Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A post-War O.B.E., Second War Lancaster pilot’s D.F.C., Operation Grapple A.F.C. group of seven awarded to Wing Commander G. Bates, Royal Air Force, who flew in at least 30 operational sorties with 218 (Gold Coast) Squadron, and after the war flew a large variety of aircraft including Meteors, Vampires and Canberras. Flying the latter he was awarded the A.F.C. for his work with 76 Squadron during nuclear weapons trials over Australia and Christmas Island, 1956-57. Having moved to New Zealand, Bates was still flying in 1990

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 2nd type breast badge, silver-gilt; Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1945’; Air Force Cross, E.II.R., reverse officially dated ‘1958’, suspension detached and altered; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted as originally worn with Bomber Command Commemorative Medal, light contact marks overall, very fine unless otherwise stated (7) £2,400-£2,800

O.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1964.

D.F.C. London Gazette 22 May 1945, the original recommendation states:

‘Flight Lieutenant Bates has completed his first tour of 30 operational sorties, including many of the most heavily defended areas in Germany and he has shown exemplary keenness throughout.

In the attack on the important target of Trier on December 23rd, F/Lt. Bates photograph was the aiming point. More recently because of his proven reliability and as a Leader he led No. 31 Base on January 13th in that most important attack on Saarbrucken where again his photograph showed an error of only 500 yds. Again for the second time he successfully led the Base on 1st February, in the attack on Munchen Gladbach.

His tenacity of purpose and unswerving devotion to duty have always been of the highest order.

I wish to recommend Flight Lieutenant Bates for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Covering remarks of Station Commander:
This officer has, throughout his tour, displayed the highest standard of skill and devotion to duty and proved himself an excellent leader of the Base formation. I strongly support his Squadron Commander’s recommendation.’

A.F.C. London Gazette 12 June 1958.

George Bates carried out initial pilot training at No. 3 E.F.T.S from July 1941. He advanced to Sergeant, and carried out further training in Canada before taking up instructional duties. Bates was commissioned Pilot Officer on probation in August 1943, and advanced to Flying Officer in February 1944. After flying several conversion courses Bates was posted as a pilot for operational flying with 218 (Gold Coast) Squadron (Lancasters) at Methwold, in September 1944.

Bates flew in at least 30 operational sorties with the Squadron, between September 1944 - February 1945, including: Dusseldorf; Calais (2); Cap Gris Nez; Saarbrucken (2); Dortmund (3); Stuttgart; Essen; Westkappele; Cologne (3); Homburg; Solingen (2); Heinsburg; Bottrop; Oberfeldt; Witten; Trier (2); Bonn; Vohwinkel (2); Erkenscwick; Krefeld and Munchen-Gladbach.

Bates was posted to the Bombing Development Flight at Feltwell in April 1945. He carried on in this capacity, flying a large variety of aircraft and advancing to Flight Lieutenant. Bates was posted to the Central Flying School, Little Rissington, in September 1947. Subsequent postings included to No. 236 O.C.U., Kinloss, February 1948 - May 1951. Bates was posted to HQ British Air Forces of Occupation in June 1951, and served at R.A.F. Celle, Germany - from which he flew Meteors and Vampires. Subsequent postings included with HQ British Element Trieste Force from October 1952. Bates advanced to Squadron Leader in January 1954, and served with H.Q. B.C.C. Flight, Booker. He was posted to 231 O.C.U. in May 1956 and converted to Canberras. Bates was posted to 27 Squadron (Canberras) at Waddington in August of the same year.

Bates served with 76 Squadron (Canberras) from January 1957, and was one of a detachment from the squadron to take part in atomic cloud sampling over Australia and Christmas Island during Operation Grapple (nuclear weapons trials). He also took part in Operation Antler (nuclear weapons testing at Maralinga). Bates was posted to the R.A.F. Staff College, Bracknell in January 1958, and was posted to H.Q. Far East Air Force, Changi in June 1959. He subsequently served at No. 1 School of Technical Training, Halton, and commanded 224 Squadron (Shackletons) at North Front, Gibraltar from February 1965. Bates retired as Wing Commander in December 1968. He was appointed an Associate Member of the British Institute of Management, and moved to New Zealand. Bates resided at 44 Walpole Avenue, Manurewa, Auckland and pursued a career in Civil Aviation. He was still flying as late as August 1990.

Sold with the following contemporary documentation: 2 Royal Air Force Pilots Flying Log Books (25 July 1941 - 11 July 1973); 3 Department of Civil Aviation New Zealand Log Bogs (15 January 1969 - 20 August 1990); correspondence from New Zealand Ministry of Transport in relation to assessments and private licences, a photographic image of recipient in uniform, a photograph of crew and a photograph of the Lancaster that Bates flew.