Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War ‘1942’ Test Pilot’s A.F.C. group of three awarded to Wing Commander W. P. Whitworth, Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment, Royal Air Force

Air Force Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1942’, and additionally engraved ‘W. P. W. June’, with Royal Mint case of issue; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with related miniature awards, both mounted as originally worn, generally very fine (3) £1,000-£1,400

A.F.C. London Gazette 11 June 1942, the original recommendation states:

‘This officer has been at A. & A.E.E. since July, 1940, being first employed as an experimental gunnery officer when he displayed devotion to duty by the pains he took to subject gun installations in both turrets and fixed gun features to a rigourous test. He was subsequently appointed to command the Armament Testing Squadron, and has set a fine example by the way he flies all types of aircraft undergoing bombing and gunnery trials. Particular mention must be made of his excellent flying during the the trials of the Hurricane IID which were of far-reaching importance involving the use of and entirely new and revolutionary type of weapon and calling for a new technique when flying close to the ground. (The recommendation is supported by the C.R.D., M.A.P.)’

Walter Peter Whitworth was born in Koffiefontein, South Africa, in July 1914. A British citizen, he was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge. Whitworth gained his Private Pilot’s Licence (no. 6736) at London in July 1934, and was commissioned Pilot Officer (on probation) in the Royal Air Force, in July 1935.

Whitworth advanced to Flight Lieutenant in January 1938, and to Squadron Leader in January 1940. He was posted as a Test Pilot to the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment at Boscombe Down, July 1940. Whitworth advanced to Wing Commander in September 1941, and commanded the Armament Testing Squadron.

Sold with the following original documents: Great Britain Air Ministry Private Pilot’s Certificate and Licence; three photographs of recipient, two of which are of him in uniform.