These boots that were made for flying have landed a place in history
Mark Smith presented with boots belonging to RAF pilot who saved his late father’s life on wartime mission
On Sunday 24th March, the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow broadcast a captivating episode in which Mark Smith, the resident Arms and Militaria specialist and an Assistant Provincial Grand Master of Essex Freemasons, was given a pair of aviator boots. Mark is one of the UK’s leading and most highly respected experts on militaria, military medals and RAF flying logs.
Placed on the table in front of him, Mark recognised the boots had belonged to an RAF bomber pilot in WW2 and explained to the viewers that his father used to tell him about the 65 entries in his logbook and that one entry was special as the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Johnny Ashford, who asked his father’s best friend, Harry, to swap roles with him in the gun turret which was then hit by more than 1,000 bullets.
The guest then said, “Had they not swapped roles, you wouldn’t be here talking to me today” and pointed out that the boots had belonged to the same
Johnny Ashford who was flying the plane and had saved Mark’s late father’s life.
Mark was handed a letter, found inside the boots, which had started a 20-year search to find out what happened to the person in the letter. Reading aloud Mark began, “Dear Lieutenant Ashford, I thank you for your letter concerning the death of my son Harry. . .” Mark became emotional and said, “I can’t do it; I can’t do it.” He handed the letter back to the guest who continued reading the mother’s words expressing her son’s joy at being a crew member. Mark exclaimed, “Wow, my dad held his hand pretty much all the way back, and the doctor said, ‘He’s gone, son, he’s been gone for hours,’ but my dad held his hand all the way.”
Mark was shown a photograph he had never seen before of Harry’s funeral and pointed out his late father in the background and then shared a photo he had of the crew taken three weeks before Harry’s death. The conversation continued with the guest saying, “It makes me quite emotional.” Mark replied, “Yes, I think that one got me as well.” The guest added, “There is one last final surprise, Johnny was your dad’s pilot. So, I believe these boots belong to you.”
As Mark received the boots, they hugged, the audience applauded and Mark said, “Thanks, mate, dad says ‘thank you.’ Blimey. They are incredible to have something from my dad’s crew again, just incredible. I will treasure them forever.”
Photos (courtesy of the BBC)
Top: The boots and letter from Harry’s mother
Left: Mark Smith begins reading but is overtaken with emotion.
Right: The guest finishes reading the letter.
Bottom: Flt Lt Johnny Ashford whose orders saved the life of Mark Smith’s father.
Link to Video (at minute 48) https://www.bbc.co.uk/.../antiques-roadshow-series-46-17...
