MF3 The 1,000 Bomber Raids signed Wing Commander Robert Horsley DFC AFC

£9.00

Product may vary slightly from image representation.
Cover to mark the 60th Anniversary of the first 1,000 Bomber Raid and as an opportunity to include the Avro Manchester in this series we have produced yet another striking commemorative cover. The top half of the artwork shows Lancasters of No 83 Squadron setting course for the intended target of Cologne, while the lower half of the artwork shows Flying Officer Leslie Manser's Avro Manchester struggling home on just one engine, unfortunately the aircraft crashed in Belgium before he could cross the channel, however his bravery in saving the lives of his crew at the cost of his own resulted in the award of the Victoria Cross.

Only three 1,000 Bomber Raids were carried out, as the concept of getting 1,000 bombers into the air was quite a feat and all resources were used including the OTUs, the first raid resulted in 898 aircraft bombing Cologne with the loss of 41 aircraft.

The cover bears a definitive stamp cancelled with BPFS postmark dated the 30 May 2002, which shows Manser's Aircraft Manchester 'VN-D' and commemorates the 60th Anniversary of the 1,000 Bomber Raids.

Furthermore the covers have been flown in Lancaster PA474 of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight from RAF Coningsby on a local sortie over RAF Scampton, the former home of No 83 Squadron and Skellingthorpe where No 50 Squadron were based.

Hand signed by Wing Commander Robert Horsley DFC AFC
300 Signed, Numbered and Certified

Wing Commander Robert Horsley DFC AFC, who was Flying Officer Leslie Manser's Wireless Operator / Air Gunner aboard Manchester 'VN-D'. After being order to bail out by Manser he evaded capture and with the help of the Belgian Resistance made it back to the UK in July 1942. He later retrained as a pilot and completed his second tour of operations with No 617 Squadron flying Lancasters. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross while serving with No 50 Squadron in 1942.