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Auction: 24003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 282

The Caterpillar Club Badge attributed to Pilot Officer R. Fleming, D.F.C., Royal New Zealand Air Force, who latterly served out his time as a Prisoner of War at Stalag Luft III - the scene of 'The Great Escape'

Caterpillar Club Badge, gold with ruby eyes, engraved 'P/O. R. Fleming', housed in original Irving Air Chute of Gt. Britain Ltd box of issue, good very fine

[D.F.C.] London Gazette 5 February 1943.

The only Pilot named R. Fleming known to have survived a 'ditching' by use of their parachute is Robert Thomson Fleming, who was born on 23 September 1921. Fleming joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force (NZ404460) and flew with No. 40 & 139 Squadron. He was hit by flak on an Op to Frankfurt on the night of 13-14 August 1944 and abandoned the Mosquito he was piloting with Sergeant D. G. Glenhill.

Fleming landed in the swamps at Getelo at 0104hrs but was unable to evade. He was taken Prisoner of War and was sent to Stalag Luft III at Sagan, Germany. Later repatriated by the Russians via Odessa in 1945, Fleming died on 8 August 1993 at Tauranga, New Zealand.

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Estimate
£400 to £600

Starting price
£350