Auction Catalogue

27 June 2002

Starting at 10:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria including the collection to Naval Artificers formed by JH Deacon

Grand Connaught Rooms  61 - 65 Great Queen St  London  WC2B 5DA

Download Images

Lot

№ 1578

.

27 June 2002

Hammer Price:
£1,100

A Second World War pilot’s D.F.C. group of six awarded to Pilot Officer G. S. Hynam, Royal Canadian Air Force, who was killed in a flying accident in May 1943

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated 1943 and additionally inscribed ‘Pilot Officer, R.C.A.F.’, in its Royal Mint case of issue; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence & War Medals, these both Canadian silver issues; Canadian Voluntary Service Medal, with overseas clasp, good very fine (6) £700-900

D.F.C. London Gazette 12 January 1943: ‘This Officer, who has taken part in attacks on many of the enemy’s most heavily defended targets, has achieved success with almost unfailing regularity. He is a gallant and determined Captain of Aircraft, who has always pressed home his attacks with the greatest resolve and spirit and has set an example to all.’

Graham Stanley Hynam was living in Akron, Ohio, when war broke out, and enlisted at Niagra Falls on 24 October 1940. After training at No. 1 I T.S. and No. 10 E.F.T.S., he graduated from No. 8 S.F.T.S. in July 1941 and joined No. 420 (R.C.A.F.) Squadron in February 1942. He was commissioned in June 1942 and awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross after 28 operational sorties as Pilot of a Hampden bomber, including targets at Lubeck, Hamburg, Essen, Rostock, Stuttgart, Warnemunde, Cologne, Bremen, Duisburg and Dusseldorf. He subsequently became an Instructor of bomber pilots and was killed in a flying accident on 29 May 1943, whilst serving with 23 Operational Training Unit.

The group is accompanied by a good amount of original documentation and related effects, including named Buckingham Palace Investiture letter; Air Ministry Casualty Branch letter of condolence; letter of congratulation from Air-Vice Marshal G. E. Brookes; 17 original photographs, including a good studio portrait, an aerial shot of his Hampden bomber “My Gal”, and group photographs; four good original local news cuttings from Akron, Ohio; R.C.A.F. cap badge, various sweetheart brooches, and a Ronson lighter inscribed ‘G. S. H., R.C.A.F.’; three wartime letters to his sisters, all with interesting content; together with copy recommendation for his D.F.C. and numerous pages from the Squadron Operations Record Book.