A Second World War M.B.E. group of four awarded to Wing Commander A. C. Case, Royal Auxiliary Air Force, late Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 2nd type breast badge; Defence and War Medals; Air Efficiency Award, E.II.R. (Sqn. Ldr., R. Aux. A.F.), good very fine and better (4) £250-300

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Roy Bartlett Collection of Awards to the R.N.A.S., R.F.C. and R.A.F..

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M.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1945. The original recommendation states:

‘This officer has been employed on the Operational Staff at Command Head Quarters and has made himself an expert on all matters of aircraft movement and liaison. He has been largely responsible for the planning and supervision of the special section dealing with aircraft movement liaison between this country and the invasion forces for the Normandy landings. The success of this system, to which he has devoted many months of expert labour in addition to his normal duties, has contributed largely to minimising casualties due to wrong identification.’

Albert Cecil Case was granted an emergency commission as a Pilot Officer in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in September 1939. Advanced to Flying Officer one year later, and to Flight Lieutenant in September 1943, he was actually serving as an Acting Squadron Leader at the time of receiving his M.B.E.

Case continued to serve in the Administrative and Special Duties Branch after the re-constitution of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, gaining advancement to substantive Squadron Leader in December 1947, and he served as C.O. of the (County of Middlesex) Fighter Control Unit 1952-54. Awarded the Air Efficiency Award in June of the latter year, he would appear to have gained promotion to Wing Commander prior to his retirement.