SP(AA)01 Consolidated Liberator Squadron Leader Rae Walton MC AFC TD

At the outbreak of war Walton was a member of the Territorial Army and in April 1940 he was seconded to the RAF and completed his flying training as a pilot. His first posting was to No 53 Squadron equipped with Hudsons carrying out anti-submarine and anti-shipping patrols off the coast of France. His second tour of operations was with No 120 Squadron equipped with Liberators and during this time attacked one U-boat. In May 1942 he was shot down by Bf 109s and ditched in the sea, eventually landing in Norway and evading via Sweden. During 1944 he flew Liberators and Yorks with No 511 Squadron, based at RAF Lyneham. In 1945 he served with No 232 Squadron based in Delhi, India supporting the army in Burma. He flew many politicians and senior service personnel to international conferences and for several months he was Lord Louis Mountbatten's personal pilot while he was Supreme Commander of South East Asia.

This photograph shows a line of No 120 Squadron Liberators on the apron. Interesting enough the close Liberator is the same one as Corgi chose for their No 120 Liberator Model FK228.

Squadron Leader Rae Walton MC AFC TD
Hand signed 5in x 7in photograph - numbered and certified on reverse.
(100 produced).