Orders, Decorations and Medals

Four: Sergeant J. Scott, Royal Air Force, a rare ‘Palestine 1938’ recipient of the Caterpillar Club Badge

1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals, all unnamed as issued, mounted for wear; together with a Caterpillar Club Badge, gold caterpillar with ruby eyes, the reverse inscribed, ‘A.C.1 J. Scott’, good very fine and better (5) £500-600

Squadron Leader J. Onions and Air Gunner J. Scott, flying a Hawker Hardy bomber of No.6 Squadron out of Ramleh, Palestine were on an operation against insurgent Arab bands on 1 October 1938, when their aircraft was hit by rifle fire and they were forced to bale out.

In his official report, Squadron Leader Onions stated, ‘... At 1540 hours on the 1st October 1930, I was detailed to take part in an action against armed Arab bands near Al Bira, Palestine. I took air action there, and having expended most of my ammunition and as daylight was beginning to fade, I decided to set course for Ramleh but was again fired on from a nearby area. I again took air action during which my aircraft was hit by enemy rifle fire. ... the aircraft was hit in the radiator and main petrol tank. Petrol, water and thick black smoke immediately poured out from the engine so I headed for Ramleh and gained as much height as possible. About five minutes afterwards, during which time the engine had boiled, the oil pressure has dropped and the engine was loosing power rapidly, I warned my air gunner to stand by to evacuate the aircraft. Due to the rapidly failing light, the hilly nature of the country and the fact that my vision was obscured due to the burning nature of the engine, I ordered my air gunner to leave the aircraft. I watched his parachute open safely and then, as the engine had seized and was pouring forth masses of black smoke, I decided to abandone the aircraft. The air gunner and myself landed safely about three miles north of Latrun and the aircraft crashed about 300 yards to the South West. After landing, owing to the hostile nature of the country, we immediately sought cover near the road, ..... Whilst we were in hiding the enemy commenced firing at the aircraft and parachutes which we had been forced to leave when we landed. The enemy came from the surrounding villages and set fire to the aircraft wreckage. .... About 11/2 hours later, we were still surrounded by the Arabs who were sniping the aircarft covering the area, but we were rescued by an armoured car escort which had been sent out from Ramleh....’

Sold with copied correspondence between Onions and the Irvine Air Chute Company re. the Caterpillar Badge, copied extract from the Operations Record Book and Squadron Leader Onions report of the incident. With original photograph of the recipient, original but card mounted Certificate of Commendation for the recipient’s distinguished conduct in action at Al Bira, signed by Lieutenant-General R. H. Haining, C.O. British Forces in Palestine and Transjordan, and a R.A.F. Innsworth letter to Mrs Scott, dated 16 August 1976, confirming her late husbands W.W.2 medal entitlement.