A WWII pathfinder's medals are to provide the highlight of a June 5 auction of Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria in London.
 Andrew was the best air gunnner of his squadron, taking part in 89 operations |
The auction will be held under the banner of Noble Investments, which is a joint venture between major collectibles companies Apex, Baldwin's and Dreweatts.
The medals will lead this inaugural sale, valued at £10,000-15,000 ($15,282-22,923).
A Conspicuous Flying Medal and Distinguished Flying Medal group of five, they were awarded to Warrant Officer SJH Andrew, No 35 Squadron, No 8 (Pathfinder Force) Group of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
RAF pathfinders were employed to identify and safely operate drop zones and landing zones for aircraft and resupply operations, as well as marking areas for bombing. Andrew served in 89 such operational sorties and saw over 315 hours of flying between 1943 and 1945.
He was awarded the CGM and DFM for his role as an air gunner "of outstanding ability" and was unrivalled in the Halifax and Lancaster Bombers No 8 Group, his skills described as "second to none".
Also included are Andrew's 1939-1945 Star, Air Crew Europe Star with a copy "France and Germany" clasp and War Medal 1939-1945.
Also selling is a harrowing canvas by Herbert Morton Stoops entitled Strange Meeting, Argonne 1918. Valued at £2,000-3,000 ($3,056-4,584), it sees a British soldier stumbling upon a group of soldiers in a trench, only to discover that they are skeletons.
Paul Fraser Collectibles has some stunning second world war militaria for sale, including signed letters from Winston Churchill and an autographed photo from Guy Gibson, heroic commander of the Dam Busters.
