A 1942 Signature of Air Marshal W.A. Bishop V.C. D.S.O. M.C. D.F.C

A 1942 Signature of Air Marshal W.A. Bishop V.C. D.S.O. M.C. D.F.C - Printed in blue ink on light blue Air Mail quality paper, obverse inscribed "ARMED FORCES AIR LETTER / BY AIR MAIL", addressed to " P/O STEWART BROWN, CAN. J9387 / ROYAL AIR FORCE STATION / ABY SUEIR / EGYPT", signed by "G. Stewart Brown" and postmarked June 15, 1942 at Montreal, Quebec with Canadian Ten Cent stamp, reverse inscribed with return address "AIR MARSHAL W.A. BISHOP V.C., D.S.O., M.C., D.F.C. / ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE / JACKSON BUILDING / OTTAWA, / CANADA.", signed by Air Marshal Bishop and postmarked August 5, 1942 at Cairo, Egypt, 95 mm x 122 mm, extremely fine.   Footnote: Gordon Stewart Brown was born on April 14, 1921 in Montreal, Quebec. He attended Westmount High School and McGill University, before enlisting in the Royal Canadian Air Force (J9387) on February 28 1941 in Montreal. He was posted to No.1 Manning Depot in Toronto, Ontario on March 14, 1941, followed by an uncertain posting for guard duty, to No. 1 Initial Training School at Eglinton Hunt Club in Toronto on July 4, 1941. Brown graduated and was promoted to Leading Aircraftman on August 8, 1941 when posted to No.7 Elementary Flying Training School in Windsor, Ontario. He graduated on September 25, 1941 when posted to No.14 Service Flying Training School in Aylmer, Ontario. Brown graduated and was commissioned on December 19, 1941, attached to 400 Squadron, where he would serve with distinction as a Spitfire Pilot. He was posted to "Y" Depot in Halifax, Nova Scotia on December 20, 1941 for service overseas with the Royal Air Force, leaving Canada on January 8, 1942. He is documented as having been in Egypt in the summer of 1942 and was promoted to Flying Officer on October 1, 1942. Brown was promoted to Flight Lieutenant on December 19, 1944 and repatriated on January 15, 1945. He was transferred to "Y" Depot in Halifax on March 5, 1945, returned to the United Kingdom again on March 11, 1945 and repatriated on September 5, 1945. He retired on October 14, 1945. Brown was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross effective March 23, 1945, as per the London Gazette, page 1784 on April 3, 1945 and AFRO 802/45 on May 11, 1945. His citation reads: "This pilot has completed numerous fighter missions on all of which he has displayed exceptional skill, determination and courage. These operations have often been completed in the most difficult circumstances in the face of enemy anti-aircraft fire and fighter activity. Flight Lieutenant Brown took part in many fighter patrols in the course of which he damaged many locomotives. On one occasion his aircraft was severely damaged but despite this he flew safely to base." The DFC was presented to him in Montreal on November 25, 1949. Postwar, he started his own company (Eastern Coated Papers) and was president until retirement. He also attended courses at Macdonald College, where he became a prominent benefactor. Upon retirement, he became a gentleman farmer near Winchester, Ontario. Brown died on December 26, 2009 after a long and valiant battle with pulmonary fibrosis.