1st May, 2025 14:00
Fine Medals & Military Antiques
Scarce Second World War Caterpillar Club badge and related ephemera to W/O. Harold 'Harry' William Paar.
Scarce Second World War Caterpillar Club badge and related ephemera to W/O. Harold 'Harry' William Paar.
On 29th December 1943 Sergeant Navigator Harold Paar climbed into an unfamiliar Halifax bomber with an unfamiliar mid-upper gunner in the aircraft. The omens of disaster present (as Harry Paar records in his own account). The warning signs continued once the crew were in the air, the mid upper turret was inoperable, and the aircraft refused to climb above 16,000ft, (the usual operational height was 18,000ft). As W/O Paar recalls with a sense of foreboding- being the odd one out could be fatal!
The crew conferred on what was to be done next. Whilst they could have justifiably turned back to base, the crew bravely decided to carry on their mission regardless, flying for around 4 hours east towards the capital of the Reich- Berlin. Now Paar’s Halifax was above its target, released its bombs and was struck by 'one lousy shell'.
The shell burst and caused significant damage to the aircraft. One engine caught fire, was extinguished, caught again and then one by one three of the engines stopped, leaving a sole engine shaking the plane to pieces. Quickly the pilot announced to the crew ''We can't make it back, chaps, everyone out quickly''.
Harry Paar records his journey out of the aircraft, he pressed the destruct buttons on the radar set, he opened the hatch below his feet and lowered himself into the open hatch. Then he was sucked out by the Windstream, neatly and without fuss. At 20:17 hours on 29th December 1943, the silk canopy above opened, and the great black Halifax yawed away into the night. Navigator Paar found himself alone with the stars and clouds, the occasional banging of the guns below and the singing of a gentle wind. He recalls ‘‘I lived, and that, for the moment, was enough’’.
Once on the ground Harry Paar was captured and later found himself in the Stalag IVB Prisoner of War camp, where he remained until the camp was liberated.
Included within the lot is the original gold Caterpillar badge engraved on the reverse to ' W/O. H. W. Paar', the original Caterpillar Club laminated membership card, a photograph of Harold Paar with his crew, dated on reverse 1st November 1943 and his original Royal Air Force Service and Release Book, his original Prisoner of War identification card, summary of the air operations on the night of 29th December 1943 and a copy of his hand typed account 'The Memorable 29th' dated 17th December 1971. A group of cloth uniform badges, both allied and Luftwaffe, a silver and enamel RAF sweetheart brooch and a small group of photographs of the camp and currency. A fascinating snapshot into life in RAF bomber command in the Second World War.
£800 - £1,200
Buyer's premium: 30%; Cars & Motorcycles: 12%
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Auction: Fine Medals & Military Antiques, 1st May, 2025
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