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Auction: 17003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 602

A fine Second World War Bomber Command and post-war Malaya operations M.I.D. group of six awarded to Master Signaller M. T. Chalk, Royal Air Force, late Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

A veteran of an operational tour in Lancasters of No. 625 Squadron in 1944-45, in which his final sortie was against Hitler's 'Eagle's Nest' at Berchtesgaden, he subsequently participated in at least 100 jungle supply drops over Malaya in Valencia aircraft of No. 110 Squadron in the mid-1950s

1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, E.II.R., 1 clasp, Malaya, with M.I.D. oak leaf (931900 F. Sgt. M. T. Chalk, R.A.F.); Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., E.II.R. (M. Sig. M. T. Chalk (931900) R.A.F.), this last with its named card box of issue, good very fine (5)


Michael Theodore Chalk was born in September 1921 and enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in June 1940. Having then qualified as a Wireless Operator at No. 2 Signal School, Yatesbury, he was awarded his Flying Badge in May 1942. He subsequently joined No. 625 Squadron - a Lancaster unit operating out of R.A.F. Kelstern, Lincolnshire - in December 1944 and flew his first operational sortie, against Gelsenkirchen, on the 29th.

In January 1945, Chalk flew sorties against such targets as Munich and Hanau, in addition to strikes on the oil plants at Merseburg Leuna and Zeitz. February witnessed his participation in attacks on Weisbaden, Bottrop, Cleve and Duisberg, whilst in March he completed nine operations, his targets including Chemnitz, Dortmund, Hamburg and Kassel. Likewise, in April, when No. 625 relocated to R.A.F. Scampton, Chalk flew nine further operations, including a trip to Berlin and participation in the daylight attack on Berchtesgaden - home to Hitler's 'Eagle's Nest' - on the 25th.

He then flew a brace of 'Spam and Jam' trips to The Hague and Rotterdam as part of "Manna", an operation that witnessed over 6,500 tons of food being dropped to over 3.5 million Dutch civilians who were without food and in a desperate plight.

Having been released from the R.A.F.V.R. at the war's end, Chalk joined up as a regular in the R.A.F. and qualified as an Air Signaller. His subsequent postings included No. 617 Squadron, in which capacity he gained his first flight - as a passenger - in a Meteor in May 1951.

In February 1954, Chalk was posted to No. 110 Squadron at Changi, from whence he commenced a protracted period of operational flying in the unit's Valencia aircraft. In September-November 1954, he completed 56 supply drops; 45 similar sorties were undertaken in the period June 1955 to August 1957, including Operation "Thatch". He was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 11 June 1957, refers).

Chalk was discharged in February 1959, having amassed nearly 4300 hours of flying time. He retired to West Sussex, where, for many years, he was a popular landlord of The Stag's Head Public House in Westbourne.

Sold with a quantity of original documentation, including:

(i)
The recipient's R.A.F. Observer's and Air Gunner's Flying Log Books (3), covering the periods March 1941 to March 1950, April 1950 to January 1955 and February 1955 to January 1959.

(ii)
M.I.D. certificate in the name of 'Master Signaller Michael Theodore Chalk, Royal Air Force', dated 11 June 1957.

(iii)
R.A.F. Certificate of Service and Airman's Service Book, together with Aircrew Categorisation Card; Signaller Categorisation Card and R.A.F. Association Life Membership cards (5).

(iv)
An affectionate wartime letter to wife.

(v)
A comprehensive photograph album, annotated with the names of R.A.F. service personnel based at R.A.F. Detling in 1941-42, including images of aeroplanes, together with approximately 30 photographs of military and civilian life in Malaya and Singapore in the 1950s, including formal group shots.

(vi)
A set of 'Aircraft of the Royal Air Force' cigarette cards, by John Player & Sons.




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Sold for
£1,500