Extraordinary wartime service of one of Britain's greatest-ever fighter aces...

Daily Mail (UK) ^ | 24th February 2014

[naturalman1975]

The extraordinary wartime service of one of Britain's greatest ever fighter aces has come to light, as his haul of wartime medals is set to go under the hammer.

Squadron leader Billy Drake downed at least 23 enemy planes in a career which saw the 'outstanding' WWII pilot decorated with ten medals and a bar group which includes both the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) and the US Distinguish Flying Cross (DFC) for his skill in air combat.

The medal collection from his military service - which saw him serve in the battle of France, the battle of Britain, North Africa, Italy and Normandy - is expected to fetch up to £30,000 when it is sold.

.....

He was credited with destroying six enemy aircraft and collected an American DFC (Distinguished Flying Cross) in the same year for his 'courage and audacity' protecting USAAF bombers attacking Sicily.

[FiddlePig]

Another good man gone home!

[Timocrat]

Mr Drake, born in London in 1917 to an English father and Australian mother, was educated in Switzerland after several schools in England failed to cope with his lively temperament.

It's tough to keep a good man down !

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

Perfect material for a WW2 fighter pilot but not these days.