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A Second World War Coastal Command operations D.F.C. awarded to Warrant Officer A. E. Wheeler,...
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London
Description
(x) A Second World War Coastal Command operations D.F.C. awarded to Warrant Officer A. E. Wheeler, Royal Air Force, who piloted a Catalina of No. 210 Squadron on an epic 27-hour reconnaissance flight to the Finno-Norwegian border
Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated '1941' and privately engraved, 'W.P.O. A. E. Wheeler', in its Royal Mint case of issue, together with an original congratulatory letter from an ex-C.O., dated at the Air Ministry, Kingsway, 25 July 1941 (' … I also congratulate you on being the first Warrant Officer to be awarded the D.F.C.'), extremely fine
D.F.C. London Gazette 18 June 1941. The original recommendation states:
'On 5 June 1941 this officer, as captain of Catalina AH. 535, was detailed to carry out a reconnaissance of the Norwegian coast in the Kirkenes and Vadso areas, near the border between Norway and Finland. This involved a flight of some 2500 miles.
After a landfall had been made near North Cape at 00.02 hours on the morning of 6 June 1941, the weather conditions became very bad. Visibility was as low as 1000 yards with low cloud and almost continuous heavy snow storms. Very severe icing conditions were encountered. Nevertheless, W./O. Wheeler persisted with the reconnaissance and, in spite of these bad conditions, made a very detailed examination of the areas concerned.
After leaving Vadso, the aircraft encountered a merchant vessel which opened fire. The aircraft was slightly damaged but nevertheless W./O. Wheeler brought it safely back to its base at Oban, having been in the air for a total of 27 hours.
This flight is a typical example of the consistently good work which W./O. Wheeler has performed whilst with the Squadron. Since joining the Squadron in January 1941, he has flown 365 hours on operations and during a recent period of high pressure he flew 66 hours in seven days. He has now completed a total of 3160 hours flying.
W./O. Wheeler has maintained an unusually high standard of efficiency, which is apt to pass unnoticed by virtue of the quiet and unostentatious manner in which he performs his duties; duties which, nevertheless, are deserving of the highest praise.'
Albert Edward Wheeler appears to have undertaken further operations of an unusual nature in Catalinas of No. 210 Squadron. By way of example, he departed Sullum Voe in the Shetlands on 20 July 1941, bound for Archangel, Russia with 'special passengers'.
Tour-expired, Wheeler served at No. 4 O.T.U. and R.A.F. Cranwell and was advanced to Flying Officer in October 1942. He was subsequently killed in a flying accident, when, on 20 March 1943, his Airspeed Oxford collided with a barrage balloon protecting the Rolls Royce works at Crewe. Aged 32 years, he left a widow, Doris Haddock Wheeler of Chester. His name is commemorated at Birkenhead (Landican) Crematorium.
Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.
Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated '1941' and privately engraved, 'W.P.O. A. E. Wheeler', in its Royal Mint case of issue, together with an original congratulatory letter from an ex-C.O., dated at the Air Ministry, Kingsway, 25 July 1941 (' … I also congratulate you on being the first Warrant Officer to be awarded the D.F.C.'), extremely fine
D.F.C. London Gazette 18 June 1941. The original recommendation states:
'On 5 June 1941 this officer, as captain of Catalina AH. 535, was detailed to carry out a reconnaissance of the Norwegian coast in the Kirkenes and Vadso areas, near the border between Norway and Finland. This involved a flight of some 2500 miles.
After a landfall had been made near North Cape at 00.02 hours on the morning of 6 June 1941, the weather conditions became very bad. Visibility was as low as 1000 yards with low cloud and almost continuous heavy snow storms. Very severe icing conditions were encountered. Nevertheless, W./O. Wheeler persisted with the reconnaissance and, in spite of these bad conditions, made a very detailed examination of the areas concerned.
After leaving Vadso, the aircraft encountered a merchant vessel which opened fire. The aircraft was slightly damaged but nevertheless W./O. Wheeler brought it safely back to its base at Oban, having been in the air for a total of 27 hours.
This flight is a typical example of the consistently good work which W./O. Wheeler has performed whilst with the Squadron. Since joining the Squadron in January 1941, he has flown 365 hours on operations and during a recent period of high pressure he flew 66 hours in seven days. He has now completed a total of 3160 hours flying.
W./O. Wheeler has maintained an unusually high standard of efficiency, which is apt to pass unnoticed by virtue of the quiet and unostentatious manner in which he performs his duties; duties which, nevertheless, are deserving of the highest praise.'
Albert Edward Wheeler appears to have undertaken further operations of an unusual nature in Catalinas of No. 210 Squadron. By way of example, he departed Sullum Voe in the Shetlands on 20 July 1941, bound for Archangel, Russia with 'special passengers'.
Tour-expired, Wheeler served at No. 4 O.T.U. and R.A.F. Cranwell and was advanced to Flying Officer in October 1942. He was subsequently killed in a flying accident, when, on 20 March 1943, his Airspeed Oxford collided with a barrage balloon protecting the Rolls Royce works at Crewe. Aged 32 years, he left a widow, Doris Haddock Wheeler of Chester. His name is commemorated at Birkenhead (Landican) Crematorium.
Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.
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(x) A Second World War Coastal Command operations D.F.C. awarded to Warrant Officer A. E. Wheeler, Royal Air Force, who piloted a Catalina of No. 210 Squadron on an epic 27-hour reconnaissance flight to the Finno-Norwegian border
Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated '1941' and privately engraved, 'W.P.O. A. E. Wheeler', in its Royal Mint case of issue, together with an original congratulatory letter from an ex-C.O., dated at the Air Ministry, Kingsway, 25 July 1941 (' … I also congratulate you on being the first Warrant Officer to be awarded the D.F.C.'), extremely fine
D.F.C. London Gazette 18 June 1941. The original recommendation states:
'On 5 June 1941 this officer, as captain of Catalina AH. 535, was detailed to carry out a reconnaissance of the Norwegian coast in the Kirkenes and Vadso areas, near the border between Norway and Finland. This involved a flight of some 2500 miles.
After a landfall had been made near North Cape at 00.02 hours on the morning of 6 June 1941, the weather conditions became very bad. Visibility was as low as 1000 yards with low cloud and almost continuous heavy snow storms. Very severe icing conditions were encountered. Nevertheless, W./O. Wheeler persisted with the reconnaissance and, in spite of these bad conditions, made a very detailed examination of the areas concerned.
After leaving Vadso, the aircraft encountered a merchant vessel which opened fire. The aircraft was slightly damaged but nevertheless W./O. Wheeler brought it safely back to its base at Oban, having been in the air for a total of 27 hours.
This flight is a typical example of the consistently good work which W./O. Wheeler has performed whilst with the Squadron. Since joining the Squadron in January 1941, he has flown 365 hours on operations and during a recent period of high pressure he flew 66 hours in seven days. He has now completed a total of 3160 hours flying.
W./O. Wheeler has maintained an unusually high standard of efficiency, which is apt to pass unnoticed by virtue of the quiet and unostentatious manner in which he performs his duties; duties which, nevertheless, are deserving of the highest praise.'
Albert Edward Wheeler appears to have undertaken further operations of an unusual nature in Catalinas of No. 210 Squadron. By way of example, he departed Sullum Voe in the Shetlands on 20 July 1941, bound for Archangel, Russia with 'special passengers'.
Tour-expired, Wheeler served at No. 4 O.T.U. and R.A.F. Cranwell and was advanced to Flying Officer in October 1942. He was subsequently killed in a flying accident, when, on 20 March 1943, his Airspeed Oxford collided with a barrage balloon protecting the Rolls Royce works at Crewe. Aged 32 years, he left a widow, Doris Haddock Wheeler of Chester. His name is commemorated at Birkenhead (Landican) Crematorium.
Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.
Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated '1941' and privately engraved, 'W.P.O. A. E. Wheeler', in its Royal Mint case of issue, together with an original congratulatory letter from an ex-C.O., dated at the Air Ministry, Kingsway, 25 July 1941 (' … I also congratulate you on being the first Warrant Officer to be awarded the D.F.C.'), extremely fine
D.F.C. London Gazette 18 June 1941. The original recommendation states:
'On 5 June 1941 this officer, as captain of Catalina AH. 535, was detailed to carry out a reconnaissance of the Norwegian coast in the Kirkenes and Vadso areas, near the border between Norway and Finland. This involved a flight of some 2500 miles.
After a landfall had been made near North Cape at 00.02 hours on the morning of 6 June 1941, the weather conditions became very bad. Visibility was as low as 1000 yards with low cloud and almost continuous heavy snow storms. Very severe icing conditions were encountered. Nevertheless, W./O. Wheeler persisted with the reconnaissance and, in spite of these bad conditions, made a very detailed examination of the areas concerned.
After leaving Vadso, the aircraft encountered a merchant vessel which opened fire. The aircraft was slightly damaged but nevertheless W./O. Wheeler brought it safely back to its base at Oban, having been in the air for a total of 27 hours.
This flight is a typical example of the consistently good work which W./O. Wheeler has performed whilst with the Squadron. Since joining the Squadron in January 1941, he has flown 365 hours on operations and during a recent period of high pressure he flew 66 hours in seven days. He has now completed a total of 3160 hours flying.
W./O. Wheeler has maintained an unusually high standard of efficiency, which is apt to pass unnoticed by virtue of the quiet and unostentatious manner in which he performs his duties; duties which, nevertheless, are deserving of the highest praise.'
Albert Edward Wheeler appears to have undertaken further operations of an unusual nature in Catalinas of No. 210 Squadron. By way of example, he departed Sullum Voe in the Shetlands on 20 July 1941, bound for Archangel, Russia with 'special passengers'.
Tour-expired, Wheeler served at No. 4 O.T.U. and R.A.F. Cranwell and was advanced to Flying Officer in October 1942. He was subsequently killed in a flying accident, when, on 20 March 1943, his Airspeed Oxford collided with a barrage balloon protecting the Rolls Royce works at Crewe. Aged 32 years, he left a widow, Doris Haddock Wheeler of Chester. His name is commemorated at Birkenhead (Landican) Crematorium.
Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.
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67-69 Southampton Row
Bloomsbury
WC1B 4ET
London
WC1B 4ET
United Kingdom
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Important Information
SALEROOM NOTICES:
Lot 56: The recipient was also Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 1 January 1945, refers) and is sold together with her emblem.
Lot 285: Official replacements throughout
Lot 326: The Lot is now accompanied with the recipient’s original Memorial Scroll
Lot 373: Withdrawn. The Lot has been withdrawn from the Sale and has kindly been returned to the recipient by the vendor having been lost in 2015.
Lot 561: This lot is NOT subject to 5% import duty.
Lot 580: Print catalogue erroneously lists this item as lot 579
Lot 595:
Accompanied with an important original archive comprising;
- The recipient’s identity tag worn at Goose Green
- Parachute Regiment No. 2 Dress with General Service riband and belt, the first named
- A poignant painted tile depicting the recipient with his tours of Northern Ireland either side
- Three British Army football trophies
Two Regimental ties
Lot 648: The set comprises a 1st Class Badge and 2nd Class Star
Lot 670: Withdrawn
Lot 754: Sold as viewed
Lot 791: Centre depressed and loose but still present. Revised estimate £70 - £90
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