Kenneth Cross KCB BCE DSO DFC RT Partridge Invasion Of Norway Military Hand Signed FDC

STB040 This is stunning Invasion Of Norway collectors official limited edition first day cover hand signed by Royal Marines Major RT Partridge and Air Chief Marshall Kenneth Cross where both of the signatures rests perfectly accompanying the special hand commemorative franks.  This comes with full lifetime COA as the signing has been officially witnessed and certified by the publishers with full hallmarking and a third signing on reverse for lifetime authenticity..  This reads "and more" for you are also getting a plain back real photo postcard from the publishers showing both these historic veterans making this the ultimate opportunity of its kind and all contents are in outstanding condition.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Kenneth Brian Boyd Cross, KCB, CBE, DSO, DFC (4 October 1911 18 June 2003) was a senior Royal Air Force commander. He was commonly known as Bing.Cross served in the Second World War and in October 1939 was appointed Officer Commanding No. 46 Squadron, conducting flying missions over Norway. For his service in Norway he was awarded the Norwegian War Cross with sword.  Ordered to return to the United Kingdom in June 1940, his pilots achieved the seemingly impossible task of landing all their Hurricanes on the aircraft carrier HMS Glorious without arresting gear, along with ten Gloster Gladiators of No. 263 Squadron Their success was short-lived because on 8 June 1940 HMS Glorious and her two escort ships were attacked and sunk by the German battleship Scharnhorst and Gneisenau. Cross was one of only three officers and 41 other ranks rescued out of the three ships' companies. He had spent nearly three daysand nights on a float in freezing temperatures before being rescued by a Norwegian fishing boat. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. After recovering from frostbitten feet he was appointed Officer Commanding No. 252 Wing in the Middle East and then took over No. 258 Wing before reverting to command of No. 252 Wing.  In January 1943 he was made Air Officer Commanding No. 212 Group and in February 1943 he took over No. 242 Group receiving promotion to temporary group captain in July 1943. He became Air Commodore, Training at Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Air Force in March 1944 and Director of Overseas Operations (Tactical) in June 1944.