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Auction: 12044 - The Bentley Priory Battle of Britain Trust Appeal Charity Auction
Lot: 4

The Second War ´1942´ D.S.O., ´Immediate´ Battle of Britain D.F.C. and ´1941´ Second Award Bar Group of Seven to Spitfire Ace, Group Captain C.B.F. Kingcome, Royal Air Force, Who Led 92 Squadron From Biggin Hill On Over 60 Operations During The Height of The Battle, With The Squadron Acheiving The Highest Success Rate of Any Squadron in Battle of Britain. Shot Down and Hospitalised, 15.10.1940, He Returned to Fly With the Squadron Until Appointed to the Command of 72 Squadron, February 1942; He Led His New Squadron As The Fighter Escort of Esmonde´s Swordfish For the Ill-Fated Attack On The Prinz Eugen, 12.2.1942, During ´The Channel Dash´. As One of the Youngest Group Captains in the R.A.F., Aged 25, He Commanded 244 (Spitfire) Wing, Providing Fighter Support For the Eighth Army From Africa to the Invasion of Italy. He ´Has Destroyed a Total of 11 Enemy Aircraft, Probably Destroyed 5 And Damaged 13. His Claim´s Are Traditionally Modest... He is Practically the Last Operational Pilot of His ´Vintage´ ´ And Undoubtedly One of The Outstanding Characters of The Battle of Britaina) Distinguished Service Order, G.VI.R., silver-gilt and enamel, reverse of suspension bar officially dated ´1942´, with integral top-riband bar, in Garrard & Co. Ltd case of issueb) Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ´1940´, with Second Award Bar, reverse officially dated ´1941´, in Royal Mint case of issuec) 1939-1945 Star, with Battle of Britain bard) Air Crew Europe Star, with Atlantic bare) Italy Starf) Defence and War Medals, M.I.D. Oak Leaf, generally very fine or better, campaign awards in original card box of issue, addressed to ´W/Cdr. C.B.F. Kingcome, C/O Lloyds Bank Ltd, Cox & Kings Branch, 6 Pall Mall, London´, with enclosure slip and named Authority to Wear slip, and the following contemporary related items and documents:- The recipient´s related miniature awards, and riband bar for first three awards- R.A.F. Pilot´s Flying Log Book (22.4.1946-25.6.1948)- Bestowal Document for the Distinguished Service Order, dated 15.12.1942, with named enclosure slip- M.I.D. Certificate, dated 1.1.1946- R.A.F., Biggin Hill, Operations Room Pass, as CO of 72 Squadron; Permit to Enter Fighter Operations Room Malta, dated 1.7.1943- R.A.F. Identity Card, with photograph of recipient, dated 7.4.1950; Officer´s Pay and Allowance Book and War Time Services Railway Warrant- Letter from recipient to his mother, whilst serving with 244 Wing, D.A.F., dated 2.1.1944; D.A.F. Greetings Card to recipient from "Cocky" Dundas, annotated ´Here´s to Sir Brian. As brave as a lion - Cocky´- Air Ministry letter of thanks upon conclusion of recipient´s R.A.F. service, dated 1.2.1954- Letter of Reference written by Air Marshal R. Atcherley, K.B.E., C.B., A.F.C., with accompanying personal letter to Kingcome- Programme for the unveiling of the Rolls-Royce Battle of Britain Memorial Window, 11.1.1949 - Savoy Hotel Notepaper with 14 signatures including those of Dowding, Kent, Aitken, Deere and Gleed- a number of photographs from during recipient´s service including a glazed and frame portrait photograph of him in uniform- Letter from Sy Bartlett of Melville Productions, Inc., Hollywood, dated 7.5.1956, and other ephemera (lot)

Sold for
£40,000