Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine post-War ‘Belgian Congo Airlift’ M.B.E., Second War ‘Mosquito’ pilot’s D.F.C. group of seven awarded to Wing Commander P. B. Elwell, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who flying with 600 Squadron in 1942, claimed one He.111 destroyed and another damaged. In May 1944, he claimed an Me 410 destroyed, whilst flying with 264 Squadron during June 1944 he was heavily involved in ‘beach’ patrols in support of the D-Day landing, claiming an Fw.190 destroyed and another probable on 24 June and a Do.217 two weeks later

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Civil) Member’s 2nd type breast badge, silver, in Royal Mint case of issue; Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1944’, in Royal Mint case of issue; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, 1 clasp, France and Germany; Africa Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, in card box of issue, the address label torn; together with the recipient’s related set of miniature awards, these lacking the F&G clasp; and full-size riband bar; and a large Belgian Government gilt medallion, the reverse engraved ‘Elwell Paul - Bingham, Flying Manager Caspair Ltd.’, in case of issue, nearly extremely fine (8) £1,600-£2,000

M.B.E. London Gazette 31 December 1960:
‘For services to aviation in East Africa.’

D.F.C. London Gazette 8 August 1944.
The original Recommendation states: ‘Squadron Leader Elwell is now serving his second tour as a night fighter pilot and has been flight commander in this squadron since January 1944. He is an extremely able pilot and gives an excellent example to his flight by his leadership and fearlessness in pressing home an attack on the enemy. He recently attacked five FW.190’s when patrolling the bridgehead alone at dusk, destroying one, probably destroying a second and evading one of the enemy aircraft that got on his tail to attack. On another occasion he destroyed a Me.410 at night in the Channel after a very difficult chase, which was only successful through his great determination. He has also destroyed a third aircraft and damaged one. His victories (all at night) are as follows…’

Paul Bingham Elwell was born in Highworth, Wiltshire, in 1910 and after serving an apprenticeship at the Great Western Railway Works, took flying lessons. By the outbreak of the Second World War, Elwell, who was now an experienced pilot, was granted a direct entry Commission in the Royal Air Force as Volunteer Reserve. After various training courses, he was posted to 600 Squadron (Beaufighters) as a Flight Lieutenant on 7 December 1941. Appointed ‘A’ Flight Commander in June 1942, on 28 July he had his first confirmed victory; an He.111 destroyed and another damaged. In a letter to his wife (included in the lot), he describes the combat in detail.

Posted to North Africa in November 1942, over the next 6 months, 600 Squadron were involved in night cover for Allied bases and shipping. On 1 April 1943, Elwell was posted to Command of R.A.F. Djidjelli with the temporary rank of Wing Commander; flying Hurricanes, Wellingtons and Aircobras. Returning to the UK in December 1943, he joined 29 Squadron (Mosquitos) as a supernumerary Squadron Leader. However on 23 January 1944, he and his Radio Operator; P/O Ferguson, moved to 264 Squadron (Mosquitos). Appointed ‘A’ Flight Commander, the pair initially, flew from R.A.F. Church Fenton on defensive sorties. On 16 May, they shot down a Me.410 over the Channel and was credited with his second confirmed victory. From June 1944, the squadron was involved in patrols in support of the D-Day landings. From the 5 June, Elwell’s logbook shows a large number of beach patrols, a hand written note inside the logbook, describing these beach sorties in detail. 24 June, during one of these beach patrols he alone fought 5 Fw.190’s, destroying 1 and claiming a probable on another. The ‘Swindon advertiser’ reported:
‘Squadron Leader Elwell noticed that 5 FW.190s were climbing steeply and he “raced in and fought the planes” until he ran out of ammunition. The report also added that he had taken down one FW.190 for sure and probably another one before managed to return to base safely.’

A month later, on 10 July, Elwell claimed a Do.217 destroyed (probable), over the Normandy Bridgehead. On 8 August 1944, he was awarded the D.F.C. and within days moved to an aerodrome at St Mere Eglise, where he continued to fly sorties over Normandy for the next few months. In November 1944, he was sent back to the UK and spent the rest of the war on non-operational duties. His final tally of claims was 3 destroyed, 2 probably destroyed, and 1 damaged.

Post War, Wing Commander Elwell continued flying commercial carriers in Africa. He worked in Kenya and was the Mayor of the western Kenyan town Eldoret from 1955 to 1960. He was awarded the M.B.E. for his service in Africa and in particular for his efforts in airlifting European refugees from the Belgian Congo to Uganda in 1960. Elwell tragically died in October 1962 when he crashed his passenger airliner, a DH 89 Dragon Rapide, after suffering a heart attack whilst landing at Entebbe Airport, Uganda.

Sold with the following original items: Two Civilian Pilot Log Books and two Royal Air Force Flying Log Books, detailing the recipient’s entire wartime and civilian flying, from 1936 to 1961; Buckingham Palace enclosures for the M.B.E. and D.F.C.; R.A.F.V.R. Pilot Officer Appointment document, dated 18 September 1939; and resignation letter, dated 12 March 1946; telegram from Leigh Mallory giving congratulations for award of D.F.C., and a congratulatory letter from 85 Group; original letter to his wife describing in detail his first combat in which he shot down a German He.111 and damaged another; 3 original and detailed Combat reports for claims on a Me.410, Do.217 and 2 FW.190’s; a personal diary notebook (72pp) covering the period November 1942 to September 1943, with edited transcript; and various photographs, newspaper cuttings, and other ephemera; together with 2 pairs of Squadron Leader epaulettes/slips, 2 pairs of R.A.F. cloth wings; various photographic images; and a large quantity of copied research.