727* WWI. A Group of six to Group Captain W.E. Purdin (1899-1973), Royal Air Force, British War and Victory Medals (Flying Officer W.E. Purdin R.A.F.), India General Service 1908-35, G.V.R., one clasp, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919 (Flying Officer W.E. Purdin, R.A.F.), Defence and War Medals, Iraq Active Service Medal, first two officially renamed, good very fine, court mounted for wearing, together with two logbooks, the covers with recipients name in block print, with RFC Training Transfer Card, first commencing 4.4.1922, last entry 31.10.1929, second logbook, commencing 1.11.1929, last entry 30.10.1952, a large portrait photograph of the recipient in uniform, framed and glazed plus a large George V silver tray, Sheffield 1924, engraved to the recipient on the occasion of his marriage, 14 May 1932, finely engraved with 26 friends of R.A.E. including Flight Lieutenant G.H. Stanforth AFC (Schneider Trophy Team 1929, and world speed record holder in 1931), approx 44oz, with a large amount of original photographs and documents, including group photographs of the recipient uniform, newspaper cuttings and letters plus extensive copied paperwork Group Captain William Edward Purdin, first commission14.8.1918, Flying Officer 12.12.1919, Squadron Leader 1.10.1935, Wing Commander 1.11.1938, Group Captain 1.3. 1941. Between April 1918 and April 1922 Purdin was stationed in India, however the first logbook for this period was mislaid, 650 hours were brought through as pilot and 150 hours as Gunner/Observer, in 1922 he was posted to Duxford as an Instructor in 1922 and posted to 4 FTS in Egypt and continued to instruct, remaining there until 1925, he was then posted to No.6 Squadron in Iraq and carried out bombing raids on a camp on 22.4.1925, followed by two more on 5.5.1925. He crash landed his aircraft in a Wadi on 3.8.1925 after engine trouble, on 2.4.1926 more bombing raids on French-Syria frontier, various UK service, on 4.9.1929 Purdin was flying a Gorcock and was carrying out an Airscrew test, the wing broke and he had to bale out and use his parachute, he became one of the first founding members of the Caterpillar Club. In 1930-31 he continued serving with the Experimental Section of the RAE and on 22.6.1931 he flew in the Bleriot XI (a replica of the type used to fly across the Channel in 1911), he was also presented with as signed photograph by Mr and Mrs Bleriot (included with the lot), various active service through the 1930s mainly being stationed in Egypt and Cranwell. At the beginning of WWII he was based in Farnborough and during the Battle of Britain he carried out several defence patrols, in 1941 he was posted to Canada to command 31 OTU, various other posts and retired from service in February 1946 having served 31 years, post military service saw Purdin flying commercial airliners including British West Indies and Aer Lingus. ÂŁ800-1200 (7)
Lot 726
Lot 727
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