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Auction: 14002 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 9

A Good 1957 'R.A.F. Fire Crew' G.M. Pair to Corporal B. Murphy, Royal Air Force
a) George Medal, E.II.R. (2452756 A/Cpl. Brian Murphy. R.A.F.), partially officially renamed
b) General Service 1918-62, E.II.R., one clasp, Cyprus (2452756 Act. Cpl. B. Murphy R.A.F.), light scratches, otherwise good very fine, mounted as originally worn (2)

G.M. London Gazette 4.10.1957 2452756 Acting Corporal Brian Murphy, Royal Air Force, 'On 5th April, 1957, a Canberra aircraft caught fire in a servicing hangar at the Royal Air Force Station, Coningsby. Corporal Murphy was in charge of the Duty Fire Crew which was called upon to deal with the fire. One of the aircraft's fuel tanks was alight and apart from the risk of this tank exploding the presence of 800 gallons of volatile fuel in the adjoining tanks made the situation extremely dangerous. Corporal Murphy, however, unhesitatingly led his crew into the confined space of the aircraft's bomb bay, from which, had there been an explosion, escape would have been virtually impossible. While operating in this dangerous situation, Corporal Murphy and his crew were subjected to further hazard by the explosion of powerful starter cartridges stored a few feet away, which blasted a hole in the fuselage and so caused the fire to spread rapidly in all directions. Despite this, and the increased risk of the fuel tanks exploding, Corporal Murphy remained at his post, though his overalls and uniform were charred by intense heat. Corporal Murphy displayed courage and extreme devotion to duty, and by sustained effort in the face of great danger he and his crew succeeded in localising and controlling the fire while adjacent aircraft and equipment were removed from the vicinity.'

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