A silver cigarette case attributed to Group Captain A. G. “Sailor” Malan, D.S.O., D.F.C., Royal Air Force, the famous South African fighter ace, by ‘W. N. Ltd.’ and hallmarks for Birmingham 1939, the outer lid with engraved R.A.F. logo top left, and the inner front lid engraved ‘A. Malan, 74 Sqdn.’ top left, gilt interior, in good condition £150-200

“Sailor” Malan ended the War with a total of 27 confirmed victories and 7 shared destroyed, and was awarded the D.S.O. and Bar, and D.F.C. and Bar. He joined No. 74 “Tiger” Squadron in late 1936 and was a Flight Commander when he first went into action over France in May 1940. Subsequently appointed to the command of the Squadron at the height of the Battle of Britain, he added numerous “kills” to his tally and won enduring fame for his 10 Rules of Air Fighting, which manual was distributed throughout Fighter Command. He later commanded the Biggin Hill Wing with equal distinction; see Sky Tiger - The Story of Sailor Malan, by Norman Franks (William Kimber, 1980).