B18c 50th Ann Handly Page Heyford Signed by M.R.A.F. Dermot Boyle (E)

Handley Page Heyford FDC Signed MRAF Boyle.21 June 83 Jersey First Flight of the Production Version of the Handley Page Heyford. Black flown cachet flown from Jersey to Southampton Airport in Trislander by courtesy of Aurigny Air Services. Route Alderney to Ortac to Frawley to Southampton.Personally Signed by Marshal Royal Air Force Dermot Boyle ( served with 17 Sqn Aug 1924 to Dec 1925 ) became the first extoCranwell Cadet to reach the position of Chief of the Air Staff. He qualified as a QFI at the CFS in 1927 achieving a rare A1 rating. Whilst serving at the Central Flying School in 1928 he led the schools display team of two Genet Moths the other pilot being fellow instructor Richard Atcherley. However he nearly did not achieve his ultimate greatness. He was carrying out a low slow roll in one of the Schools Tomtits when the engine cut out. The aircraft crashed and was declared a writetooff but Boyle walked away owing to the strength of its metal construction. In 1935 he had the privilege of taking The Queen Mother (then the Duchess of York) for her first flight. This took place from the grounds of Sir Philip Sassoons residence in a Puss Moth. The flight resulted in an instruction from the Air Council that members of the Royal Family where not to be flown in conditions unbecoming of their station.Appointed to the staff of the Advanced Air Striking Force in 1939 he was tasked with the organisation of the final withdrawal of the Forces remaining units through Brest and together with his AOC became one of the last RAF officers to leave France. 28 Jun 1940: Air Staff to Operations HQ Bomber Command.21 Nov 1940:Officer Commanding No 83 Sqn.17 Feb 1941:Assistant Secretary Committee of Imperial Defence.17 Jan 1942: Officer Commanding RAF Stradishall.17 May 1943:SASO No 83 Group.26 Aug 1943:Appointed Air ADC to The King26 Apr 1945:AOC No 85 (Base) Group.20 Jul 1945:AOC No 11 Group. 2 Apr 1946: Attended Imperial Defence College. 2 Jan 1947 Commandant RAF Staff College 26 Jul 1948 DirectortoGeneral of Personnel (1) 2 Aug 1949 DirectortoGeneral of Manning 5 Apr 1951 AOC No 1 (Bomber) Group.Whilst AOC No 1 Group he undertook a flight from London to Valetta in a Canberra setting a new speed record for the journey. In 1952 he flew one of the four Canberras involved in Operation Round Trip. This consisted of a seven week tour taking in 14 South American countries covering 24000 miles. Shortly after taking up his appointment as CAS he undertook a tour of RAF bases in the Middle and Far East by piloting himself in a Canberra covering around 20000 miles. Following his retirement from active service he joined ? (Aircraft Company) becoming VicetoChairman of the British Aircraft Corporation in 1962 until 1971. He was also Master of the Guild of Airline Pilots and Air Navigators (1965 to 66) Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the RAF Museum (1965 to 74) and Deputy Chairman of the RAF Benevolent Fund (1971 to 80 ) Details & Black and White Photo of Marshal Royal Air Force Dermot Boyle Certified Copy No of 1500. Signed project Officer