Conway Stewart Raunchy Wolf Pen Replica – “Per ardua ad astra – Lest we forget"

On 26th September 1943, two B-17 Flying Fortresses collided over the Essex countryside, killing twenty young American airmen. One of those aircraft was "Raunchy Wolf," commanded by Lieutenant John Keeley Jr. Among the crew was navigator 1st Lt Arthur Ross Moore — the crewman most reliant on ink for plotting paths through Europe's deadly skies.

Eighty-one years later, local historian Sue Lister unearthed a Conway Stewart fountain pen from that very soil: cap intact, its 14ct gold nib gleaming in defiance of the decades. Identified as a No. 236 from the late 1930s, in rich burgundy-and-black marble, this British-made pen almost certainly belonged to Moore. It was presented to the RAF Hornchurch Heritage Centre in August 2025, so the memory of these brave men might endure for future generations.

Read the blog here "A WWII Navigator's Conway Stewart Pen Unearthed"

This is a replica of that pen and is based on the Series 58 Burgundy Lever-Fill and is our tribute to that story. Made in the similar deep burgundy that defined the original No. 236,  but on this replica the barrel is engraved with the words “Per ardua as astra – Lest we forget”  - the Royal Air Force motto and a reminder not to forget the sacrifices of all those that have given their lives so we can live ours.

The beautiful marbled burgundy of this replica is perfectly complemented with real 9ct gold rings, and a 14ct gold nib. You can choose the width of the nib to suit your writing style - available in Extra Fine, Fine, Medium or Broad.  

Limited Edition of 81 pens to reflect the 81 years the original was buried in that field. Each pen has the edition number engraved on the barrel, next to the iconic Conway Stewart logo, and underneath is "Made in England" . 

Each fountain pen is housed in an original Conway Stewart black leatherette presentation box, which doubles as an elegant desk display, and comes complete with Certificate of Authenticity, Conway Stewart User Guide and a special anti-tarnish polishing cloth.

Per ardua ad astra is a Latin phrase meaning "through adversity to the stars" or "through struggle to the stars" that is the official moto of the Royal Air Force and other Commonwealth air forces.