Award of the Distinguished Service Cross Neil McDougall Falklands War FDC

STB05  A stunning circa 40 years ago origin FDC of the Award of the Distinguished Service Cross for military gallantry this cover featuring the Falklands War and signed by Neil McDougall with commemorative frank on the front accompanying the autograph and further frank on reverse. Specially flown with journey detailed on the souvenir too in mint condition.

Neil had been a senior captain and QFI on the Vulcan at RAF Waddington in April 1982 when he was selected, along with his crew, to carry out Black Bucks 4, 5 and 6 to attack Argentinian radar sites on East Falkland with the AGM 45A Shrike Air-to-ground missile. As a senior Vulcan captain, Neil was the only Vulcan pilot who had previous knowledge and experience of air-to-air refuelling, a skill that he would need to put into practice many times over the 8 000 mile return sortie from Ascension Island. Neil and his crew were successful in damaging a Westinghouse TPS 43 search radar on Black Buck 5 and then destroying a Skyguard fire control radar on their following mission, Black Buck 6. Following Black Buck 5, Neil made history by captaining, which was at the time, the longest combat mission in the history of air warfare - some 16 hours, and 5 minutes longer than Black Buck 1.