Orders, Decorations and Medals

Five: Staff Sergeant J. J. Mansfield, Glider Pilot Regiment
1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals; Efficiency Medal, Territorial, G.VI.R., 2nd issue (2065026 S.Sjt., Glider P. Regt.) the last scratched on the reverse, otherwise very fine (5)

James John Mansfield enlisted on 24 October 1938, into the Royal Artillery, Anti-Aircraft Branch, and served with them until 1941 when he joined the Glider Pilot Regiment. He piloted a Glider in the operations on “D” Day and again flew a glider to Arnhem. Here he was taken prisoner of war and sent to Stalag Luft 7 on the borders of Poland. He was on the death march from this camp to Stalag Luft 3, just south of Berlin, from which he was liberated by the Russians in April 1945. After the war he served on the Berlin Air Lift as a Second Pilot, first on Yorks and later on Hastings. He then returned as a duty pilot in “A” Squadron. He was killed on 21 July, 1951, while on a training flight from the Air O.P. School at R.A.F. Middle Wallop. At the time of his death at the age of 34, he was the senior serving Staff Sergeant in the regiment.