PATHFINDER INTEREST: A mid 20th century silver presentation ...

PATHFINDER INTEREST: A mid 20th century silver presentation tankard, Poston Products Ltd, Sheffield 1965, the acanthus capped handle above presentation engraving 'To Don, with all best wishes from his Council Colleagues October 1966' 13cm high, 9ozt BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Flt Lt Don Nelson (1920-2011) volunteered for the RAF in 1939 aged 19, and after training in South Africa as a navigator, joined No 37 Squadron, flying in Wellington bombers as part of the Middle East Airforce. The Squadron was tasked with slowing the advance of Rommel's Afrika Korps, attacking supply dumps, airfields and shipping across Libya and the Greek islands. When his tour ended in 1942 after thirty seven missions, he returned to the UK, and after a spell as a bombing instructor and a period of intense training, joined No 7 Squadron Path Finder Force, qualifying for his Path Finder Force badge on 18th May 1944. He flew thirty three missions in Lancaster bombers, primarily as part of Operation Overlord, supporting the Normandy landings. The Pathfinders were responsible for the precision dropping of flare markers on key targets including railways, storage depots and gun batteries, giving the main bomber force a clear target to aim at. Nelson's aircraft was frequently designated the master bomber, tasked with circling the target and giving aiming instructions to the main force while under heavy anti-aircraft fire. For his efforts he was mentioned in dispatches. The Pathfinders then moved on to attack V-1 flying bomb sites and the ports at Calais, Le Havre and Boulogne, for which Nelson was awarded the DFC in September 1944. On 5th October 1944 he completed his 70th and final mission in theatre, and shortly before joining 232 Squadron to fly transport missions across the Pacific, was awarded a bar to his DFC and given the right to wear his Pathfinder badge permanently. He was released from service in January 1946, and died in March 2011, aged 91.

Estimate:$132.14

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