Montague Dawson R.S.M.A., F.R.S.A. 1895-1973

The lot is sold with a letter awarding the Distinguished Flying Cross to Pilot Officer Toderick Edmund Hilton of the Royal Australian Air Force.

In October 1942 Officer Hilton was instrumental in saving a pilot from the sea a few miles from the French coast.  On arriving at the scene Officer Hilton discovered the stranded pilot floating in his dinghy bwteen two parallel rows of mines.  He nevertheless managed to land safely, but on taking off noticed a mine directly in front of the plane.  He bounced the plane off the surface of the water and managed to escape harm.