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Auction: 18003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 601

'I have had a report from the Senior British Officer with the Partisans at the time of Lieutenant Buddell joining them. He strongly commends this officer's conduct when fighting with the Partisans. Lieutenant Buddell showed imperturbability under fire and a complete disregard for his own safety when brining in a wounded Partisan commander. He returned to our lines with 13 prisoners of war. This officer has done excellently in the air and has proved himself equally dashing on the ground. I strongly endorse this recommendation.'

The A.O.C., Desert Air Force lends his support to the award of the D.F.C. to Lieutenant J. C. Buddell, S.A.A.F.

A remarkable - and rare - Second World War Spitfire pilot's D.F.C. group of five awarded to Lieutenant J. C. Buddell, South African Air Force

A veteran of 129 operational sorties over the Middle East and Italy in No. 7 (S.A.A.F.) Squadron - and the scourge of much enemy transport - he was finally downed by ground fire north of Lake Commachio on 13 November 1944

Thus ensued a gallant chapter of fighting alongside the Partisans, not least in an action at Porto Cossini, where he 'displayed the greatest coolness in action and complete disregard for personal safety, when he rescued a wounded patriot who he brought back to safety over ground swept by enemy fire'

This latter episode of 'dashing' and daring conduct clearly contributed to the approval of the award of his D.F.C.

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated '1945' and privately inscribed, 'Lt. J. C. Buddell, 7 Sqdn. S.A.A.F', with 'Feb.' over the official date; 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; Africa Service Medal 1939-45, these four officially impressed '103947 J. C. Buddell', mounted as worn, together with a set of related miniature dress medals, S.A.A.F. cap badge and embroidered 'Wings', generally good very fine (7)

D.F.C. London Gazette 16 March 1945. The original recommendation states:

'An excellent tour by this pilot was ended when he was grounded after being shot down by enemy ground fire while strafing north of Lake Commachio on 13 September 1944. His strafing and dive-bombing record is worthy of high praise, and his keenness and initiative is second to none. Constantly throughout his tour he has returned with good results. He has helped to destroy several trains. He has destroyed many vehicles and despatch riders.

On 13 May 1944, he was a member of a formation which strafed a train consisting of two engines and 40-plus trucks, and as a result of the strafing steam poured out of the engine, and due to this attack on a moving train it remained at the pin point for 48 hours. This is one of the excellent shows this pilot has done. Very strongly recommended.'

In addition to the covering remarks of the A.O.C., Desert Air Force - as quoted above - the Wing Leader stated:

'Lieutenant Buddell has always displayed the greatest keenness to engage the enemy and has on all occasions pressed home his attacks with determination, often in the face of resolute opposition. Recently, when shot down behind enemy lines, he displayed the greatest coolness in action and complete disregard for personal safety, when he rescued a wounded patriot who he brought back to safety over ground swept by enemy fire.'

John Charles Buddell was born in Durban in November 1920, where he attended the Boy's High School and excelled at sports, in addition to gaining school certificates in technology and electrical engineering. He subsequently worked as an apprentice for South African Railways and Harbours but, in his spare time, undertook flying lessons and gained his Civil 'A' Licence, aged 25.

On the outbreak of hostilities, he enlisted in the South Africa Air Force (S.A.A.F.), and was sent to the Air Force Training Depot at Vanhoogtre as a pupil pilot. Further training appointments followed and in October 1941 he gained his S.A.A.F. 'Wings'. He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant and posted to 62nd Air School at Bloemfontein. Finally, in May 1943, he was ordered to the Middle East, where he joined No. 7 (S.A.A.F.) Squadron, a Spitfire unit.

Spitfire pilot

Buddell commenced his operational tour in the following month, flying shipping escort sorties in the unit's Spitfire Vs. He also flew on protection duties during Churchill's conference with Rooseveldt and Chiang Kai Shek at Cairo in November.

Having then relocated to Italy in March 1944, and been equipped with Spitfire IXs, the Squadron joined No. 7 (S.A.A.F.) Wing. It was the commencement of a protracted period of armed recce. and strafing operations, Buddell's flying log book bearing testament to plenty of close encounters with enemy flak: by November he had flown around 130 operational sorties.

Honorary Partisan

On 13 November 1944, whilst strafing a vehicle near Ravenna, north of Lake Commachio, Buddell's Spitfire was hit by a 20mm. anti-aircraft shell which forced him to crash-land on a beach about two miles north of San Guiseppe. Of subsequent events, his 'Evader's Report' states:

'Lieutenant Buddell was uninjured and, after destroying his I.F.F., ran away from his aircraft. Using his dinghy, he crossed the canal and hid and hid among some reeds. Several Italians saw him do this but eventually took no notice as Germans had reached the crashed aircraft within 5-10 minutes of the crash. Buddell waited until he saw a lone peasant woman and approached her for help. She went away and about five hours after, at dusk, returned with a uniformed Italian, who also brought food.

Buddell was taken by the uniformed Italian to a nearby house. Here he was given civilian clothes, fed and well looked after by a patriot. While he was staying in this house, German troops called, but the pilot thinks that they were looking for food as no search was carried out. He was told, however, that the Germans had searched for him for four days.

Heading west, he crossed Lake Commachio by boat and by a devious overland and over-water route reached the Partisian H.Q. south of the lake. This H.Q. was found to be well organised, efficient and having very good morale. While he was with them supplies were dropped to the Partisans at night. Ground signals were laid out but Germans surrounding the area tried to confuse our aircraft by firing Verey lights. The Hun was unable to actively interfere because the area was defended by water lanes and marshes. Three of the 'chutes did not open but 10 packages were received.

Lieutenant Buddell took part in a partisan raid on Porto Corsini. According to him, the raid was well-planned and ably led and two M.G.s were silenced, two Germans killed and P.O.Ws taken. Other raids were executed during Buddell's stay with the Partisans but he himself did not participate. He does however point out the difficulties the Partisans have if they are wounded, as medical, as all other supplies, are short.

Two attempts were made to get Buddell, together with some P.O.Ws, out of enemy occupied territory. On one occasion, a Walrus was to land and a boat was to meet it. This attempt failed as the Walrus was unable to land. A later attempt to establish contact with a motor boat along the coast failed because fog prevented the arrival of the boat.

Finally, Buddell, walking, and part of the way using a boat, came through our lines in charge of 12 German P.O.Ws, who were led with their hands tied behind their backs. He passed these over to the appropriate authorities, and then made arrangements for further, much needed, supplies of ammunition to be despatched to the Partisan forces … '

Buddell's interrogator closed his report by stating that, 'his morale was excellent and his one desire was to return to operational flying.'

His wish appears to have been granted, although he was awarded extended leave in March-April 1945, before being posted to No. 5 (S.A.A.F.) Wing. He was released from military service in February 1946 and applied for his campaign medals in the following year. His name still appeared on the Special Reserve of Flying Officers in 1962; sold with a large file of research, including a complete photocopied record of the operational entries in his flying log books and extensive service record.

N.B.
The recipient's flying log books are held in the collection of the S.A.A.F. Museum.


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Sold for
£3,200