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Auction: 6017 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals & Militaria
Lot: 119

An Unusual O.B.E., A.F.C., Air Force Efficiency and Bar Group of Seven to Spitfire Pilot Wing Commander C.C. McCarthy-Jones, Royal Auxiliary Air Force, Late Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Shot Down and Made Prisoner of War; After Interrogation and Hospitalisation was Interned in the Infamous Stalag Luft III at Sagan, Where as An ´X´ Organisation Member He Was Involved in Map Making and Tunnelling; Later Officer Commanding 601 (County of London) Squadron 1952-56 The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, 2nd type, Military Division, Officer´s (O.B.E.) breast Badge, silver-gilt; Air Force Cross, G.VI.R., reverse dated ´1953´; 1939-1945 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal; Coronation 1953; Air Force Efficiency Award, G.VI.R., 1st ´Ind: Imp:´ type, with Bar (Flt. Lt. C.C. McCarthy-Jones. R.A.F.V.R.), good very fine or better, with A.F.C. Royal Mint case of issue; hip flask, silver, glass and leather, engraved ´F/O. C. McCarthy Jones From 504 Sqdn.´; cloth insignia; Pilots Flying Log Book (7.11.1953-8.10.1959); and the following documents: - named enclosure document for 1953 Coronation Medal, and named investiture invitation - named Certificate for the Instrument Pilot Rating (Green), dated 6.3.1954 - copy of McCarthy-Jones´ Freedom of the City of London, dated 3.6.1957 - invitation to the Presentation of 601 (County of London) Squadron Standard by the Duke of Edinburgh, dated 23.7.1954, with Order of Service - Order of Service for the recipient´s Memorial Service, with typed copy of the Address from that service, given by Group Captain J.M. Burkin, C.B., C.B.E., D.S.O., D.F.C., A.F.C. Estimate £ 2,800-3,200O.B.E. London Gazette 1.1.1957 Acting Wing Commander C.C. McCarthy-Jones, A.F.C. A.F.C. London Gazette 1.1.1953 Squadron Leader C.C. McCarthy-Jones, Royal Auxiliary Air Force Air Force Efficiency Award 20.9.1945 Second Award Bar 17.1.1952 Wing Commander Christopher Cecil McCarthy-Jones, O.B.E., A.F.C. (1916-60), born Bushey, Hertfordshire; educated at Watford Grammar School 1925-30 and Oundle 1930-35; Sergeant Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 15.9.1938; Pilot Officer 24.12.1939; served with 13 Squadron (Lysanders), Odiham, 21.3.1940-25.7.1940; Flying Officer 24.12.1940; Flight Lieutenant 24.12.1941; posted 19 Squadron (Spitfire Vb´s), Perranporth, 18.8.1942; posted as Flight Commander 504 (County of Nottingham) Squadron (Spitfire Vb´s), Middle Wallop and Ibsley; mainly flew Sweeps, Local Patrols and Escorts with the Squadron until 26.7.1943, when piloting Spitfire Vb BM145 as an escort to Bostons against Lille, he was shot down by an enemy fighter, receiving a wound to his head, and was made a prisoner of war near Coutrai, Belgium; McCarthy-Jones was taken blindfold and interrogated at Roubaix; he recuperated in the Prince Albert Hospital near Lille, 26.7.1943-5.8.1943, before being imprisoned in the following camps: Stalag Luft III (Sagan), 14.8.1943-27.1.1945, during his internment here he was part of ´X´ Organisation and ´Helped in map making Dept. and on tunnels but was unsuccessful in draw to get out´, and luckily for him was not one of the 76 Allied Air Force Officers to make the ´Great Escape´; Marlag (Tarmstett), 4.2.1945-10.4.1945. (M.I.9. Debrief refers) After returning to England, post the Second World War McCarthy-Jones joined the Auxiliary Air Force and resumed service with 504 Squadron, 24.4.1947-3.4.1949; transferred to 601 (County of London Squadron), 1.8.1949; Squadron Leader 15.1.1952; Commanding Officer 601 Squadron 15.1.1952-15.1.1956, during which time he led his Squadron to receive the Standard from its Honorary Air Commodore the Duke of Edinburgh, 23.7.1954; posted 7167 Reserve Flight, North Weald, 1956; Acting Wing Commander 1956-57; left the service 17.10.1958 and sadly died two years later of Polio in Lagos, Nigeria, where he is buried.

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£2,800