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Auction: 21103 - Orders, Decorations and Medals e-Auction 4
Lot: 335

A 1944 A.F.M. group of seven awarded to Flight Sergeant, later Flying Officer J. I. Parry, Royal Air Force, a bomber pilot during the Battle for France

Air Force Medal, G.VI.R. (550608. F/Sgt. J. I. Parry. R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star, clasp, France and Germany; Africa Star, clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45 with M.I.D. oak leaf, minor pitting, very fine (7)

A.F.M. London Gazette 1 January 1944. The original recommendation, from Transport Command, states:

'(Total flying hours 1200). This airman was one of the original WOP/AG on the aircraft delivery route. From January, 1941 until April, 1943 he was operator for a leading convoy working over routes to Iraq, India and South West Africa and is in fact a pioneer on all routes covered by the A.D.U. He is now employed in a Transport Squadron where his high sense of duty is still markedly present.'

John Ivor Parry served with No. 139 Squadron, flying Blenheim's in France during early 1940 with the rank of Aircraftman Class I. They flew constant missions, often suffering severely from enemy fire, as Parry himself states, quoted in Valiant Wings:

'The Blenheim we flew on 16 May 1940 (…) was so shot-up by flak and fighters it was a write-off on our return to Plivot. My job on the 18th was pouring petrol onto it, along with Wing Commander Dickens' Blenheim and setting fire to them. Last job was blowing the petrol and bomb dumps which shook that part of France.'

Despite the heavy fighting Parry survived and managed to escape the fall of France, even celebrating his 21st birthday in Paris with a bottle of cool champagne. By the end of the War Parry joined the General Duties Branch, being promoted Pilot Officer on 25 September 1945. He relinquished his rank having been promoted Flying Officer on 1 September 1950; sold together with copied research.

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Sold for
£2,600

Starting price
£950