A 1941 Distinguished Service Order (DSO) and 1940 Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) medal group awarded to second world war RAF pilot Kip Herring has sold well at Spink.
 Herring travelled 600 miles over the most heavily defended areas of Germany with holes in his aircraft's wings and fuselage and just one engine |
The group, which includes the 1939-1945 Star, Air Crew Europe Star and Defence and War Medals, sold as part of the auction house's Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria sale on July 25, bringing £15,000 ($22,991) - an 87.5% increase on its £8,000 high estimate.
WS "Kip" Herring was an RAF squadron leader who, on September 7, 1941, led an attack on Berlin. His aircraft was then held in a cone of 50 searchlights for four minutes and peppered with more than 30 holes in its wings and fuselage.
Determined to make it home, Herring decided to attempt the 600 mile journey back to England, flying his battered plane over the most heavily defended areas of Germany, unarmed and with only one engine.
He arrived safely and was seconded to the Sikorski VIP Flights in 1943. He was then killed while serving as second pilot in the highly controversial General Sikorski Air Crash Disaster on July 4, 1943.
Sikorski (1881-1943) was a Polish military leader who played a prominent role in the extremely tense relations between Poland and Soviet Russia. At the time of his death, there was a growing conflict between him and Polish general Wladyslaw Anders, as Sikorski was still open to reconciliation with the Soviets.
His plane crashed in mysterious circumstances, and the incident is still being investigated today.
Paul Fraser Collectibles has a magnificent selection of militaria for sale, commemorating some of the bravest fighters in the first and second world wars. This Guy Gibson signed photograph is the perfect way to remember the leader of the heroic Dambusters.
