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Auction: 20002 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Space Exploration
Lot: 623

A very fine campaign group of five awarded to Corporal (Pilot) B. G. Austin, Army Air Corps, late Royal Tank Regiment - having gained his Wings as a Helicopter Pilot, Austin shared in the famous actions of 30 March 2003 in Iraq

In a Lynx with Captain R. Cuthill and in collaboration with the Blues and Royals, they destroyed two T-55 tanks in a superb action which resulted in the award of two Distinguished Flying Crosses and one Conspicuous Gallantry Cross

General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (24656817 LCpl B G Austin RTR); U.N. Medal for Cyprus; Iraq 2003-11, 1 clasp, 19 Mar to 28 Apr 2003 (24656817 Sgt B G Austin AAC); Jubilee 2002; Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., Regular Army (24656817 Cpl B G Austin AAC), mounted court-style as worn, pin removed, good very fine (5)

Bruce Gregory Austin enlisted in the Royal Tank Regiment on 19 August 1985 and served in Northern Ireland in 1990 and Cyprus in 1994. He gained his Wings as a Helicopter Pilot in January 1999, on completing Army Pilot Course No. 11, having won The Martin Trophy whilst in training at RAF Barkston Heath.

Flying Lynx helicopters with No. 663 Squadron, Army Air Corps as an Aircraft Commander from 19 September 2002, he was with the unit for the invasion of Iraq and flew in Lynx XZ171 with Captain R. Cuthill during the famous action of 30 March 2003 at Ad Dayr. Working in collaboration with 'D' Squadron, Blues and Royals, the Fighting Patrol was assisted by Gazelle XZ301 and XZ292. She flew forward to the RV some 10km south of Al Qurmah with the aircraft spread out behind the Scimitar tanks. Identifying two enemy T-55 tanks the Lynx was directed onto them while and artillery strike came in. The Lynx was hampered by vibration which made initial target recognition difficult, with the CVR(T) (Whisky-32)coming closer to the enemy and firing tracer upon it to assist Cuthill and Austin. The ground troops reported the T-55's firing with their main armament, at this point a round flashed past the Lynx after Cuthill has spotted the flash of a muzzle on his TOW sight. A misille was fired back, reported to be a 2S-1, there were reports of a kill on that vehicle. W-32 again fired tracer at the T-55's and they were identified. Two further missiles were sent down, both scoring a hit and a confirmed kill was made. The three helicopters faced main tank armament fire throughout and the final score counted two T-55's, two 2S-1 SP guns and a D-30 destroyed. The action lead to the award of two D.F.C.'s (one to Cuthill) and one C.G.C. (to 'Mick' Flynn).

Austin flew actively for a following seven years and participated in a number of air shows and displays. He was discharged in November 2010; sold together with copied Certificate of Service, Flying Log Book, letters of congratulations, qualification and aptitude, besides a number of photographs on service and research.

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Sold for
£1,500

Starting price
£600