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Auction: 23003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 321

An unusual 1946 A.F.C., 1940 A.F.M. group of seven awarded to Wing Commander, late Sergeant Pilot L. F. Humphrey, Royal Air Force

Entering service as a Halton Apprentice in 1920, Humphrey soon passed as a Pilot and shared in the pioneering 1929 'West African Flight', when a daring party of three Fairey IIIF's of No. 47 Squadron traversed the entire continent of Africa; he then notched up thousands of hours on his Flying Log Books sharing in VIP flights in the Middle East and passing on his vast experience to the next generations of Pilots during the Second World War, for which he earned both decorations

Air Force Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated '1946'; Air Force Medal, G.VI.R. (335839. F/Sgt. L. F. Humphrey. R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R. (335839 F/Sgt. L. F. Humphrey. R.A.F.), contact marks, very fine (7)

Approximately 9 combinations of the A.F.C. & A.F.M. to the Royal Air Force for the Second World War.

A.F.C. London Gazette 1 January 1946.

A.F.M. London Gazette 16 July 1940.

Lester Francis Humphrey was born in 1904. He enrolled in the Royal Air Force as a teenager in 1920 as an Apprentice Carpenter Rigger in the 2nd Halton Apprentice Entry at Cranwell. Having shown great promise, he thence went through training to become a Sergeant Pilot. Humphrey trained at No. 4 Flying Training School, Abu Sueir, Egypt in August 1926, at that point having had some 52hrs as an Air Gunner whilst flying with No. 6 Squadron from Mosul in Bristol Fighters.

He was thence posted to No. 47 Squadron in July 1927, having qualified and joined 'A' Flight.

Perhaps his most important contribution to aviation in this period was the remarkable experimental 'West African Flight' that three machines from his Squadron completed. Squadron Leader Vincent & Flight Lieutenant Prickman (Navigator) were in No. 1 Machine, Flight Officer Wilson (Photo Officer) & Sergeant Spillard (Fitter) were in No. 2 Machine and Humprey (i/c Aircraft) & Sergeant Wiles (Fitter) were in No. 3 Machine. They set off from Helwan at 0700hrs on 19 October 1929 with Humphrey flying Fairey IIIF 1172 and in the days and weeks that followed the undertook the remarkable journey across Africa. Stops at various fields at Atbara, El Fasher, Ati, Kano, Katsina, Lagos, Accra, Tamale, Minna all followed. Conditions as you might expect were most varied, with comments in his Flying Log Books giving interesting comment on this pioneering Flight:

'5 November. Kaduna-Illorin. Landing ground not very good.

6 November. Illorin-Lagos. Had to fly under low clouds over the rain forest, very interesting.

7 November. Lagos-Accra. Had a few anxious moments when taking off from small LG at Lagos. Had a good reception on arrival in the Gold Coast.

11 November. Tamale-Accra. via Kumassie met some bad rain storms over rain forests.

24 November. Maidgari local. Took a couple of natives up who would not have seen any thing except inside of cockpit.'

The Flight made it back to Helwan on 29 November 1929 and had given more than a fair account of themselves. Humphrey also notched up 1,000hrs solo or as Pilot on 23 December 1929. He remained with No. 45 Squadron flying Wapitis, Faireys and Gordons until May 1931 and then joined No. 7 Squadron at Worthdown from August 1931-February 1932, operating on Vickers Viriginias. He went up to the Central Flying School at Wittering, thence to Cranwell and onto the Iraqi Air Force at Hindaidi from April 1933-July 1934. Returned to home, Humphrey joined the Central Flying School at Wittering in July 1934. By April 1940, he had a remarkable 4,757hrs 35mins on his Log Books and served in Africa during the Second World War. Having been duly rewarded with his A.F.M., he was commissioned into the General Duties Branch as Pilot Officer on 1 April 1940. Listed as having been 'seconded for special duty' in July 1940, he was advanced Flying Officer on 1 April 1941 and Squadron Leader on 1 January 1946, at the same time adding the A.F.C. to his laurels. Made Wing Commander on 1 November 1947, he finally retired on 28 October 1956, having been Chief Controller at the Air Traffic Control Centre near Gloucester. Humphrey had some 36 years of service with the Royal Air Force to his name and had a remarkable 6,378hrs 20mins on his Flying Log Books and having flown 64 separate aircraft types. The Wing Commander died in 1982.

Sold together with his Flying Log Books, covering his entire career, these a remarkable record, with many photographs and comments pasted into the books, together with engraved brass tray and a fine large presentation brass charger upon the completion of the 'West African Flight', the charger being engraved (and additionally with engraved signatures):

'Presented by B.N.C.O.'s Mess 2nd Bn. Nigeria Regt. R.W.A.F.F. Kano to RAF Nigerian Flight 1929.'

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Sold for
£5,500

Starting price
£5500