Five: Warrant Officer II S. F. Santy, Royal Canadian Air Force, who after service as a pilot with 407 ‘Demon’ Squadron, was killed when his Hudson III of 200 Squadron crashed at the start of an operation off the West African Coast on 16 September 1942

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Defence Medal, Canadian issue in silver; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, with overseas clasp; War Medal 1939-45, Canadian issue in silver, all in card boxes of issue; together with the recipient’s Canadian Memorial Cross, G.VI.R. (F.S. Pilot F. S. Santy R-70915) in case of issue, with forwarding card, extremely fine (6) £180-£220

Samuel Ferrier Santy, of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, worked as a reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press prior to the Second War. Enlisting into the Royal Canadian Air Force and qualifying as a pilot with the rank of Flight Sergeant, he joined 407 (Demon) Squadron, R.C.A.F. as part of coastal command in early 1942. Flying Lockheed Hudson III’s, this squadron gained fame for low level attacks on German shipping along the North Sea coast. In August of the same year, Santy was transferred to the 200 Squadron, R.A.F., then serving in the Gambia, West Africa. Again Flying Hudson IIIs, the squadron was tasked with attacking Axis shipping and U-boats in the Eastern Atlantic. On 16 September 1942, Santy’s Hudson (loaded with 4 depth charges) crashed on take-off, killing all four crew members. It was only his second operational sortie with the squadron. Santy was buried in Fajara War Cemetery in the Gambia. He is one of only 10 Canadian war dead buried in this small West African country. He was posthumously promoted to Warrant Officer Class II.

Sold with Santy’s original Operational Wings, by Birks; another silver badge; and copied research.