Beschreibung:

A very rare North West Frontier D.F.M. group of eight awarded to Squadron Leader Richard Alexander Robert Falconer, Royal Air Force, for photographic reconnaissance flights over the North-West Frontier of India in 1930, comprising Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.), Military; Distinguished Flying Medal, G.V.R. (363944 Sgt. R. A. R. Falconer. R.A.F.); India General Service Medal, 1908-35, clasp, North West Frontier 1930-31 (363944 Sgt. R. A. R. Falconer. R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Royal Air Force Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, G.VI.R. (W/O R. A. R. Falconer. R.A.F.). Brooch mounted as worn, good very fine. D.F.M., London Gazette, 26 June, 1931 "In connection with military operations on the North-West Frontier of India during the period between 23 April and 12 Sept, 1930". Recommendation (contemporary copy sold with lot), reads: I wish to recommend No. 363944. Sergt. Falconer for the award of the "Distinguished Flying Medal" for devotion to Duty whilst flying on Photographic Reconnaissance over enemy territory. When operations commenced this year, it was shown that the maps of the country over which aircraft were operating were very inaccurate; it therefore became necessary to prepare very large Photographic mosaics with upmost speed. Pilot. Sergt. Falconer showed a great aptitude for this type of highly skilled work and during operations photographed an area of well over 1000 sq. miles with excellent results. Had it not been for the whole hearted manner in which the pilot undertook his task, the actual photography would have taken considerably longer than it did, at considerable extra expense in both flying time and photographic material. Also the excellent results which have been attained in Bombing can be directly attributed to him in producing accurate photos of the area to be bombed. Pilot Sergt. Falconer did 102 hrs 40 mins flying on these photos flights, in addition he did 29 hrs 40 mins over enemy country. He is an excellent pilot and a zealous worker at all times. Also Gazetted in the same group of names, Leading Aircraftsman J. A. Dwyer, who appears in Falconer's Log Books as "Passenger" and is seen next to him in one of the official photographs listed below. O.B.E., London Gazette, 1 January, 1953, New Years Honours listing. Included in the lot are:- A: Seven Pilot's Log Books: 1) 16 March, 1928 - 26 January, 1929 (a flight with his first passenger) 2) 4 April, 1929 - 31 July, 1930, this book covering the period of his D.F.M. operations with "A" Flight, No 60 (B) Squadron, Kohat, North West Frontier, flying de Havilland GA and Westland Wapiti 3) 1 August, 1930 - 19 September, 1932, covers end of the DFM period; a flying display at Delhi and (31 March, 1932) a forced landing "complete engine failure". 4) 26 September, 1932 - 28 May, 1935, from Kohat to Central Flying School, etc. 5) 28 May, 1935 - 12 February, 1937, No 6 Flying Training School, R.A.F. Netheravon. 6) 12 February, 1937 - 8 February, 1937. Entries list over 20 flights between February and April with A.P.O. Gibson and include Night Flying and "Landings in Flare Path". A.P.O. Gibson is better remembered as Wing Commander Guy Penrose Gibson, VC, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar, who led the "Dam Busters" raid in 1943. 7) 10 February, 1940 - 30 January, 1953. This includes flights as part of the British Military Mission Air Wing, Middle East Pool and Turkish Air Mission, where planes he piloted included German Gothas and Focke-Wulfs, American Falcons and Fleet, a French Hanriot, and a British Magister. He was posted to Southern Rhodesia on 4 April, 1942. B: Contemporary typed copy of DFM Recommendation, with 'cut out' from London Gazette. C: A letter of congratulation on his DFM from L. N. Hollinghurst, RAF Peshawar (later Air Chief Marshal Sir Leslie Hollinghurst). Two letters on his retirement from the R.A.F. (1953) D: A number of official photographs from the DFM period. E: Army Rifle Association, Methuen Cup, silver-gi