Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Second World War A.F.C. group of four awarded to Squadron Leader J. R. Ayling, Royal Air Force, a pre-War pilot who flew the first flight from mainland Canada to England

Air Force Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated 1944; 1939-45 Star; Defence & War Medals, with Commendation oak leaf, together with original Commendation Certificate dated 1 January 1943, numerous letters, and two pre-War family photograph albums, good very fine (4) £600-800

A.F.C. London Gazette 8 June 1944. The recommendation states: ‘Squadron Leader James Reginald Ayling, Royal Air Force, No. 26 Elementary Flying Training School. (Total instructional hours 3,192; completed during last 6 months 124). This officer has been engaged as chief flying instructor for the past two and three-quarter years. Throughout this period he has maintained a high standard of flying instruction and set a fine example by his own efficiency and keenness.’

King’s Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air London Gazette 1 January 1943.

In August 1934, James R. Ayling and his co-pilot, Leonard G. Reid, made aviation history when they completed the first flight from mainland Canada to England. The bronze commemorative plaque erected by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada reads: ‘First Flight from Mainland of Canada to England. From Wasaga Beach on the morning of 8th August, 1934, James R. Ayling and Leonard G. Reid took off in their plane, “The Trail of the Caribou”, headed for Bagdad. Due to adverse weather conditions and exhaustion of fuel supplies, they were forced to land at Heston Airfield, London, England, on the afternoon of 9th August, having flown 3700 miles in 30 hours 55 minutes.’

Prior to the outbreak of war, Ayling was a flying instructor at various aero clubs in England and for a while was a pilot for London, Scottish and Provincial Airways. He spent most of his wartime years as a chief flying instructor for the Rhodesian Air Training Group, including nearly three years with No. 26 E.F.T.S. at Guinea Fowl, Southern Rhodesia.