British and World Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Flight Lieutenant J. Muir, Royal Air Force, a Spitfire pilot who flew operationally in 66 and 681 Squadrons

1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Burma Star; War Medal 1939-45, very fine or better (4) £200-250

James Muir enlisted in the Royal Air Force in July 1941 and commenced pilot training in February 1942, being appointed to the acting rank of Sergeant in the following month. Having then attended F.T.Ss in Rhodesia and South Africa, he returned to the U.K. in November 1942, graduated as a Spitfire pilot at No. 61 O.T.U. and was posted to No. 66 Squadron April 1942, then commanded by Battle of Britain ace Squadron Leader H. A. C. Bird-Wilson. Muir flew a brace of convoys patrols before the month’s end, but was transferred to a gunner establishment shortly afterwards, and thence to a succession of units as an instructor, including postings in the Middle East and India. And it was in the latter theatre of operations that he joined No. 681 Squadron, a Photo-reconnaissance unit operating out of Calipore, in May 1945, an appointment that led to his participation in four operational patrols over the Sittang River and elsewhere prior to the War’s end. Advanced to Flight Lieutenant in January 1946, Muir was released from the service in July of the same year.

Sold with the recipient’s original R.A.F. Pilot’s Flying Log Book, covering the period February 1942 to March 1946, and including an original photograph of ‘A’ Flight, No. 66 Squadron, from April 1943.