RAF Museum raises £660,000 to save war hero's VC for the nation
A fundraising campaign organised by the RAF Museum has been successful in keeping a war hero's Victoria Cross (VC) medal in the UK.
The RAF Museum has purchased the medal that belonged to Squadron Leader Arthur Scarf and said it will now go on display at the museum's London site.
The medal had previously been sold at auction and was at risk of being taken out of the country, but the museum was given the chance to fundraise, match the price and buy it.
The RAF Museum campaign attracted widespread attention on social media and members of the public donated toward the required amount.
The museum successfully matched the £660,000 winning auction bid – including a grant from the National Heritage Memorial Fund – and will now keep the medal in the UK.
RAF Museum CEO Maggie Appleton said: "A heartfelt thank you to every single person who supported us.
"Whether you donated or shared our campaign with friends and family, we couldn't have done this without you.
"To have raised £660,000 in three months is simply amazing."
Squadron Leader Arthur Scarf was awarded the VC for his bravery in 1941, when he led a successful attack on a Japanese airfield, and then ensured the survival of his crewmates at the cost of his own life.
National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) chief executive Eilish McGuinness said: "I am delighted that the RAF Museum's campaign to acquire Arthur Scarf's Victoria Cross has been successful and that the National Heritage Memorial Fund has been able to support this important acquisition with a grant of £390,000.
"The National Heritage Memorial Fund works to safeguard the UK's most significant heritage and form a lasting memorial to those who gave their lives.
"This rare and unusual medal, which will now form part of the national collection, perfectly encapsulates what NHMF stands for."
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