Other Properties - Aust. Groups

Lot 3317    SESSION 12 (11.30AM THURSDAY 1ST AUGUST)    Other Properties - Aust. Groups

Estimate $20,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $21,000

DFC FOR KOREA GROUP OF SEVEN: Distinguished Flying Cross (GVIR); Defence Medal 1939-45; War Medal 1939-45; Australia Service Medal 1939-45; Korea Medal 1950-53; United Nations Korea Medal 1950-53; USA Air Medal. 1951 on lower arm of first medal, 422618 J C Murray on second to fourth medals, 022053 J.C.Murray on fifth and sixth medals, last medal unnamed as issued. All named medals impressed. Court mounted, some contact marks, fine - very fine.

Ex Noble Numismatics Sale 46 (lot 1174).

DFC: LG 6/7/1951, p3687; CAG 19/7/1951, p1809, to Flt Lt John Colin Murray for efficiency & good leader, 69 missions inflicting major damage.

Presented by The Governor-General at Admiralty House, Sydney, on 21 January 1952 with the recipient then based at RAAF Station, Richmond, NSW.

Citation: Flight Lieutenant Murray has done much to maintain the efficiency of the Squadron both in the air and on the ground. He is an extremely good leader and has in sixty-nine missions against enemy ground targets inflicted major damage and destruction amongst their equipment and numerous casualties to their personnel. This Officer has always upheld the finest traditions of the Service.

US Air Medal: LG 22/6/1951, p3412; CAG 22/6/1951, p1555, to Flt Lt John Colin Murray for meritorious service, sustained air operations Korea, 10 operations 12/7 - 31/8/50.

Presented by His Excellency Mr P.Jarman, US Ambassador, at RAAF Station, Williamtown, NSW on 26 June 1952.

Citation: Flight Lieutenant John C. Murray performed acts of meritorious service while participating in sustained operations in support of United Nations activities in Korea. Flight Lieutenant Murray participated in ten (10) operational flights during the period 12 July 1950 to 31 August 1950. In the course of these operations, dive bombing, rocketing and strafing runs were made from dangerously low altitudes, destroying and damaging enemy installations and equipment. Through his ability, initiative and courage Flight Lieutenant Murray has brought great credit upon himself and the Royal Australian Air Force.

John Colin Murray, shop assistant at Grace Bros Parramatta, born 15Oct1922 at Grenfell, NSW; Joined RAAF Reserve 17Nov1941 at No.2 Recruiting Centre, Sydney, at age 19; Enl.22May1942 in RAAF as LAC Pilot Trainee; to Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS) in Canada Dec1942; presented with pilot's wings and promoted Sgt (Temp) 03Sep1943 and then Pilot Officer in same month; served as Flying Instructor at No.1 & 6 FTS, RCAF, Bordon & Dunville, Ontario 12Dec1943 - 04Jan1945, and during this time promoted to Flying Officer Mar1944; RTA 25Mar1945; Appt'd Flt Lt Sep1945; posted to Darwin, Morotai with 86 Wing Feb-Jul1946 flying Dakota transport aircraft; Aug1946-Aug1947 service as Flying Control Officer at Finschaafen, Port Moresby and Rabaul; posted to No.3 (Tac./Recon.) Sqn RAAF 15Nov1948 flying Mustang aircraft until outbreak of Korean War; to Korea with No.77 (Fighter) Squadron 08Jul1950-04Apr1951; RTA and from May1952 flew transport aircraft with 86 Wing and Beaufighter's with 30 Sqn for three years; promoted Sqn Ldr in Jul1955, and spent the remainder of his RAAF career as a flight instructor; Disch.31Dec1969 as Squadron Leader, ex Air Supply.

Three Australian Mustang Squadrons (No's 76, 77 and 82 Sqns) had been despatched to Japan in February 1946 for service with the British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF), although by 1950 only No.77 Sqn remained, based at RAAF Iwakuni. No.77 Sqn had already received orders to return to Australia and packed most of its stores for shipping when the Korean War broke out on 25th June 1950. As a member of the United Nations the Australian government immediately authorised the use of No.77 Sqn and 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (which had also been stationed in Japan with BCOF) as part of the UN forces.

77 Sqn flew its first mission over South Korea (bomber escort) on 2nd July 1950, becoming the first non-US unit to take part in the Korean War. The squadron's Mustangs were no match for the much faster and agile North Korean MiG-15 so they were committed to a ground attack role armed with rockets and bombs. On 8th July, Murray was one of a handful of Mustang pilots in Australia ordered at short notice to Japan to bring No. 77 Sqn up to strength, flying his first combat mission over Korea just four days later in which he destroyed two tanks and three trucks with rockets, bombs and .50 calibre machine gun fire.

The squadron initially flew long range missions from Iwakuni in defence of the Pusan Perimeter as UN forces pushed the invading North Korean Army beyond the 38th Parallel. In October the squadron was relocated to Hamhung, North Korea only to be withdrawn back to Pusan in December as the entry of China into the war caused a dramatic reversal and UN Forces were pushed back from the Manchurian border into South Korea. Ground attack missions were extremely dangerous and a number of Mustangs were shot down by ground fire, including that of the squadron CO, Wing Cdr Lou Spence. By the time the squadron was withdrawn back to Iwakuni in April 1951 to convert to Gloster Meteor F.8 aircraft, twelve Mustang pilots had been killed.

After its return to Japan, some of the squadron's pilots remained to convert to jet fighters but most of the Mustang pilots were rotated back to Australia, especially those who had completed their tour of 50 ground attack missions. Murray was one of these as he had completed sixty nine missions over Korea. The squadron returned to Korea in June with their jet fighters but these aircraft were still inferior to the MiG-15 and by the time the ceasefire agreement was signed on 27th July 1953, thirty three RAAF and six RAF pilots on attachment had been killed whilst serving with 77 Squadron. On his return to Australia Murray flew transport aircraft with 86 Wing and Beaufighters with 30 Sqn for three years from May 1952. He was promoted to Sqn Ldr in July 1955, and spent the remainder of his RAAF career as a flight instructor.

In an article by Sergeant Pilot (later Group Captain) Milton Cottee he writes of missions flown with Flt Lt John 'Jack' Murray as follows.

'As our war of interdiction developed we took on a close interest in a particular railway bridge across a ravine. Having knocked down this bridge early in the war we took the occasional opportunity to look at the attempts being made to rebuild it. About half way through its rebuild we went in and knocked it down again.

F/Lt Jack Murray and I, armed with rockets and guns, went in to have a look again, some time later. This time they were waiting for us. Soon after spotting the partially rebuilt bridge I saw two big black puffs of flak appear just behind Jack's aircraft. Soon after I felt the double thump from two bursts close to me. I recall a feeling of profound anger as I saw flashes from sandbagged gun emplacements near the bridge.

Being in a good position to roll immediately into a dive at one of the two AA guns I brought my six 50 calibres to bear and opened up with a long hosing burst. Meanwhile I selected rockets in salvo at minimum interval timing and flew in to the optimum launch range still firing my guns. Little figures were running in all directions around the AA gun I had selected as six rockets followed in close succession from my wings. Then followed a hard pull up and half roll to see the effects.

A few of the sandbags could still be seen but the gun had disappeared. As I rolled upright I spotted Jack diving on the remaining gun emplacement. Muzzle flashes showed that those on the ground had recovered from the surprise of my attack and were firing back, so I flew into position for a strafing dive in support. But this wasn't necessary. Jack's rockets streaked in onto the second gun emplacement and its ammunition went off with a huge smoking burst which reached up to engulf his aircraft. I was relieved to see him fly out of the smoke.

All signs of ground fire had now stopped. We were able to look over the partially rebuilt bridge without further interruption. Our report stated that the bridge would not need further attention for a while. Two weeks later, a couple of well placed 500 pound bombs delivered during a 60 degree dive knocked the bridge down again.'

With copies of the gazette notices and the citations for both awards, copies of pages from Murray's log book for the period 12July to 19 December 1950, copies of various photos including for presentation of the US Air Medal.