Description:

STEPHEN BURNS (1921-1943) British Flight Sergeant, Rear Gunner of Lancaster ED936/G AJ-H of 617 Squadron on the Dambusters Raid, 16th May 1943. A most evocative original wooden painted model of an Avro Lancaster bomber, made by fellow flyer RICHARD MACFARLANE (1921-1943) and given by him to Burns, his friend and colleague as a gift. Ironically, both would perish together on December 20, 1943 when their Lancaster was hit by flak and exploded over Belgium. The model features four engines with propellers (one now missing) and windows for the crew, bombardier, mid- gunner and tail gunner, the wings and tail fins featuring painted R.A.F. markings and with the squadron code DX-X to each side. The model measures 8" in length and has a wingspan of almost 12" and stands on a plain wooden plinth supported by a piece of heavy gauge wire (no longer present). Typical age wear, minor damage to one tail fin and the paint scratched and faded in places, most notably to the underside of the aircraft and the stand. Accompanied by a copy of a typed inventory of the Burns Archive prepared by a previous owner in 2001 when he acquired the material from Dorothy Mundon, the sister of Stephen Burns. The present model airplane is listed on the inventory, and also included in the lot is a copy of a handwritten letter from Mundon to the previous owner explaining that she has been through the inventory and that it is correct. Also included is a copy of a newspaper article written about Burns, prior to his involvement in the Dambusters Raid, in a provincial newspaper in which it states that the rear gunner has returned home to Dudley on leave with a model of a Lancaster. RICHARD MACFARLANE (1921-1943) was Navigator of Lancaster ED936/G AJ-H of 617 Squadron on the Dambusters Raid, 16th May 1943. He joined 57 Squadron on 9th December 1942 where he met Burns. While at 57 Squadron Burns flew in the Avro Lancaster DX-X W4252 upon which the present model is based. Included in the lot is a copy of a page from his log book recording his flight, as a mid-upper gunner, on 5th February 1943 from RAF Wyton to RAF Scampton, piloted by Flight Sergeant Langley. Avro Lancaster DX-X W4252 remained with 57 Squadron and was shot down in an operation over Kiel on 4th/5th April 1943 with the loss of the entire crew.

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April 1, 2020 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000