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Auction: 23111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 957

A rare post-war 1962 A.F.C. group of six awarded to Flight Lieutenant J. Mellor, Royal Air Force, who flew a plethora of Ops during the Berlin Airlift (Op Plainfare) and latterly flew operationally as a Navigator in Canberras during the Suez Crisis

Air Force Cross, E.II.R., the reverse officially dated '1962'; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, Malaya, Near East (Flt. Lt. J. Mellor. R.A.F.), second clasp loose upon riband on this last, as issued, good very fine (Lot)

A.F.C. London Gazette 1 January 1962.

Jack Mellor enlisted in the Royal Air Force in mid-1943 and trained as a Navigator out in Canada, qualifying in April 1944. Returning to the U.K. at the end of the latter year, he was posted to No. 48 Squadron, a Dakota unit of Transport Command operating out of Down Ampney, in January 1945, and undertook numerous supply and ferrying missions over North West Europe until V.E. Day, the evacuation of casualties being high on the Squadron’s agenda. His next posting was to No. 24 Squadron, a York unit operating out of Hendon, between June and October 1946, an appointment that saw him involved in flying high-ranking R.A.F. Officers around the world, and ultimately being sent to Japan as a member of aircrew for Lieutenant-General Gairdner and Lieutenant-General Robertson, C.-in-C., B.C.O.F.

Returning to No. 24 Squadron in the U.K. in February 1948, his Log Books confirm his being 'Detached for Operation "Carter-Paterson"' in what would see the start of the Berlin Airlift.

By the time of the Berlin Airlift, Mellow had clocked up over 1500hrs on his Log Book and joined Operation Plainfare at Wunstorf on 29 June 1948. He flew into Gatow on no less than 30 Ops from 30 June 1948 up until the blockade was lifted on 12 May 1949, a fine record in suppling Berlin - and ferrying high-value passengers - indeed. Mellor was appointed to the C.-in-C’s crew (Far Eastern Air Force) at Changi in mid-1950, in which role he served until late 1952, thereby qualifying for his Malaya clasp to the G.S.M.. Back home in time for the Coronation, he qualified as a Combat Observer and Combat Select Plotter on Canberras, and was posted to No. 18 Squadron at R.A.F. Upwood in early 1956, a timely appointment in light of looming difficulties with Egypt.

With the advent of hostilities that October, No. 18 hastily despatched eight Canberras and ten crews, Mellor among them, to Nicosia, Cyprus, and on the last day of the month four aircraft were detailed to act as Markers on a strike against the enemy airfield at Kabrit. Although Mellor did not participate in this opening mission, he certainly flew on a flare-marking sortie against Agami Isl, near Alexandria on the evening of 4 November. And by the time hostilities had ceased a few days later, No. 18 had put on 34 sorties against a variety of enemy airfields and installations.

Mellor’s subsequent career encompassed appointments with 35, 192 and 51 Squadrons, the last two of which, between 1958-62, witnessed him putting in many hours on Comet 2s, often as 1st Navigator to his Squadron Leader or Wing Commander, work that undoubtedly led to the award of his A.F.C.; his Log Book was closed off with some 5529hrs 30mins to his name.

Sold with the recipient’s original Flying Log Books, privately bound into one volume, with numerous inserted certificates, covering the period July 1947 to October 1961, the opening page bearing an official endorsement: ‘Certified that the Flying Log Book of 154815 F./Lt. J. Mellor was destroyed in the Station Officer’s Mess Fire, B.C.A.I.R. Station, Japan on 25 May 1947’; together with two original group photographs, both with all of those present identified and a quantity of copied research.

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Sold for
£2,900

Starting price
£2400