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Auction: 25111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 523

Three: Lieutenant P. J. E. Pierce, Royal Air Force, who had three 'kills' to his name but was killed in a flying collision with Lieutenant W. G. Lance over Allonville aerodrome on 13 August 1918

British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. P. J. E. Pierce. R.A.F.); Memorial Plaque (Percy John Emerson Pierce), extremely fine (3)

Percy John Emerson Pierce was born on 16 February 1899 and was the son of Mr and Mrs P. Pierce of 42 Maryland Road, Maida Hill, London.

Pierce worked for Messrs. H. Williams, a wholesale drapery business that was based at 72 St.Paul's Churchyard, London E.C. between September 1914 - February 1917 before he joined the Royal Flying Corps at Denham on 23 August 1917. He transferred to 55 M.A. on 5 October 1917, and from there he transferred to No.49 Training Squadron based at Doncaster on 28 November 1917. Pierce joined No.90 Squadron based at Shotwick on 9 January 1918 and from there transferred to the Training Division on 30 March 1918. He entered the war in early 1918 (date not confirmed) and served with No.90 Squadron. On 20 May 1918 Pierce shot at an Albatros D.III east of La Bassee, however two days later was noted as being in hospital (no details confirming the complaint). He then joined No.19 Squadron on 3 June 1918.

Pierce was part of two formations from the Squadron "A" Flight and "C" Flight who were over the Bois de Biez in the early evening of 13 July 1918. In the fading sunlight they could see six other aircraft, which turned out to be a Pfalz and five new Fokker D.VIIs. "C" Flight went down first and broke up the German formation. "A" Flight followed and began picking targets. Taking full advantage of the element of surprise the pilots managed to shoot down just about all of the Fokkers. Pierce shot down one which was seen to crash. His next encounter was on 11 August 1918 when he shot down a single-seater aeroplane east of Albert.

His final flight however was on 13 August 1918 when he took off at 05:36 flying a Sopwith Dolphin from Savy Aerodrome for Allonville aerodrome however a thick mist covered the aerodrome. Pierce collided with Lieutenant W. G. Lance and both were killed in the air collision. He is buried in the Vignacourt British Cemetery, Somme, France; sold with assorted research and photographs of his gravestone.

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Sold for
£1,300

Starting price
£210