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Auction: 24001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 212

A 'Malaya 1952' O.B.E. group of five awarded to Wing Commander T. G. Young, Royal Air Force, who had previously been 'mentioned' 1943

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Officer's (O.B.E.) breast Badge, Military Division, silver-gilt; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; General Service Medal 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya (Wg. Cdr. T. G. Young. R.A.F.); Jubilee 1950, mounted as worn, with the recipient's bound Flying Log Book, good very fine (5)

O.B.E. London Gazette 21 March 1952, the original citation states:

'Wing Commander Young has been Chief Technical Officer at Royal Air Force Station, Tengah, since November, 1949. During this period, the station has been expanded from the strength of one Fighter Squadron and one Light Bomber Squadron to a strength of six Squadrons, including fighter, light and medium bomber Squadrons and the Malayan Auxiliary Fighter Squadron. Seventy-three aircraft are included in these units, comprising ten different types and, with the exception of the Malayan Auxiliary Fighter Squadron, the Squadrons are all employed on operations against the insurgents in Malaya. All the servicing for these aircraft, other than first line servicing, is carried out in very limited hangar and general workshop space which was originally planned for two fighter Squadrons. The tremendous amount of extra work involved, of two of the light bomber squadrons, did not dismay Wing Commander Young, who re-organised his man-power and technical facilities, and this, combined with extra work by all concerned, enabled the Squadrons to have their aircraft in the air again in the quickest possible time. Wing Commander Young, by his initiative, organisation and hard work, and through the high morale which exists amongst the officers and airmen of the Technical Wing, has maintained an exceptionally high rate of serviceability in all the Squadrons and consequently has enabled them to fulfil all the operational requirements in this theatre.'

Thomas Grey Young was born at Wellington, New Zealand on 17 June 1911, the son of William and May Young. Joining the Royal Air Force, he was posted as a Pilot Officer to the General Duties Branch in 1933 and further advanced Flight Lieutenant in 1937 with the School of Army Co-Operation.

He was performing Engineering Staff Duties at Rochester on the outbreak of war on 3 September 1939. Advanced Squadron Leader he was posted to the Technical Branch on 24 April 1940. Further promoted Wing Commander in 1942 Young was later 'mentioned' for his work (London Gazette 1 January 1943, refers). He was still serving in this rank at the end of the war, before his deployment to the Far East.

With the onset of the Malayan Emergency Young was posted to command Tengah air base in Singapore. He had responsibility not only for running this important centre for British air power but also expanding it to fit additional Squadrons.

Young finally retired on 20 June 1963 and moved to Worthing, Norfolk where he died on 17 November 2007; sold together with two cap badges, wings, a riband bar and an East Ward patch as well as the recipient's bound Flying Log Book and M.I.D. certificate along with copied research including census data, award recommendations and London Gazette extracts.

For his mounted dress miniatures see Lot 349.

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Sold for
£650

Starting price
£270