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Auction: 23001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 404

The impressive 116 Squadron '1957' A.F.C. and '1968, Zambia, Joint Services Training' Second Award Bar group of six to Flight Lieutenant E. Vine, Royal Air Force, late Sultan of Oman's Air Force and Zambian Air Force, who flew a number of V.I.P.s including President Kaunda of Zambia

Air Force Cross, E.II.R., reverse dated 1957, Second Award Bar, reverse dated 1968; 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., E.II.R. (Fg. Off. E. Vine. R.A.F.), first five mounted as worn, last with it's named box of issue, heavy pitting and contact wear to fourth and fifth, otherwise light contact wear, very fine (6)

Air Force Cross London Gazette 1 January 1957.

Second Award Bar London Gazette 1 January 1968.

Edward Vine was appointed Cadet Pilot with the General Duties Branch on 24 January 1952 and sent to No. 6 Flying Training School, Ternhill on 1 February of that year. Here he flew mainly Prentice and Harvard aircraft until being certified Pilot Officer on 1 October 1952 with the grade of 'above average'. Posted to No. 201 Advanced Flying School Swinderby, Vine completed his training on Varsity T1 aircraft, finishing this time with a 'High Average' grade.

His first operational posting was to No. 202 Squadron at R.A.F. Aldergrove in January 1953, a part of Coastal Command flying meteorological flights in the Handley-Page Hastings. Vine remained here until 13 April 1953 when he undertook a course with the School of Maritime Reconnaissance at St. Mawgan, which ended on 20 May. A further course at No. 236 Operational Conversion Unit Kinloss, was performed in the Lockheed Neptune.

Returning to operational flying, Vine was posted to the Central Signals Establishment flying Avro Ansons with No. 527 Squadron at R.A.F. Watton on high-level calibration duties. While here he was promoted Flying Officer (15 November 1953) and switched to flying the Vickers Varsity in late February 1954. Changing his service to a permanent direct commission on 3 June 1955, Vine was posted to No. 527 Squadron's sister unit - No. 116 Squadron - the next year, remaining at R.A.F. Watton. He was promoted Flight Lieutenant while still with the Squadron, on 15 May 1957

Vine's next posting was to the Technical Training Flight attached to the Malta Command Squadron, starting from 23 July 1957. Here he flew Beaufighters, Vickers Valetta and Meteor 7s, being part of the formation flypast during the Battle of Britain Display at Luqa on 14 September. His time with this unit came to an end on 14 December 1960 when he was posted to the Central Fighter Establishment at West Raynham - here he flew Meteor and Chipmunk aircraft.

Having flown a refresher course, Vine was seconded to the Zambian Air Force as an Instructor, flying with No. 1 Squadron at Livingstone. Whilst here he was present for visits by President Kaunda and Emperor Haile Selassie, also flying support for them on 30 July 1965. Vine flew Casevac for the victims a major traffic accident (which caused the death of a number of Europeans, including an Italian film director) on 19 August 1966, as they were on exercise in the Broken Hills at the time and were diverted as first response. He continued his time with the Z.A.F. flying training missions, parachute drops and V.I.P. transport, notably President Kaunda, Group Captain Kilduff and Major-General Reid.

Vine's secondment ended in 1970 and he joined R.A.F. Marham for a brief refresher course before secondment to the Sultan of Oman's Air Force at Muscat on 22 May 1972. Here he flew mainly Skyvan and Caribou aircraft on transport runs. Vine retired at own request on 1 November 1974; sold together with the recipient's original log books which also contain documents, correspondence and photographs as well as copied Air Force Lists and London Gazette entries.


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Sold for
£4,000

Starting price
£1800