Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 7012 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Lot: 552

The Scarce ´Berlin Airlift´ O.B.E., Martin B-26 Marauder ´1943´ Operations D.F.C., "V.I.P. Flight" A.F.C. Group of Ten to Wing Commander H.S. Grimsey, Royal Air Force, Late Royal Air Force Reserve, Whose "V.I.P." Flights included the Command of the Eleven Aircraft Assigned to the Famous Yalta Conference, February 1945 a) The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, 2nd type, Military Division, Officer´s (O.B.E.) breast Badge, silver-gilt b) Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., reverse dated ´1944´ c) Air Force Cross, G.VI.R., reverse dated ´1947´ d) 1939-1945 Star e) Atlantic Star, with France and Germany Bar f) Africa Star, with North Africa 1942-43 Bar g) Italy Star h) Defence and War Medals i) Coronation 1953, generally good very fine, mounted court style as originally worn, with Caterpillar Club Membership badge, gold with ´ruby´ eyes, the reverse officially engraved ´Sgt. H. Grimsey´, and Czech Pilot´s Flying Badge, by Spink & Son, London, silver, silver gilt, in its fitted case of issue; recipient´s identity disks; and recipient´s Civil Flying Log Book (1.2.1939-16.8.1939), with Great Britain and Northern Ireland Air Ministry Certificate of Competency and Licence to Fly Private Flying Machines, with portrait photographs, dated w.e.f. 1.8.1939; Three Pilot´s Flying Log Books (16.8.1940-30.12.1944; 20.1.1945-28.10.1950 and 1.12.1950-21.12.1961) The group with a further substantial amount of original documentation including: - Buckingham Palace Forwarding letter for O.B.E., named and dated 11.5.1949 - named enclosure letter for Coronation 1953 Medal - Czech Pilot´s Flying Badge Certificate of Award and related forwarding letter from the Czech Inspectorate, London, dated 20.4.1920 - Air Crew Categorisation Card (Pilot) - Headquarters Combined Airlift Task Force Authorization Card - Ministry of Defence retirement letter, dated 13.6.1968 and several photographs and congratulatory letters. Estimate £ 4,500-5,500 O.B.E. London Gazette 1.9.1949 Wing Commander Harry Spencer Grimsey, D.F.C., A.F.C. (121202), Royal Air Force D.F.C. London Gazette 7.4.1944 Acting Wing Commander Harry Spencer Grimsey (121202), Royal Air Force, No. 52 Squadron. The Recommendation, dated 11.2.1944, states: ´Wing Commander Grimsey has recently assumed Command of No. 52 Squadron after a long tour of duty with No. 14 Squadron. He began his tour from England against shipping off Zeebrugge. He was then posted to the Middle East where he made 16 Bombing sorties in close support of the Eight Army. After the Squadron had converted to Coastal Reconnaissance in November, 1942, this officer carried out many recces in the Aegean Sea, and laid mines in the Bay of Tunis with accuracy and determination, his mines being dropped at night into the channel at a height of less than 200 feet. On 31st January, 1943, this officer was the leader of two reconnaissance aircraft on offensive patrol. He sighted a 4,000 ton Merchant vessel escorted by two destroyers and 5 Ju ´88 aircraft. Despite this opposition he made his attack with determination. The results of the torpedo attack were not observed for he was chased away by a Ju ´88 which he probably destroyed. On the 5th April and 19th August, 1943, while engaged on long range reconnaissances, this pilot sighted valuable enemy convoys. In each case, all the vessels were reported accurately and expeditiously by wireless to his Base. From the 25th August, 1943 to 2nd February, 1944, this officer was in command of a detached Flight of 14 Squadron at Taranto. The closing of the Adriatic to the enemy and the successful strikes against enemy shipping in that sea and down to Corfu are due in large measure to the work of this Flight in which Wing Commander Grimsey played an important part.´ A.F.C. London Gazette 12.6.1947 Acting Squadron Leader Harry Spencer Grimsey, D.F.C. (121202), R.A.F.V.R. The Recommendation states: ´Squadron Leader Grimsey is a Flight Commander and Deputy Squadron Commander. He has been employed as a V.I.P. pilot with his present unit for three years. During this period he has flown many important missions in all weathers with outstanding skill. In particular, he led eleven aircraft in "Operation Argonaut" for the Yalta Conference in February 1945. In April 1946 he made a most urgent special flight, in exceptionally poor weather conditions, to bring the Governor of Gibraltar to the United Kingdom. As a Flight Commander he has trained and encouraged his V.I.P. crews to the same high standard as himself and has consistently chosen the most arduous and difficult missions himself; he invariably accomplishes these with skill and determination. Squadron Leader Grimsey has set a fine example and has been an inspiration to the whole squadron.´ Wing Commander Harry Spencer Grimsey, O.B.E., D.F.C., A.F.C., born Stowmarket, Suffolk, 1913; educated at Ipswich Grammar School; flew his first solo flight in civilian life in a Piper Cub, 11.6.1939; enlisted Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, October 1939; received training at 26 E.F.T.S. Gwelo, Southern Rhodesia, 8.8.1940-11.10.1940 and at 20 S.F.T.S. Kumalo, Southern Rhodesia, 11.10.1940-15.1.1941; posted as Sergeant Pilot 110 Squadron, Wattisham, Suffolk (Blenheims), 30.5.1941 and flew his first (and only with this squadron) operational sortie, 5.6.1941 ´Bombed Shipping off Zeebrugge´ (Log Book refers); posted 14 Squadron, Peta Tigra, Palestine (Blenheims), July 1941; initially flying leaflet raids over Iran in August 1941 and progressed to heavier duties in November of that year flying in eight anti-tank strikes on the El Adem-Tobruk run that month, ´Raid on tanks + M.T. Tobruk-El Adem Area´, 23.11.1941 (Log Book refers); in December Grimsey´s crew continued on similar raids until 9.12.1941, ´Raid on El Timini Aerodrome. U/S Wireless. Unable to Locate Base owing to darkness and sandstorm. Baled out when petrol ran out.´ (Log Book refers), Pilot Officer C.A.D. Speller a member of Grimsey´s crew gives further incite into the event, ´We returned from a solo raid about the middle of December last in our aircraft, but darkness had fallen and visibility was nil, and we were unable to find our base in the desert. Being short of petrol we could not make one of the emergency landing grounds. The pilot [Grimsey] therefore climbed but as we reached 3000 feet the engines started to cut. He gave the order to bale out; the Air Gunner went first and I followed, the pilot coming after me. As it was pitch black I could see nothing and had no sensation of falling. I don´t remember pulling the rip cord but I know I was very surprised at the "jerk" I felt; it was nothing like as severe as I have been led to believe. The chute opened perfectly - even the pilot who was down to nearly 2000 feet, before being able to leave the aircraft, made a successful descent, although owing to an awkward landing he sustained minor fractures in both legs´; Pilot Officer March 1942; after just over a month of recuperation Grimsey returned to operational flying with the squadron and between February and July he flew in ten operational sorties including: 22.2.1942 ´Sea Sweep for Italian Convoy´ (Log Book refers); (2) Anti-Submarine Patrols; 15.5.1942 ´Army Co-op. Low Level attack on Gun Posts at Port Said´ (Log Book refers); (2) Night raids on Heraklion Aerodrome, Crete and on 26.6.1942 ´Dusk Raid on enemy units Nr. Sidi Barani. A/C Hit by A.A. and fighters´ (Log Book refers); as a result of a shift from daylight formation bombing to night bombing the squadron were to suffer increasing casualties, in April 1942 alone 14 Squadron lost 21 Blenheims and 28 aircrew; however they were to be re-equipped whilst stationed in the Western Desert, Egypt with Martin B-26 Marauders (the first R.A.F. unit to be equipped thus), then considered one of the fastest and most advanced bombers ever built; after a period of training and the squadrons conversion to Coastal Reconnaissance in November 1942 Grimsey flew in his first operational sortie in the Marauder, 2.11.1942 ´Operational Sea Recco - Crete - Kaso - Melos - Melos. Enemy Convoy + A/C/ sighted + reported by wireless landed at Maryut´ (Log Book refers), and went on to fly a further 29 operational sorties with the squadron between December 1942-January 1944 (See D.F.C. Recommendation), including: 20.1.1943 ´Offensive Sweep N. of Crete - Aegean Sea - Dodecanese - M.V. sighted and sunk by Accompanying A/C, Attacked by Arado Float Plane.´ (Log Book refers); 5.4.1943 ´Offensive Shipping Recco Around Sicily - Italy - Sardinia. Convoy sighted and reported by wireless 20 miles from Naples. Chased by enemy fighters´ (Log Book refers); with the squadron´s move to new hunting grounds off the Albanian, Italian and Yugoslavian Coasts Grimsey´s ops included 2.11.1943´ "Rhubarb" Leading 3 Squadrons of Spitfires to Attack R.D.F. Station at Durazzo Yugo-Slavia Station Totally Destroyed. Flack Moderate Photos Taken´ (Log Book refers); posted Acting Wing Commander (O.C.) 52 Squadron, Sicily and subsequent move to Gibraltar (Baltimores), February 1944 and flew in five Anti U-Boat sweeps before being posted as Squadron Leader (Deputy C.O. and Flight Commander) 24 Squadron, Hendon and Bassingbourne, a "V.I.P. Flight" Dakota Unit, a position he was to hold May 1944-July 1947; he took part in many V.I.P Flights during the period most notably "Operation Argonaut", February 1945 (See A.F.C. Recommendation), also including: 18.8.1946 ´Croydon - Nuremburg (2 MP´s) War Crimes Commission´ and 15.5.1947 ´Northold to Orly/Paris Secretary of State for War´ (Log Book refers); in July 1948 Grimsey was despatched to Germany to assist with the planning and running of ´Operation Plainfare´, otherwise known as the Berlin Airlift, during which time he flew in a number of V.I.P. and freight flights: 31.7.1948 ´Berlin Airlift. Wunstorf to Gatow (16,000 lbs flour)´; he returned to the U.K. in September 1949 and was posted to R.A.F. North Luffenham (O.B.E.); further appointments before retirement included H.Q. Transport Command and as a N.A.T.O. Staff Officer, June 1954; retired Wing Commander 1968.

Sold for
£4,600