Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare Korea operations D.F.C. group of nine awarded to Master Engineer L. G. Ledingham, Royal Air Force, who, having won a “mention” for his protracted services in Sunderlands in the 1939-45 War, was decorated for his gallantry in numerous “Firedog” sorties in No. 209 Squadron

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R. 2nd issue, the reverse officially dated ‘1951’; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, G.VI.R. (M. Eng. L. G. Ledingham (520776) R.A.F.); Korea 1950-53 (M. Eng. L. G. Ledingham (520776) R.A.F.); U.N. Korea 1950-54, very fine and better (9) £4000-5000

D.F.C. London Gazette 31 August 1951:

‘In recognition of distinguished service in Korean operations.’

The original recommendation states:

‘Master Engineer Ledingham has flown 20 sorties involving 213 flying hours in the Korean campaign and has at all times show enthusiasm and efficiency of the highest order. His skill, cheerfulness and high morale has greatly contributed to the high operational efficiency of his crew.’

Loggie George Ledingham, a native of Keig, Aberdeenshire, was a Blacksmith before enlisting in the R.A.F. in the late 1930s, and commencing training as an Air Gunner in Sunderlands of No. 228 Squadron in the Middle East in June 1939. Returning to the U.K. with the Squadron later in the year, he flew his first operational sortie out of Pembroke in November.

Ordered back to the Middle East in September 1940, Ledingham flew further sorties off Malta and over the Ionian Sea, prior to 228’s return to the U.K. at the year’s end. Once more ordered to the Middle East in May 1941, he flew a number of reconnaissances in the Eastern Mediterranean, prior to 228’s move to West Africa in July, and thence back home to Stranraer. And from January to 1942 until April 1943, he raised his operational flying time to 880 hours, around 150 of them at night. Having then been rested at an O.T.U., he commenced his second operational tour with No. 204 Squadron in West Africa, a tour completed in May 1945. He was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 1 January 1946, refers).

Post-war, Ledingham’s first appointment was in No. 201 Squadron at Calshot, followed by a stint at another O.T.U. at Kinloss from June 1947 until November 1948. Then in January 1949 he was ordered to the Far East, where he served in No. 209 Squadron at Seletar until November 1951 - here, then, the period of his D.F.C.-winning exploits, namely 20 plus anti-bandit “Firedog” operations in the unit’s Sunderlands.

Returning to an appointment at Kinloss at the end of 1951, he received his D.F.C. at a Buckingham Palace investiture in March 1952, and afterwards served in No. 88 Squadron 1953-54 and No. 205/209 Squadron 1954-56, including further “Firedog” operations in Malaya.

Sold with a quantity of original documentation, including the recipient’s original R.A.F. Flying Log Books (2), privately bound as one volume, the first covering the period June 1939 to October 1951, and the second the period June 1952 to May 1956; his M.I.D. certificate and Buckingham Palace investiture letter, together with several congratulatory letters and messages on the award of his D.F.C., among them examples from Air Marshal Sir Francis Fogarty, K.B.E., C.B., D.F.C., A.F.C., and Lord Forbes of Castle Forbes at Keig.