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Auction archive: Lot number 490

Four: Sergeant W. Millner, Royal Air

Estimate
£400 - £500
ca. US$607 - US$759
Price realised:
£950
ca. US$1,443
Auction archive: Lot number 490

Four: Sergeant W. Millner, Royal Air

Estimate
£400 - £500
ca. US$607 - US$759
Price realised:
£950
ca. US$1,443
Beschreibung:

Four: Sergeant W. Millner, Royal Air Force, who was killed in action piloting a Hurricane of No. 73 Squadron in France in June 1940 India General Service 1936-39, 2 clasps, North West Frontier 1936-37, North West Frontier 1937-39 (580106 Sgt., R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal 1939-45, M.I.D. oak leaf, these unnamed, nearly extremely fine (4) £400-500 Footnote Wilfred Millner, a native of Scarborough, where he attended the Boys High School and excelled in rugby, served as a pilot on the North-West Frontier prior to the outbreak of hostilities in September 1939. He joined No. 73 Squadron in France on 21 May 1940, direct from an Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit and was killed in action on 1 June. His C.O. submitted the following report: ‘On 1 June 1940, at 18.45 hours, Sergeant Millner took off on patrol and during the course of a combat with Me. 109sw over Malmaison aerodrome, was apparently shot down. During this encounter, two Hurricanes were either shot down or hit by heavy A.A. fire. One of these was seen with an Me. 109 on its tail and before help could arrive it was seen to turn right, burst into flames and crash. Of the other Hurricane, nothing is known of its fate.’ The following eulogy appeared in 73’s O.R.B.: ‘Sgt. Millner had come to us from England, on the verge of being commissioned and had had considerable flying experience, though not, alas, on Hurricanes. Like so many others of the Sgt. Pilot class, he was obviously well-educated and popular with his brother pilots, who will undoubtedly miss him ... casualties are inevitable at such a time as this, and perhaps no amount of skill or past experience would avail when faced with such overwhelming odds, and too much significance must not be attached to the fact that our newest joined are being written off at this rate – the toll they have taken must not be forgotten, either.’ Millner was buried in Terlinchun British Cemetery, Wimille, France; sold with copied research, but confirmation for the recipient’s the M.I.D. remains outstanding.

Auction archive: Lot number 490
Auction:
Datum:
25 Nov 2015 - 26 Nov 2015
Auction house:
Dix Noonan Webb
16 Bolton St, Mayfair
London, W1J 8BQ
United Kingdom
auctions@dnw.co.uk
+44 (0)20 7016 1700
+44 (0)20 7016 1799
Beschreibung:

Four: Sergeant W. Millner, Royal Air Force, who was killed in action piloting a Hurricane of No. 73 Squadron in France in June 1940 India General Service 1936-39, 2 clasps, North West Frontier 1936-37, North West Frontier 1937-39 (580106 Sgt., R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal 1939-45, M.I.D. oak leaf, these unnamed, nearly extremely fine (4) £400-500 Footnote Wilfred Millner, a native of Scarborough, where he attended the Boys High School and excelled in rugby, served as a pilot on the North-West Frontier prior to the outbreak of hostilities in September 1939. He joined No. 73 Squadron in France on 21 May 1940, direct from an Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit and was killed in action on 1 June. His C.O. submitted the following report: ‘On 1 June 1940, at 18.45 hours, Sergeant Millner took off on patrol and during the course of a combat with Me. 109sw over Malmaison aerodrome, was apparently shot down. During this encounter, two Hurricanes were either shot down or hit by heavy A.A. fire. One of these was seen with an Me. 109 on its tail and before help could arrive it was seen to turn right, burst into flames and crash. Of the other Hurricane, nothing is known of its fate.’ The following eulogy appeared in 73’s O.R.B.: ‘Sgt. Millner had come to us from England, on the verge of being commissioned and had had considerable flying experience, though not, alas, on Hurricanes. Like so many others of the Sgt. Pilot class, he was obviously well-educated and popular with his brother pilots, who will undoubtedly miss him ... casualties are inevitable at such a time as this, and perhaps no amount of skill or past experience would avail when faced with such overwhelming odds, and too much significance must not be attached to the fact that our newest joined are being written off at this rate – the toll they have taken must not be forgotten, either.’ Millner was buried in Terlinchun British Cemetery, Wimille, France; sold with copied research, but confirmation for the recipient’s the M.I.D. remains outstanding.

Auction archive: Lot number 490
Auction:
Datum:
25 Nov 2015 - 26 Nov 2015
Auction house:
Dix Noonan Webb
16 Bolton St, Mayfair
London, W1J 8BQ
United Kingdom
auctions@dnw.co.uk
+44 (0)20 7016 1700
+44 (0)20 7016 1799
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