A well documented Second World War A.F.C. group of three awarded to Wing Commander R. S. Sikes, the Reserve of Air Force Officers

Air Force Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1942’ and privately inscribed, ‘S./Ldr. R. S. Sikes, R.A.F.’; Defence and War Medals, these also privately inscribed, ‘W./Cdr. R. S. Sikes, R.A.F.’, good very fine and better (3) £1000-1200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Awards to the R.F.C. and R.A.F. formed by Wing Commander Bill Traynor.

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A.F.C. London Gazette 11 June 1942.

Richard Somerville Sikes, who was born in May 1907, and who completed his education at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he joined the University’s Air Squadron, was appointed a Pilot Officer on the Royal Air Force’s Reserve of Officers in June 1929. Advanced to Flying Officer in December of the following year, he transferred to non-flying duties in June 1933, possibly to pursue his other abiding interest - motor-cycling; accompanying newspaper cuttings indicate he was a talented driver and participated in a pre-war Isle of Man T.T. race.

Recalled on the outbreak of hostilities, he attended the Central Flying School in July 1940 and was posted to No. 2 Service Flying Training School at Brize Norton as an instructor in August 1940, where he also fulfilled the duties of O.C., Fire Section. Advanced to Flight Lieutenant in May 1941, he removed to No. 17 Blind Approach Training School at Ipswich as Chief Flying Instructor that October, where he was advanced to the acting rank of Squadron Leader and was gazetted for his A.F.C. in the New Year.

In June 1942, Sikes was transferred to an appointment in an Air Safety Department at the Air Ministry, gaining advancement to war substantive Squadron Leader in October 1943. Then in the following year he went out to Italy to improve the safety of assorted types of airstrip being used by the Mediterraean Allied Air Force (M.A.A.F.), but not in time to qualify for the Italy Star.

Sykes eventually relinquished his commission on the Reserve in July 1954, when he was permitted to retain the rank of Wing Commander.

Sold with a quantity of original documentation, including several congratulatory telegrams and letters for the award of his A.F.C.; two or three typed records of service, one bearing an Air Ministry stamp dated 22 September 1942; a letter to Sikes from the Ministry of Aircraft Production, dated 14 August 1943 (‘I have not yet had an opportunity to discuss C.G.A. with Sir Stafford Cripps ... I found it a most valuable and interesting experience and am very much in your debt’); a number of safety reports, including one written by Sikes while employed by M.A.A.F. in Italy in February 1944; a good assortment of career photographs (approximately 25 images), including a large format picture of graduating officers from 67th Flying Instructors’ Course at the Central Flying School, Upavon, July-August 1940; several newspaper cuttings reporting on his success as a motor cyclist in assorted competitions in the 1930s; and the Air Ministry Private Pilot’s Certificate and Licence issued to his brother, H. L. S. Sykes, dated 18 August 1931, together with related R.A.F. Certificate of Proficiency, dated 1 January 1932.