Auction Catalogue

4 & 5 March 2020

Starting at 10:00 AM

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Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

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Lot

№ 537

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4 March 2020

Hammer Price:
£1,100

Four: Flight Lieutenant J. W. Armstrong, Royal Air Force, who flew operations over Europe with 51 and 578 squadrons, including sorties over some of the most heavily defended targets in Germany, before being seconded to British Overseas Airways Corporation in November 1944. In a case of mistaken identity, in 1943, his wife was sent a telegram telling her that her husband was a prisoner of the Japanese

1939-45 Star, 1 clasp, Bomber Command; Air Crew Europe Star, 1 clasp, France and Germany; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with Air Council enclosure and medal ticket, in named card box of issue, addressed to F/L J. W. Armstrong, 13, Bryanstone Road, Bournemouth, Hants.’; the Bomber Command clasp in separate named box of issue, virtually mint state (4) £500-£700

Joseph William Armstrong was born on 22 February 1912 in Halton-Lea-Gate, Carlisle and enlisted into the R.A.F. as an Airman, No. 1263196, on 23 August 1940. His first operations were as a wireless operator with 3 Squadron from August 1941. Flying Blackburn Botha seaplanes, he had completed 27 escorts and patrols by 4 November 1941. After a period of training and non operational flying, he joined 51 Squadron in August 1943. Flying in Halifaxes, his second flight with the squadron resulted in a crash landing, however he was back flying in days. Over the next few months, he took part in six sorties over Hanover, Mannheim, twice to Frankfurt (flak damage during one), Cannes and mine laying. Moving to 578 Squadron in January 1944, he was immediately involved in two sorties over Berlin. During the first he notes ‘rocket fighter active’, holed by flak. The next ‘attacked by Ju88 over target, rear turret damaged and port no 5 tank holed by cannon fire’. Commissioned Pilot Officer on 12 February 1944, his flights continued with a number of sorties over French targets, before sorties to Frankfurt, Stuttgart and in June 1944, operations in support of the Allied invasion; on 30 June he notes ‘operations; Villers Bocage concentration of panzers’. Operations carry on in a similar way until September 1944, and having been promoted to Flying Officer he was sent to O.T.U. and from November 1944 he was seconded to service with British Overseas Airways Corporation (B.O.A.C.). Promoted Flight Lieutenant in February 1946, he continued flying with the latter until 1958. From 1945, his B.O.A.C. logbooks show he flew in Sunderland’s, Boeing 314’s, Liberator’s, Constellations, L49’s. From 1950 onwards, he only crewed Boeing 377’s .

In a strange twist to the story, in July 1943, Armstrong’s wife received a telegram telling her that her husband had been captured by the Japanese in Java (original telegram and notification with the group). A newspaper clipping also tells of his capture. However this was a bizarre case of mistaken identity! The actual prisoner was a no. 1326411 J. W. Armstrong of 84 Squadron.

Sold with the recipient’s three logbooks covering flights between 1941 and 1958, 51 Squadron plaque, telegram newspaper cutting and notification of P.O.W., 1944 Commission in O.H.M.S. tube, B.O.A.C. shoulder insignia and button, framed photograph of the recipient in R.A.F. uniform, wartime letters and loose photographs, some in flight kit, similar B.O.A.C., Civil aircraft radio operators licence, passport, R.A.F. navigation instrument, and other ephemera.