Extraordinary wartime service of one of Britain's greatest-ever fighter aces who shot down 23 planes in career spanning Battle of Britain, North African campaign and Normandy landings- Billy Drake's haul of wartime medals is set to go under the hammer
- Includes Distinguished Service Order and US Distinguish Flying Cross
- The collection is expected to fetch £30,000 when sold at Bonham's
By Daily Mail Reporter 24 February 2014
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' WWIII 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.
+5
The extraordinary wartime service of one of Britain's greatest ever fighter aces, Billy Drake, has come to light, as his haul of wartime medals is set to go under the hammer
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.
He joined the RAF before his 18th birthday after spotting a recruitment advert and learnt to fly the Fury biplane fighter from Tangmere.
After war broke out he saw action in the battle of France, the battle of Britain, North Africa, Italy and Normandy.
More...
Flying Hurricanes he had many skirmishes with the Luftwaffe over the skies of France before his first 'enemy kill' was on 19 April 1940 when he downed a Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter while providing air cover for the British Expeditionary Force.
When the Blitzkreig was launched in May, Drake shot down three Dornier 17s and shared in the destruction of another in just three days.
Three days later he had just succeeded in setting a Dornier on fire when he was attacked from the rear and wounded in the back bailed out of his blazing Hurricane.
After a spell in a French hospital he returned to his squadron now back in England and spent much of the Battle of Britain training fighter pilots but, after badgering old friends, he was allowed to join No 213 Squadron, flying out of Tangmere.
+5
Squadron leader Billy Drake downed at least 23 enemy planes in a career which saw the 'outstanding' WWIII 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
On October 10 he probably shot down a Bf 109 before heading to Gravesend to join a reconnaissance flight whose job was to fly over the English Channel looking for incoming German raids.
Flying a Spitfire, he shared in the destruction of a bomber and damaged a number of others. In December he was awarded a DFC.
He earnt his silver gilt and enamel DSO in 1942 during his time as a fighter pilot in charge of squadron No 112 in North Africa where he destroyed over 17 enemy aircraft with two others shared, including two Stuka dive bombers and two transport aircraft on the ground.
His north Africa kills were only exceeded by one other pilot, the Australian born Group Captain Clive 'Killer' Caldwell.
+5
The haul 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
The heroic Drake, a distant relative of Sir Francis, now promoted to Wing Commander was then posted to Malta in charge of a Spitfire wing.
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.
Back in wartime Britain, he commanded a Typhoon Wing and attacked German V-1 Doodlebug launch sites in Pas de Calais, and went on to become a respected instructor at the RAF Fighter Leader’s School.
+5
He joined the RAF before his 18th birthday after spotting a recruitment advert and learnt to fly the Fury biplane fighter from Tangmere
Yet despite being in a training appointment, he frequently absconded for a day to take part in attacks against targets in France.
His wartime operational career only came to an end in August 1944 where he was sent to the USA on special duties.
On his return to the UK he was made Deputy Commander at Biggin Hill and later went to HQ SHAEF to serve in the Operations Room. He took part in the 1945 Battle of Britain flypast.
He retired in July 1963 with ten medals under his belt.
The other medals included in the lot are a Distinguished Flying Cross from 1941, a 1939-45 star with Battle of Britain bar, and Air Crew Europe Star with France and Germany bar, an Africa Star with North Africa bar.
The sale also includes an Italy Star, and a General Service War Medal from 1918-1962 and will take place on 12 March.
John Millensted, head of medals at Bonhams said: 'We’ve already had some interest. Anything that has a historical association is very popular at the moment with the approaching WW1 100 year anniversary.
'Billy Drake lived his life in a way that wasn’t exactly live fast and die young, but he certainly knew how to live for the moment.
'Not too many British Pilots earnt the DFC, it only crops up from time to time.
'The rest of the medals are standard, ones that that people would have been awarded for WW2.
'Obviously the order would have been the most expensive medal to make, as it was made out of silver gilt and enamel.'
After his retirement in 1963 Mr Drake went on to become a lecturer and teacher at the RAF Fighter Leaders’ School.
He was also stationed in Japan and Singapore.
+5
After his retirement in 1963 Mr Drake went on to become a lecturer and teacher at the RAF Fighter Leaders'School
However Mr Drake, who was married and separated twice, is known to have said of his career: 'By God, we had a good time. That’s not to say we behaved the way Hollywood likes to portray Battle of Britain pilots.
'Of course, there were a few randy ruffians who would chase any girl. But generally we all had girlfriends, and we didn’t use the war as an excuse to sleep with them. We were gentlemen.'
After his retirement he went on to open 'Billy’s Bar' in the Algarve, and eventually passed away on August 28 2011 in Teignmouth at the age of 93.
The Medals will go on sale in Bonhams under Lot 132 on 12 March under the sale titled 'Military Medals: The Property of a Gentleman.'
Read more: dailymail.co.uk |
