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Auction: 22002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 107

(x) Four: Flight Lieutenant B. S. Bury, Royal Air Force, a Pilot who flew four-engine Liberators with No. 86 & 206 Squadrons, Coastal Command

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, in their named box of issue to 'B. S. Bury, Esq., 240 East 61st Street, New York, New York, United States of America', good very fine (4)

Bob Spencer Bury was born on 5 August 1913 and joined the Royal Air Force on 4 June 1941. During 1942, he took flight training in Canada and at the U.S. Navy Aviation Training Station at Pensacola, Florida. In January 1943, he was assigned to the 111 O.T.U. in Nassau, Bahamas flying Mitchell then Liberators. Returning home in the Autumn of 1943, he joined No. 86 Squadron in November 1943 and flew anti-submarine patrols and convoy escorts between Northern Ireland and Scotland to Iceland, as well as patrols along the Norwegian Coast through September 1944. It was during a routine patrol on 27 July 1944 that his Log Book notes 'Attack'. His Liberator 'R', with Flying Officer Gates as Pilot and Bury as 2nd Pilot, spotted U-865 on the surface at 2003hrs. She went in for the kill, dropping six depth charges, all of which overshot, with the quarry passing between the plumes. Turning again, they came under heavy flak which caused No. 1 & 2 engines to be hit and catch fire. The action proved inconclusive, although hits were determined by the Air Gunners, who forced the submarine into a series of tight circular turns (Search, Find and Kill, refers).

Bury continued flying, back at 111 O.T.U. in February 1945, then returned to an operational basis, with No. 206 Squadron, in June 1945. In September 1945, he was posted to No. 12 Ferry Squadron, where he remained through December 1945. His last flights were with 44 Group in early 1946. As a Flight Lieutenant pilot, he was rated "above average".

His Log Book also includes some civilian flights during 1948 following his emigration to the United States in 1946 when he relinquished his commission in the Royal Air Force.

Sold together with two Flying Log Books (one original and one duplicate, with endorsements within), five R.A.F. diaries, covering 1942-46, Navigator's Certificate, Officer and Airman's Service and Release Books, some wartime photos, his Wings and Bury's Blue Nose Certificate awarded to Coastal Command aviators who flew patrols above the Arctic Circle.



Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£500

Starting price
£480

Sale 22002 Notices
'Final image displayed on SpinkLIVE for this Lot belongs with Lot 199.'