Pilot's wings brevet : Flying Officer L R Pedersen, 463 Squadron, RAAF

Pair of machine embroidered padded Royal Australian Air Force pilot's wings. The brevet has white cotton embroidered wings, a king's crown, and the letters 'RAAF' within a pale blue embroidered laurel wreath, on a black wool flannel ground.

Pilot's wings worn by 426237 Flying Officer Lawrence Roy Pedersen of 463 Squadron RAAF, who was killed in action over Holland on the night of 21/22 February 1945. Pedersen was born at Brisbane, Queensland, in 1924, and joined the Royal Australian Air Force in May 1942. The wings were given as a gift to his English girlfriend, Patricia Vinson. The couple had wished to marry, but Miss Vinson was under 21, and permission from her mother was not forthcoming. She later married an Englishman and emigrated to Australia in 1965. Pedersen and four members of his crew were killed when their Lancaster, LM548 'JO-P' was shot down by flak near Weert. Two others survived, Sergeant Freeman, who became a prisoner of war, and Warrant Officer Dixon, an Australian, who successfully evaded capture. The five dead were buried at Eindhoven (Woensel) General Cemetery.