Concorde flown cover signed Ross + Herbert Tappin instructor to Johnnie Johnson

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Cover to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the First Solo Flight of the Atlatic by a woman Amelia Earhart 20-21 May 1932 This cover was flown from Kennedy Airport, New York to Heathrow, London in Concorde G-BOAD Flight No BA 192 Signed by Concorde Pilot Captain D G Ross and has the additional signature of Wing Commander Herbert "Tap" Tappin, DFC*, 3, 157 and 256 squadrons Johnnie Johnson, the RAFs ace fighter pilot , undertook his initial elementary training at Marshall's RAF Elementary Flying Training School at Cambridge in December 1939. He was sent by his instructor, 'Tap' Tappin, on his first solo in a Tiger Moth on 29 February 1940, all within eight miles of the famous Imperial War Museum at Duxford. It so happens that 'Tap' Tappin was also advanced flying instructor to Leonard Cheshire VC, the ace bomber pilot with over 100 bombing flights over Germany and who was the country's representative at the dropping of the Hiroshima atomic bomb over Japan in 1944. Cheshire's elementary flying and first solo were with the Oxford University Air Squadron and he was then passed over, as were other Oxford undergraduates who had completed their elementary flying, to Marshall's RAF Volunteer Reserve training centre at Kidlington, Oxford for his advanced training instruction, where 'Tap' was his instructor. 'Tap' Tappin became one of the Marshall Ab-Initio Instructor-trained instructors towards the end of 1938 at Oxford. During the last nine months to the outbreak of war on 3 September 1939, his logbook records that he averaged 1,063 hours per year day-and-night elementary and advanced flying instruction. 'Tap' finished his Service career as a Wing Commander, with a DFC for leading sorties in the very costly Dieppe raid. He was awarded a Bar to his DFC . DFC citations * Flight Lieutenant Tappin who was appointed flight commander in April, 1942, has participated in a number of hazardous operations. He led his squadron in the first sortie during the combined operations at Dieppe, on 19th August, 1942, and although his aircraft was severely damaged, he returned to base safely. Flight Lieutenant Tappin led the squadron in a further three sorties during these operations and' despite the fierce enemy opposition he pressed home his attacks. He has displayed courage and devotion to duty of a high standard. ** Since being awarded the D.F.C. this officer has flown on many more operational sorties, during which he has destroyed one six engine B.V.222 enemy flying boat and two enem.v aircraft. On one occasion, when flying on patrol, Sqn. Ldr. Tappin intercepted and destroyed an He. 177. In the consequent air combat his aircraft was hit by fire from an enemy fighter and damaged. Nevertheless he pressed home another attack on a Ju. 88 which was lost in cloud cover. At all times this officer has shown a magnificent fighting spirit and grim determination, achieving his successes by careful planning and execution of every sortie After the war he returned to Marshall'sItems shipped at standard airmail delivery for £2.50 within Europe and £2.80 to the Rest of The World but I cannot provide any certificate of posting for items sent as standard air mail, since the Swedish Post Office do not provide that service . Registered/recorded delivery for items with a total price of up to £45 will cost £9 , above £45 the cost will be £12 A few potential bidders have enquired as to my charging £2.50 to post a cover. Unfortunately the Swedish Post Office have very high postage charges. To post a letter which weighs over 20g, for example, to the UK , costs 24 Swedish krona. I use hard backed envelopes, which themselves weigh 25g and pack all covers well, so the £2.50 I charge just covers the cost of postage, the envelope and packaging. Any questions please do not hesitate to contact me. Returns accepted I only charge the shipping cost of one item regardless if multiple items are won . read more

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