WW2 Flt Lt L Martel signed cover RAF Northolt 75th anniv and Battle of Britain 50th anniv cover. Rare cover number 15 of 60 issued. Ludwik Alfred Martel was born in 1919 in Piotrkow in central Poland. Yearning to fly, Martel took a gliding course and in 1937, having compled education in a state technical school in Lodz, enlisted in the Polish Air Force. Martel was a cadet pilot when Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939. aftre a brave resistance the personnel of the Polish Air Forcel were ordered to make for neutral Romania. Martel escaped from the Romanian internment on September 29, and Martel travelled to France via the Balkans. There the Polish Armed Forces were being re-formed under General Sikorski. Posted to Britain, Martel was assigned to 54 Squadron Martel arrived in England in early 1940 and was commissioned in the RAF in May and transferred to the PAF on August 6. He joined 54 Squadron on August 10, 1940, during the height of the Battle of Britain. Shortly afterwards on the 28th October Martel was transferred to 603 Squadron, based at Hornchurch, flying Spitfires. He claimed a Bf 109 destroyed over the English Channel on 5 October. and a few days later he was forced down by an Me109, suffering shrapnel wounds. He was posted to the Polish 317 (City of Wilno) Squadron on 19 March 1941. He was rested on 28 January 1942, going to 58 OTU, as an instructor, before returning to 317 Squadron on 25 August. On 13 March he was posted with other Polish pilots to form the Polish Fighting Team, otherwise known as Skalskis Circus. They operated in the Western Desert from 17 March to 12 May and destroyed 30 enemy aircraft. He damaged a FW 190 on 4 April and destroyed a Bf 109 and damaged a Mc 200 on the 20th. He returned to 317 Squadron on 22 July 1943. He was posted to 16 FTS, Newton on 20 August but went back to 317 Squadron on 4 November, as a Flight Commander. Tour-expired, he was posted to HQ PAF on 12 September 1944.. Martel was released from service as a flight lieutenant. For a time he flew crop-spraying aircraft in East Africa and then in London he ran a successful property maintenance business. He was a prominent member and trustee of the Polish Air Force Association, looking after the welfare of its veterans and promoting fellowship with the Royal Air Force Association. Martel was decorated with the Virtuti Militari (5th Class) and with the Polish Cross of Valour. Sadly, we have learned that Ludvik Martel passed away on 25th April 2010

All autographed items are hand signed and 100% authentic. I have been a dealer for 25 years and until recently the owner of one of the largest Autograph auction houses in the UK. Now part retired I am selling my collection. Always interested in buying bulk collections as well. I sell TV Film autographs, Star Wars, Dr Who, James Bond, RAF covers, Great War and WW2 WWII memorabilia, Aviation, Concorde, Space, NASA collectables, Cosmonauts, Music, Politics, Historic and Royal memorabilia, Titanic, Postal History and Benham, Internetstamps, Buckingham covers, A G Bradbury and Scott Official covers and other First Day covers FDCs and Coin covers PNCs. We are always happy to combine shipping, if you use buy now and we can not send a combined shipping invoice we will refund any over payment. All orders are sent in secure packaging and dispatched promptly after payment is received.