Unsung heroics of the last RAF pilot to go into battle against the Luftwaffe in a biplane during a top secret mission are revealed as his family put his bravery medals up for sale

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The unsung heroics of an RAF pilot who took part in a top secret mission in World War Two have been revealed after his medals were put up for sale by his family.

Herbert Horatio Kitchener went into battle against the Luftwaffe in a biplane, in a secret sortie to help the Norwegians in their last ditch effort to repel the Germans after they invaded the Scandinavian country in April 1940.

He was later awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal for his bravery in Norway and the Norwegian Cross - the equivalent of the Victoria Cross - for helping the country in its time of need. 

Now Wg Cdr Kitchener's medals, his flying goggles and hat, photographs and official letters and log books, have been put up for sale by his family.

One of the heroes of the Second World War, RAF pilot Herbert Horatio Kitchener took part in a top secret mission 

Herbert Horatio Kitchener went into battle against the Luftwaffe in a biplane, in a secret sortie to help the Norwegians in their last ditch effort to repel the Germans after they invaded the Scandinavian country in April 1940

Wing Commander Kitchener was later awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal for his bravery in Norway and the Norwegian Cross - the equivalent of the Victoria Cross - for helping the country in its time of need

Some 18 Gloster Gladiator biplanes landed near a frozen lake at Aandelsnes in Norway only to find a massive lack of facilities, fuel and ammunition for them.

The planes were destroyed one by one in a German bombardment but not before the British had taken down 14 enemy aircraft using a combination of a machine gun on the ground and feint air attacks.

Wing Commander Kitchener and the men of 263 Squadron were re-equipped with another 18 Gladiator biplanes to support the Battle of Narvik, further north.

Over a period of days Wg Cdr Kitchener and his fellow pilots engaged in furious dog-fights and claimed 50 victories in all.

Wg Cdr Kitchener shot down two German bombers and two Stuka dive-bombers and helped provide air cover for the evacuation of Narvik.

Ten of the 18 biplanes returned to the aircraft carrier HMS Glorious which was later attacked and sunk with a great loss of life hours later.

Wg Cdr Kitchener was not one of them as he had earlier been assigned an aircraft which he flew back to Britain in. 

The day before he had been due at Buckingham Palace to receive his decorations in March 1941 he was tasked with intercepting a German Junkers 88 bomber off the Cornish coast.

His Westland Whirlwind fighter was badly shot up and he was forced to make a crash landing at St Evel aerodrome - suffering a fractured skull and broken arm in the process which he spent months recovering from. 

Wg Cdr Kitchener, pictured here with his wife Ida, left the RAF in 1945 and worked in local government in Kent. He passed away in 2010 aged 95

Ten of the 18 biplanes returned to the aircraft carrier HMS Glorious which was later attacked and sunk with a great loss of life hours later

RAF pilot Herbert Horatio Kitchener, right, with a fellow service man. Wg Cdr Kitchener shot down two German bombers and two Stuka dive-bombers and helped provide air cover for the evacuation of Narvik

Wg Cdr Kitchener, from Crowborough, East Sussex, joined the RAF Volunteer Reserve in 1937 at the age of 23 - and went on to become a highly-decorated pilot

His medals are being sold on March 9 by Duke's Auctioneers of Dorchester, Dorset, with a pre-sale estimate of £10,000.

Timothy Medhurst, of Duke's, said: 'It is an awe-inspiring archive. It is always amazing to delve into the past and highlight the bravery of men and women during the First and Second World Wars.

'This group is particularly exciting as it is the first time this archive has ever been offered for sale.

'It relates to one of our unsung heroes of the war and draws a picture of an extremely loyal, dedicated and brave man.'

Wg Cdr Kitchener, from Crowborough, East Sussex, joined the RAF Volunteer Reserve in 1937 at the age of 23.

A month after the outbreak of war he joined 263 Squadron. After the Norway mission the squadron moved to Cornwall to patrol for German E-boats and to escort convoys.

He left the RAF in 1945 and worked in local government in Kent. He died in 2010 aged 95. 

Wg Cdr Kitchener had been due at Buckingham Palace to receive his decorations in March 1941 he was tasked with intercepting a German Junkers 88 bomber off the Cornish coast. Pictured, the confirmation of his Norwegian Cross

Auctioneer Timothy Medhurst (pictured) said Wg Cdr Kitchener's medals, flying goggles and hat, photographs and official letters and log books, form 'an awe-inspiring archive'

Left, The DFM, Air Efficiency Award, Air Crew Europe Star, (bottom) 1939-45 War Medal and 1939-45 Star and right,  Herbert Horatio Kitchener's Norwegian Cross