New Stamp Collection On Sale .............

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K4KittyCrew
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New Stamp Collection On Sale .............

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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... d-him.html
Forgotten hero Fred, 95, is star of the Battle of Britain stamps - but no one told him: Former RAF armourer only found out he was pictured on 75th anniversary edition when contacted by MoS
Royal Mail issued six stamps to mark 75th anniversary of Battle of Britain
Former RAF armourer Corporal Fred Roberts appears on the collection
Pictured rearming a Spitfire between sorties at the height of the fighting
But no one told veteran who surprised to find himself on the special set
By STEPHANIE CONDRON FOR THE MAIL ON SUNDAY

PUBLISHED: 07:06 EST, 12 July 2015 | UPDATED: 09:30 EST, 12 July 2015

The Battle of Britain saved us from invasion and set the nation towards victory in the Second World War.

So it is fitting that the Royal Mail should celebrate its heroes by issuing a set of stamps to mark the 75th anniversary.

Except no one thought to tell former RAF armourer Corporal Fred Roberts, who appears on one of the stamps rearming a Spitfire between sorties at the height of the fighting.

Former RAF armourer Corporal Fred Roberts appears on one of the commemorative stamps rearming a Spitfire between sorties at the height of the fighting
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Former RAF armourer Corporal Fred Roberts appears on one of the commemorative stamps rearming a Spitfire between sorties at the height of the fighting

When The Mail on Sunday contacted Mr Roberts at his home in Swansea last week, he was pleasantly surprised to be told that a picture of him was on a first-class stamp. ‘I did not know that at all,’ Mr Roberts said.

‘It’s been a good many years since that picture was taken. I’ve got the original on my wall.’

Mr Roberts, now 95, had not switched on his TV on Friday to see the Spitfires, Hurricanes and Typhoons flying over Buckingham Palace to mark the anniversary of the start of the battle because, as he explained: ‘I seldom watch TV in the day.’

But the veteran was unaware he had been featured on the stamps until The Mail on Sunday contacted him at his home in Swansea last week
But the veteran was unaware he had been featured on the stamps until The Mail on Sunday contacted him at his home in Swansea last week

He was 20 years old and with 19 Squadron based at Fowlmere, near Duxford, Cambridgeshire, when the snap was taken.

The pilot in the photograph is the late Bernard Jennings, who won the Distinguished Flying Medal in 1941.

The six-stamp set features iconic black-and-white photographs taken between July and October 1940 of the servicemen and women involved in the air conflict.

The Royal Mail’s Philip Parker, who helped choose the pictures, said: ‘We are commemorating The Few – the pilots – but not forgetting the ground crew, the armourers, the spotters who looked out to identify enemy aircraft and the people in the operations rooms.’

One of the £1.33 stamps shows seven young pilots of 32 Squadron laughing together at Hawkinge airfield in Kent as they await the order to ‘scramble’.

Poignantly, two of the men pictured were lost in combat shortly after the picture was taken.

Malcolm Triggs, of the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust, said: ‘There’s a lot of pride in the country about the whole heroism of the Battle of Britain aircrew. It’s fantastic that people remember them.’

The last time there was a set of stamps to mark the Battle of Britain was in 1965. The latest editions will be available for a year from Thursday.

The set of commemorative stamps have been issued by the Royal Mail to mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain
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The set of commemorative stamps have been issued by the Royal Mail to mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain




The six-stamp set features iconic black-and-white photographs taken between July and October 1940 of the servicemen and women involved in the air conflict
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The six-stamp set features iconic black-and-white photographs taken between July and October 1940 of the servicemen and women involved in the air conflict

The stamps celebrate the bravery of The Few - a small band of young RAF fighter pilots who fought day in, day out against the German Luftwaffe planes which began air attacksin July 1940 hoping to seize control of the skies over England
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The stamps celebrate the bravery of The Few - a small band of young RAF fighter pilots who fought day in, day out against the German Luftwaffe planes which began air attacksin July 1940 hoping to seize control of the skies over England

The stamps celebrate the brave pilots, such as this one captioned Supermarine Spitfires on patrol, but also the ground crew, the armourers, the spotters who looked out to identify enemy aircraft and the people in the operations rooms
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The stamps celebrate the brave pilots, such as this one captioned Supermarine Spitfires on patrol, but also the ground crew, the armourers, the spotters who looked out to identify enemy aircraft and the people in the operations rooms

One of the £1.33 stamps shows seven young pilots of 32 Squadron laughing together at Hawkinge airfield in Kent as they await the order to ‘scramble’ - two of the men were lost in combat shortly after the picture was taken
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One of the £1.33 stamps shows seven young pilots of 32 Squadron laughing together at Hawkinge airfield in Kent as they await the order to ‘scramble’ - two of the men were lost in combat shortly after the picture was taken

On Friday, the Queen led members of the Royal Family in commemorating the 75th anniversary of the start of the Battle of Britain.


The Duke of Edinburgh, the Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of York were among the senior royals who joined the monarch as she watched an RAF fly-past from the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

In the courtyard below, six veterans of the pivotal conflict looked to the sky as Spitfires and Hurricanes flew overhead to commemorate their bravery.

In the summer of 1940, after defeating the French, Hitler turned his attention across the Channel. Luftwaffe planes began air attacks in early July, hoping to seize control of the skies over England in preparation for a German invasion.

High above the sweeping countryside of Kent and Sussex, the nation's future was placed in the hands of a small band of young RAF fighter pilots. Some 3,000 of them fought - day-in, day-out - until victory was declared over the Luftwaffe in September. But it came at a cost; 544 lost their lives.

BATTLE OF BRITAIN: HOW A BRAVE 'FEW' DEFENDED THE NATION FROM GERMAN INVASION
In the summer of 1940, after his defeat of the French, Hitler turned his attention to across the Channel.

Luftwaffe planes began air attacks in early July, hoping to seize control of the skies over England in preparation for a German invasion.

High above the sweeping countryside of Kent and Sussex, the nation's future was placed in the hands of a small band of young RAF fighter pilots.

Some 3,000 airmen were scrambled to defend the shores of Britain in the battle - often taking to the skies in their Spitfires and Hurricanes three, four or five times a day.

Defending the nation: Some 3,000 airmen were scrambled to defend the shores of Britain - taking to the skies in Spitfires and Hurricanes
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Defending the nation: Some 3,000 airmen were scrambled to defend the shores of Britain - taking to the skies in Spitfires and Hurricanes

Day after day, the brave pilots fought off German forces, whose aircraft often outnumbered their own by five to one.

And while many of the pilots were Britons defending their homeland, airmen from European countries including Poland and Belgian bolstered the numbers.

Under the force of the German bombardment, Britain's air defence bent but it did not break.

The RAF claimed victory over the Luftwaffe on September 15 1940 - a day of intense raids that ended in heavy losses for the enemy.

Shortly after, Hitler postponed and then cancelled invasion plans, turning his attention to the defeat of the Soviet Union.

Luftwaffe air raid during Battle of Britain

Brave few: High above the Kent and Sussex, the nation's future was placed in the hands of a small band of young RAF fighter pilots
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Brave few: High above the Kent and Sussex, the nation's future was placed in the hands of a small band of young RAF fighter pilots

But their triumph came at a cost. A total of 544 RAF pilots lost their lives in the battle.

Scores more from Bomber Command and Coastal Command died as the battle for national survival was waged in the skies during the dark days of the Second World War.

Their bravery was recognised in a now immortal speech by prime minister Winston Churchill, who said: 'Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few'.
This year's 75th anniversary is predicted to be the last at which the remaining members of the 'few' will be fit enough to take part, according to the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... z3fezz62Eg
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AlanW
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Re: New Stamp Collection On Sale .............

Post by AlanW »

I have an original set of these, bought at Biggin Hill in 1965. I'll see if i can search them out.
There is no paralell in warfare, to such courage and determination in the face of danger, over so long a period. Such devotion, should never be forgotten.
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K4KittyCrew
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Re: New Stamp Collection On Sale .............

Post by K4KittyCrew »

Excellent Alan, it would be great to compare them.
Cheers,
John
K for Kitty Crew - Winthorpe, 1661 HCU's - stirlingaircraftsoc.raf38group.org/
630 Squadron - East Kirkby
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AlanW
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Re: New Stamp Collection On Sale .............

Post by AlanW »

Not worn well after 50 years :(
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There is no paralell in warfare, to such courage and determination in the face of danger, over so long a period. Such devotion, should never be forgotten.
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K4KittyCrew
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Re: New Stamp Collection On Sale .............

Post by K4KittyCrew »

Great efforts there, Alan ........... thank you.
Wasn't aware that they would be silhouettes.
The fourth stamp, top right hand side and the eighth stamp, bottom right hand side are probably the picks for me.
Cheers,
John
K for Kitty Crew - Winthorpe, 1661 HCU's - stirlingaircraftsoc.raf38group.org/
630 Squadron - East Kirkby
" There is nothing glorious about war with the exception of those who served us so valiantly"
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