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Hi all, the ‘Battle of Britain day’ update was just completed, with some lovely new items of flying kit added to the website. I hope you all enjoy the Battle of Britain focus. Happy hunting! https://www.rafmilitaria.com/new-items September 15th 1940, otherwise known as ‘Battle of Britain Day’, marked a decisive moment in the air war over Britain. This was the day the Luftwaffe launched its largest and most concentrated attack against London in the hope of drawing the RAF into a battle of annihilation. The RAF did not capitulate, and in the aftermath of the raid, Hitler postponed Operation Sea Lion. Please take a moment to commemorate ‘The Few’, who lost their lives fighting for the freedom we have today. RAF Mark VA Flying Spectacles

Following another busy year, both collecting wise and personally, I am ready again to list some more items for sale from my private collection. The website will be updated this coming Monday, 15th September , and what better day to refresh the website than the 85th anniversary of ‘Battle of Britain day’! In honour of The Few, this update will have a nice selection of flying kit and accessories, with a distinct Battle of Britain theme. The update will take place at a totally random  time of day, so I highly recommend frequenting the NEW ITEMS  page throughout the day. As with all previous updates, if you manage to be on the website in time to purchase something you like, please click either the "GET IT" button, or alternatively email me directly, referencing the item in question, at rafmilitaria@gmail.com . (I am also very responsive on Facebook messenger too). I will reserve the item and message you personally to arrange payment and postage. I operate strictly on a 'first come, first serve' basis. As always, happy hunting, and if you don’t see anything you like, please do reach out with a wants list as you never know what I else I may be willing to part with. Ben

A new item I have just picked up is this super ‘Prestige’ Flying Suit, with history to ex-Vickers test pilot and British racing driver, William ‘Bill’ Simpson Aston. The suit came with Aston’s Luxor flying goggles, flying/motor-cap, registration plate for an aircraft he owned and flew from Eastbourne Flying Club (pre-war), along with various ephemera relating to his racing career.   ‘PRESTIGE’ SUIT HISTORY: Many collectors will recognise the white flying overalls as a ‘Prestige’ flying suit; a simple unlined cotton suit synonymous with pilots who held prestigious positions in pre-war aerobatic display teams, or worked with the various aircraft manufacturers as test pilots. The nickname ‘Prestige’ suit was thus coined, with the suits becoming a status symbol, evident in the fact that they saw continued use in the early war years: most notably among Auxiliary Air Force and University squadrons who took part in the Battle of Britain.   The suits were produced in a myriad of styles including a standard turn-down collar, mandarin style stand-collar, and had different pocket designs depending on the manufacturer.  They were manufactured in 2 different weights and four colours: white, black, navy and tan.  Rank lace was sometimes attached to the epaulettes and squadron badges and pilot wings were occasionally added, though an Air Ministry order forbade the application of badges in the war years. Photo evidence would suggest this was not always heeded to.   The suits were available from many commercial manufacturers of the time, including Burberry, Gamages, Gieves, D-Lewis; and the Air Ministry themselves contracted suits for the RAF display/aerobatic teams, as well as for test pilots. Air Ministry-contracted suits are usually found with AM marked zippers and are exceptionally rare to find.   THE SUIT:   The suit I have picked up is most probably made by D-Lewis, which was one of the more prolific makers of the suit. It has a turned down collar, chest and thigh pockets, removable shank buttons, a pleated back and adjustable belt. The most striking element to the suit, from an RAF collector’s perspective, are the Air Ministry branded zippers on both forearms: indicative of the suit being issued in the pre-war years for RAF use. The suit is adorned with a prestigious British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC) badge, which epitomises its use by Bill Aston in the post-war years. Interestingly the suit came with a small identification plate in one of the pockets for Eastbourne Flying Club, along with the registration G-AEKG. G-AEKG was a ‘BA Swallow 2’ aircraft owned by Aston from October 1938 – January 1939. Sadly the aircraft was destroyed in a hangar fire at Maylands Aerodrome, Harold Hill, Romford, Essex on the 6th February 1940.     BILL ASTON: William ‘Bill’ Simpson Aston (29 March 1900 – 4 March 1974) fought in World War 1, and was a test pilot for Vickers during the Second World War, before turning to motor racing; participating  in three World Championship Grands Prix and setting a new 500cc speed record at Montlhery in 1951.   Sadly history of Aston’s time as a Vickers test pilot is rather limited, though it is evident he had a long time spent in aviation, flying from Eastbourne in the pre-war years before working with Vickers. Aston must have had links with the RAF, due to the fact the suit has Air Ministry marked zippers.   More information on Bill’s somewhat forgotten racing career can be found here: https://www.f1forgottendrivers.com/drivers/bill-aston/ REFERENCES Special thanks to David Farnsworth, Mick Prodger, Steve Milnthorpe, Neil Seaton and Rob Bilinski for their knowledge, input and patience. See also: Mick Prodger, Luftwaffe vs RAF: Flying Clothing of the Air War 1939-45 , (Schiffer, 1997) Mick Prodger, Luftwaffe vs RAF: Flying Equipment of the Air War 1939-45 , (Schiffer, 1998) David Farnsworth, Their Finest Hour - A Collector's Guide to the Battle of Britain , (Armourer, 2010) Mark Hillier, The RAF Battle of Britain Fighter Pilot's Kitbag , (Frontline Books, 2018)

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