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Auction: 22001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 536

Sold by Order of the Estate

A well-documented 1969 O.B.E., 1944 Bomber Command D.F.C. group of seven awarded to Wing Commander J. Stock, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who flew Ops on Stuttgart and Schweinfurt during 'Big Week', 20-25 February 1944

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated '1944'; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 2nd Type breast Badge, silver-gilt; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Cadet Forces Long Service, E.II.R. (Act. Wg. Cdr. J. Stock. R.A.F.V.R. (T)), mounted as worn, good very fine (7)

O.B.E. London Gazette 6 June 1969.

D.F.C. London Gazette 14 November 1944. The original recommendation, on completion of 28 Ops and his Tour, states:

'This Officer has at all times shown great courage and skill as a Navigator. He has completed a large number of sorties including five on Berlin. His splendid record and quiet but dogged determination has contributed in a large measure to the success of his crew.'

James Stock was born on 6 April 1913 in Bury, being educated at Bury High School. He joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in 1941, undergoing training in South Africa. Commissioned Flight Lieutenant, Stock flew his first Op, a mining mission to the Fresian Islands on 3 November 1944 with No. 623 Squadron. Transferred to No. 115 Squadron in December 1943, the start of the following year saw Stock notch up an impressive record of Ops in a rapid period of time. In less than a month, he made 4 trips to 'The Big City' - Berlin - making visits on 20, 21 & 30 January, besides another on 13 February 1944. He also flew on two further Ops during 'Big Week', the first on 20 February when part of the major raid made by 598 aircraft on Stuttgart. The second followed on 24 February, when part of the major raid, made by 734 aircraft split into two attacks on Schweinfurt, home of Germany's main ball-bearing factories. He flew the last of his 28 Ops, on Wissant on 2 June 1944. Stock was duly rewarded with the D.F.C., and joined the Air Training Corps in 1946.

Returned to his native Bury, Stock worked as an Administrative Officer in the Bury Education Department and was appointed as Wing Inspecting Officer. Made Wing Commander in 1956, he was Squadron Leader of the Bury (1036) Squadron, at which point he had some 450 boys under his charge. Stock was rewarded with his O.B.E. in 1969 when his Wing incorporated 14 Squadrons. He remained in the Cadet Forces by 1973.

Sold together with a fine original archive comprising:

(i)
South African Air Force Navigator's Log Book (D.D. 461 A.), including all his training and Operational Sorties.

(ii)
Cases of issue for his O.B.E. and D.F.C..

(iii)
A selection of official documentation, letters of congratulation and other extracts.

(iv)
A selection of photographs related to his career.

(v)
Two Flight Maps showing his Tour, as produced by the recipient, together with his RAFVR Commissioning Document and RAF Navigation Warrant, 3 January 1946..

(vi)
Copied research and extracts.

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Sold for
£2,500

Starting price
£1000