Papers of P/O John D. Bisdee, Battle of Britain pilot, no. 609 Squadron, 1939-1940

This archive collection contains two diaries of Pilot Officer John. D. Bisdee, OBE, DFC and two maps used in operations.

The diaries contain personal reflections of the times, including being called up for duty and actions in the Battle of Britain and cover the period 1939-1940. He served with no. 601 and no. 609 Squadrons. He was awarded the DFC in July 1941 and his citation read; This officer has led his flight and section with great skill and determination. He has participated in a large number of operational flights against the enemy and has destroyed at least six of their aircraft besides damaging many others. He has set a fine example. Two maps are included in this collection they cover Alexandria (with annotations) and Tours. The Tours map is annotated by Bisdee as being used when Bisdee escorted Churchill's flight to Tours to persuade Paul Reynaud, the French Prime Minister, 'not to give up the struggle in 1940'.