Canada, Dominion. The Caterpillar Club Pin and Membership Card of Flight Officer Earl William Armour, 103 Squadron - Lancaster ME848, POW

 A caterpillar badge, constructed of 10kt Gold with red enameled eyes and a functional pinback assembly, reverse marked 10K TOP, measuring 20.0 mm long, accompanied by its official Caterpillar Club certificate of membership to F/O E.W. Armour, consisting of a paper card within a plastic waterproof liner, measuring 95 mm (w) x 58 mm (l). Accompanied by a Royal Air Force padded cap badge, consisting of a Royal Crown, eagle, and partial laurel wreath, as well as two additional eagle cap insignia, in overall very fine condition. 

Footnote: Flight Officer Earl William Armour (J38922) was born on June 6th, 1912, was a learned pharmacist, and resided at 190 Simcoe Street South, in Oshawa, Ontario Canada, prior to enlisting on August 10th, 1942. He served in 103 Squadron of the Royal Air Force within the 1667 heavy Conversion unit, based out of Elsham Wolds in England, as of January 4th, 1945. On the night of March 16th, 1945, he took off in a Lancaster Mk I (ME848-NG492) at 17:17 with 14 other aircraft on a mission to bomb Nuremberg with warnings of heavy flak and flighter resistance. It was laden with 2154 gallons of fuel, with a bomb load of 1 x 4,000 lbs and 9 x 140 x 4 lbs incendiary bombs. The squadron lost 3 aircraft on this operation, one of which was Lancaster MK I ME848 flown by Flight Officer E. W. Armour. F/O E.W. Armour managed to eject, landed safely by parachute near Stuttgart, and was taken Prisoner of War at the Schwaebes-Halle hospital along with 5 other crew, 1 having lost his life. According to official records, Armour suffered a dislocated hip and lacerations to his head due to “explosion of aircraft”, and reported to have been given “fair” medical treatment. He remained at the hospital until his release on April 18th, 1945, and stayed at an unknown PoW camp until the end of the war.