RAF Battle of Britain pilot HAIRS signed 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 signed by (BB)32 - Flight Lieutenant Peter Raymond Hairs MBE AE. The photo is accompanied by a brief career history.
This signed photo forms part of a limited edition Battle of Britain signed Photograph Series. This is number 32 in the series of 50 Photographs, produced by ourselves. Each photograph has been handsigned and they are all numbered and certified on the reverse. Each photograph is a limited edition of 200.   
 
BB32 Flight Lieutenant Peter Raymond Hairs MBE AE
Fighter Command Battle of Britain Hurricane Pilot

Hairs worked as a junior clerk at Barclays bank before the war, he joined the RAFVR in October 1937 as an Airman u/t Pilot (741206) and carried out his early flying training at 19 E&RFTS, Gatwick. Called up at the outbreak of war, he went to 6 FTS, Little Rissington in October 1939 to complete his training, and on the 10th December 1939 was awarded his wings and commissioned as Pilot Officer. Hairs married Eileen Hill on the 21st December and after a short honeymoon he went to 11 Group Fighter Pool, St Athan, where he converted to Hurricanes.  Whilst there he had one of a number of close shaves; when flying in formation in thick cloud he narrowly missed colliding with a mountain in South Wales.
On the 26th. January, 1940 he was posted to 501 Squadron at Tangmere.  The squadron flew to France on the 10th. May to join the Advanced Air Striking Force and had their first experience of combat.  On the 15th Hairs shared in probably destroying a Do 17.  On the 3 June he was shot down, but fortunately not seriously hurt and two days later he rejoined the squadron at Le Mans.  On the 17 June the squadron flew to the Channel Islands from where patrols were carried out over Cherbourg to cover the evacuation of allied troops; on the 19 June they returned to England where the squadron was re-formed and then posted to Middle Wallop.  The squadron moved to Gravesend on the 26 July and then Kenley from the 10 September.  During this period Hawkinge was used as a forward base and Hairs claimed a Bf 109 destroyed on September 5.
Hairs was posted to 15 FTS, Kidlington on October 13 1940, as a flying instructor. He went to 2 CFS, Cranwell for an instructor's course on February 23 1941, after which he moved to 11 FTS, Shawbury to instruct on Apri1 14. He spent a short while at 10 EFTS, Weston-Super-Mare in May and was then posted to Canada on June 13, firstly at Swift Current, Saskatchewan and then Bowden, Alberta with 32 EFTS as a flying instructor and then assistant CFI (EFTS).
In November 1943 Hairs returned to the UK and after a short course on Spitfires joined 276 (ASR) Squadron at Harrowbeer. He was posted away on May 5 1944 to 9 OTU, Kinloss as OC Bomber Defence Training Flight. His final posting was to India on July 18 1945 on admin duties.
Hairs was released from the RAF on 30 October 1945, as a Flight Lieutenant. He received a Mention in Despatches (14.6.45) and was made and MBE (1.1.46).  He then returned to Barclays Bank retiring eventually in 1975 on his 60th birthday.

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