SHOLTO DOUGLAS (1893 - 1969) Marshall of the R.A.F. After serving as a squadron commander during the First World War, he became Director of Staff Duties and then Assistant Chief of the Air Staff at the Air Ministry. During World War II, he served as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Fighter Command and Air Officer Commanding in Chief of RAF Middle East Command where he advocated Operation Accolade, a planned British amphibious assault on Rhodes and the Dodecanese Islands in the Aegean Sea. Very rare World War I-date D.S. as Commanding Major of the 84 Squadron, 1p. large 4to., [France], Sep. 24, 1918, a 'Combats in the Air' double-kill report in which A.W.B. Proctor, Captain, documents an attack on two enemy balloons which would become his 24th and 25th 'kills'. South African ace Capt. A. W. BEAUCHAMP-PROCTOR (1894-1921), a member of the RFC, was a recipient of the Victoria Cross who accumulated 54 'kills' by wars end, and was later killed himself in a training accident. In part: '...Observing no E[nemy]. A[ircraft]. Scouts I decided to attack enemy balloons. Diving down on one about 1 mile N.W. of Proyart, I opened fire with my Vickers...I fired half a drum of Buckingham ammunition into balloon. As I passed over balloon I observed blue smoke curling up...Observing 3 E. balloons up, North of Bray, I flew over them at 10,000 ft. and dived down on them...When about 1,000 ft over one, I dived vertically and opened fire with my Vickers. About 70 yards distant I opened fire with my Lewis, and fired 30 rounds of Buckingham into balloon. I then had to zoom away. Shortly afterwards I saw the balloon burst into flames...'. Signed by Douglas at the bottom as Major and Commander of 84 Squadron. Several file holes, lightly toned, else very good.