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Auction: 17002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 379

A rare post-war B.E.M. awarded to Sergeant A. Bell, Glider Pilot Regiment (A.A.C.), who was decorated for his gallant experimental work in Horsas: on one occasion he carried out a successful forced landing after his glider broke cloud at 600 feet in heavy rain over Cardiff - the only available landing ground being a sports field

British Empire Medal (Military), G.VI.R. (16000130 Sgt. Arthur Bell, A.A.C.), in its Royal Mint case of issue, officially impressed naming on pre-prepared ground, good very fine

B.E.M. London Gazette 2 January 1950. The original recommendation states:

'For the past two years Sergeant Bell has been attached to R.A.F. Transport Command Development Unit at Brize Norton. During this period he has been engaged in air testing experimental glider equipment, particularly the automatic pilot and snatch equipment.

Due to mechanical failures in equipment this N.C.O. has carried out two forced landings without damage to aircraft, personnel or property. On four occasions he has been the pilot of Horsa Gliders which have been snatched from fields where these gliders had previously been forced landed by other pilots, thereby saving valuable aircraft and equipment. In all, he has carried out over one hundred snatches.

Throughout this period Sergeant Bell has shown a very high degree of flying skill, courage and ability. On one occasion when detailed as captain of a Horsa Glider for a long cross-country flight involving the testing of the automatic pilot, intercommunication between the tug aircraft and glider became unserviceable. At this time the aircraft was flying in thick rain cloud at 4,000 feet and the tug aircraft was not visible from the glider. Owing to mechanical failure during a turn, the glider became badly out of position, and Sergeant Bell realised that both the tug aircrafts and the glider were seriously endangered. Sergeant Bell released the tow rope and prepared for a forced landing. The glider broke cloud at 600 feet in heavy rain over Cardiff.

Sergeant Bell selected the only available landing ground, a sports field, on which he carried out a successful forced landing without damage to personnel, aircraft or property.'

Arthur Bell is believed to have served in the Glider Pilot Regiment during the 1939-45 War; sold with an original photograph of a glider Landing Zone (L.Z.) in Normandy, dated 9 June 1944, together with his embroidered A.A.C. 'Wings'.



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Sold for
£450