Orders, Decorations and Medals

The Great War Victory Medal awarded to Lieutenant A. D. Pope, No. 52 Squadron, Royal Air Force, whose plane was the first victim of the German fighter ace Hugo Schafer
Victory Medal (Lieut., R.A.F.), edge nicks to rim, nearly very fine £30-40

Lieutenant Arthur Dalrymple Pope was wounded on 23 March 1918. Two days later on 25 March 1918 whilst on a bombing operation his plane was hit by machine gun fire and he was forced to land, it was necessary to burn the aircraft, however Pope and his Observer escaped without injury. Another two days on and Pope was again involved in an incident when on a bombing operation his plane was once more shot up, causing the engine to seize and forcing Pope to land at La Houssoye. The following day on 28 March 1918 he was reported missing in action. Lieutenant H. Schafer of Jasta 15 claimed his machine as the first of his eleven victories. Both Pope and his Observer Lieutenant H.S. Redpath survived this ordeal and were taken prisoner of war, being repatriated on 1 December 1918. It is interesting to note that Pope did not share the view that he had been shot down by an enemy aircraft. A copy of a form completed by him regarding the circumstances of his capture, states ‘Brought down by machine gun fire from the ground. Not wounded. Ground strafing.’ Sold with 4 copied pages of research detail.