Lot 238

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Description:

Exceptionally rare and historically important printed document with dramatic fold-out map: "II GROUP AND IX FIGHTER COMMAND JOINT AIR PLAN AND EXECUTIVE ORDER FOR OPERATION NEPTUNE", approx. 200pp. legal folio, Uxbridge, May 25, 1944, jointly signed in facsimile by Gen. ELWOOD QUESADA as commander of the American IX Fighter Command, and Air Vice Marshal HUGH SAUNDERS as commander of II Group. The report, marked "TOP SECRET", was issued in a total of 450 copies to commanders of American and British fighter groups, as well as to controllers, a few army commanders, and senior military leaders. The plan was to be implemented only for D minus 1 until no longer needed. It set forth explicit plans for: protecting assault vessels in their staging areas and while in convoy to the beaches, day and night; protection of bombarding vessels; protection of Coastal Command aircraft seeking enemy submarines; protection for Allied bombers and paratrooper transports before, during, and after H Hour; protection of the landing beaches and approaches thereto; the attack by fighters on prearranged targets before H Hour, as well as targets of opportunity; protection of advancing forces; and continuing reconnaissance. All of the squadrons involved are indicated, along with their assignments and code names. Most impressive is the 22" x 22" fold-out map bound into these orders. The map is titled: "MAP OF FIGHTER PATROL AREAS IN ASSAULT AREA AND OVER MAIN SHIPPING ROUTE" and it shows the four main air patrol areas for the landings. Also shown is the "ASSAULT AREA" with beaches: "UTAH", "OMAHA", "GOLD", "JUNO", and "SWORD" all indicated. Patrol area "EASY" appears behind the German lines, and the beaches are also flanked by air patrols. Finally, the geographical limits of the patrols are indicated as well. This set of plans is numbered "174" and was given to the commander of 122 Squadron. The RAF 122 Squadron initially flew the Supermarine Spitfire I in convoy patrols, sweeps over northern France and at Dieppe. In 1942 František Fajtl became the squadron commander, the first Czech to lead a RAF squadron. In October 1942 it was reequipped with the Spitfire IX and continued operations over France. In January 1944 it re-equipped with the Mustang to operate long-range bomber escort duties and within a few months the Mustangs were converted into fighter-bombers and the squadron started long-range ground-attack sorties into continental Europe. It was heavily involved in D-Day operations and within a few weeks had moved to France to support the invasion. It continued till the end of the war providing long-range escorts to both Bomber Command and the 8th Air Force.

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November 13, 2018 10:00 AM EST
Chesapeake City, MD, US

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$5,000 $9,999 $500
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