Medals of airman who nearly froze to death in his plane are up for sale
THE medals of a brave Bomber Command airman who froze to his seat when temp eratures plummeted to - 40C on a sortie will go on sale.
Rear gunner Albert “Nobby” Larkins suffered spinal damage when his heated flying suit failed.
But he stuck to his task of seeing off German fighter planes in the tail section of a Halifax bomber, although his injuries ended his operational career.
On another raid on a munitions plant near Berlin, his crew survived despite their plane being holed 72 times by anti- aircraft guns.
F/ Sgt Larkins was awarded the prestigious Distinguished Flying Medal for his gallantry. His daughter, who is not being named, said: “He was such a brave man and I’m only selling his medals because I have no children. He told me before he died I should sell them.”
F/ Sgt Larkins, from Margate, Kent, served in 10 Squadron and took part in 23 raids until 1943. He spent the rest of the war as a flying instructor. Later he recounted: “We called our plane the Bad Penny because they [ the Luftwaffe] always turned up and so did we. One time we counted 72 holes in the plane.
“I thank God every day I’m alive now.” He died aged 69 in 1992. He was also awarded the 1939- 45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence Medal and War Medal.
They will be sold by Tennants Auctioneers, of Leyburn, North Yorks, with his RAF logbooks and photos on December 16.