This is a specially produced glossy bookplate bearing the rare and genuine signature of Battle of Britain Spitfire pilot Jackie Mann. Mann went to 9 FTS Hullavington for No. 17 Course which ran from 6th March to 29th June 1940. He went to 5 OTU Aston Down on 7th July, converted to Spitfires and joined 64 Squadron at Kenley on 27th July.
He made his first operational sortie on the 29th. On 5th August he destroyed a Me109, on the 8th he probably destroyed two Me109s, on the 11th probably destroyed a Me109 and damaged another and on the 12th he probably destroyed another Me109.
Mann was slightly wounded in action on the 16th and he made a forced-landing at Hawkinge, in Spitfire L1038. He was slightly injured on the ground when Kenley was bombed on the 18th. He rejoined the squadron on the 25th.
Mann was posted to 92 Squadron at Biggin Hill on 12th September and on the 14th he damaged a Me109 but was himself wounded in the action. He was made non-effective sick and still was in November 1940.
Serving with 91 Squadron on 31st March 1941, Mann shot down a Me109 west of Cap Gris Nez. In the engagement, his Spitfire, P7783, was severely damaged and he was badly burned when he made a crash-landing at Mongeham, Kent.
He underwent plastic surgery at the Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead, becoming a Guinea Pig.
He was awarded the DFM (gazetted 25th April 1941).