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| Click Here For Full Artist Print Indexes | Aviation History Archive |
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Aviation Art Prints  Pilot Signatures World War Two Signatures UK and Commonwealth B  Boggis, Peter |
Squadron Leader Peter Boggis DFC | Squadron Leader Peter Boggis DFC Flying Officer Peter Boggis, at the remarkably early age of 22, was the first pilot to fly MacRobert's Reply and did so with much distinction, courage and skill. He had proved himself an exemplary pilot, having flown 15 operational sorties. He took control of the bomber and joined Squadron XV in September 1941. Boggis flew many bombing raids over Europe in MacRobert's Reply, attacking Pilsen, Nuremberg, Cologne and, in a daylight raid on the port of Brest, destroying many German battleships. That sortie was particularly hazardous: casualties were high and the trip home was interrupted by much enemy gunfire. While flying over the Channel at almost sea level, Boggis heard his rear gunner shout that there were six aircraft on their tail. 'They were Halifaxes' Boggis later recalled with relief. 'They were a welcome sight. They opened up their formation in invitation and gratefully we climbed and were enfolded in their midst. We returned in grand style.' The manipulation of the Stirling bomber required much care. Their maximum bomb payload was 8,000lb so movement at take off and landing was, at best, cumbersome. They usually flew at 15,000ft which made them easy prey for enemy fire. For the Brest mission, his last with the squadron, Boggis was awarded the DFC for his bravery and skill: his flying under extremely dangerous conditions was highly commended. Boggis was transferred to a training squadron for the remainder of the war. A few months later, the original MacRobert's Reply had an accident with a Spitfire on take-off at Peterhead. The badge on the nose was preserved and transferred to another Stirling. That, in turn, was shot down over Denmark in May, 1942. But the tradition of naming a plane in the RAF MacRobert's Reply has lasted to the present day, with Bucaneers and Tornado aircraft carrying the name. After the war, Boggis took command of the squadron at Stradishall in 1947 and he retired from the RAF with the rank of squadron leader in 1967. Peter Boggis died on 2nd June 2010.
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| Squadron Leader Peter Boggis DFC - Signed Aviation Art Prints, Paintings and Drawings |
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