[BATTLE OF BRITAIN]: DEERE ALAN: (1917-1995)

[BATTLE OF BRITAIN]: DEERE ALAN: (1917-1995) New Zealand Air Commodore and fighter ace who participated in the Battle of Britain and is credited with 17 victories. A rare World War II date D.S., A. C. Deere S/L, one page, 4to, n.p. (RAF Kenley, Surrey?), 18th November 1941. The partially printed document, completed in typescript, is a Combat Report (Form "F") providing details of one of Deere´s aerial engagements south of Cape Gris-Nez in Northern France, involving his engagement with ME 109s, the narrative stating, in part, ´My squadron was flying North-east at 15,000 ft just below cloud and about 5 miles off the French coast. I sighted a formation about 17,000 ft, above cloud passing over a cloud break immediately above. I turned my squadron to port and came in behind enemy aircraft as they broke cloud. Four ME 109´s were directly in front of my section and dived away to starboard. I fired at the end enemy aircraft a burst of cannon and his starboard wing tip broke off. Enemy aircraft continued in a fast right hand turn (I was clocking about 380), then I broke off because my hood came away´. Very slightly neatly trimmed and with one small area of repaired paper loss to the upper left corner. otherwise VG