|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cranston Fine Arts  Aviation Art World War Two Veteran Signatures UK and Commonwealth B  Boggis, Peter |
Squadron Leader Peter Boggis DFC
Flying Officer Peter Boggis, at the remarkably early age of 22, was the first pilot to fly MacRobert's Reply and did so with much distinction, courage and skill. He had proved himself an exemplary pilot, having flown 15 operational sorties. He took control of the bomber and joined Squadron XV in September 1941. Boggis flew many bombing raids over Europe in MacRobert's Reply, attacking Pilsen, Nuremberg, Cologne and, in a daylight raid on the port of Brest, destroying many German battleships. That sortie was particularly hazardous: casualties were high and the trip home was interrupted by much enemy gunfire. While flying over the Channel at almost sea level, Boggis heard his rear gunner shout that there were six aircraft on their tail. 'They were Halifaxes' Boggis later recalled with relief. 'They were a welcome sight. They opened up their formation in invitation and gratefully we climbed and were enfolded in their midst. We returned in grand style.' The manipulation of the Stirling bomber required much care. Their maximum bomb payload was 8,000lb so movement at take off and landing was, at best, cumbersome. They usually flew at 15,000ft which made them easy prey for enemy fire. For the Brest mission, his last with the squadron, Boggis was awarded the DFC for his bravery and skill: his flying under extremely dangerous conditions was highly commended. Boggis was transferred to a training squadron for the remainder of the war. A few months later, the original MacRobert's Reply had an accident with a Spitfire on take-off at Peterhead. The badge on the nose was preserved and transferred to another Stirling. That, in turn, was shot down over Denmark in May, 1942. But the tradition of naming a plane in the RAF MacRobert's Reply has lasted to the present day, with Bucaneers and Tornado aircraft carrying the name. After the war, Boggis took command of the squadron at Stradishall in 1947 and he retired from the RAF with the rank of squadron leader in 1967. Peter Boggis died on 2nd June 2010.
 |
| Distinguished Flying Cross |
| Squadron Leader Peter Boggis DFC - Signed Aviation Art |
|
|
| Text for the above items : |
North Sea Sortie by Keith Aspinall. Buccaneer S2B McRoberts reply of No.XV squadron flies over the North Sea. Designed for high-speed, deep penetration attacks at ultra low level, the Buccaneer has always been immensely popular with its aircrews. The design may be old, but the concept was brilliant, and the Buccaneer still retains a unique combination of range, war load and speed, unmatched by any other aircraft in RAF service. Pressed into service during the Gulf War, Buccaneers finally proved in the most spectacular manner what many had known for years - that the only suitable replacement aircraft for the Buccaneer is another Buccaneer. |
Clipped Signature - Peter Boggis. A bomber pilot, he was the first to fly the aircraft MacRobert's Reply in 1941. He flew many sorties with No.15 Sqn in the Stirling and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his final mission. The original aircraft crashed, and its replacement also shot down, with the name not re-used until 1982, this time on a Buccaneer. The tradition continued until No.15 Sqn was disbanded and the last Tornado scrapped in 2018. Peter Boggis retired as Squadron Leader in 1967. He died in 2010. |
|
Contact Details |
|
Sign Up To Our Newsletter!
This website is owned by Cranston Fine Arts. Torwood House, Torwoodhill Road, Rhu, Helensburgh, Scotland, G848LE Contact: Tel: (+44) (0) 1436 820269. Email: cranstonorders -at- outlook.com
|
|
|
