Medals awarded to a First World War fighter ace from Brighton fetched almost double their expected value at auction.
Air Commodore Arthur Wray, 21, was awarded the Military Cross after landing safely despite being badly injured in a dogfight over the Western Front near Arras, northern France, in May 1917. The medal was one of 13 sold by his family in London on Thursday.
Other decorations which went under the hammer included his DSO, DFC and Air Force Cross. Auction house Dix, Noonan and Webb had expected £30,000 to £35,000 on the lot but the medals fetched £62,000.
Air Commodore Wray, the son of a missionary, was born in Brighton. By the age of 21 he was a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps.
On one sortie he was badly shot up and his leg was fractured. His plane fell thousands of feet before he regained consciousness and managed to land safely.
Doctors found his knee-cap in his boot but after ten months in hospital he returned to the front line.
He flew bombers in the Second World War then took desk duty in Burma. He received the Burma Star but refused to wear it because he had not fought for it.
Many of his aircrews were inexperienced and he would take them on their first operations over Germany, often without telling his superiors.
He died in 1982, aged 76.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article