second signature is that of Flight Lieutenant Charles Harrold DFC*, who completed 70 operations as a No 109 Squadron navigator.
(150 Signed, Numbered and Certified - Code AV600-109a)
The second variant has been signed by Group Captain R.C.E. Law DSO DFC AE MA Cantab, who was the Commanding Officer No 109 Squadron PFF from December 1944 through to September 1945. A member of the Cambridge University Air Squadron during 1938 to 1939, before being called up for war service in September 1939 as a flying instructor. He joined No 109 Squadron in February 1943 as a pilot and later became
'A' Flight Commander, and then the Commanding Officer from December 1944 through to
August 1945. He later commanded RAF Little Staughton until its closure.
(150 Signed, Numbered and Certified - Code AV600-109b)
The third variant has been signed by Flight Lieutenant Andy Hutchison BSc CEng MIMechE MBAC, who was a Mosquito pilot with No 109 Squadron between 1945 and 1947. He joined the RAF 1943 and qualified as pilot at RAF College Cranwell joining No 109 Squadron in 1945 flying Mosquitos through to 1947. During 1952-57 was pilot in RAuxAF with Nos 616 and 603 Squadrons. Graduated from Edinburgh University in 1950 (BSc Eng) and joined Rolls Royce, Derby.
He worked on engine development, overhaul and production planning on joint overseas
projects, and then set up his own private consultancy service in 1972 – Aero Engines Economics Ltd. He is still active in retirement on the restoration of Meteor and Comet aircraft.
(150 Signed, Numbered and Certified - Code AV600-109c)
The fourth variant has been signed by Squadron Leader John Tipton DFC*, who joined 109 Squadron in June 1943 and went on to complete 70 operations with the squadron through to 1945. He also completed 34 Operations with 40 Squadron in 1941/1942 operating from RAF Wyton and Malta.
(150 Signed, Numbered and Certified - Code AV600-109d)
Covers cost £10 each
(A total of 755 covers were printed and serviced)