Flight Lieutenant Philip Bristow (deceased) *Signature Value : £80
| Philip Bristow joined the Royal Naval Air Service in August 1917 and was sent for immediate flying training in France, qualifying as a pilot and returning to the UK to train on seaplanes, after which he began submarine surveillance flights. He was forced to ditch his aircraft into the sea on three occasions, twice using carrier pigeons to summon assistance. He was rescued on these occaions by a trawler, a drifter and a destroyer respectively. Transferring to the RAF on April 1, 1918, he was posted to 219 Squadron, flying the Short 184, where he saw active service flying combat patrold on the Northern Front. He died in late 2001 / early 2002, aged 101, and just a fortnight short of his 102nd birthday. |