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Auction: 14002 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 61

A Rare 1966 'Borneo' D.F.C. Pair to Helicopter Pilot, Flight Lieutenant, Later Squadron Leader, D.A.W. Todman, 110 Squadron Royal Air Force; Previously A Jet Fighter Pilot Todman Increased His Range To Whirlwinds and Sycamores and Developed into A Helicopter Jungle Flying Specialist; Making Sorties Out of R.A.F. Seletar, He Carried Out S.A.S. Ground Support Missions and V.I.P. Flights Including 'H.R.H. Prince Philip', 1965. Returning to the UK He Spent Several Years With 22 (Search and Rescue) Squadron, Flying a Large Number of Air to Sea Rescues and Culminating in Being Presented with the Wilkinson Sword of Peace, on Behalf of the Squadron, July 1969
a) Distinguished Flying Cross, E.II.R., reverse dated '1966'
b) General Service 1962-2007, two clasps, Borneo, Malay Peninsula last clasp loose on riband as issued (Flt. Lt. D.A.W. Todman. R.A.F.), light contact marks to campaign medal, otherwise very fine or better, mounted court-style as originally worn, with the following related items and documents:
- 110 (Hyderabad) Squadron Shield, slightly damaged
- Three Royal Air Force Pilots Flying Log Books (covering the periods 20.5.1953-31.10.1955, 1.11.1955-8.5.1962 and 5.6.1962-10.6.1978 respectively)
- Commission appointing D.A.W. Todman as Acting Pilot Officer, with effect from 13.5.1953, dated 2.9.1953
- Commission appointing D.A.W. Todman as Flying Officer, with effect from 1.10.1956, dated 26.2.1957
- Four Congratulatory telegrams upon the award of the D.F.C. and six letters to the same effect, including from Air Vice-Marshal C.N. Foxley-Norris, G.C.B., D.S.O., O.B.E.
- Portrait photograph of recipient in uniform and two photographic images
- Named Investiture Invitation, dated 27.6.1966; Programme for the Consecration and Presentation of the Squadron Standard (110 Sqn), dated 3.12.1965; and a copy of the London Gazette, dated 20.5.1966 (lot)

D.F.C. London Gazette 24.5.1966 Flight Lieutenant David Arthur Warren Todman (4115150), Royal Air Force
'In recognition of distinguished service in the Borneo Territories'

Squadron Leader David Arthur Warren Todman, D.F.C., born 1930; commissioned Acting Pilot Officer, Royal Air Force, May 1953; posted to No. 1. F.T.S. Moreton-in-Marsh, later that month, he carried out Pilot training in Prentices and Harvards; posted to 211 F.T.S. to undertake jet fighter training in Meteors, June 1954; after further training at the Central Navigation and Control School at Shawbury he was posted for training in Vampires at No. 4 F.T.S., R.A.F. Middleton St. George, June 1955; after flight time in Hunter Jets Todman was posted as Pilot to 98 Squadron (Hunters), Jever, Germany, 25.11.1955; Jever operated as a N.A.T.O. main Fighter Base; stayed with the squadron until it was disbanded in July 1957, when he was posted to H.Q. 2nd T.A.F. and was still serving in that capacity when it was re-designated R.A.F. Germany in 1959; returned to the UK and carried out training in Canberras before being posted to 58 (Photo Reconnaisance) Squadron (Canberras), Wyton, May 1961; after nine years flying jets Todman was posted to C.F.S. Ternhill for conversion to Helicopters, where he flew Sycamores and Whirlwinds, from May 1963; posted 110 Squadron (Whirlwinds), Kuala Lumpur, October 1963; Todman was appointed Officer Commanding B Flight; the squadron flew in support of operations against Indonesian terrorists infiltrating into Malaysia and North Borneo, involving troops and freight lifting, communications and casualty evacuation; flying on frequent trips to Kuching, Brunei and Labuan the squadron also provided a search and rescue service for the Singapore area - 19.12.1963, 'Rescue of Fg. Off. Norsworthy' (Log Book refers) and the following day 'Search for crashed Sabre' (Ibid); in January 1964 Todman moved with the squadron to R.A.F. Seletar and continued to fly a mixture of V.I.P. Flights, 28.1.1964, 'V.I.P. Lift to H.M.S. Dufton'; 29.8.1964, 'V.I.P. Dep. P.M.' and ground support of Malaysian and British troops in Borneo and Malaya including: 1.4.1964, 'Paratroop Dropping - Changi'; 13.7.1964, 'Bareo - Mission 05, 35 Troops, 3,300lbs'; 20.7.1964, 'Trooplift - 1/10GR. No.40 Commo.'; 6.6.1964, 'Photo Recce of S.A.M. Site'; 22.10.1964, 'S.A.S. Trooplift - Duran'; and on 9.11.1964, when Todman was Commended by the Air Officer Commanding No. 224 Group, Air Vice-Marshal C.N. Foxley-Norris, 'In recognition of his outstanding skill in landing his aircraft in most difficult circumstances.

'Flight Lieutenant D.A.W. Todman, on the 9th November 1964, was flying Whirlwind MK 10 XK 968 from Seletar to Terendak. Whilst flying straight and level at 1,000 feet near Batu Phat the engine noise faded, the gas generator revolution suddenly decreased and the power turbine inlet temperature rose to 700 degrees centigrade. Flight Lieutenant Todman selected the computer out and attempted to restore the engine revolutions by using the manual throttle; this had no beneficial effect and the PTIT reading rose above 750 degrees centigrade.
Flight Lieutenant Todman stopped the engine, transmitted a "Mayday" call and warned his two passengers that he was making an engine off landing. There was only one patch clear of secondary jungle within the aircraft's autorotative range and he made an approach into this. The landing run was short, but unfortunately, the ground was so soft that the fuselage pitched forward and the consequent flapback of the blades sheared the aircraft's tail cone and one rotor blade came off. Neither Flight Todman or his passengers were injured and only a small amount of damage was caused to a young crop in the clearing.
Flight Lieutenant Todman displayed a high standard of airmanship and acted calmly and competently throughout this emergency. The nature of the landing surface unfortunately robbed him of a perfect forced landing, but through his skilful handling of the situation he saved the lives of his passengers and preserved the aircraft from irreparable damage' (Commendation included in lot refers).

Todman's high work load of ground support for specialist units and V.I.P. flights continued into the new year, 12.1.1965 'S.A.S. Recce'; 18.1.1965 'Gen. Sir James Cassels - PA Main'; 2.3.1965 'H.R.H. Prince Philip, Muara - Brunei'; 22.4.1965 'S.A.S. - Resupply of Lost Patrol'; as the year progressed so too did the number of trooplifts and casevacs carried out; December 1965 was mostly spent doing 'Border Recces' and in support of S.A.S. ground units, 19.12.1965 'Oasis - 272 - S.A.S. Patrol' and 23.12.1965 'Oasis - 051 - S.A.S.'; he spent the following four months with the squadron in a similar capacity before being posted back to the UK, July 1966, after nearly three years of continual jungle flying; Squadron Leader 1.7.1966; invested with his D.F.C. by the Queen at Buckingham Palace, 12.7.1966; posted to 22 (Search and Rescue) Squadron (Whirlwinds), St. Mawgan, Cornwall, July 1966; over the next two years Todman carried out numerous rescue missions including: 17.8.1966 'Woolacombe - N.D.1 Drowned Man'; two in one day 31.8.1966 'Cliff Rescue - Hangman's Point' and 'Capsized Boat, River Tor'; 15.9.1967 'Ops. Drowning Boy'; subsequent postings included to H.Q. No. 19 Group and with the 3rd International Helicopter Project before returning to 22 Squadron, July 1969, where he was presented with the Wilkinson Sword of Peace on behalf of the Squadron; in June of the following year, having left the R.A.F., he obtained a commercial helicopter pilot's licence and joined the British Executive Air Services Limited flying light two seater helicopters like the Brantly B2B and the Bell 47G; between 1972 and 1982 Todman undertook Gas Line patrols and patrols for the West Mercia Constabulary on a self-employed basis; police patrols included: 4.6.1976 'Police Search - Armed Robbery' and 6.6.1976 'Police Patrol - 3 suspects caught' (Log Book refers); in 1982 he formed his own company called Air 80, and undertook private commissions including work for Pinewood Studios.

1 of 11 D.F.C.'s awarded for Borneo.

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Estimate
£12,000 to £16,000