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THE BENTLEY PRIORY BATTLE OF BRITAIN TRUST APPEAL CHARITY AUCTION C.B.E. London Gazette 8.6.1963 Group Captain John Cunningham, D.S.O., O.B.E., D.F.C., D.L., Director and Chief Test Pilot, de Havilland Aircraft Company Ltd. D.S.O. London Gazette 29.4.1941 A/Squadron Leader J. Cunningham (90216), D.F.C., Auxiliary Air Force, No 604 Squadron The Recommendation (originally for an immediate Bar to his D.F.C.) states: ‘A/S/Ldr. J. Cunningham was awarded the D.F.C. on 3rd January 1941. Since his award he has continued to show the highest devotion to duty and has in combat with the enemy destroyed three, damaged three and probably destroyed one more. Both by his meticulous attention to the training of his radio operator and by his work in the air he is an inspiration to all the air crews in the Squadron. I recommend him for an immediate award of a bar to the D.F.C.’ Covering Remarks of Commander-in-Chief, Fighter Command: ‘Since the above recommendation was made Acting Squadron Leader Cunningham has destroyed five more enemy bombers at night. On the night of 8/9th April he destroyed two enemy bombers during the same patrol. On the night 15/16th April he destroyed three enemy bombers during three different patrols. He has now definitely destroyed ten enemy bombers at night, probably destroyed two more and damaged four others. Squadron Leader Cunningham’s courage and skill in attacking enemy bombers at night is an inspiration not only to his Squadron but to the whole of Fighter Command. I approve the Immediate Award of the Distinguished Service Order.’ WWW.SPINK.COM
September 6, 2012 - LONDON D.S.O. Second Award Bar London Gazette 24.7.1942 Acting Wing Commander John Cunningham, D.S.O., D.F.C. (90216), Auxiliary Air Force, No. 604 Squadron The Recommendation states: ‘A brilliant leader and a relentless pilot of matchless skill Wing Commander Cunningham has destroyed at least 16 hostile aircraft, many of them at night, as well as damaging several more. One day recently, Wing Commander Cunningham destroyed an enemy aircraft without firing a shot. He achieved his purpose by diving through cloud at great speed and drove the enemy aircraft down to the ground.’ Covering Remarks of Station Commander: ‘Cunningham has become almost a legend. His powers of leadership in one so young are outstanding. In addition to his astonishing skill as a pilot he is always anxious to engage the enemy and he often operates in weather which would be fatal to others. Quite recently he destroyed an enemy without even firing a shot by “driving it into the ground” in atrocious weather. This was only done by diving through cloud at great speed. His general behaviour is faultless and he is outstanding in every way.’ Covering Remarks by Air Officer Commanding: ‘In all this officer has destroyed 16 enemy aircraft, probably destroyed two and damaged 6, practically all at night. His recent successes of one damaged and another destroyed have both been in daylight, but in such difficult cloud conditions that few, if any other, pilots could have succeeded. I recommend the award on account of his outstanding personal ability and his brilliant leadership.’ D.S.O. Third Award Bar London Gazette 3.3.1944 Wing Commander John Cunningham, D.S.O., D.F.C. (90216), Auxiliary Air Force, No. 85 Squadron. The Recommendation states: ‘Already the holder of the D.S.O. and Bar and D.F.C. and Bar, Wing Commander Cunningham has, since his last award of a bar to the D.S.O., shot down four enemy aircraft at night, bringing his total up to twenty aircraft destroyed, of which nineteen have been destroyed by night. On 26th January, 1944, Wing Commander Cunningham completed one year as Commanding Officer of 85 Squadron, during which time it has been most successful and the total of enemy aircraft destroyed at night has risen from fifteen to fifty-six and a half, and on the night of 21st/22nd January the Squadron shot down its two-hundredth enemy aircraft of this war. It is almost entirely due to Wing Commander Cunningham’s magnificent powers of leadership, patience, organising ability and very wide knowledge of every aspect of night fighting that these excellent results have been achieved and caused 85 Squadron to deserve and enjoy its present very high reputation. Flying with F/Lt. C.F. Rawnsley, D.S.O., D.F.C. and Bar, D.F.M. and Bar, he shot down a F.W.190 which crashed at Wrotham on June 13th 1943. On the night of August 23rd 1943 this combination shot down another F.W.190 over Dunkirk after a thirty minute chase, and another F.W.190 off Aldeburgh on the night of 8th September 1943. Parts of the wreckage of this last F.W.190 hit Wing Commander Cunningham’s aircraft and pierced one of the radiators, forcing him to return to base on one engine. 23
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V.C. London Gazette 11.8.1917 Capta
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THIS EXQUISITE LIMITED EDITION BADG
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DATE SALE NO. Thursday 6 September
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4.3 Bidding as Principal When makin
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5.13.1.3 as soon as possible follow
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£25 © Copyright 2012 STAMPS COINS
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