"War Birds of the RAF"

ONEALM · 21 August 2012, 04:44 AM

The attached Proclamation was recently donated to the Golden Age Air Museum by the family of a WW I pilot. It's a nice piece, with fascimile signatures of about 100 pilots, all part of the organization calling itself "War Birds of the RAF".

You can see by the date - 9th November 1940 - and the text extolling the virtues of the current RAF's struggle "...against the forces of destruction..." that it's in response the RAF's efforts in WW II and the in the Battle of Britain in particular.

The proclamation is signed by a mixture of US pilots who served either under the RFC/RAF instruction system, like Lt. George Brew (147th Aero, trained in Canada under the RFC), Lt.

George Vaughn (17th US Aero) and Lt.

Cleo F. Pineau who served as a direct entry volunteer with 210 Squadron RAF.

I've not been able to find anything about the organization and would be very interested in when/why it was formed.

Does anyone know any more about this group - or even heard of them prior to this ?

TIA,
Mike

WarBirdoftheRAFprocolomation.jpg picture by njaviators - Photobucket

WarBirdoftheRAFprocolomationdetail.jpg picture by njaviators - Photobucket

cameldriver · 29 August 2012, 05:47 AM

Mike

I acquired a framed copy of that scroll a number of years ago from the son of one of the signers but he couldn't give me any additional information. I haven't seen another copy of it until now. It's an interesting piece. If I should come upon any info, I'll let you know.

Bob

ONEALM · 29 August 2012, 09:22 AM

Thanks Bob - I will do the same. This copy was from the daughter of one of the signers....

cameldriver · 30 August 2012, 02:54 AM

Mike
On my copy, the "WB" in the insignia at the top is quite faded. Mine also has a foil seal and ribbon at the bottom. Couldn't tell if it was present on yours.
BTW saw you posted some photos of the Lafayette Memorial (don't know if it was intentional). You were lucky. When I was there, the vault was locked and I couldn't get down there to pay homage.
Bob

ONEALM · 30 August 2012, 07:21 AM

Bob -

My copy has the foil seal as well - lower left corner IIRC (at work so can't get my hands on it.). I'm pretty surp

Yes, I was very fortunate to visit the Lafayette Memorial. The vault was closed the day I arrived, but I was prepared... I had a friend from Paris with me and he arranged before I arrived, a visit to the crypt. We were also allowed a climb onto the roof up an ancient and unrestored staircase.

I brought along a pair of pilot wings I had received form a 213th Aero SPAD pilot many years ago and showed them to the husband of the curator. I explained the wings had not been to France since 1918.... While she and I (and my translator....) spoke, he disappeared only to return a few minutes later with an original Lafayatte Flag.... The repro flag is typically used for show and the original rarely makes an appearance. It was a treat to hold that flag at the memorial site.