A 1950s Rolex Oyster Perpetual Explorer model number 6610, the property of the late Warrant Officer Navigator First Class Leonard Hall, Royal Air Force. Serial number 268560 - dating the piece to 1957. With luminescent painted Arabic numerals/baton markers on a black dial. Case diameter 36mm approximately, lug width 20mm. On a generic black leather strap. Provenance: The watch has been owned by the vendor's father from new and retained the family since his passing. The watch is accompanied by an import tax receipt from 1959, when the watch as brought into the UK, a number of articles of ephemera relating to the gentleman's RAF career and by the following note from the vendor: LEONARD VERNON HALL 25/7/23 - 1/12/88 WARRANT OFFICER FROM 1/11/1957 NAVIGATOR FIRST CLASS My father, L.V. Hall, was posted to the Middle East in about February 1957. He returned to the UK in January 1959. He was flying Vickers Valettas, Hastings and Dakotas with Squadrons 70 and 84, Transport Command. Prior to this he had been stationed in India and during that time he was the navigator with an aircrew that drew the short straw to fly Nehru (Jawaharlal Nehru - the First Prime Minister of India) over three villages with a severe storm brewing. The pilot was very concerned that they were going to be caught in the storm, but my father assured him that as long as he followed the navigation instructions to the letter, they would be OK. They in fact flew over the same village three times from different directions and returned to the base before the storm broke. Nehru was convinced he had seen the three villages and went away content. During his time stationed in Aden my father saw the withdrawal of the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders. He was also part of the crew that flew the Sheikh of Oman about. In gratitude the Sheikh presented each of the crew with Rolex Explorer watches. It is my father's watch that is presented for sale at this auction along with the log books that I have of his, a copy of his warrant, granted by the Honourable George Ward, Right Honourable Secretary of State for Air, 1957 - 1960 and an embroidered RAF insignia plus copies of photos of him. Adrian Hall
Realised Price: £
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