A LETTER by a First World War British flying ace the day before he was shot down by the Red Baron sold in Swindon for nearly £7,000.

Captain Albert Hall, 20, shot down 43 German planes before being killed on May 7, 1917, at Annoeullin, France.

The day before he died, Captain Hall wrote to his sister Lois.

He casually mentions to her: "Well I made (shot down) my 42nd Hun yesterday, so am now four in front of the French."

Chris Albury, of Dominic Winter auction house said: "Albert Hall was a real hero, so brave."