MEDALS won by a fearless World War II fighter pilot from Spalding will go under the hammer at a special auction today.
Five medals, including a Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Air Force Cross, awarded to former Flight Lieutenant Ben Garner are being sold on behalf of a private collector by London auctioneers Spink.
The sale is expected to fetch at least £1,800, with the proceeds going towards the creation of a £9.5 million Battle of Britain museum in north London.
Mr Garner was born in Spalding on November 25 1918 and educated at Moulton Grammar School before joining the Metropolitan Police in London.
His RAF career lasted 17 years from the time he signed up as a volunteer reserve in September 1940 to his retirement in November 1957, after which he emigrated to Kenya and became a farmer.
The DFC was awarded to Mr Garner in June 1945 after commanding two operations where ten German fighter aircraft were destroyed.
After the war, Mr Garner became a flying instructor at RAF Cottesmore in Rutland and was promoted to Squadron Leader in July 1951.
Oliver Pepys of Spink Auctioneers said: “It’s not a particularly scarce set of medals but it’s nice to have DFC and AFC together.
“One or two people have said they are a very nice collection and I think they will do well at auction.”
nWe’d love to publish a picture of Flt Lt Garner. If you can help, email winston.brown@jpress.co.uk