CANADIAN WORLD WAR 2 MEDAL GROUP RCAF PILOT POW ESCAPER Took Part In Great Escape - Later Escaped To England Start Price USD 7,499.99 Current Price USD 7,499.99 Time Left 5 days 17 hours 50 minutes Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Wednesday, September 17, 2008 End Time Thursday, January 15, 2009 Location In Beautiful Mount Rainier Country ~/\~ See more about 'CANADIAN WORLD WAR 2 MEDAL GROUP RCAF PILOT POW ESCAPER' Description SEE OUR OTHER AUCTIONS AND EBAY STORE FOR MORE ITEMS OF INTERESTCanadian World War II British medal group awarded to Flying Officer Thomas Moore Watt, 142 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force. The group consists of: British 1939-45 Star; British Air Crew Europe Star; British Italy Star; Canadian Defence Medal (Silver); Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas Bar (Silver); Canadian 1939-45 War Medal (Silver); Canadian Silver Jubilee Medal, 1977 (Queen Elizabeth II, Silver); Royal Life Saving Society Canada Benefactor Medal (Silver, Alberta and Territories Branch); Royal Life Saving Society Canada Diamond Jubilee Medal (Alberta and Northwest Territories Branch); Officer of the Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem (OLJ, Breast Badge); Free Polish Government in Exile Cross of Valour; European Cross of the Confederation of European Veteran Combattants; Distinguished Service Cross for Bravery of the Interallied Military Order of the Sphinx; Military Order of the Firing Squad of the Interallied Military Order of the Sphinx; Cross of the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States; Special Member Medal of the Japanese Red Cross Society. Flying Officer Watt was awarded the Free Polish Government in Exile Cross of Valour for bravery during escape actions in Poland in World War II. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for Bravery of the Interallied Military Order of the Sphinx for war services in Europe. Watt was awarded the Military Order of the Firing Squad of the Interallied Military Order of the Sphinx for those sentenced to death for escaping, evading, and prision of war activities. He was awarded the Cross of the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States for humanitarian services. Watt was awarded the Special Member Medal of the Japanese Red Cross Society for humanitarian and philanthropic services. The Flying Officer was awarded the Officer of the Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem (February, 1977). The awards are court mounted for wear with official ribbon and are in Extremely Fine condition. RARE ESCAPER AND CONTRIBUTOR TO THE GREAT ESCAPE FROM STALAG LUFT III SAGAN. PART OF THE SCROUNGER'S GROUP IN THE GREAT ESCAPE. HE WAS PART OF THE UNSUCESSFUL ESCAPERS DURING THE GREAT ESCAPE BUT ESCAPED AGAIN AND MADE IT BACK TO ENGLAND. Flying Officer Watt was born in Wichita, Kansas, United States where he learned to fly. In 1940 he traveled to Canada and enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force. In his first tour he mostly flew Defiant night fighter but also managed 225 hours in Hurricanes and Spitfires. In 1942, he transferred to 142 Squadron and piloted Wellington bombers for 17 operations until shot down. As a POW he was assigned to Stalag Luft III Sagan, in Poland. He took a part in planning and organizing the escape. Watt was one of the 124 who did not make it through the tunnel before the escape was discovered. 76 others escaped. In January 1945 Watt escaped again and six weeks later made it back to Britain. After World War II he returned to Canada and became a naturalized Canadian citizen. During the late 1940s Watt flew as a pilot in the Northwest Territories. In 1951 he moved to Labrador and flew medical evacuations for three years. In 1958 Watt joined Canadair Limited as a Test Pilot. In 1965 he joined the Beech Aircraft Corporation as a Trans-Atlantic ferry pilot. Then in 1968 he under took a three year contract with Beech Aircraft to demonstrate their planes worldwide. In 1973 Watt took over the Province of Alberta, Canada's aviation department. During his tenure he organized the building of 84 airfields. In 1986 Watt was honoured with Canada's highest aviation honour, the Trans-Canada McKee Trophy. Sold with many original photos; some original award documents; and some research. The British 1939-45 Star was awarded to any military personnel serving for six months in an operational command between September 3, 1939, and September 2, 1945. Operational service brought to an end through death, disability, or wound, also qualified for the award of the 1939-45 Star, irrespective of length of service. The Air Crew Europe Star was awarded to air crew who qualified for the British 1939-45 Star, and who served for an additional two months in an operational unit flying from British bases, between September 3, 1939, and June 5, 1944. The Italy Star was awarded for participation in air crew service within the Mediterranean Theater, including sorties from the Mediterranean area over Europe between June 11, 1943, and May 8, 1945. The Canadian Defence Medal was awarded to any military personnel and some civilians related to civil defense serving in nonoperational areas threatened by the enemy between September 3, 1939, and September 2, 1945 (qualification time varied depending on type of service). The Canadian Volunteer Service Medal was awarded for eighteen months voluntary service in any of the Armed Forces between September 2, 1939, and September 2, 1945, or for voluntary service outside of Canada. The Overseas Bar was awarded for 60 days service outside of Canada. The Canadian 1939-45 War Medal was awarded to all full time personnel of the Armed Forces serving for 28 days or more, between September 3, 1939, and September 2, 1945. The Canadian Jubilee Medal, 1977, was issued to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II’s Accession to the Throne. A total of 182 Victoria Crosses were awarded durring World War II. RZ1217Digital photos were taken in artificial light, and do not always show colors properly. Pay me securely with any major credit card through PayPal! Place a Bid!