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Branse Burbridge
| Wing Commander Branse Burbridge DSO* DFC* (deceased) Posted to 85 Squadron on night-fighters in October 1941, Branse Burbridge flew Havocs on his first tour, scoring just a single claim, but when he returned to 85 Squadron for a second tour - this time on Mosquitos, he was far more successful. His first enemy kill was in Febraury 1944 when he shot down a Messerschmitt 410 fighter plane off the Sussex coast. On the night of March 24, 1944 he became embroiled in a life-or-death dogfight with a Dornier 217 bomber over the Channel. His Mosquito chased the aircraft from 19,000ft to just 3,000ft before it crashed into the sea, with Wg Cmdr Burbridge pulling up with just 1,000ft to spare. During the period of the build up to the invasion of Normandy, and after, together with his radar navigator, Bill Skelton, They flew 30 sorties over Germany to provide escort cover to RAF bombers. His greatest achievement came on November 4, 1944 during a bombing raid over Bonn. He shot down three Junkers 88 bombers and a Me 110, firing just 200 rounds in the process. In total they claimed 21 victories in a ten month spell. In the days after D-Day, he shot down a Junkers 88 bomber on the France/Belgium border that was piloted by Major Herget, who was credited with 72 aerial victories. In June 1944 he also shot down three V-1s. With his final air victory, in January 1945, he passed the total set by John Cats Eyes Cunningham to become the highest scoring RAF night fighter Ace of the war. Following the war Wg Cmdr Burbridge studied theology at Oxford before becoming a lay preacher for the Scripture Union. He now lives in care in Chorleywood, Herts. |
Items Signed by Wing Commander Branse Burbridge DSO* DFC* (deceased) |
  | Lone Hunter by Nicolas Trudgian. Price : £70.00 | DHM1865. Lone Hunter by Nicolas Trudgian. ...... | |
| | Lone Hunter by Nicolas Trudgian. (XX) Price : £60.00 | ...... | |
  | Night Hawks by Philip West. Price : £125.00 | The ever-vigilant crew of this Mosquito night-fighter successfully intercept a Luftwaffe Bf110 as it heads towards a bomber stream over target in Germany. ...... | |
 | Night Hawks by Philip West (AP) Price : £150.00 | The ever-vigilant crew of this Mosquito night-fighter successfully intercept a Luftwaffe Bf110 as it heads towards a bomber stream over target in Germany. ...... | |
 | Wings of Dawn by Philip West. (AP) Price : £160.00 | The legendary, much loved and respected wooden wonder Mosquito was perhaps the best twin-engined fighter-bomber of its size to see combat action during WW11. More than 7,700 de Havilland Mosquitoes were produced and served in many versions, from fig...... |
  | Top Dog by Robert Taylor. (C) Price : £265.00 | Completing a record 213 operational sorties with Bomber Commands Pathfinder Force, Mosquito LR503 became one of the most successful aircraft in the Royal Air Force during World War II. It flew first with 109 Pathfinder Squadron, and then 105 Pathfin...... |
