541
RAF WW2 Glider Towing & Post War Air Force Cross Pioneer Polar Flight Group of Seven with Log Books.
Description
RAF WW2 Glider Towing & Post War Air Force Cross Pioneer Polar Flight Group of Seven with Log Books. A fine 1956 Air Force Cross Group awarded to Wing Commander Robert Arthur Seymour AFC a Navigator who during WW2 took part in Glider Towing operations on D-Day, Arnhem and also SAS and Jedburg drops over occupied Europe. Remaining with the RAF in the post war years, in 1955 serving as a Navigator on the pioneering RAF Polar Flight of 1955. Comprising: Medal Group: Air Force Cross (EIIR 1956), 1939/45 Star, Aircrew Europe Star, clasp ‘France & Germany’, Italy Star, Defence Medal, War Medal, French Croix De Guerre. The group mounted Court style as originally worn. The campaign medals privately named ‘SQN/LDR R.A. SEYMOUR AFC’ ... Two Aircrew Flying Log Books. These covering the period 28th November 1942 to June 1956, recording over 17,000 flying hours. The logs are complemented with an interesting selection of original photographs within the pages ... Polar Certificate dated May 1955 ... Various newspaper cuttings, photographs etc. The announcement of the award of the AFC appeared in the New Years Honours List for 1956. Wing Commander Robert Arthur Seymour AFC volunteered for aircrew training as a Navigator and flew his first operation with 295 Squadron on Whitley Bombers on the 13th November 1942, this being a ‘Nickel’ run to Paris to drop leaflets. The Squadron later transferred to the Handley Page Halifax and began glider towing training and Seymour took part in the invasion of Sicily July 1943. From March 1944 onwards, he was involved with ops preparing for the invasion of Europe, now flying with 298 Squadron these included parachute drops and the 6th June 1944 he flew two Glider Towing operations. He flew regularly flew throughout July and August and on the 17th September towed a Horsa Glider into Arnhem. The following two days the 18th & 19th would see him make two further glider tows to Arnhem. Another notable flight was on the 10th May 1945 Operation Doomsday when he flew Major General Urquhart to Gardermoen Norway. With the war over Seymour was seconded to BOAC for flying duties and remained with them until 1949. He flew as an instructor and operationally in the following years in Valetta’s, Lincoln’s, York’s and Camberra’s. It was on the latter type that on the 24th June he was crewed with the then Wing Commander Michael Lyne to undertake the first flight from Europe to America via the Polar route of a jet. This was a hazardous flight with Seymour navigating by Sun and Star shots, as the compass were unserviceable in the polar region. The flight lasted 6 hours 30 minutes and at the time was the longest non stop flight by an RAF aircraft. He remained with the RAF until the 8th October 1962 when the London Gazette reported ‘Dismissed by sentence of Court Marshal’.
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RAF WW2 Glider Towing & Post War Air Force Cross Pioneer Polar Flight Group of Seven with Log Books. A fine 1956 Air Force Cross Group awarded to Wing Commander Robert Arthur Seymour AFC a Navigator who during WW2 took part in Glider Towing operations on D-Day, Arnhem and also SAS and Jedburg drops over occupied Europe. Remaining with the RAF in the post war years, in 1955 serving as a Navigator on the pioneering RAF Polar Flight of 1955. Comprising: Medal Group: Air Force Cross (EIIR 1956), 1939/45 Star, Aircrew Europe Star, clasp ‘France & Germany’, Italy Star, Defence Medal, War Medal, French Croix De Guerre. The group mounted Court style as originally worn. The campaign medals privately named ‘SQN/LDR R.A. SEYMOUR AFC’ ... Two Aircrew Flying Log Books. These covering the period 28th November 1942 to June 1956, recording over 17,000 flying hours. The logs are complemented with an interesting selection of original photographs within the pages ... Polar Certificate dated May 1955 ... Various newspaper cuttings, photographs etc. The announcement of the award of the AFC appeared in the New Years Honours List for 1956. Wing Commander Robert Arthur Seymour AFC volunteered for aircrew training as a Navigator and flew his first operation with 295 Squadron on Whitley Bombers on the 13th November 1942, this being a ‘Nickel’ run to Paris to drop leaflets. The Squadron later transferred to the Handley Page Halifax and began glider towing training and Seymour took part in the invasion of Sicily July 1943. From March 1944 onwards, he was involved with ops preparing for the invasion of Europe, now flying with 298 Squadron these included parachute drops and the 6th June 1944 he flew two Glider Towing operations. He flew regularly flew throughout July and August and on the 17th September towed a Horsa Glider into Arnhem. The following two days the 18th & 19th would see him make two further glider tows to Arnhem. Another notable flight was on the 10th May 1945 Operation Doomsday when he flew Major General Urquhart to Gardermoen Norway. With the war over Seymour was seconded to BOAC for flying duties and remained with them until 1949. He flew as an instructor and operationally in the following years in Valetta’s, Lincoln’s, York’s and Camberra’s. It was on the latter type that on the 24th June he was crewed with the then Wing Commander Michael Lyne to undertake the first flight from Europe to America via the Polar route of a jet. This was a hazardous flight with Seymour navigating by Sun and Star shots, as the compass were unserviceable in the polar region. The flight lasted 6 hours 30 minutes and at the time was the longest non stop flight by an RAF aircraft. He remained with the RAF until the 8th October 1962 when the London Gazette reported ‘Dismissed by sentence of Court Marshal’.
Medals, Militaria and Military Antiques
Sale Date(s)
Venue Address
Court Garden
Pound Lane
Marlow
Buckinghamshire
SL7 2AE
United Kingdom
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There is no inhouse packing. All items will be removed to Windsor for shipping.
Important Information
REGISTRATION AUTOMATIC UNTIL 9am MORNING OF SALE, THEREAFTER DELAYS OR REFUSALS MAY OCCUR DUE TO MANUAL REGISTRATION
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FORGERIES. Notwithstanding the preceding condition (8), if within 14 days of the sale, the Buyer returns any lot giving notice to Bosleys, in writing, that the item is a deliberate forgery and that the lot is in the same condition in which it was sold; Bosleys are authorised to rescind the sale. It is Bosleys’ policy to require the Buyer to obtain, at the Buyer’s expense, the written opinion of two recognised experts in the field, mutually acceptable to the Buyer and Bosleys, before Bosleys determine whether to rescind the sale. Should Bosleys decide to rescind the sale and the proceeds have already been paid to the Seller, Bosleys will approach the Seller for the return of the proceeds. This guarantee applies only to the original Buyer named on the original invoice and is not valid if the Buyer has sold or disposed of the lot to a third party at any time.
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Minimum bidding increments/steps (at the sole discretion of the Auctioneer) £5 up to £100, £10 up to £200, £20 up to £500 and £100 etc. thereafter. Out of step bids will be rounded down. “Plus one bid” instructions are quite acceptable.
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(ii) If the Buyer fails to pay within by the end of the month in which the sale is held, Bosleys may take any of the following actions
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SUCCESSFUL POSTAL BIDDERS. Please note, Bosleys regret they do not offer a collection facility. All items purchased by postal bidders, or in the room but not collected on saleday, will be sent via MAIL BOXES ETC., Windsor at the Purchaser’s cost. See 17. below
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Only 20% commission on the hammer price.
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Insurance fee of only 1% of the hammer price or lower estimate if unsold (minimum fee £10 per sale).
Any charges attract VAT at the current rate.
The Seller will bear all costs relating to transporting items for sale to Bosleys together with any insurance fees, import duty or charges by HM Customs. -
RESERVES. If any lot carries a reserve which has been agreed between the Seller and Bosleys, the lot will be sold subject to this reserve. the Seller automatically gives Bosleys 10% discretion on any reserve agreed. By law, no reserve can be higher than the lower estimate published in the catalogue. The Seller may not bid, or employ any agent to bid, on lots which the Seller has put up for sale although Bosleys may bid on the Seller’s behalf.
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PAYMENT TO SELLERS. Payment for lots sold, less relevant charges, will usually be paid to the Seller within 14 working days of the sale as long as payment for such lots has been received by Bosleys. Please note that Bosleys will not pay the proceeds to the Seller until payment has been received from the Buyer. Should payment still be outstanding from the Buyer 30 days after the sale Bosleys have right to rescind the sale. Bosleys have no liability to pay the Seller if the lots have not been paid for by the Buyer or the sale of the lots have been rescinded.
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DESCRIPTIONS. Bosleys have complete discretion as to the manner in which items described, whether to illustrate any item or to combine it in a lot and whether or not further expert advice or research should be sought. They also have complete discretion to withdraw any lot from auction should they have any doubt concerning its authenticity or attribution.
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PHOTOGRAPHS AND ILLUSTRATIONS, for which no charge is made, are solely produced at Bosleys’ discretion. The Seller gives Bosleys the full and absolute right to photograph any item consigned to auction and to use or publish such photographs at any time in connection with the sale or in any way they see fit. All rights of these images will belong to Bosleys.
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