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Auction: 21002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 154

Family group:

Four: Flight Sergeant (Pilot) E. V. Shaw, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who was killed in an aircrash in the Cotswolds on 21 May 1942, Shaw had already been forced to take to his parachute the previous February after a bombing raid to Bremen

1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45, with named Air Council enclosure, in card box of issue, addressed to ‘E. Shaw Esq. 5, Earlswood Road, Belfast, N. Ireland.’, with 'ticker-tape' confirming 4 awards and medals in their waxed paper envelopes, nearly extremely fine

Pair: Aircraftman 2nd Class C. Shaw, Royal Air Force

Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted as worn, in card box of issue, addressed to ‘C. Shaw Esq. 5, Earlswood Road, Belfast, N. Ireland.’, and ticker tape with details '1796481 A.C.2.', good very fine (6)

Edmund Verner Shaw was born on 28 September 1919 at 14 Church View, Holywood, son of Edmund and Mary Shaw. Young Shaw was educated at Holywood Public Elementary School, Strandtown Public Elementary School, and Royal Belfast Academical Institution. Taking work as a clerk for the Belfast Steamship Company, he joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in May 1939 and was called up for full time service at the beginning of the Second World War. Going to England for training, on 14 December 1940 he was posted to No.218 (Gold Coast) Squadron based at RAF Marham.

On 11 February 1941, he was Second Pilot of Wellington R1210, flown by Flying Officer W. I. Anstey D.F.C., which lifted off at 1750hrs. Having bombed Bremen, they turned for home but must have feared for the worst when their wireless gave out upon nearing the English coast. They were targeted by anti-aircraft fire over London and also ran out of fuel, eventually abandoning the aircraft over Tebay at 0215hrs, with it coming to earth in the Bretherdale Common area, between Kendal and Shap, Lake District. Thankfully all the crew, Shaw included, survived - just their Air Gunner, Sergeant A. S. Robinson broke his ankle upon landing.

In April 1941 he was posted to Egypt and then Iraq. Shaw returned to Britain in March 1942 and in April was posted to No. 20 OTU as an instructor on Avro Anson aircraft. On 21 May 1942 he was returning from RAF Moreton-in-Marsh with his pupil from a cross country exercise in Anson N5259 when the aircraft struck overhead pylon cables near RAF Little Rissington, 1 mile east of Kingham and 4 miles south-west of Chipping Campden. Having been severely injured, Shaw passed in the Station Hospital. At the request of the family, his body was returned to the Emerald Isle for his burial on 27 May 1942 in Belfast (Dundonald) Cemetery.

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Sold for
£850

Starting price
£220