A SECOND WORLD WAR AIR FORCE CROSS GROUP OF SEVEN TO SQUADRO...

Estimate

£2,000 - £3,000

A SECOND WORLD WAR AIR FORCE CROSS GROUP OF SEVEN TO SQUADRON LEADER HAROLD QUITTENDEN. A group of seven comprising: A George VI Air Force Cross dated 1944, 2939-45 , Atlantic, Italy and Burma Stars, War Medal and Elizabeth II Coronation Medal, all unnamed as issued. Mounted as worn. With accompanying miniatures, the Atlantic Star with 'France and Germany' clasp. With Royal Mint case for the Air Force Cross, Czechoslovak Observers Badge, silver and silver gilt by Spink of London in case of issue. With a large collection of photographs, two log books, documents and other archive materiel.
Born on the 11th November 1907 Quittenden held an Aero Club certificate from the 28th August 1938 (19883). A member of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Quittenden was appointed acting Pilot Officer on probation on the 30th December 1939. He qualified as an Air Gunner on the third of February 1940 joining 608 Squadron. Pilot Officer from 4.2.1940 and Gunnery Leader by October of 1940. A move to 68 Squadron as a Radio observer followed flying in Blenheims and Beaufighters. Quittenden spent much of his time as an instructor, the Czechoslovakian Observers badge being an honourary award from Air Vice-Marshall Janousek: 'The Officer has devoted exceptional care to the training of the Czechoslovak airmen from the time they joined the Squadron and it is due to his unceasing efforts that the Czechoslovak Observers (Radio) have achieved a high degree of efficiency and later a great number of successes during their night-fighting operational duties'. Postings in the Mediterranean and Far East followed, in particular in command of the Mark VIII Baufighter Conversion working with British and American squadrons. This training involved rapid training of Night Fighter Badar operators, Quittenden himself flying with each crew before they were released to duty. The conversion unit flew over 2,000 hours and trained over 100 navigators radio, Quittenden personally accounting for 350 hours. For his good work The Air Force Cross was awarded in the King's Birthday Honours List of June 1944 (Gazette 2nd June 1944 36544 p2565). By 1953 he is recorded at Staff College Bracknell with the rank of Squadron Leader.
Provenance: Woolley and Wallis March 2017.

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Good condition, some of the supporting material showing signs of age.