Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Six: Navigator H. G. Philpott, Royal Air Force, who was shot down during the Second World War over occupied France on 8 August 1944, and successfully evaded capture

1939-45 Star, 1 clasp, Bomber Command; Atlantic Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue (II. Nav. H. G. Philpott (1334255). R.A.F.) mounted court-style, about extremely fine (6) £300-£400

Hubert Gerald Philpott was born in London on 14 September 1921 and served during the Second World War as a Flight Sergeant in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve from 28 February 1941. Posted to 106 Squadron, on the night of 27-28 May 1944 he was the Navigator of Lancaster LM549 taking part on a bombing raid on Nantes. They took off from R.A.F. Metheringham at around 22.30hrs and bombed the target area at 01.43hrs from 8,400 feet. On the return flight their Lancaster was attacked and damaged by enemy night fighters but was eventually driven off by the return fire from the Lancaster’s air gunners. Diverted north to land at the emergency landing strip at Carnaby because of the damage, they made a one-wheeled landing there at 05.30hrs.

On the night of 7-8 August 1944 Philpott and his crew were involved in an operational sortie on a target in France when their Lancaster ME831 was shot down. All the crew successfully bailed out and survived the landing; two of the crew were taken prisoner of war, but the remainder, including Philpott, evaded capture: ‘I baled out at 01.00hrs on 8 August 1944 and landed in the grounds of a factory at Elbeuf. On landing I was approached by two Frenchmen. They took me to a house in Elbeuf where I remained until Allied Forces arrived on 27 August. I was sent thence to Bayeux.’ (the recipient’s evasion report refers).

Sold together with a circular piece of sheet metal (presumably taken from the damaged Lancaster) inscribed ‘R Roger, Carnaby (Yorks) 28th May 1944. Tours, Brunswick, Kiel Bay, Nantes, 106 Sqdn.’; a 78 Squadron cloth badge; a 1970 25th Anniversary commemorative French medallion, white metal, the reverse engraved ‘H. Philpott’; and a football prize medal, silver, the reverse engraved ‘H.M.S. Vindictive. Inter-Part League Winners 1928-29, Stokers C., H. Philpott’.