An Excellent & Moving
DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS
(1945) 
1939-45 Star, Africa & France & Germany Stars, Defence & War Medals.
To:
F/Lt (46313) Albert Cartledge White. R.A.F.
142 Squadron R.A.F.
Wellingtons & Mosquitos. 
This officer served in Africa and Europe and had a distinguished career in the RAF. In December 1942, No. 142 Squadron moved to North Africa and subsequently took part in the Tunisian, Sicilian and Italian campaigns. It is recorded that on the night of 17/18th May 1943, Major-General James H 'Jimmy' Doolittle, USAAF, C-in-C North-West African Strategic Air Force (in which No. 142 served), flew with the squadron (Pilot Sq/Ldr MATTHEWSON) to observe the results of a raid against Alghero, Sardinia
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Albert White married Jean T. White (Nee Gilbert)
of Stafford during WW2. She later became a BEA stewardess.
Some years after the war and after F/Lt White's sad death in a flying accident in 1947 she married P/Officer (later Captain) Raymond Peter Grimwood DFC, of BEA who's medals are also currently listed.
Flt/Lt A.C. White was sadly killed in a flying accident on 16th June 1947 near RAF Pershore in Worcestershire, when his Mosquito crashed at a small place called Hill during a training and re-familiarisation flight with Sqd/Ldr (W/Cdr) R.M.Trousdale, DFC & Bar of the RNZAF.
THE OFFICIAL REPORT INTO THE CRASH
Fl/Lt A C White DFC of RAF died on Mosquito TV965 on 16th June 1947 at Hill, Nr Pershore when it crashed on air test. It was on a dual acceptance flight comprising assymetric powered flying, approaching and overshooting. F/Lt White, an instructor, was putting Sqn/Ldr (W/Cdr) R.M. Trousdale, DFC & Bar, already an experienced pilot, through this test. Normally just a matter of routine and not specially dangerous. However whilst feathering one engine across the airfield, it suddenly lost height, disappearing beyond the perimeter and then crashed into a field. The aircraft was soon burnt out. The pilot had made one fatal error - to turn his aircraft to flight towards the 'dead' feathered engine, spinning him into the ground.
The No.1 Ferry Unit was ferrying several Mosquito aircraft to New Zealand and doing familiarisation training with RNZAF crews. F/Lt White had himself flown at least one aircraft to New Zealand during early 1947. This aircraft (pictured below) was NZ2328 (ex-RAF TE758) and is now in ongoing renovation with Ferrymead Aviation in New Zealand. The delivery flight to NZ took place on 6th March 1947 when F/Lt White and W/O H.G. Rennie left RAF Pershore and arrived in NZ on 28th March 1947. The aicraft served with 75 Sqd RNZAF.
Son of Frank and Martha Annie White; husband of Jean Theodora White (nee Gilbert), of Stafford. Flt/Lt White is buried at Pershore Cemetery in Plot R, Grave 100. He was 26.
Sqn/Ldr (W/Cdr) R.M. Trousdale, DFC & Bar, RNZAF was the son of Archibald and Clarice Rebecca Trousdale, of Howick, Auckland, New Zealand; husband of Dorothy Christine Trousdale, of Howick and is buried in Bath (Haycombe) Cemetery Plot 39. Sec. H. Row F. Grave 243. He was also 26.
REMEMBERED WITH HONOUR
"Per Ardua Ad Astra"
The group comes with its original medal box (addressed to his widow) the original issue slips denoting his entitlement and the slip carrying F/Lt White's service number and rank. Also the above paper cutting about his widow's later career.
All the medals including the DFC which is in its original case
are in 'Gem Mint State'.
(SOLD)