Auction Catalogue

16 April 2020

Starting at 10:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

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Lot

№ 499

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16 April 2020

Hammer Price:
£1,000

Five: Wing Commander G. E. Pinney, Royal Air Force

1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1945-48 (Sqn Ldr. G. E. Pinney) mounted court-style as worn, good very fine and better (5) £500-£700

George E. Pinney joined the Royal Air Force in the inter-War years, and commenced his pilot training in June 1937. Posted to 51 Squadron (Whitley V bombers) in June 1941, he had his first operational flight, a raid on Bremen, on 28 June. In July and August, he had another 10 operational flights, including raids on Cologne, Brest, Dortmund, Texel, Hamburg, Emden, and Frankfurt. However on a second raid on Frankfurt on 6 August, his logbook simply notes ‘Operation uncompleted bailed out’. His next flight (non-operational) was not until 26 August 1941, and he saw no more operational flights that year, having transferred to 271 Squadron in December.

Pinney continued with 271 Squadron, which was a transport squadron, until July 1943, when he transferred to 105 Operational Training Unit and soon after Operational Training Unit 104 as an Instructor. He spent the rest of the War as an instructor in various units, joining 525 Squadron in July 1945, which was renamed 238 Squadron in November 1947. In March 1949 he joined 24 Squadron as Squadron Leader, commandeering ‘B’ flight and soon after took command of the Squadron after being promoted Wing Commander. Interestingly, one of his last flights, on 4 March 1950, was with Field Marshal Montgomery as a passenger. By 1950, he had attained the rank of Wing Commander.

Sold with the recipient’s Royal Air Force Log Books, privately-bound in one volume, covering the period June 1937 to April 1950, and signed by Field Marshal Montgomery.