Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry 17


A well-documented Second War 1944 ‘Bomber Command’ D.F.C. group of five awarded to Flight Lieutenant Air Bomber J. L. Kirner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve


Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated 1944, in Royal Mint case of issue; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star, 1 clasp, France and Germany; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, nearly extremely fine (5)


£1,200-£1,600 D.F.C. London Gazette 13 October 1944.


Joseph Leslie Kirner joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in 1942, and after a spell with No. 1652 Conversion Unit was posted to 78 Squadron at R.A.F. Breighton, Yorkshire, in September 1943, flying Halifaxes. His first operational sortie, as a Air Bomber, was to Bochum on 29 September 1943, and Kirner flew a further six operational sorties that year, to Kassel, Dusseldorf, Cannes, Mannheim (18 November: ’hit by flak - 38 holes’), Leipzig, and Frankfurt. Commissioned Pilot Officer in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve on 28 December 1943, he resumed his tour in the New Year with a raid on Berlin on 15 February 1944, and over the next six months completed his tour of 30 operational sorties, including raids on Stuttgart (twice), Augsburg, Le Mans, Frankfurt, Berlin, Nuremberg (30 March: ‘Attacked by fighter’), Tergnier, Dusseldorf, Karlsruhre, Paris, and Montzen (27 April: ‘shot up by fighter 20 miles from target, hits on tailfins, fuselage, and hole 6’ by 4’ in starboard wing, 69 holes’, followed by a spell of ‘gardening’ in the run up to D-Day. His final operational sortie was to bomb a petrol dump at Rennes on 15 June 1944.


Kirner was promoted Flying Officer on 28 June 1944, and having successfully completed his operational tour was awarded the D.F.C.. He was promoted Flight Lieutenant on 28 December 1945.


Sold with the recipient’s Observer’s and Air Gunner’s Flying Log Book, covering his entire career; cloth insignia; a large quantity of photographs of the various German targets; and copied research, including full operational record book extracts.


18


An Order of St. John group of three awarded to Frederick Polkinghorne Esq.


The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Commander’s neck badge, silver and enamel, with heraldic beasts in angles, on neck riband; Defence Medal 1939-45; St John Service Medal, silver, straight bar suspension, with 6 Additional Award Bars (16829. A/Off. F. Polkinghorne. Redruth Div. No.9 Dis. S.J.A.B. 1937) the second and third mounted as worn, with the remnants of a black riband (presumably the recipient’s Order of St. John Officer’s badge, which was removed upon his elevation to Commander), good very fine (3)


£100-£140 Order of St. John, Officer, London Gazette 14 July 1959.


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