DOUGLAS WILLIAM SHOLTO: (1893-1969) British Marsal of the Royal Air Force, a pilot and squadron commander during World War I, and later Commander-in-Chief Fighter Command 1940-42, Commander-in-Chief Middle East Command 1943-44 and Commander-in-Chief Coastal Command 1944-45 during World War II. D.S., W S Douglas, in pencil, Commanding 84 Squadron, one page, 4to, n.p. (France), 3^rd June 1918. The partially printed document, completed in typescript, is a Combat Report (headed Combats in the Air) relating to two aerial victories achieved by Captain Jack Sorsoleil, the narrative stating, in full, 'Whilst on patrol, seven Triplanes dived on the leading flight. I immediately dived on the E[nemy] A[ircraft] and fired a long burst with both guns. The Triplane which I had engaged went down vertically, and one of his planes broke off. I turned back and climbed, and observed a triplane on the tail of one of our machines. I dived again and fired another long burst with both guns. The triplane went down in a slow spin. I was at 5,000 feet at the time and watched him as best I could. I did not see him flatten out, and by his methods of descent he was entirely out of control'. Signed by Douglas at the foot confirming the decisive victories. Very slightly neatly trimmed and with several file holes to the left and a small area of paper loss to the lower left corner, none of which affect the text or signature. About VG

 

John Victor Sorsoleil (1899-1956) Canadian fighter pilot of World War I.