A GROUP of medals, log books and related items awarded to Squadron Leader Lester Humphrey are estimated to sell for £6,000-8,000 in the Charterhouse two day collectors auction.
“Squadron Leader Humphrey enjoyed the pioneering days of aviation and in his lifetime witnesses some of the earliest ‘sticks and string’ aircraft from the Royal Aircraft Factory FE2b with a top speed of 90 mph through to Concord flying at 1,350 mph,” said Richard Bromell.
“He was quite an extraordinary man during extraordinary times.”
Lester Humphrey was born in 1904 and enrolled in the RAF as a teenager in 1920 finally retiring in 1956 after 36 years’ service.
During his career he flew 64 different types of aircraft starting with biplanes through to Hurricanes and Bristol Blenheim bombers.
He was one of the three pilots who became the first group to fly from Egypt to West Africa and back in what became known as the West African Flight of 1929.
The medals awarded to Squadron Leader Humphrey comprise an Air Force Cross, Air Force Medal, 1939-1945 Star, Africa Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
The auction will be held on March 10 and March 11.
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