RAF Battle of Britain ace DRAKE DFC autographed photo

Each photo measures 5" by 7" with a white border on all sides with the signature handsigned on the specially elongated bottom margin.
The photograph is from the 1939-1945 period and has been reproduced and then autographed by  - Group Captain Billy Drake DSO DFC*. Photograph taken in the Western Desert with Billy Drake standing in his cockpit.
Only 50 produced - signed and certified on reverse. Photograph is slightly grainy  

Group Captain Billy Drake DSO DFC*
Battle of Britain Hurricane Ace

Drake was born in London on December 20 1917. He joined the RAF on a short service commission in July 1936 and was posted to 6 FTS, Netheravon on September 19.  With training completed, he joined No 1 Squadron at Tangmere on May 22 1937.
Drake went to France with the squadron in September 1939. On April 20 1940 he destroyed a Bf 109 and possibly another, on May 10 a He 111 and on May 13 he shot down a Do 17 and probably another but was jumped by Bf 110s and shot down. He baled out, wounded, was taken to a French hospital and later flown back to an RAF hospital in England.
He arrived at 6 OTU, Sutton Bridge on June 20 1940 for flying instructor duties. Drake returned to operations when he was posted to 213 Squadron at Tangmere on October 2 1940. Three weeks later he joined 421 Flight at Hawkinge, as a Flight Commander. On December 7 and 27 Drake shared in the probable destmction of two Do 17s and on January 7 1941 he damaged two Ju 88s. He was awarded the DFC (7.1.41).
He was posted to 53 OTU, Heston in February, as an instructor. He went overseas in early October to form and command 128 Squadron at Hastings in West Africa. On December 13 Drake shot down a Vichy French M-167F near Freetown. Drake went to Air HQ Middle East in April 1942 and was given command of 112 Squadron at Garnbut on May 24. Between June  and December 1942 Drake amassed a further 14 victories, 4 probables, 3 damaged and a further 2 destroyed on the ground. Drake was awarded a Bar to the DFC (28.7.42) and the DSO (4.12.42).
In January 1943 he was promoted to Wing Commander and posted to HQ RAF Cairo. He took command of the Spitfire Wing in Malta in June 1943 and before returning to the UK he was credited with another six enemy aircraft destroyed. He received the DFC (US)(22.10.43).
Drake was appointed Wing Leader 20 Wing, Typhoons, in late November 1943 and in May 1944 he was sent to America on special duties. Back in the UK, he was made Deputy Station Commander at Biggin Hill and later went to HQ SHAEF to serve in the Operations Room. He took part in the first Battle of Britain flypast in September 1945. Drake retired from the RAF on July 1 1963, as a Wing Commander, retaining the rank of Group Captain.

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