Les Munro Presents Medals to Motat

Media Release - Embargoed Until: 11am Wednesday 15 April 2015

Issued: Monday 30 March 2015

Les Munro to Present Medals to Motat

Veteran Squadron Leader, Les Munro, is presenting his gallantry medals, flight logbooks and associated memorabilia to the Museum of Transport and Technology in a special hand-over ceremony at MOTAT on Wednesday 15 April at 11am. The presentation will take place in front of one of the few remaining examples of the Avro Lancaster Bomber, made famous as a successful night bomber by the RAF Bomber Command in WWII.

Lord Ashcroft, whose generous donation of £75,000 to the RAF Benevolent Fund made it possible for the medals to be retained within New Zealand for the benefit of the Nation, collected the decorations and memorabilia from London auction house, Dix Noonan Webb, last week. They are now safely in Lord Ashcroft’s care and he will fly with them to New Zealand to personally deliver them to Mr Munro so that he in turn can hand them to MOTAT’s CEO, Michael Frawley.

Earlier in March, Les Munro accepted Lord Ashcroft’s substantial donation to the RAF Benevolent Fund in return for withdrawing his medals from auction and gifting them to MOTAT. The auction house waived receipt of their fee on the basis that MOTAT would pay it to the Benevolent Fund instead.

Lord Ashcroft said “I am delighted that the proposal I developed with Mr Frawley was accepted by Mr Munro as it provides a ‘win-win’ situation for all concerned and ensures that the medals and associated memorabilia will remain in New Zealand for future generations to appreciate.”

“We are deeply grateful to Mr Munro for agreeing to this arrangement and the Museum is honoured to accept these precious items into its collection” said Mr Frawley. “MOTAT has a close association with NZ Bomber Command and the utmost respect for the sacrifice and courage these men showed in the Second World War. It’s our intention to develop an exhibition highlighting what Mr Les Munro, Mr Len Chambers and the other New Zealand members of Bomber Command, in particular 617 Squadron, did during the war.”

ENDS

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