Medals and logbooks of prolific World War One fighter ace sell for huge sum at auction
THE medals and logbooks of a prolific World War One fighter ace have sold for £21,000.
Captain Percy “Pip” Clayson terrorised German enemy aircraft in the summer of 1918, clocking up 29 “kills”.
He shot down ten in a month, with a better strike rate than the feared German pilot called “the Red Baron”.
His medals, including a Military Cross and Distinguished Flying Cross, went under the hammer at London-based auctioneers Spink & Son.
Pip was born in 1896 in Deptford, South London, and joined the Royal Naval Air Service in 1914.
He retired in 1929 but re-mobilised with the RAF Volunteer Reserve in 1941 for World War Two.
Marcus Budgen, head of the Spink & Son medals department, said: “To down 29 enemy aircraft and live to tell the tale is no mean feat.
“His medals are the living memorial to this amazing man.”
His citation reads: “A patrol leader of great skill, and a skilful marksman, whose personal fighting successes have proved of much value to his squadron.
“Captain Clayson’s patrol frequently encountered enemy formations in superior numbers, but invariably succeeded in inflicting serious losses.”
Michael Shaw said of Pip in his book, The History of No 1 Fighter Squadron: “There is no doubt that Clayson would have ranked with the highest scorers had time and circumstance not been against him.
“Richthofen got most of his 80 kills against defenceless two seaters.”