The Air Efficiency Award to Flight Lieutenant W. A. K. Carr, R.A.F.V.R., who was 2nd Pilot of a Whitley bomber from 10 Squadron which ditched in the sea off Heligoland in July 1940; all crew survived and became P.O.W. in Germany, Carr being in the team of workers for a proposed tunnel from Lubeck with S/Ldr Roger Bushell who was subsequently executed for his part as mastermind of the Great Escape from Stalag Luft III in 1944

Air Efficiency Award, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Flt. Lt. W. A. K. Carr. R.A.F.V.R.) extremely fine £400-£500

Wilfred Anthony Kettlewell Carr was born at Hornton Hill, Oxfordshire, on 14 July 1913. He enlisted into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in June 1938 and was granted a commission for the duration of hostilities as Pilot Officer in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve on 7 April 1940, and subsequently joined No. 10 Squadron. When 2nd Pilot of a Whitley V bomber on the night of 8/9 July 1940, it is believed that his aircraft was shot down into the sea off Heligoland at 0205 by Ofw Paul Förster of IV./NJD2. Ditching into the sea, all five crew survived and were later reported to be prisoners of war.

Carr was initially held at a Dulag Luft at Frankfurt am Maine and then at Stalag Luft I, Barth, until August 1941; at Oflag X-C, Lubeck, August to September 1941; at Oflag VI-B, Warburg, September 1941 to September 1942; at Oflag XXI-B, Schubin, September 1942 to April 1943; at Stalag Luft III, Sagan, April 1943 to January 1945; and finally at Stalag III-A (Oflag), Luckenwalde, February to May 1945. When questioned by M.I.9 after his repatriation in May 1945 on the matter of ‘Escapes attempted’ Carr responded, ‘In the Team of workers for a proposed Tunnel from Lubeck with S/Ldr Roger Bushell A.A.F. but camp evacuated before completion.’ Bushell went on to mastermind the ‘Great Escape’ at Stalag Luft III at Sagan in March 1944 but was one of the men recaptured and subsequently murdered by the Gestapo. Sold with comprehensive research.