Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A well documented Second War campaign group of eight to Hurricane, Meteor and Vampire pilot, Wing Commander C. F. Atkinson, Royal Air Force

1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals, M.I.D. Oak Leaf 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, E.II.R. (Wg. Cdr. C. F. Atkinson. R.A.F.); Coronation 1953, mounted as originally worn, with the related miniature awards, all housed in a Gieves, Ltd. case, the lid embossed ‘C. F. Atkinson. R.A.F.’, generally very fine (lot) £380-420

M.I.D. London Gazette 14 June 1945.

Charles Frederick Atkinson was educated at Epsom College and R.A.F. Cranwell. Having spent two years at Cranwell, he was posted as a pilot to 151 (Fighter) Squadron (Gauntlets), North Weald, in August 1937. He converted with the Squadron to Hurricanes in January 1939, flew on his first operational patrol 30 March 1940, and carried out subsequent patrols over France. He force landed with damage to his aircraft at Rouen on 6 June, returning to North Weald three days later.

Atkinson was posted to No. 4 Supplementary Flying Instructors School, Cambridge, in July 1940, and to No. 3 E.F.T.S, Watchfield, the following month. At the end of 1940 he was posted overseas, and was attached to No. 2 Air School, Randfontein, South Africa in February 1941. Having advanced to Flight Lieutenant he served the majority of 1941 as an instructor at No. 1 Air School Baragwanath. Subsequent postings included to No. 5 Air School, Witbank, and Staff postings to: No. 29 S.O.R., Mersa Matruh, Egypt in February 1943; No. 212 Group, Cyrenaica, in May 1943; No 238 Wing, Tripolitania, in September 1943 and No. 214 Group, Bari, Italy from November of the same year. He spent the remainder of the year at HQ M.A.A.F., Caserta, Italy before retuning to the UK in February 1945. He was posted to No. 2 E.F.T.S., Jodhpur, India, in January 1947, before returning to a Staff posting at H.Q. R.A.F. Med. M.E. at Ismailia in April of the same year. Having advanced to Wing Commander he was posted to Central Gunnery School, Leconfield, in February 1950. At the latter he flew Meteors for the next two years before being posted to the Air Ministry. Atkinson was posted to the Central Navigation and Control School, Shawbury, in May 1955, and flew Vampires.

Having been posted to R.A.F. Changi, Singapore, in January 1958, he served the next two years there before serving the remainder of his career at H.Q. Fighter Command, August 1960 - October 1964.

Sold with the following related original documents: (4) R.A.F. Pilot’s Flying Log Books ( covering the periods 12 September 1935 - 29 July 1937; 31 August 1937 - 23 July 1942; 28 July 1942 - 2 July 1956 and 3 July 1956 - 26 August 1959), all bound together; named enclosure for the Coronation Medal; (2) photograph albums, containing images from various stages of recipient’s career and travels.