Orders, Decorations and Medals

The embroidered Air Transport Auxiliary (A.T.A.) uniform “Wings” and civil and R.A.F. pilot’s flying log books appertaining to First Officer G. A. Phelps, Air Transport Auxiliary, the R.A.F. edition covering the period December 1940 to March 1943 and detailing numerous delivery flights made by him from No. 1 Ferry Pool at White Waltham, with more than 70 different aircraft types recorded, from fighters to heavy bombers; together with his earlier civil aviation flying log book, covering the period September 1938 to May 1940, a copy of Brief Glory, The Story of A.T.A., by E. C. Cheeseman, this with nominal roll of all officially recognised Ferry Pilots, and his miniature dress Defence and War Medals, generally in good condition (Lot) £300-350

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Ron Penhall Collection.

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Gilbert Anthony Phelps was born in April 1916 and commenced pilot training in a civil capacity at Brooklands in September 1938. A few months before he was mobilised by the Royal Air Force in August 1940, but by which stage he had already been seconded to assist training R.A.F. pupil pilots, he experienced high-drama in a Harvard over Grantham: ‘15 April 1940: Ran into sleet. Flew blind at 1200 feet. Icing above that. Steep climbing turn to avoid a Hampden. Span. Abandoned aircraft by parachute.’ Although called-up by the R.A.F., Phelps appears to have been immediately seconded for duty in the Air Tranport Auxiliary, initially with an appointment at No. 2 Ferry Pool at Whitchurch, but thereafter, from April 1941 to March 1943, at No. 1 Ferry Pool at White Waltham.