Photograph album of Lieutenant Aubrey “Mike” Vialls (1923=2010) of 1 Fighter Squadron South African Air Force. After the Second World War Mike graduated from Princeton University and returned to South Africa in 1950 as the country’s first graduate aeronautical engineer. Joining South African Airways as Technical Director of its Engineering Department. Facilitating the introduction of the Boeing 747. The album contains 185 original photos taken by Vialls during his time with the Squadron in North Africa and Italy. Most of the small (approx 9 x 6cm) photographs show daily life with the Squadron during the pperiod 1942-1943. There are photos from the following places. Daba, El Aghela, Agedbia, Sollum, Tubruk, Wabi Saru, Castel Benito, Tripoli, Tunis, Hergia and Sicily. Some of the names mentioned in the captions include Duncan, Jock, Wicky, Red, Steve Cloete, Gilson, Major Moodie, Harry Gaynor, Brebner, Cheese Caplin, Jan van Nus, Bushy Langerman and many more. Also Chum, Daba and Chel – 3 dogs that belonged to the Squadron. Condition: Good. Some creasing to the tissue guards and a little wear to some of the pages. A few loose photos. There are images of an ME 109F, “Captured at Daba and made serviceable by Capt. Red Connor No.1 (SAAF) Sqd” and “Flown by Maj. P.C.R. Metlerkamp.” Re-painted in RAF livery. Photographs of Kittihawks, Bostons, Lockheed Hudson, DC3, Fortress, Liborator, B17E, Stuka, ME110, Spitfire, Bristol Beaufort, Hurricanes and many others. There are 5 newspaper clippings and 3 leaflets that were “dropped over Sicily and Italy before the invasion. Obtained in Malta from a crashed Halifax.” There is also a formal, undated photograph of the Squadron at Kroonstadand a Christmas card titled One Fighter Squadron 1942, with 41 signatures. 18 album pages with tissue guards, bound in an embossed leather album typical of North Africa at the time.
Date Published: 1942-1943
Signed: Yes
Condition: Good.
Binding: Softcover.