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Auction: 25003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 65

A scarce Second World War and post-war Malaya group of six awarded to Master Pilot W. R. Rowe, Royal Air Force
A veteran of Air Sea Rescue operations in the Middle East in 1943-44, he served with distinction as a Sycamore helicopter pilot in No. 194 Squadron in Malaya in 1955-58, flying numerous 'casevac' missions in which he evacuated a total of 90 casualties

And for his gallantry in one such mercy mission to collect a critically ill Malay policeman from his jungle post - 'a hazardous flight in low cloud and squalls over 80 miles of rugged mountain country' - he was mentioned in despatches

1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, with M.I.D. oak leaf (1314845 F./Sgt. W. R. Rowe, R.A.F.); Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., E.II.R. (M. Plt. W. R. Rowe (1314845) R.A.F.), good very fine (6)

M.I.D. London Gazette 9 December 1958.

William Raymond Rowe was born in Neath, Glamorganshire on 23 December 1922, where he attended the local grammar school. In February 1941, he enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and, on selection for pilot training, was embarked for Southern Rhodesia. Duly qualified, he returned to the U.K. in early 1942, attended an Operational Training Unit and was embarked for the Middle East. And he subsequently served in Wellingtons and Hudsons of No. 1 Air Sea Rescue Flight and in Warwicks of No. 283 Squadron.

Demobilised in November 1946, but retained on the strength of the R.A.F.V.R., Rowe returned to civilian employ as a clerk in Neath and Coventry. In March 1952, however, he re-enlisted in the R.A.F. and qualified as a helicopter pilot.

Advanced to Flight Sergeant in July 1954, he joined No. 194 Squadron in Kuala Lumpur at the end of the following year, the commencement of a protracted tour of duty in Malaya. In fact, between then and May 1958, he notched up several hundred hours in the unit's Sycamore helicopters, including numerous 'casevac' sorties in which he rescued 90 men, including the above mentioned critically ill Malay policeman. He was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 9 December 1958, refers).

Following his tour of duty in Malaya, Rowe held U.K. appointments in No. 275 Squadron (flying Sycamores) and No. 228 Squadron (flying Whirlwinds) in the late 1950s but he was grounded when appointed Senior Warrant Officer at R.A.F. Leconfield.

Having then been re-mustered as a Master Pilot and awarded his L.S. and G.C. Medal in November 1964, he got airborne again in No. 110 Squadron in 1965-67, once more operating in Sycamores in Malaysia and being awarded a commendation by the A.O.C. in July 1965.

Once again grounded, Rowe's subsequent overseas postings included Germany and he took his retirement in 1977.

Sold with a complete run of his R.A.F. Pilot's Flying Log Books (7), covering the periods December 1941 to November 1952; December 1952 to November 1955; December 1955 to March 1957; April 1957 to February 1958; March 1958 to August 1960; September 1960 to April 1961 and February 1965 to February 1969, together with a quantity of copied research, including his service record and newspaper reports on his Malayan mercy mission.


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Estimate
£500 to £700

Starting price
£400