Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An original R.A.F. pilot’s flying log book appertaining to Captain J. G. East, D.F.C., Royal Artillery (A.O.P.), who completed in excess of 320 operational sorties in Austers of No. 651 Squadron in Italy 1944-45, comprising standard Form 414-type book, the front cover inscribed, ‘Capt. J. G. East, D.F.C., R.A. (A.O.P.)’ and with ‘II’ to denote his second flying log book, though with a tally of operational hours and sorties from this previous book on opening pages, and covering the period May 1944 until October 1953, the mass of wartime photographic, reconnaissance and artillery spotting entries particularly detailed, and the latter entries for services in No. 661 Squadron (A.O.P.), Royal Auxiliary Air Force; together with the recipient’s copies of Horses and Soldiers, by Gilbert Holiday (Privately published, Aldershot, circa 1940), with a dozen or so autographs of members of the 1st Mountain Regiment, R.A., dated at Colchester on 3 March 1941, and With The Allied Armies in Italy, by Edward Seago (Collins, London, 1945), generally in good condition (Lot) £150-200

John Gerald East’s gallant service in Italy was recognised by the award of the D.F.C. (London Gazette 21 September 1944 refers).