Beschreibung:

An outstanding Second World War campaign group of three awarded to Flying Officer G. Barker, Royal Air Force, who gained several victories over Greece while flying as ‘Wingman’ to Squadron Leader Marmaduke “Pat” Pattle in No. 80 Squadron, prior to being seriously wounded when his Hurricane came under attack at Maleme in April 1941: that his gallant services never received official recognition was likely on account of the loss of all of his squadron’s records For his own part, Pattle - who had met and befriended Barker at the same flying school back in 1936 - achieved an estimated 50 ‘kills’ before being shot down and killed over Piraeus in the same month, an achievement that resulted in him becoming the highest scoring R.A.F. pilot of the war Fellow squadron pilots included Roald Dahl, the author, who later described the trials and tribulations of No. 80 Squadron in the Greek campaign in Flying Solo: by April 1941, the R.A.F. had just 18 airworthy combat aircraft left in Greece - 14 Hurricanes and four Blenheims 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45, together with Air Ministry forwarding slip and his embroidered R.A.F. ‘Wings’, extremely fine (3) £1800-2200 Footnote Gordon Barker was born in Northallerton, Yorkshire, in 1917, one of four children to Jabez Bethel and Jane Elizabeth Barker of Bellwood Farm, Ripon. He gained a place at Ripon Grammar School and, by the time he had completed his studies, was set upon a career in the R.A.F. After his initial induction training and drill, Barker was selected for flying duties and, in June 1936, was posted to a civil flying school run by Scottish Aviation Ltd. at R.A.F. Prestwick. On the same course was the South African born Marmaduke Thomas St. John “Pat” Pattle, the two pilots becoming firm friends - an enduring friendship that was tragically curtailed by Pattle’s death in action over Greece in April 1941, but not before Barker had flown as his ‘Wingman’ on a number of occasions. Having qualified for his ‘Wings’, Barker attended advanced pilot training courses and graduated with an ‘above average’ rating in the Spring of 1937. Posted as a Sergeant to No. 80 Squadron, a Gloucester Gladiator unit, he joined ‘B’ Flight with ‘Pat’ Pattle, who had been commissioned Pilot Officer. In April 1938, 80 Squadron was ordered to Ismaila in Egypt, in order to protect the Suez Canal by way of ground attacks on Arab rebels. Here, following the outbreak of hostilities in September 1939, Barker flew alongside another notable ace of 1939-45 vintage, Pilot Officer Ernest “Imshi” Mason. With Italy’s entry into the war, 80 Squadron found plenty of action, flying defensive sorties over Alexandria before moving up to the Libyan border. By August 'B' Flight was commanded by Pattle and the squadron was deployed to an advanced area at Sidi Barrani in order to relieve 33 Squadron and assist the troops on the ground. However, with the Italian invasion of Egypt, No. 80 was withdrawn to Habbaniyah to re-equip with Mk. II Gladiators, following which it transferred to Greece. Here, then, the commencement of a memorable chapter of operations: during the unit’s very first sortie, an offensive patrol over Korce on 19 November 1940, eleven Italian aircraft were shot down. Greece On 4 December 1940, four newly arrived Gladiator aircraft on detachment from 112 Squadron, and 11 others from No. 80, flew up to Yanina for further operations. Squadron Leader Hickey led 14 of these aircraft on an offensive patrol over the Tepelene area on the very same day, the British force coming up against 12 CR-42s of 150 Gruppo and 10 G 50bis of the 154 Gruppo. During the ensuing dogfight 9 Fiat CR-42s were destroyed, with two probables, Pattle claiming 3 CR-42s destroyed with two probables. Barker claimed one of the CR-42s as destroyed over Klissoura. Pattle was recommended for his first Distinguished Flying Cross, and the squadron returned to Larissa the next day. On the morning of 13 February 1941, Gladiators from 80 and 112 Sq