Description: Royal Air Force Commemorative CoverCommemoratingThe 75th Anniversary OfThe Royal Air ForceNo.7 SquadronLimited Edition Special Signed CoverCover in good condition - see pictures for full detailsContains the original information sheets as shownCover was flown by the RAF Cover Signed By:-Group Captain T.G. (Hamish) Mahaddie DSO DFC AFC Thomas Gilbert joined the Royal Air Force in 1928 and spent the first three years of his career being trained as a metal rigger. In 1933 he was posted to the RAF base at Hinaidi, near Baghdad. The following year his quest to be accepted for aircrew training was successful and he earned his wings at No 4 Flying Training School in Egypt flying Avro 504N's. During his two year posting to No 55 Squadron, he acquired an Arabian horse that he named "Hamish." His fellow pilots pointed out that he (Thomas Gilbert) bore a distinct resemblance to the horse and assigned him the nickname "Hamish." Mahaddie returned to England in 1937 and soon began flying Whitley bombers with No 77 Squadron. In September 1939, he was piloting the Whitley on wartime operations that included reconnaissance flights, leaflet raids over Germany, attacks on coastal targets, and in May 1940, Hamish flew raids designed to slow down the enemy blitzkrieg of France, completing a total of 23 operations between 9 May and 29 June. Hamish was then assigned to No 19 Operational Training Unit in Kinloss, Scotland as an instructor where he continued flying Whitleys and rose to the rank of Squadron Leader over the next two years and was awarded the Air Force Cross. Mahaddie's second tour of operations began in August 1942, flying the huge four-engined Stirling with No. 7 Squadron. In October he began Pathfinder operations with the elite group that marked the targets in advance of the arrival of the main bomber force. A raid on Frankfurt on 3 December was his fiftieth operation. Then, over the period of only eight weeks and following his promotion to Wing Commander, he was awarded a second AFC, the Distinguished Service Order, the Czechoslovakian Military Cross, and the Distinguished Flying Cross. Undoubtedly, Hamish's closest call came on a raid to Cologne on the night of 1/2 February, 1943. After releasing his target marking flares, the cloud cover that had been providing some protection broke up and flak damaged the Stirling's intercom system and put the rear turret out of action. At the same time a Ju-88 night-fighter raked the fuselage with cannon fire from a range estimated to have been eighty yards. The mid-upper gunner, wireless operator, and bomb aimer were all injured, all the compasses and navigational equipment were destroyed with the exception of the astro-compass, and the aileron controls were severed. Hamish completed his operational tour with the Pathfinders during March, 1943 upon which he was promoted to Group Captain and assigned to No. 8 (PFF) Group Headquarters to become "Group Training Inspector" for PFF commander Don Bennett. This role included recruiting crews for the Pathfinders from operational squadrons whose commanding officers were not particularly interested in having their best crews recruited. Hamish became notoriously successful at this, referring to himself as, "Don Bennett's Horse Thief" and it is in for this that he is best remembered. As "Group Training Inspector," Hamish regularly visited operational squadrons, giving lectures to four hundred or more aircrew on the changing tactics and techniques employed by the Pathfinders. But before visiting a station, Hamish would have already identified crews that he felt were candidates for the PFF by studying aiming point photographs that indicated which crews were dropping their bombs accurately on the targets. Mahaddie's final assignment during the war was as Officer Commanding RAF Warboys, the airfield that was the home of the PFF Training Unit. After continuing to serve in the RAF until 1958, Hamish went on to enjoy a successful career as an aviation consultant, one of his most noteworthy projects being the gathering of an extensive collection of aircraft to be used in the classic film, "The Battle of Britain." ~~~~~~~~We will always combine items for postage with pleasure, to ensure a fair and sensible price.These are quite bulky and fairly heavy items due to the information sheets includedWE POST WORLDWIDE - AND ALWAYS ENSURE GOOD PACKAGING FOR SAFE SHIPPING
Price: 3.99 GBP
Location: Derby
End Time: 2024-12-10T07:25:32.000Z
Shipping Cost: 5.07 GBP
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Year of Issue: 1991-2000
Era: Elizabeth II (1952-Now)
Currency: Decimal
Grade: VG/F (Very Good/Fine)
Country/Region of Manufacture: United Kingdom
Topic: Aviation
Cancellation Type: Handstamped
Modified Item: No
