White Spot Battle of Britain Pipe – Shell Briar

Description

Battle of Britain Pipe – Shell Briar – No. 86 / 100 – Sold. Between 10th July and 31st October 1940, the heavily outnumbered RAF with its 1,963 serviceable Spitfires and Hurricane fighter planes fought back the attacking Luftwaffe with 2,550 aircraft, mostly Messerschmitt Bf 109E and Bf 110C fighters. In the course of those fights, the Luftwaffe lost 1,887 aircraft, while the RAF lost 1,547. British air defences signified a first major military defeat to Nazi Germany and a crucial turning point of the 2nd world war. It was Winston Churchill, who, with the Battle of Britain still at its full height, so pointedly acknowledged the invaluable contribution of the air forces during his speech in parliament: ?The gratitude of every home in our island, in our Empire and indeed throughout the world, except in the abodes of the guilty, goes out to the British airmen, who, undaunted by odds, unwearied in their constant challenge and mortal danger, are turning the tide of world war by their prowess and by their devotion. Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few?. These two Battle of Britain pipes have been specifically created and manufactured to remember and celebrate the 70th anniversary of the British victory at the Battle of Britain, the decisive air battle between the British Royal Air Force and the German Luftwaffe during WWII. After launching the Battle of Trafalgar pipes in 2007, this is the second limited edition collection of a planned trilogy to commemorate the most important battles of British history. The Battle of Britain pipe is a classic group 4 Apple, a favourite shape among the officers of the Royal Force. The pipes are fitted with Sterling Silver bands engraved both with the image of a Spitfire in flight and the inscription The Battle of Britain. The pipe tamper, shaped like the propeller blade from a Spitfire fighter, is cast from Duralumin, a special aluminium alloy procured from the original supercharger of a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, the engine used in Spitfire and Hurricane fighters and Lancaster bombers during the war. The tamper is engraved with the image of a Spitfire airplane on one side and Winston Churchill?s quote ?Never was so much owed by so many to so few? on the other. The highly collectable Battle of Britain pipes and tampers are presented in a prestigious black lacquer box that is shaped like the cross-section of a Spitfire wing. Integrated onto the top of the lid sits a Perspex dome reminiscent of the upper gun turret of Lancaster bombers, magnifying the image of a dog fight scene between a Spitfire and Messerschmitt fighter. The inside of the case is lined in Royal Air Force blue fabric. Furthermore, each set is accompanied by the hardcover book ?The Spitfire Story? by Peter R. March, which has been integrated in the inside lid of the presentation box. Each set is accompanied by its numbered and hand-signed limited edition certificate. This edition series is strictly limited to only 100 pipes in Bruyere and 100 pipes in Shell Briar finish.