his head because of his underground activities. He attempted to assist in the case of Princess Mafalda of Savoy, but could do little. At the end of the war he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his work. Post-war and later life West later achieved the rank of air commodore. With the end of the war in Europe, he retired from the RAF and joined J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors in January 1946, working in overseas sales. He became managing director in 1947 until 1958 when he retired as chairman. Subsequent directorships included Hurst Park Syndicate, Continental Shipyard Agencies, Technical Equipment Supplies Ltd, Tokalon Ltd and Terravia Trading Services. West was interviewed on 27 May 1979 by the art historian Anna Malinovska. The interview is reproduced in Voices in Flight (Pen & Sword Books, 2006). He also appeared as a contributor in the 1987 documentary 'The Cavalry of the Clouds', produced by British regional commercial television station 'HTV West'. West's Victoria Cross is displayed at the Imperial War Museum. References Further reading External links Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation – Air Cdre F M F West West F.M.F. West 1896 births 1988 deaths British amputees British Army personnel of World War I British World War I recipients of the Victoria Cross Chevaliers of the Légion d'honneur Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Commanders of the Order of Orange-Nassau People from Paddington Recipients of the Military Cross Royal Air Force officers Royal Air Force personnel of World War I Royal Air Force personnel of World War II Royal Air Force recipients of the Victoria Cross Royal Army Medical Corps soldiers Royal Flying Corps officers Royal Munster Fusiliers officers University of Genoa alumni