Orders, Decorations and Medals

The original flying log book appertaining to Flying Officer J. A. I. Coyne, D.F.C., who was decorated for his services as a Bomb Aimer in No. 463 and No. 467 (R.A.A.F.) Squadrons, comprising R.A.F. Observer’ and Air Gunner’s Flying Log Book (Form 176), covering the period April 1942 until November 1947, with operational entries for around 45 sorties; together with his embroidered Observer’s Brevet, uniform epaulette, and assorted buttons and medal ribands, generally in good condition (Lot) £250-300

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Awards to the R.F.C., R.N.A.S. and R.A.F..

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James Anthony Ignatius Coyne commenced his operational career as a Bomb Aimer on joining No. 467 Squadron, a Lancaster unit operating out of Bottesford, Lincolnshire, in April 1943. Between then and October, as a member of Flight Sergeant Desmond Sullivan’s crew, he completed around 25 sorties against heavily-defended German targets, including a brace of trips to the “Big City”, four trips to Cologne, three trips apiece to Essen and Hamburg, and two trips apiece to Dortmund and Dusseldorf.

Rested in the New Year, with a Bomb Aimer’s course at Manby and subsequent service as an O.T.U. instructor, he returned to an operational footing in No. 463 (R.A.A.F.) Squadron, another Lancaster unit, in October 1944, this time as member of Flying Officer Bruce Ward-Smith’s crew. Coyne flew on three daylight sorties in the same month, in support of the Combined Operations landings at Walcheren and Flushing, in addition to a night operation against Nurnberg.

An attack against the oil refinery at Harburg having followed in November, he flew another daytime strike against a battlefront target near Duren and, in the following month, against the Urft Dam, in addition to a strike against the cruiser Lutzow at Gdynia. New Year’s Day 1945 was marked by a daylight operation against the Dortmund-Ems Canal, followed by four night sorties in the same month, including Munich and the synthetic oil plants at Politz and Brux, Czechoslovakia.

Then in February, having teamed-up with his ex-467 pilot Desmond Sullivan - now an Acting Squadron Leader and a D.F.C. - he participated in strikes against the Mittelland and Dortmund-Ems Canals, the latter in daylight with his Lancaster as Raid Leader, prior to finishing his operational tour in March with another attack on the Dortmund-Ems Canal and a strike against Bremen. Sullivan was awarded the D.S.O. and Coyne, who was advanced to Flight Lieutenant in September 1945, the D.F.C., the recommendation stating:

‘This officer as Air Bomber of a Lancaster aircraft has completed most successfully 44 sorties, many of which have been against heavily defended German targets, including Berlin, Essen, Nurnburg and Hamburg. During his tour he achieved the reputation of being a most skilful Air Bomber by obtaining aiming point photographs in the face of heavy opposition. On numerous occasions he has called for a second run over heavily defended targets in order to attack and make certain of hitting his objective. His outstanding courage and determination is second to none, and he has at all times shown a high sense of loyalty and devotion to duty. In recognition of the outstanding work of this officer, I recommend the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross’ (T.N.A. AIR 2/8749 refers).