A SUPERBLY WELL DOCUMENTED WW1 24 SQUADRON ROYAL FLYING CORPS ORIGINAL FIGHTER PILOT CASUALTY DOCUMENTS AND MEDALS GROUP. INCLUDES CONDOLENCE LETTER FROM MAJOR HAWKER VC. Was born in Rushden, in August 1893, the only son of Mr and Mrs A. Cave of The Hutt. He was educated at. And prior to the war was employed on the literary staff of the Northampton Daily Echo; Northampton Independent and on the editorial staff of The Yorkshire Observer. Cave attested for the Royal Flying Corps in July 1915, carried out his flying training at Brooklands, and obtained his Aviators Certificate as well as his commission on his birthday – 9 August 1915. He was posted for operational flying to 24 Squadron DH. S first single seater fighter squadron, which was being formed in the. First ace Major Lanoe Hawker VC. Flew across the channel with the squadron when they first became operational, serving with them in the French theatre of war from 6 February 1916. He wrote of his initial experiences in a letter to his parents, dated 7 February 1916. My Dear All, We arrived here today in a howling gale, yesterday evening quite unfit for flying because of rain. Four of the machines crashed more others badly at Folkestone & at present only just over half the Squadron have arrived. We have to go out on patrol duty over the lines tomorrow all day, and as we are so short handed it means rather a heavy job. However, will write you later. S ix days later Cave was killed in a flying accident. On 14 February his C. Major Lanoe Hawker, V. Wrote to the following to Caves mother. Permit me first, on behalf of myself and the whole of no 24 Squadron, to express our deepest sympathy with you in your sad bereavement. This Squadron, as you probably know, is equipped with fast Scouts, which are undoubtedly very tricky to fly. Your son however, was a good pilot, and handled the machine very well. Unfortunately, while planing down to land about 4 oclock yesterday afternoon, he made too steep a turn, the machine got out of control, and dived to the ground before he had time to recover control again. Help arrived within 2 minutes of the accident, but there was nothing to do – death was instantaneous:- at least he did not suffer any pain… The crash was to prove a turning point for the Squadron, as related in Hawker, V. In the chapter Arrival in. The 13th of February turned out to be a critical day for the squadron. Cave on his way back from a patrol got into a spin, crashed and was killed on the neighbouring aerodrome occupied by No. Two of his best pilots, for to Lanoe all his pilots were his best, were killed before a shot had been fired at the enemy. Lanoe, with his ready sympathy, felt their loss acutely. 2 was living up to his evil reputation… His squadron had reached a crisis. 2 out of a spin when once it started. So far it was considered fatal to get the DH. 2 into a spin, and the pilots had taken great pains to avoid it… And that the machine was a death trap. Listening quietly, Lanoe realised that the fighting value of his squadron was in peril. His was the first squadron of DH. 2s, and there was a possibility of his pilots losing confidence in their machines in which case the morale of the squadron was gone… Without a word Lanoe left the mess and ordered out a machine, climbed to 8,000 feet and deliberately threw it into a spin. If he failed to get it out of a spin… But Lanoe never thought of failure. Putting his theories in practise he recovered from the spin without difficulty. He tried again and again, with engine on, with engine off, left spin, right spin…. Down Lanoe came to the aerodrome and radiating confidence he walked briskly into the mess. Its all right, you fellows, he said, You can get the DH. 2 out of any spin. I have just tried it out. The pilots gathered eagerly around him, and he carefully explained the correct manoeuvres until they all understood them clearly, but he warned them above everything not to get into a spin near the ground. Out they all went to follow his example. It was an anxious moment, for another crash might have shaken irreparably the confidence of his pilots, but all went well… Cave was buried quietly originally at. And then moved to Terlincthun British Cemtery, Wimille and, though Lanoe showed a brave face to his squadron, he carried a heavy heart. After four months of school work at Hounslow without an injury to anyone, we have struck some dreadfully bad luck – one of my lads was killed on Wednesday, and another again today, two in a week is really too terrible, and both flying accidents. I have such nice keen lads, and it does seem such a pity and it is such a waste, and I have to write to their people as their commanding officer. THE GROUP CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS, MEDALS AND MILITARIA. A Commission appointing Eric Arthur Cave Second Lieutenant in the Special Reserve of Officers, Royal Flying Corps, military Wing, dated 9 August 1915; with its original envelope. B Federation Aeronautique International British Empire Aviators Certificate, numbered 1546, and dated 9 August 1915; with photo of Cave and signiature. C Royal Flying Corps (Officers) Certificate A, dated 28 October 1915. D Letter from recipient addressed to his parents, dated 7 February 1916. E Half-written letter to recipients parents, dated 12 February 1916, additionally annotated This was in Erics kit. F Original handwritten letter of Condolence to recipients mother from Major L. Commanding Officer 24 Squadron, dated 14 February 1916. G Original Director of Graves Registration card with photo of Caves original wartime grave (wooden cross) and description of where it was. H Original Card with photo of immediate post war Caves grave with standard stone gravestone. I Caves British War and Victory medals, mint condition with paper medal packets, paper describing how to apply ribbons and Boxes of issue (sides flattened but complete). Both medals named 2. J Caves memorial scroll (as sent with medals), with. Condolence in original OHMS postal tube. K Large roll of Honour Scroll, showing major Commonwealth cemeterys, named to recipient, along with its smaller Overseas Ex-Service Mens Association covering letter. These sent to family to tell them what memorial their deceaseds name is carved on. L Three Calling Cards, two for pre-war employment and named to recipient as of the Northampton Independent and The Yorkshire Observer. M Newspaper cuttings relating to Caves death and several other items of ephemera. N Portrait photo of Cave in RFC uniform. The above mostly in modern clear pages folder, along with a good deal of copy research, MIC and modern photos of grave/cemetery. A quite superb and poignant group to one of. S original fighter pilots. S parents clearly kept everything relating to his service and death and there a some very rare War graves/memorial documentation of the type not often seen. As well as letters from the young pilot just prior to his death, the original signed letter by Major Hawker. S first great Ace, is incredibly rare. Hawker himself was shot down By Von Richthofen in November 1918. PLEASE NOTE; If you have any questions and require more images please get in touch. SEE MY OTHER AUCTIONS FOR SIMILAR ITEMS. The item “LARGE GROUP WW1 ROYAL FLYING CORPS FIGHTER PILOT CASUALTY DOCUMENTS & MEDALS” is in sale since Monday, October 09, 2017. This item is in the category “Collectables\Militaria\World War I (1914-1918)\Medals/ Ribbons”. The seller is “albatrosj1″ and is located in SCOTLAND. This item can be shipped worldwide.
- Conflict: World War I (1914-1918)