WHYTE'S THE ECLECTIC COLLECTOR 15/16 MAY 2021

136 Militaria 320 1939-1945WorldWar II Distinguished Flying Cross group of medals to an Irish pilot in the RAF. DFC, 1939 Star, The Air Crew Europe Star and the 1939-45 War Medal to 102571 Flying Officer Philip Harvey, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 263 Squadron, who went Missing in Action on 17 April 1943, aged 23. Accompanied by his collar tags VR and VRT, extensive documentation including copies of his squadron’s records, London Gazette, a book on the Whirlwind aircraft that Harvey flew, details of his memorial at Runnymede, photographs including his aeroplane and his crew, and a reconstruction of part of his aeroplane. A very rare DFC to a volunteer from the Republic of Ireland. Condition: Extremely fine. Provenance: Family of Philip Harvey; Whence acquired by a previous owner; Private collection. London Gazette, 14 May 1943: ”Flying Officer Philip HARVEY (102571), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 263 Squadron (since missing). This officer has taken part in 26 sorties during which successful attacks have been made on shipping and on railway installations. During an attack on a railway installation, an aircraft of the formation in which Flying Officer Harvey was flying was hit by anti-aircraft fire. Displaying great determination, this officer escorted the damaged aircraft on the return flight until its pilot was compelled to bring it down on to the sea. Flying Officer Harvey flew on and landed at an airfield and then set out again as the navigator of the air/sea rescue service in an endeavour to find his comrade. During an operational flight one day in April 1943, Flying Officer Harvey observed the crew of a bomber afloat in their dinghy. As the result of information supplied by him the crew were subsequently picked up. The same afternoon he took part in a successful attack on a ship off Brest. Flying Officer Harvey has invariably displayed skill and courage of a high order.” Flying Officer Philip Harvey DFC was the son of the Right Reverend Thomas Arnold Harvey DD, Lord Bishop of Cashel, and Isabelle Harvey, of Bishopsgrove, Waterford, and husband of Patricia Harvey (née Watt), of Dunmore East, Co. Waterford. Estimate €2,000-€3,000 (approx £1,740-£2,610) Click here for more images and to bid on this lot 320