Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Second World War A.F.C. group of five awarded to Flight Lieutenant J. L. H. Heagerty, R.A.F.V.R., a pilot with No. 21 Squadron and later with 34 Wing, Tactical Air Force, at Montgomery’s Headquarters

Air Force Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse dated 1946; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star, clasp, France and Germany; Defence and War Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf, mounted as worn, together with original M.I.D. Certificate dated 1st January 1946, named Buckingham Palace letter for A.F.C., several contemporary news cuttings, and Death Certificate issued by the British Consulate at Hamburg, good very fine (5) £800-900

A.F.C. London Gazette 13 June 1946. The recommendation states: ‘Flight Lieutenant Joseph Leslie Harrison Heagerty, British Air Forces of Occupation Communication Wing. This officer joined his present unit in September 1943 and, since that date, ahs been employed on communication duties. He was selected to serve with the Air Force detachment at Field Marshal Montgomery’s Headquarters, where he has flown many very important personages and high ranking officers. In addition, during the advance of our armies, Flight Lieutenant Heagerty completed many hours flying senior army officers, in light aircraft, to our forward landing strips. These strips were often roughly constructed and it is a tribute to his airmanship that all these missions were successfully completed without accident. At all times this officer has displayed outstanding skill, reliability and devotion to duty.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 1 January 1946.

Joseph Leslie Harrison Heagerty was born on 6 July 1921 and educated at Highfield College and Westcliff High School in Essex. He joined the Merchant Navy as an Able Seaman with the Blue Star Line but on the outbreak of war, volunteered for the R.A.F.V.R. After a period of training he was awarded his pilot’s wings and posted to No. 21 Squadron in April 1942. Initially flying Blenheims, the squadron shortly afterwards converted to Venturas, and, in the period to September 1943, Heagerty flew over 40 sorties against a variety of targets. On 3 February 1943 his aircraft was severely damaged during a sortie against Abbeville Marshalling Yards and, with his port engine u/s, he was forced to land at Manston. On the 27th of the same month, Heagerty was forced to make a belly-landing at base with his hydraulics shot away and controls seriously damaged after attacking shipping at Dunkirk. In September 1943 he was posted to HQ 34 Wing, Tactical Air Force, and the following month was discharged on appointment to Commission, becoming Pilot Officer on 1st November, 1943. In March 1944 he was posted to 2nd Tactical Air Force Communications Squadron as Pilot, and in May 1944 was promoted to Temporary Flying Officer, becoming Temporary Flight Lieutenant in November 1945. He was released from the R.A.F. in July 1952 after an extended servcie commission as Flight Lieutenant. Heagerty was killed in a flying accident on 30 December 1953, when his three seater Auster aircraft, with a glider in tow, crashed into fields near Langenhagen airfield in Germany. Sold with much additional research.