The Tom May Collection -British Groups

Lot 2073    Session 7 (11.30am Wednesday)    The Tom May Collection -British Groups

Estimate $1,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $1,200

GROUP OF FOUR TO RFC EXPERIMENTAL PILOT: 1914-15 Star; British War Medal 1914-18; Victory Medal 1914-19; Defence Medal 1939-45. 1802 Pte. A.H.Bird 2nd. Co. of Lond.Y. on first medal, Lieut. A.H.Bird. R.A.F. on second and third medals, last medal unnamed. Named medals impressed. Extremely fine.

Together with photos, all flying related; full listing of flights made; photocopy of private publication, 'Memoirs of Alfred Harry Bird', includes highlights of his time on Gallipoli and his flying training and service which features recollections of flying mishaps, accidents and other adventures; copies of pages from other publications featuring Liuet A.H.Bird; other documents including results of questionnaire to Liuet A.H.Bird on his wartime flying. Alfred Harry Bird, 1st/2nd County of London Yeomanry T.A. (Westminister Dragoons), Trooper Scout 1909-1913, Regt Scout Sergeant 1914-1917, service in Egypt, Suez Canal, Gallipoli, Western Front; Royal Flying Corps/Royal Air Force, Flying Officer (Pilot), Lieutenant (Pilot) 1917-1919; Lieutenant, Home Guard May 1940-November 1944, 20th Kent; Major, Home Guard 1953-1956, 19th Sussex. Lieutenant Bird was involved in a lot of experimental flying including night flying and introduced several safety devices which were adopted by the squadron. In his memoirs he relates how his CO told him that he had been considered for an Air Force Cross for his experimental work but as only two were available he was keeping one for himself and one for another officer who had never been in action and as Bird had already received the 1914 Star (actually it was 1914-15 Star) he was passed over. In his record of flights, Bird also relates how on 12 January 1918 while with No 61 (HD) Squadron he was flying Sopwith Pup B5307 and on landing at Rochford airfield it turned over due to high wind, damaging the top wing leading edge, rudder, fin and prop (see photo).