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Auction: 18003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 526

An outstanding Second World War pilot's campaign group of five awarded to Flight Lieutenant E. A. McCann, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who claimed three confirmed 'kills' and two 'damaged' in Spitfires of No. 232 Squadron over Sicily and Italy in 1943-44

1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Africa Star, clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, generally good very fine (5)


Edmund Arthur McCann was born near Wigan, Lancashire in August 1919 and was educated at the Wigan Mining & Technology College, 1931-35. He then joined the Fairey Aviation Company at Hayes, Middlesex, prior to enlisting in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in May 1941.

Selected for pilot training, he was embarked for Canada, and thence for Terrell, Texas, where he served from August 1941 until January 1942. 'Wings' up, he returned to the U.K. via Moncton, New Brunswick, following which he attended No. 52 O.T.U. at Aston Down and qualifies on Spitfires. Then in mid-July he was posted to No. 131 Squadron at Tangmere, in which capacity he flew his first operational sorties, including a 'Scramble' over Selsey on the 30th. He also flew a sortie to Dieppe during the famous raid on 19 August 1942.

In September 1942, McCann transferred to No. 154 Squadron and, two months later, to No. 165 Squadron. He continued to fly operationally in the same period, including a sweep to Cherbourg.

Ordered to the Middle East in early 1943, and having been promoted to Flight Sergeant, he commenced a protracted tour of operations in Spitfires of No. 232 Squadron. And he was to remain similarly employed until September 1944, a second tour having commenced in April 1944. In fact his Flying Log Book bears testament to 100 operational sorties, sorties in which he regularly mixed-in with enemy aircraft. So, too, ground strafing sorties, an attack on the enemy airfield on 7 May 1943 being a case in point: 'Shot up Sebala aerodrome and transport. Got 3 trucks. Very accurate flak. Pete thought I'd had it' (his Flying Log Book refers).

During this extended period of operations, McCann flew out of airfields in Algeria and Tunisia (April to May 1943); in Malta (June-July 1943); in Sicily (July-September 1943); in Italy (September-December 1943) and in Corsica (April-September 1944).

As it transpired, they proved to be highly successful tours, resulting in the destruction of three enemy aircraft, in addition to the damaging of others. His senior officer throughout much of this period was the famous ace, Wing Commander P. H. 'Dutch' Hugo, who later described him as a 'keen, efficient and capable' pilot, whose 'flying was of the highest standard, often under conditions of the greatest operational difficulties'. Just how capable may be gleaned from the following facts.

Having destroyed a Me. 109 on the ground in a strike against an enemy landing ground near Tunis on 7 May 1943, he damaged another in a combat over Catania, Sicily on 16 July 1943:

'I waited until I got dead astern of the Me. 109, by which time the aircraft was 300 yards away, and gave it a 3 second burst. I observed strikes on the wing roots … the last I saw of the 109 it was in a 70-degree dive at 7,000 feet, when he was lost in the haze' (his combat report, refers).

A few weeks later, on 12 August, he was 'bounced by 3 of 7 Me. 109s, all of whom squirted at me and pranged my port wing' (his Flying Log Book, refers). Much flak having been encountered in the interim, he was rested at the year's end and commissioned Pilot Officer.

McCann returned to an operational footing in No. 232 in April 1944, operating out of Alto airfield in Corsica. On 5 July, whilst acting as escort to a force of bombers assigned to attack a bridge at Ostiglia, near Modena, he claimed a Me. 109 as damaged; the enemy aircraft, which bore Italian markings, sustained hits around its cockpit and one of McCann's fellow pilots reported seeing something falling away from the 109's wingtip. It was later confirmed as destroyed.

On 14 July, McCann acted as escort for a force of B. 25s assigned to attack a bridge at Piancenza, near Palma. His combat report takes up the story:

'We had just turned around when I observed a long gaggle of aircraft coming towards us at the same altitude and some above. It was only when the leading formation passed us that I recognised Me. 109s amongst them. Altogether there were 20 plus, including Macchi 202s.

Green 3 and 4 got separated from me and Green 2 went after the Macchi. I went towards a gaggle of 4 or 5 aircraft but observed about half a dozen more coming at me from 10 o'clock and slightly above, so I turned in to these. I recognised them as Me. 109s and gave the one nearest me a 2 or 3 second burst at about 300 yards from almost head-on. I observed one or two strikes on the starboard wing and then the formation was past me … '

On 30 July, again as escort to B. 25s, and this time to a target north of Genoa, McCann fought another combat:

'A few moments later, I saw a formation of 6 aircraft diving down on Blue 2 and myself, from about 9 o'clock, so I turned into them. We were then about 15,000 feet. They were all spurting out black smoke. At about 300 yards, I opened up at the leading aircraft from about 80 degrees head-on and gave it a 2 or 3 second burst. I observed strikes around the engine and the enemy aircraft turned slightly so that he came head on at me, but he never fired. The black smoke increased and the enemy aircraft passed below, turning away from the rest of the formation, and I last saw it going down in a steep dive, alone, at about 13,000 feet. This will be borne out by Blue 2, W./O. F. H. Watt. It was only as the enemy aircraft passed by that I recognised them as Fiat G. 55s. By this time the bombers were crossing the coast, so I rejoined them' (ibid).

Subsequent investigation confirmed this Fiat G. 55, piloted by Staff Sergeant Tommaso Marabita of No. 1 Gruppo, as destroyed.

On 12 August, McCann was likewise employed in covering a bomber force assigned to attack communications in the Toulon-Cannes sector. He claimed another confirmed 109:

'I turned in to them and gave the rear Me. 109 almost a full deflection shot of about 2 seconds at 300 yards range, but observed no strikes, so I followed him round to about 30 degrees and, at 250 yards range, I opened fire again. Black smoke started to pour from the Me. 109. This will be verified by Green 4. At this moment I had to break as I observed other aircraft coming up behind Green 4 and myself, but they turned out to be friendly. When I looked for the Me. 109 again, it was going down with black smoke pouring from it and I watched it crash into the sea just off the coast in the Hyeres Roads. This will be verified by Green 2' (ibid).

Tour-expired, McCann returned to the U.K. in late September 1944 and joined No. 53 O.T.U. as an instructor at Kirton-in-Lindsey. He was finally released from service as a Flight Lieutenant in August 1946, when he rejoined Fairey Aviation, studying aerodynamics.

In the mid-1950s, he took up a sales management role with Horlicks, the hot drink company, and subsequently with Beachams. He took early retirement in 1980 and settled in Surrey.

Sold with a quantity of original documentation and artefacts, including:

(i)
The recipient's original R.C.A.F Pilot's Flying Log Book, covering the period September 1941 to October 1945, with good operational sortie commentary throughout.

(ii)
Three original combat reports for the recipient's actions fought on 14 July, 30 July and 12 August 1944, each signed by him.

(iii)
A charming letter from Neville Duke, in which the famous Mediterranean ace confirms McCann's 'victory' over the Fiat G. 55 shot down 30 July 1943 - 'It crashed near Sampierdarena … Congratulations!'

(iv)
The recipient's wartime flying kit, comprising his Irvin leather jacket, flying helmet, goggles and boots; see illustration.


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Sold for
£2,600