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Auction: 21003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 398

(x) A well-documented campaign group of five awarded to Warrant Officer F. W. Hargrave, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who flew extensively in Burma and latterly in the South-East Asia campaign, having previously served with the Air Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Burma Star; War Medal 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, S. E. Asia 1945-46 (W.O. F. W. Hargrave (1710186) R.A.F.), this last with officially re-engraved naming (5)

Frederick William Hargrave was born on 24 January 1923 and served in the Royal Air Force from 15 January 1942. He initially served with No. 15 (Air Sea Rescue), Marine Craft Unit, out of Blyth, which saw him perform his duties on various small craft (Atlantic Star). He qualified as an Air Gunner in November 1943, having attended his Course at Morpeth and following other Courses, he joined No. 215 Squadron in India in September 1944. He put his previous experience to use during two Air Sea Rescue searches of the Bay of Bengal on 8 & 10 October, but with no trace. Hargrave shared in a number of experimental bombing tests before being Top Gunner on two Ops to target supply dumps at Taungup on 21 & 23 December. He found himself in the thick of the action on 3 January 1945, when targetting the Bankok-Moulmein Railway, with their No. 3 engine being hit by flak and set alight, with No. 4 engine hit in no less than 13 places. They were forced to land at Cox's Bazaar, before being flown back to base the following day. A note from the recipient states the forced landing and explosions caused him concussion and resulted in the need for a hearing aid later in life.

He saw no rest, taking part in continuous Ops in the following days as the Japanese Army was pounded with vast bomb loads and combined operations, in which Hargrave shared. By the time he flew in his final Op on 22 March, he had completed 20 Ops. He saw further action on 11 September, taking a petrol load and assisting in the repatriation of POWs (Medal & clasp). He was discharged as a Warrant Officer on 2 June 1946.

Sold together with the following items:

(i)
His Flying Log Book, covered in brown leather, covering his career, with good details of his operations.

(ii)
A most interesting private workbook, detailing his career to include trade details, aircraft identification, small arms ammunition, sightings and his 'Operational Clippings', which detail his actions, accompanied with newspaper clippings which relate.

(iii)
RAF Service and Release Book.

(iv)
Named box of issue for the General Service Medal.

(v)
A wide array of photographs which illustrate all aspects of his career.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£800

Starting price
£380