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Auction: 22133 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 938

Three: Lieutenant G. A. Featherstone, Royal Air Force who was killed in action on 1 October 1918 in a bombing raid over Aulnoye, France

British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. G. A. Featherstone. R.A.F.); Great War Bronze Memorial Plaque (George Alfred Featherstone), the medals drilled at six o'clock and the plaque to both six and twelve o'clock, otherwise good very fine (3)

George Alfred Featherstone entered the Royal Air Force on 28 March 1918 at No. 12 Flying School. After courses in gunnery and wireless telegraphy he qualified as a Flying Officer and was posted to No. 49 Squadron on 22 June 1918. Hospitalised in August Featherstone was sent to No. 6 Stationary Hospital, Frevent before returning to action, this time with No. 108 Squadron.

This unit was flying the much disliked DH.9 at the time and Featherstone was piloting one of these -DH9 D7342- on a raid over on the railway junction at Aulnoye on 1 October 1918. Unfortunately for him a large number of those flying the raid were forced to turn back as a result of the DH9's famously unreliable engine and those that were left were sitting ducks. Only thirteen reached their target and these were attacked the moment they crossed the lines. Featherstone was one of three shot down, both he and his observer 2nd Lieutenant Frank Owen were listed as missing, later confirmed killed in action. He is buried at Harlebeke New British Cemetery; sold together with copied service papers and a Commonwealth War Graves certificate as well as an original City of Sunderland memorial poster.

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Sold for
£250

Starting price
£100