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Auction: 23003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 336

The mounted group of sixteen miniature dress medals worn by Air Chief-Marshal Sir J. Boothman, Royal Air Force, K.C.B., K.B.E., Second World War D.F.C., Schneider Trophy A.F.C. having flown with Colonel Cody as a schoolboy, served as a teenager driver in the French Red Cross on the Balkan front in 1918: having then gained an ‘exceptional’ rating as a young pilot in the R.A.F., he fought in the Southern Desert Iraq campaign and became a celebrated winner of the Schneider Trophy in 1931 - to which accolades he added a D.F.C. for daring photographic reconnaissance missions while Air Commodore and C.O. of No. 106 Group in the 1939-45 War, missions of crucial importance to the success of D-Day: very much a candidate for election to ‘The Aviation Hall of Fame’, the gallant Boothman latterly served as C.-in-C. of Coastal Command

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Military Division, silver-gilt and enamel ; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Military Division, silver-gilt and enamel; Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R.; Air Force Cross, G.V.R.; British War and Victory Medals; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Southern Desert, Iraq; 1939-1945 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence Medal; War Medal 1939-45 with M.I.D. oak leaf; Coronation 1953; France, Croix de Guerre, reverse dated 1914 to 1918; U.S.A., Legion of Merit with clasp; U.S.A., Distinguished Flying Cross; Czechoslovakia, War Cross 1939-45. Court mounted as worn, very fine or better (16)

Provenance:
DNW 25 March 2013, Lot 673.

[K.C.B.] London Gazette 10 June 1954.

[K.B.E.] London Gazette 7 June 1951.

[D.F.C.] London Gazette 14 July 1944.

The original recommendation states:

‘In the early days of the war, Air Commodore Boothman took part as a pilot of a bomber aircraft in raids against the enemy. He operated in the initial attack against the German Navy at Kiel on the opening day of the war, and subsequently in bomber raids on German industrial targets. He was also in one of the last fighter sweeps over Dunkirk.

Air Commodore Boothman took over the operational command and direction of the R.A.F. High Altitude Photographic Reconnaissance Unit (now known as No. 106 Group) in June 1943.

Now, at the age of 43, Air Commodore Boothman is one of the oldest R.A.F. officers to engage in active solo high altitude flying operations against the enemy. Since assuming command of No. 106 group he has carried out fourteen operational photographic sorties. On one occasion, over the Watten and Marquise area, he flew through heavy and accurate flak to photograph his objective. On as recently as 8 May 1944, in carrying out a reconnaissance over Holland at 35,000 feet, he successfully evaded an attack by twelve enemy aircraft. On one photographic sortie flown over enemy territory, he landed in North Africa after covering 1,160 miles, and two days later, after completion of a special inspection duty, returned to base, the last 200 miles of the homeward journey over the sea in bad weather being carried out with one engine “dead”; this involved a total distance of 3,210 miles flying. His last operational service sortie was carried out on D-Day of the current invasion operations.

This officer has always shown the greatest keenness to take part in operations, and has only been prevented from doing so more frequently by pressure of his normal duties as Air Officer Commanding.

In addition to operational flying, he has tested all types of aircraft to ensure that his pilots have the latest and best aircraft for the job - invariably undertaking himself the initial reconnaissance over enemy territory in a new type of aircraft.

When he assumed command of the Photographic Reconnaissance Units, morale and keenness of the pilots were of a high order, but his enthusiasm, personality and, above all, his personal example have raised these qualities even higher.

I approve the immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Air Commodore Boothman.’

[A.F.C.] London Gazette 9 October 1931.

John Nelson Boothman was born in Wembley, Middlesex, in February 1901, the son of a railway clerk, and was educated at Harrow County School. And it was as a schoolboy that he experienced his first flight, a story described in his Times obituary:

‘He developed his love of flying as a schoolboy, and his determined pursuit of aviation brought him a remarkable early achievement in that field - a flight with the pioneer aviator, Colonel Cody. The latter entered for a race in 1911 that required a passenger, and took with him the young Boothman, then aged 10, as the lightest passenger he could find willing and anxious to venture into the air in a “flying machine” ... ’

Too young to enlist in the British armed services, but anxious to play his part, young Boothman volunteered for the French Red Cross in January 1918, and served as a motor ambulance driver on the Balkan front, gallant work that won him the French Croix de Guerre for ‘more than a year’s zeal and devotion in the evacuation of French wounded despite enemy bombardment.’

On his return to the U.K., Boothman determined to pursue his early interest in aviation, and took private flying lessons at Hendon, gaining his Private Pilot’s Licence (No. 691), before being commissioned in the Royal Air Force in March 1921. And in September of the following year, he flew operationally in Bristol F2Bs of No. 4 Squadron during the Chanak crisis in Turkey.

Having then qualified as an instructor at the Central Flying School at Upavon - in fact as ‘the best pilot on the course’ - he was retained until September 1926, and won the Duke of York’s cup at the Hendon Air Display that year.

Back on operations by early 1928, he served in No. 30 and No. 55 Squadrons over the Southern Desert, Iraq, where his proficiency as a pilot was assessed as ‘exceptional’ (Medal & clasp), an assessment that no doubt led to his appointment to the High Speed Flight of the Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment at Felixstowe, following time with No. 32 Squadron in 1930.

Boothman went on to complete at least 70 high speed flights, a fine record which culminated in his winning the Schneider Trophy outright for Great Britain on 13 September 1931, piloting Vickers Supermarine Rolls-Royce S.6B S1595 from the flying boat base at Calshot, his log book entry reading: ‘Good trip. Average speed 340 m.p.h., 100 Km. record 342.9 m.p.h.’ This was the year Lucy, Lady Houston, came to the rescue with a private donation of £100,000, the Government having withdrawn its backing and, with the French, German and Italian entrants having failed to ready their aircraft in time for the competition, it became an all-British affair. Boothman’s victorious flight is said to have been watched by around 500,000 enthusiastic spectators, a day made all the more memorable by virtue of team G.B. taking the trophy outright for it was our third successive victory of earlier wins in Venice in 1927 and Calshot in 1929.

He was awarded the A.F.C.

Moving to an appointment with No. 22 Squadron at Martlesham Heath, Norfolk, at the end of the year, Boothman went on to serve as C.O. of ‘A’ Flight of the performance testing section of the Aircraft and Armament Experimental Establishment in 1934 and, shortly afterwards, attended the Staff College. He was advanced to Squadron Leader and posted to Singapore.

Returning to the U.K. in February 1939, he took command of No. 44 Squadron, a Hampden unit based at Waddington, Lincolnshire but, towards the year’s end, was posted to the Air Ministry as a Wing Commander (Fighter Operations), but not before flying operationally. In July 1940, he was posted to H.Q., Bomber Command, but never missed an opportunity to fly, a strike on Hamburg in October of the same year being a case in point. Added to which, during an eight-week goodwill and flight testing tour of the United States and Canada in late 1941, he flew the latest American aircraft. He was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 1 January 1942 refers).

Next appointed to the command of R.A.F. Finningley, Boothman subsequently returned to staff duties at the Air Ministry but, in June 1943, he became operational as C.O. of No. 106 Wing (later Group) at R.A.F. Benson, and, between then and June 1944, flew numerous photographic missions in Mosquito aircraft - vital fact-gathering missions in support of the D-Day landings. And, as described by Alfred Price in Targeting the Reich, many of them were flown in co-operation with the Americans:

‘In August 1943 the U.S. 8th Air Force established its own photographic reconnaissance unit, the 7th Photo Group, at Mount Farm near Benson. From the start there was very close co-operation between them and the United States Army Air Force (U.S.A.A.F.) reconnaissance units, with much interchange of equipment and sharing of knowledge. Initially the 7th Photo Group flew F-5 aircraft, the reconnaissance version of the P-38 Lightning fighter. The aircraft was vulnerable to interception during deep penetrations into enemy territory, however, and it had serviceability problems. One squadron in the Group received Spitfire PR XIs, and operated these aircraft for the rest of the conflict.

Also in the latter part of 1943 the Mosquito PR XVI appeared, fitted with a pressurised cabin. It was an important innovation, which allowed its crews to remain alert and reasonably comfortable while flying for long periods at altitudes above 35,000 feet.

During the spring of 1944 the 654th Reconnaissance Squadron, part of the U.S. 801st Reconnaissance Group based at Watton in Norfolk, formed with Mosquito XVIs. This unit flew photographic reconnaissance missions for the remainder of the war.

The period of near-invulnerability to interception for aircraft powered by the Merlin 61 engine lasted until the spring of 1944. It ended when with the appearance of the first German jet fighter types, the rocket-propelled Messerschmitt 163 and the turbojet powered Messerschmitt 262. The reconnaissance Spitfires and Mosquitos, flying alone and unarmed, offered perfect targets for the German jet pilots to carry out practice interceptions. Yet again losses began to rise ... ’

In addition to being awarded the C.B. (London Gazette 8 June 1944 refers), and D.F.C. in this period, Boothman was twice decorated by the Americans, namely with the Commander’s grade of Legion of Merit (London Gazette 9 October 1945 refers), and the D.F.C. (London Gazette 28 August 1945 refers), the citation for the former stating:

‘Air Commodore John Nelson Boothman, C.B., D.F.C., A.F.C., Royal Air Force: For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services from July 1943 to July 1944. As Commanding Officer of the 106th Strategic Reconnaissance Group, Royal Air Force, Air Commodore Boothman was charged with the operational control of British Photographic Reconnaissance and the co-ordination of this work with the United States Air Forces. His assistance was invaluable in matters of supply and combat procedure during the activation of the initial American photo-reconnaissance units in the United Kingdom. He worked continuously to improve all equipment and tactics, both operational and on the ground. As a result of his wide experience in this highly technical field, he originated and presented a plan to the photo-reconnaissance officers of the American Air Forces for the establishment of a Joint Photographic Reconnaissance Committee, composed of British and American Staff Officers, to co-ordinate and direct the overall handling of allied reconnaissance targets, photographic production and interpretation. The superior and highly efficient record established by all operational units, both air and ground, under the control of the committee is attributable to a large extent to the efforts of Air Commodore Boothman.’

And the citation for the D.F.C. stating:

‘Air Commodore J. N. Boothman, A.F.C., Royal Air Force; or extraordinary achievement in the development of technical and tactical photographic reconnaissance, the accomplishment of which has been of in estimable value to the Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Forces. Air Commodore Boothman participated in fourteen photographic reconnaissance missions over enemy territory, in addition to numerous local flights for the purpose of testing new types of reconnaissance aircraft and photographic equipment. The outstanding progress in photographic reconnaissance, through the accomplishment of these flights directly reflected in the superior reconnaissance available to the allied forces. The courage, coolness, flying skill and judgment displayed by Air Commodore Boothman while testing new aircraft and new photographic equipment for use by photographic reconnaissance units reflects the highest credit upon himself and the Allied Air Forces.’

Meanwhile, his son Patrick was awarded the D.F.C. for services in No. 178 Squadron, and father and son attended the same investiture at Buckingham Palace in 1945. Boothman was also awarded the War Cross of Czechoslovakia (London Gazette 27 June 1947 refers).

Post-war, he spent three years as Assistant Chief of Air Staff, in addition to serving as A.O.C. in Iraq, and in September 1950 he was appointed Controller (Air) at the Ministry of Supply, in which capacity he oversaw the rapid expansion aircraft production at the time of the Korea War. He was appointed K.B.E. in 1951 and K.C.B. in 1954, and, advanced to Air Chief Marshal, became C-in-C. Coastal Command, together with related N.A.T.O. appointments. Placed on the Retired List in 1956, Boothman died in Westminster, London, in December of the following year.


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Estimate
£1,200 to £1,500

Starting price
£950