Orders, Decorations and Medals

A ‘Battle of France’ B.E.M. and Northern Kurdistan group of eight awarded to Squadron Leader H. H. King, No. 145 (Fighter) Squadron, Royal Air Force

British Empire Medal (Military) G.VI.R. (364123 Flt. Sgt. Harry Hatton King, R.A.F.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Northern Kurdistan (364123 Cpl., R.A.F.); France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals; Coronation 1953; R.A.F. L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 2nd issue (W/O., (364123) R.A.F.); Iraq Active Service Medal, with clasp for ‘Southern Kurdistan 1930-31’, the group mounted as worn, together with related miniatures and ribbon bar, good very fine and better and a scarce group (8)

B.E.M. London Gazette 17 March 1941. The following recommendation was extracted from official records: ‘Flight Sergeant Harry Hatton King, No. 145 Squadron. Flight Sergeant King was left in charge of a flight, whilst the pilots were engaged in carrying out intensive operations over France, in May 1940. The high state of serviceability maintained during these operations was in a great measure due to the tireless devotion to duty displayed by this airman. He rendered valuable service during the initial formation of his squadron, and has invariably set a fine example to all the members.’

No. 145 Squadron was reformed at Croydon on 10 October, 1939, as a day and night fighter unit equipped with Blenheim If’s. In March, 1940, it began to convert to Hurricanes and in May became operational, ferrying Hurricanes to France and backing up the squadrons there. June and July were busy months for No. 145 for it was one of the units bearing the brunt of the fighting over the Channel, and it was pilots of this squadron that fired some of the opening shots of the Battle of Britain, the unit being heavily engaged during the opening weeks of the Battle.

Harry King was born on 29 December 1907; Commissioned, 29 April 1941; Flight Lieutenant, 1 September 1945; retired, Acting Squadron Leader, 8 January 1955; died 8 February 1992.