Sold by Order of a Direct Descendent'The U-boat was firing away merrily and must have upset the

Sold by Order of a Direct Descendent'The U-boat was firing away merrily and must have upset the aircraft's aim somewhat. The C.O. [Spotswood] asked, "How do I attack this thing?""Aim in front of the conning tower and go across it 30 degrees so as to straddle it."I, meantime armed myself with an F.4 camera ready to take the U-boat picture of the year - if my hands would keep steady.The gunner manning the U-boat's aft gun was a blond, and his gunnery was very accurate. Steams of tracer came whistling at us and I yelled "Use the front guns.""Not close enough," said the C.O.Just then the rear gunner said, "There's an awful smell of petrol about."I checked the fuel gauges and found one which read zero. We had been hit in a tank! Then there was a clunk and the port undercarriage looked a bit of a mess. We flew damned near up the muzzle of the gun and broke off to see the D/C's explode near the stern.I got my photograph - it is now framed on my wall.'High drama aboard 'X' with Spotswood at the controls, as recounted by Flight Lieutenant J. R. Paine, D.F.M. in Search, Find and Kill.The outstanding post-war G.C.B., Second World War C.B.E., D.S.O, D.F.C. group of thirteen awarded to Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Denis Spotswood, Royal Air ForceHe and a close friend, Arthur, had concocted the idea of joining the R.A.F. during 'one long afternoon' rowing the Thames during 1935 - his fellow oarsman later became Squadron Leader A. S. K. Scarf, who was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross in 1941A prominent figure in Coastal Command during the Second World War, Spotswood cut his teeth in Sunderlands and Lerwicks of No. 209 Squadron, prior to taking command of No. 500 Squadron in April 1942: what followed was an excellent lesson in resolve and leadership, no less than 22 U-Boats being engaged by his crews in Operation "Torch" alone - four of them failed to return to baseOne such victim was the U-595, hotly engaged by Spotswood's Hudson off Oran on 14 November 1942. So accurate was his depth charge attack that it lifted the U-Boat from the water but a beast of a 6lb. shell fired in retaliation smashed up his Hudson's starboard centre section: not to be outdone, he turned for a second attack and sprayed his opponent with accurate machine-gun fireHis talents were subsequently put to good use in planning air tactics on the Burma front, so much so that he became Mountbatten's most senior planner in that hard-fought theatre of war; so, too, in the post-war era, when he rose to the highest office in the Royal Air Force and had the honour of presenting The Prince of Wales with his 'Wings' upon his passing out from Cranwell in 1971The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, G.C.B. (Military) Knight Grand Cross set of insignia, by Garrard & Co., comprising sash Badge, gold, silver-gilt, and enamel; Star, gold, silver-gilt, silver and enamel, in fitted case of issue; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (C.B.E.), Military, Commander's 2nd type neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, in its Garrard & Co. case of issue; Distinguished Service Order, G.VI.R., silver-gilt and enamel, the reverse of the suspension bar officially dated '1943', with original case of issue; Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated '1942' and engraved 'A./W. Cdr. D. F. Spotswood', with original case of issue; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star, clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Jubilee 1953; Jubilee 1977; United States of America, Legion of Merit, Officer's breast Badge, gilt and enamel, with original case of issue, this with official name label inscribed, 'Group Captain D. F. Spotswood', where applicable, mounted court-style as worn by Spink & Son, the D.S.O. with small enamel chip to one obverse arm and top riband bar with pin removed and drilled to facilitate mounting, otherwise good very fine (13). Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.