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Auction: 17003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 719

A landmark Second World War D.F.C. group of seven awarded to Wing Commander J. J. A. Sutton, Royal Air Force, who led a force of 10 Whitleys on the first ever operation mounted over Germany on the night of 3-4 September 1939, the date of the declaration of hostilities: there were no losses but three aircraft - including his own - had to make forced landings in France

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated '1940', with its Royal Mint case of issue; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (S./L. J. J. A. Sutton, R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, good very fine (7)

D.F.C. London Gazette 9 July 1940. The original recommendation states:

'This officer was the leader of the first leaflet raid over the interior of Germany on 3 September 1939, which lasted eight hours.

He has conducted 11 convoy escorts totalling 66 hours 30 minutes, and four bombing raids, totalling 26 hours 25 minutes. Wing Commander Sutton was, until recently, the Senior Flight Commander and led his squadron on all their war operations, setting a splendid example of steady courage and determination.'

John Jonas Arthur Sutton was granted a temporary commission as Pilot Officer in October 1931 and commenced his pilot training at No. 3 F.T.S. at Grantham in the same month. Having then gained his 'Wings' after attending No. 2 F.T.S. at Digby, he briefly served in No. 33 (Bomber) Squadron at Bicester before being ordered to Egypt in March 1933, where he joined No. 6 (Bomber) Squadron.

Egypt, Palestine and The Sudan

Operating in the unit's Fairey Gordons, Sutton acted in support of police and armoured car units and gained many hours experience at night. He was also employed in the Palestine operations of 1936, operating out of Ramleh in the Squadron's recently delivered Hawker Harts, his flying log book noting co-operation work with the Police against Jenin bandits and action taken against 'would be fire makers' on the Kolundia-Ramleh run.

Next posted to H.Q. Middle East in Cairo, Sutton flew the occasional 'secret mail' sortie before returning to regular flying duties in No. 47 Squadron at Khartoum in late 1936. Equipped with Vincents, the unit flew in support of the Sudan Defence Force and Nile Police, Sutton being involved in offensive action at the capture of Buram and Rejaj in February 1937. More notably, and as reported in the home press, he participated in strikes against Annuak tribesmen in May 1937, operating out of Malakal. In spite of the fact 47's base at Malakal was some 250 miles distant from the scene of unrest, its aircraft on two occasions successfully covered, in bad weather and heavy rain, over 500 miles of country which had become unserviceable for landing purposes.

A month or two later, Sutton joined No. 33 (Light Bomber) Squadron, flying Hawker Harts, in which capacity he was again actively employed in Palestine. He also notched up a few hours in Gladiators before being ordered home in April 1938.

Flight Commander - first ever leaflet raid on Germany

Attached to H.Q. No. 4 (Bomber) Group at R.A.F. Linton for a few months, he joined No. 58 Squadron, a Whitley unit based at Linton-on-Ouse, Yorkshire, at the end of 1938.

On the same day that war was declared on Germany - 3 September 1939 - Sutton was ordered to Leconfield to take command of a force of ten Whitleys, seven of them from his own squadron and three from 51 Squadron. He led his force off at 2150 hours, the whole dropping some 5.4 million leaflets over Hamburg, Bremen and nine cities in the Ruhr: three of their number had to make forced landings in France, including Sutton.

Between October 1939 and February 1940, the Squadron was attached to Coastal Command on convoy escort duties, Sutton flying a dozen such sorties in the same period. Then in May 1940, it commenced regular bombing sorties, Sutton noting in his log book his first such trip on the night of the 15th: 'RHUR! (Thank God! At last!). Soest, Saw hits on target. B.B.C.'

He attacked Cologne a few nights later - 'bombs hung up, except one!' - but appears to have had better luck over Osnabruck on the night of 2-3 June 1940. Even so, he ran into 60 searchlights and 'bags of flak', his log book further noting, 'W./T. Optr. scared!'.

Sutton's final outing with 58 Squadron was a strike on Hoest on the night of 10-11 August 1940 and a lively sortie it proved. Hit by flak, his Whitley lost 7,000 feet as he tried to evade enemy flares. He was awarded the D.F.C. and posted as a Wing Commander to H.Q. No. 4 Group at York.

Subsequent wartime career

In August 1941, Sutton took command of No. 78 Squadron, an appointment that was interrupted by his attendance of a Halifax Conversion Course, a course commanded by none other than Squadron Leader J. B. Tait. On returning to his squadron in preparation for a sortie to Italy, Sutton was ordered to join Bomber Command H.Q.

From February to May 1942, he served as a Chief Instructor at R.A.F. Abingdon, in which period he flew nickel raid to France, and from June 1942 until August 1943 he acted as C.O. of the Gunnery School at Sutton Bridge. He was then embarked for Italy as S.A.S.O. No. 249 Wing, in which capacity he served until taking command of R.A.F. Rabat in April 1944. His final wartime appointment was as C.O. of R.A.F. Shaibah and he was demobilised in April 1946.

Sold with the recipient's original R.A.F. Flying Log Books, covering the periods October 1931 to September 1933; September 1933 to June 1936; July 1936 to September 1943 and September 1943 to February 1946, the whole privately leather-bound with gilt title, 'Royal Air Force - Pilots Flying Log Book - J. J. A. Sutton'; together with his R.A.F. Pocket Book 1937 and one or two photographs.



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Sold for
£2,900