WORLD WAR II - R.A.F., INTELLIGENCE AND PHOTO-RECONNAISSANCE 'No. 35 Wing News Sheet 1[-62]. Sec...

WORLD WAR II - R.A.F., INTELLIGENCE AND PHOTO-RECONNAISSANCE 'No. 35 Wing News Sheet 1[-62]. Secret', a fine run of 52 issues of a scarce RAF News Sheet, without issues 24-28, 40, 49-50, 56 and 60, mimeographed in purple or blue, between 2 and 12 pages per issue, approximately 23 actual photographs (including c.8 aerial photography, crew at leisure drinking, others cartoons by 'Jeff', Emmett and others), some illustrations and diagrams in the text, some with pencil or ink note in upper margin ('Group Capt.', 'C.O.', 'Donkin'), includes a duplicate copy of no.46, a few additional pages from other issues, issues bound out of order, bound together in modern cloth, gilt-stamped '35 Wing News Sheet. Group Capt. Donkin' on upper cover, folio (335 x 205mm.), 31 June 1943-20 June 1945, sold as a periodical Footnotes: VERY SCARCE 'SECRET' WARTIME NEWSLETTER ISSUED FOR PILOTS OF 35 WING, GROUP 11, WITH A DISTINGUISHED PROVENANCE. 35 Wing Squadron was established for intelligence gathering, through low level photographic and reconnaissance observations in France and its neighbours as part of Operation 'Starkey'. The News Sheet was started in order to keep pilots 'informed of the course of operations so far as we know them and to keep each airfield abreast of the others operations' (No.1, June 1943). It made clear the successful military outcomes on the battlefield that results from information provided by the group, detailing specific attacks (how many enemy trains, radar stations, etc destroyed), eye witness accounts, sombre notes of casualties ('50 aircraft, 441 pilots', reports on individual airmen [e.g. Peter Donkin, see provenance note], identification diagrams for recognising allied and enemy ships from the air, and, of particular importance updates on camera and other technical improvements (for instance the 'F24 Compensated Cameras'). This information is interspersed with snippets of poetry, cartoons (one by Emmett), a crossword, gossip and self-deprecating articles on the editorial staff. Provenance: Air Commodore Peter Donkin CBE, DSO (1913-2000). At the beginning of the war he joined Number 225 Squadron RAF, later taking command of Number 239 Squadron, and in early 1943 35 Wing of 11 Group RAF, in all positions responsible for aerial reconnaissance and intelligence gathering, including 'deep sweeps into occupied Europe at altitudes sometimes as low as 50ft and at more than 300mph inevitably took their toll of pilots and aircraft' (The Times, obituary, 19 July 2000). He was award the DSO in April 1944 (noted in Newsheet no.26), and shortly afterward was reported missing, having been forced to bail out over the North Sea 15 miles from the Belgian coast. This event is described in vivid detail in Newsheets nos. 30 and 31, from the moment of his parachute evacuation, being sighted in his emergency dinghy, failed search parties, his six days at sea ('...psychologically the first night at sea was the worst... Donkin has retained possession of his escape box. He rationed himself rigorously and when picked up still had two Horlicks tablets, some chocolate and condensed milk...'), and eventual rescue. This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: • • Zero rated for VAT, no VAT will be added to the Hammer Price or the Buyer's Premium. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing