Description: Dambusters cover signed by 617 Squadron veteran Len Sumpter DFC DFM who was bomb aimer in Shannon’s crew on the legendary Dams Raid Leonard Joseph Sumpter DFC DFM (1911-1993) was born in Kettering, Northamptonshire, on 20 September 1911, the son of Joseph and Mary Ann Sumpter. He had already served two stints in the Grenadier Guards before transferring to the RAF in 1941. He had joined the army as a boy soldier in 1928 and left again in 1931. He rejoined his old regiment at the outbreak of war but then in 1941 he persuaded his superiors to let him transfer to the RAF. After training in England and Canada, he was posted to 57 Squadron at Scampton in September 1942 and flew as the bomb aimer on thirteen operations with Flt Lt G.W. Curry. Curry was then grounded with ear trouble, and his crew were told they had to break up. However, he and his colleague, flight engineer Bob Henderson, heard a rumour that a new squadron was being formed elsewhere at Scampton, and went looking for David Shannon, who was apparently on the lookout for a bomb aimer and an engineer. They both impressed the young pilot, and joined his crew. After the Dams Raid, for which he received the DFM for his accurate attack on the Eder Dam, Sumpter continued flying in Shannon’s crew, as 617 Squadron undertook a series of operations. He was commissioned in June 1943. In 1944 Mosquitoes were introduced into 617 Squadron to mark targets, and Sumpter became Shannon’s observer. He received the DFC in June 1944. Shannon was finally taken off operations, but Sumpter reverted to Lancasters for a short time as part of Flt Lt I.M. Marshall’s crew. Altogether, by the end of the war he had flown thirty-five operations. He flew on 617 Squadron’s last wartime operation, an attack on Berchtesgarten on 25 April 1943. He was demobbed from the RAF after the war, but rejoined in 1946 in the Physical Fitness branch, and served until 1950. He had a son, Leonard, with his first wife Marjorie MacLean whom he had met in Prince Edward Island in Canada while training, and a daughter, Jacqueline, with his second wife Hilda Rose, who was from England. After the war, Sumpter was a regular participant in 617 Squadron reunions and activities, and his audio recollections at the Imperial War Museum have been regularly trawled by historians WE ARE UACC REGISTERED DEALERS NUMBER RD209 NOTE! We have noticed a few sellers putting the letters "UACC" in their item titles but failing to provide either a dealer or member number. You should view this practise or anything similarly vague with the utmost caution, any reputable dealer will provide this information on their listings directly without having to be asked. We are UACC Registered Dealer RD209 We do NOT sell pre-printed signed items. Everything we sell is hand signed and authentic Visit our store!Buyautographs Shipping Flat items are packaged in board backed envelopes with 'Please Do Not Bend' printed to the front. Items larger than 8x12 inches are usually sent in a sturdy tube. We are very happy to combine postage for multiple purchases. About Us We are UACC Registered Dealer RD209. We continue to hold a large number of 'Private Signings' with Stars of TV & Film, Concorde Pilots, WWII Veterans, Celebrities and so on, in order to guarantee authenticity. _gsrx_vers_1436 (GS 9.0.5 (1436))
Price: 150 GBP
Location: Ashford, Kent
End Time: 2024-12-04T08:26:58.000Z
Shipping Cost: 18.56 GBP
Product Images
Item Specifics
Return postage will be paid by: Seller
Returns Accepted: Returns Accepted
After receiving the item, your buyer should cancel the purchase within: 30 days
Return policy details: Returns accepted within 14 days of purchase.
Country Of Manufacture: United Kingdom
