Orders, Decorations and Medals

A fine Second World War Fighter Ace’s D.F.C. and Bar, A.F.C. and Bar group of eight awarded to Wing Commander R. B. Cole, Nos. 250 and 3 Squadrons, Royal Air Force

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse dated 1943, with Second Award Bar, the reverse dated 1945; Air Force Cross, G.VI.R., second issue, the reverse dated 1951, with Second Award Bar, the reverse dated 1955; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Italy Star; France & Germany Star; Defence & War Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf, mounted as worn, together with five Pilot’s Flying Log Books for the period November 1940 to January 1956, original Certificate for King’s Commendation, various letters of commendation and consolation, news cuttings and two photographs, nearly extremely fine (8) £3000-4000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals Formed by The Late John Cooper.

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See Colour Plate IV

D.F.C. London Gazette 1 October 1943: ‘No. 250 Squadron, Middle East. F/Lt. Cole has completed 120 hours operational flying on his 2nd tour of operations. During his first tour he did many sorties over ships supplying Tobruk during its siege. He also operated in a forward Fighter Squadron in the advance of 1941. He was shot down and wounded and since he has returned to operations he has been wounded a second time. F/Lt. Cole has been mainly employed on fighter bombing and has frequently led the Squadron in action. He has shown determination and courage in all his attacks against enemy ground targets and has pressed these attacks home frequently in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire.’

Bar to D.F.C. London Gazette 4 May 1945: ‘Squadron Leader, No. 3 Squadron. This officer has an outstanding record of war service. He started his operational career early in 1941, and has operated against the enemy in the U.K., the Western Desert, Persia and Holland. S/Ldr. Cole is a skilful and fearless pilot, and his brilliant and aggressive leadership has been an inspiration to all with whom he has flown. Since being awarded the D.F.C. he has personally destroyed or damaged 48 locomotives, 32 trucks (including several oil tankers), 12 road vehicles, 5 barges and two German aircraft. In all he has destroyed six enemy aircraft and damaged one and a half. A typical example of S/Ldr. Cole’s courage and determination occurred on the 14th February last. He was leading his Squadron when he sighted some aircraft on an enemy airfield. He at once attacked with his No. 2, leaving the rest of the Squadron as top cover, being immediately met with intense and concentrated anti-aircraft fire. S.Ldr. Cole’s aircraft was severely damaged, and he was wounded in the face and arm. Despite this he pressed home his attack with great gallantry and succeeded in destroying two aircraft on the ground.’

The above two recommendations were both for Immediate awards which were published in the London Gazette with slightly abridged citations.

A.F.C. London Gazette 1 January 1951.

Bar to A.F.C. London Gazette 1 January 1955.

King’s Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air London Gazette 2 January 1950.

Robert Bruce Cole was born at Quetta, India, on 11 November 1919, son of Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Frank Cole, M.B.E., D.C.M. (see Lot 271). He joined the Royal Air Force in March 1940 and completed his flying training in Rhodesia before joining No. 250 (Sudan) Squadron in the Middle East in May 1941, flying Tomahawks. He was shot down by Ack-Ack whilst on a sweep over El Gubi on 5 December 1941 and, after recovering in hospital, spent the next months in training before rejoining his Squadron in Libya in December 1942, now flying Kittyhawk III’s. The next three months were very active for the squadron and on 26 March 1943, Cole’s Kittyhawk was damaged and he was shot in the knee. After a month in hospital he rejoined the squadron in Tunisia and went with it, through Libya, to Malta and on to Sicily in July 1943, and in Italy from September to December 1943. Returning to the U.K. after completing his second tour, Cole was posted to No. 274 Squadron in October 1944, flying Tempests in Holland. In February 1945, however, he was given command of No. 3 Fighter Squadron, also flying Tempests in Holland and later Germany. Although the citation for his Bar to the D.F.C. records six victories, this appears to be an amalgam of his various categories of claims.

Cole commanded 3 Squadron until April 1947 when he was posted to the Central Flying School. In the following September he went to the R.A.F. College, Cranwell, as a flying instructor and remained there until March 1952. At the time of his death he was commanding the Tactics Branch of the All-Weather Wing of the C.F.E. at West Raynham. He was killed on 16 January 1956 when his Canberra bomber crashed at Sudbrooke, near Cranwell, Lincolnshire.