Donation stops WWII Dambusters Pilot from having to sell his medals

The last surviving Dambusters pilot is gifting his medals to the Auckland Museum of Transport and Technology. 95 year old veteran Les Munro had been planning to auction off his medals to benefit the Bomber Command Memorial in London, but they’ll now go directly to the museum. In return Philanthropist Lord Ashcroft is donating £75,000 to the RAF Benevolent fund. The UK auction house which was to have sold the medals, Dix Noonan Webb, has also generously waived all fees and expenses on the understanding the MOTAT will pay £10,000 to the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, which is caring for the memorial.