Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria. To coincide with the OMRS Convention

Three: Pilot Officer W. A. Saunders, Royal Air Force

1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal 1939-45, extremely fine, with original Air Ministry condolence slip (3) £120-150

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Awards to the Royal Air Force from the estate of the late Eric Campion.

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William Anthony Saunders, who was from Reading, commenced his operational career as a pilot with No. 21 Squadron, a Blenheim unit based at Bodney, Norfolk in late March 1940. In the following month the Squadron completed two or three missions against enemy warships at sea, and a strike against Wilhelmshaven, but it was not until May that it really got to grips with the enemy, flying over ten sorties to Belgium and France, targets including enemy troops, tanks and transport, in addition to bridges and pontoons. A similarly punishing schedule was reserved for June, Saunders and his crew being posted missing on their 22nd sortie on the 14th of the month, during a strike against Merville aerodrome. His Blenheim was seen to be in difficulty after being hit by anti-aircraft fire, and ‘was then followed by E.A. Fate unknown’. In all probability, Saunders gallantly stayed at his controls to allow his two crew members to bale out, for the latter were both taken P.O.W. Aged 20 years, his name is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.