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Auction: 11007 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals & Militaria
Lot: 28

A Second War 1942 ´Middle East Command´ D.F.M. Group of Six to Sunderland Engineer/Air Gunner, Flight Sergeant K.J. Cole, Royal Air Force, A Member of the Crew Who Evacuated the King of the Hellenes to Crete, During the German Invasion of Greece, April 1941; His Aircrew Were Also Credited with the Destruction of 3 Enemy Fighters and 2 Submarines a) Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (569476. Sgt. K.J. Cole. R.A.F.) b) 1939-1945 Star c) Africa Star d) Defence and War Medals e) Greece, Kingdom, Air Force Cross, bronze, generally good very fine or better, together with the following related documentation &c.: - Bestowal Document for the Greek Air Force Cross, named to K.J. Cole, and dated 29.3.1955, in card scroll holder - The Recipient´s Royal Air Force Certificate of Service - The Recipient´s Royal Air Force Service Book - Letter to the recipient from the Central Chancery regarding the investiture for the D.F.M., dated 3.5.1945 - Two letters to the recipient regarding the award of the Greek Air Force Cross - Letter and Telegram of congratulations to the recipient on the award of his D.F.M. - Photograph of the recipient (6) Estimate £ 2,400-2,800 D.F.M. London Gazette 18.9.1942 569476 Sergeant Kenneth John Cole, 230 Squadron. The Recommendation, dated 3.8.1942, states: ´This airman has completed over 1,000 hours operational flying involving 168 sorties as Fitter and Engineer/Air Gunner on Sunderlands. In the course of these operations, the aircraft in which he served has performed valuable reconnaissance and anti-submarine patrols, the successful completion of which was due in no small measure to the outstanding qualities of coolness and resource shown by him. He contributed extremely valuable work whilst the aircraft was engaged on the evacuation of British forces from Crete and Greece, the unfailing serviceability of his aircraft under difficult conditions being largely the result of his untiring efforts. The aircrew of which he was a member have been responsible for the destruction of three enemy fighters in aerial combat and carried out 12 attacks on hostile submarines, two of which were definitely sunk and at least three severely damaged.´ 569476 Flight Sergeant Kenneth John Cole, D.F.M., born Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, 1919; enlisted Royal Air Force as Aircraft Apprentice, R.A.F. Halton, 26.6.1936; posted 29 Squadron, Debden, 5.1.1939 and from there to Singapore, 25.8.1939; posted for operational flying with Far East Command to 230 Squadron (Sunderlands), Singapore, 24.9.1939; with the latter he flew in patrols over the Indian Ocean and the approaches to Malaya and Singapore; moved with the squadron to Ceylon, February 1940, before the squadron was transferred to Middle East Command, May 1940; initially flying out of Egypt the squadron flew reconnaissance sorties for the Mediterranean Fleet and anti-submarine patrols; Sergeant 1.3.1941; with the German invasion of Greece in April 1941, 228 and 230 Squadrons were tasked with the evacuation of 900 refugees from the Greek coast; these included senior Allied Commanders and the King of Greece; Cole´s Sunderland, piloted by Wing-Commander P.R. Woodward, evacuated the King of the Hellenes from Greece to Crete; the crew of seven all received Greek awards in recognition of this service with Cole awarded the Greek Air Force Medal, 26.3.1945 - he did not receive the award until 1962, at which time he was sent the Greek Air Force Cross and relevant bestowal document; Cole continued to serve with the squadron until 31.5.1943, when he was posted for service in an instructional capacity; discharged 2.3.1949.

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