This is a specially produced glossy bookplate bearing the original signature of Battle of Britain Polish ace Witold Lokuciewski DFC.
In September 1939 he probably destroyed a He111 in the first days of the fighting and destroyed a Ju87 and shared a Do17 on the 6th.
Lokuciewski flew his aircraft to Romania on 17th September. He then made his way to France via Yugoslavia and Italy.
He joined l’Armée de l’Air and from 17th May 1940 flew the MS406 in a defence flight based at the huge French Air Force depot at Romorantin, east of Tours. On 6th June 1940 he destroyed a He111.
On 18th June the flight withdrew and Lokuciewicz sailed on the 21st for England from St. Jean de Luz.
He was posted to the Polish Wing at 3 School of Technical Training Blackpool and joined 303 Squadron at Northolt at its formation on 2nd August 1940.
He claimed a Do17 destroyed and probably another on 7th September, destroyed a Do17 and a Me109 on the 11th and a Me109 on the 15th. On this day he was wounded in the leg in combat with Me109's over the Kent coast. His next sortie was made on 5th October 1940, a ‘B’ Flight patrol.
On 20th April 1941 Lokuciewski destroyed a Me109, on 18th June a Me109, on the 22nd a Me109 and probably another and on 11th July probably another. He was awarded a Bar to the KW (gazetted 10th September 1941) and the DFC (gazetted 30th October 1941).
Lokuciewski was appointed a Flight Commander on 21st November 1941 but was shot down and captured on 13th March 1942.
His Spitfire Vb BL656 was shot down by Me109's on Circus 114 near Hazebrouck. He was held in Stalag Luft 3, took part in the Great Escape and was recaptured. He was freed in late April 1945.