Lot #313

Roy Brown

Description

Six days before the death of the Red Baron—"We can still keep the hun pretty well in his place in the air"

Canadian aviator and World War I ace (1893-1944) officially credited with bringing down the Red Baron, though later investigations indicated that the kill was most likely made by an Australian anti-aircraft machine gunner. ALS signed “Roy,” four pages on two adjoining sheets, 5.25 x 7, R.N.A.S. letterhead, April 15, 1918. Letter to his father, in part: "Things are very serious here at present, more serious than ever before, something will happen soon though what it is I cannot say. We have been right in the thick of it since coming out and have been very lucky. We are fortunate in having the best machine we could possibly get. We can still keep the hun pretty well in his place in the air. His casualties in every way must be terrible. There is some satisfaction in being in the thick of it at the present time, to know you are doing useful work at the most critical stage…I just got a new pilot in my flight who went to school with me in Edmonton. It is rather funny having him under me now. He is a good chap and will make a good pilot." In fine condition, with several intersecting folds. The Edmonton pilot Brown refers to is Wilfrid Reid 'Wop' May, the final Allied pilot to be pursued by Manfred von Richthofen before the German ace was shot down on the Western Front in 1918. An excellent and insightful letter written only six days before the final flight of the Red Baron.

Auction Info

• Auction Title: Fine Autographs and Artifacts
• Dates: #500 - Ended May 10, 2017

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