[BATTLE OF BRITAIN]: ECKFORD ALAN: (1919-1990)

[BATTLE OF BRITAIN]: ECKFORD ALAN: (1919-1990) British fighter pilot of World War II, a flying ace who participated in the Battle of Britain and is credited with at least eight aerial victories. D.S., A F Eckford, two pages, 4to, n.p., 18th August 1940 (´The Hardest Day´). The partially printed document, completed in typescript, is a Combat Report (Form "F", marked Secret) providing details of one of the pilot's aerial engagements involving damage to a Dornier Do 215, the General Report stating, in full, ´We sighted enemy formation proceeding West above Tunbridge. S/Ldr. Crossley, P/O De Grunne, and myself climbed ahead of the bomber formation. The enemy formation consisted of about 35 - 40 DO 215´s and JU 88´s, with ME 110´s stepped up behind, and ME 109`s above them. S/Ldr. Crossley led as three of us dived for the bombers, in a head-on attack. I took the middle line of bombers and opened fire at about 1,000 yards, firing one long burst of about 10 secs. at one of the DO 215´s, and passed beneath it. I looked back and saw it half-roll and dive out of the formation in a spiral steep dive. I did not see it hit the ground, as I was amongst the ME 110´s and my helmet came off and went out of the emergency glass panel in the hood I managed to retrieve it, and went to a low height to put it on again. There were no bullet holes in my aircraft´. One very small, minor area of paper loss to the upper edge and with some light creasing, otherwise VG