WW2 RCAF POW 429 Squadron Bomber Command Caterpillar Club Badge.

WW2 RCAF POW 429 Squadron Bomber Command Caterpillar Club Badge.

A rare example of the Caterpillar club badge with red eyes and retaining the correct pin fitting with rolling safety catch. The reverse engraved “FLT LT A.R. MILNER”. VGC.

Flight Lieutenant Alan Ralph Milner French Croix de Guerre with Bronze Star, was a pilot with 429 Squadron which operated the Halifax bomber out of East Moor Yorkshire. On the night of the 12/13th January 1945 he was tasked for his 23rd operation, a mining laying op of the coast of Flensburg. He was shot down and escaped by parachute thus earning his place in the Caterpillar club.
His POW debrief gives a full account. Extracts below.
Cruising at 15,000 feet half way across Denmark on heading 090 degrees True. Fighter attacked from dead astern and level. No previous warning tail hit by cannon and machine gun, entered a corkscrew manoeuvre. Rear gunner observed strikes when returning fire and fighter broke away. Aircraft nose heavy and no rudder control. Mission abandoned due to damage of mine-dropping equipment. Returning to England on heading of 290 degrees. Two more corkscrew manoeuvres owing to warnings given from rear gunner and mines were jettisoned. Gradually losing height due to loss of power on starboard outer engine and flaps had dropped to full flap. Engineer reported tanks drained and engines damaged. Navigator said we could not reach coast so turned to heading 060 degrees for Sweden. Navigational equipment unserviceable so broke cloud on D.R. but presumed over Baltic. Circled, saw land and abandoned aircraft. Starboard outer engine temperature (cylinder) at 300 degrees and starboard inner glowing brightly but no damage recorded by instruments. Landed easily in field.
Flight Lieutenant Milner is confirmed as been held a POW three crew member were injured.
A full biographical account can be found on the link below:
https://www.rcafassociation.ca/heritage/search-awards/?search=J12764&searchfield=field_all&type=all