Orders, Decorations & Medals - British Groups

Lot 3272    SESSION 13 (2.30PM THURSDAY 25TH MARCH)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - British Groups

Estimate $300
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $320

TRIO TO PILOT KILLED IN FLYING ACCIDENT: 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal 1939-45 with MID. Unnamed as issued. Display mounted, extremely fine.

Together with original certificate for Mentioned in a Despatch named to 561526 Flight Sergeant G.A.Corby RAF from Air Chief Marshall Sir Frederick W.Bowhill, KCB, CMG, DSO, dated 10 March 1940 for gallant and distinguished services.

MID: Supplement to LG 20/2/1940, p1056.

George Arthur Corby was a pilot with 209 Sqn based at Oban, Scotland. The squadron was equipped with Lerwick I flying boats. On 20 February 1940 he took off to do escort duty but was forced back to base due to bad weather. On returning to Oban he decided to land well out in Firth of Lorne owing to poor visibility. Apparently owing to an error of judgement he stalled the aircraft onto the water causing it to bounce several times and in doing this the starboard wing tip float was knocked off and the aircraft heeled over causing water to enter through the windows. Flt Sgt Corby, captain of the aircraft was drowned and his body recovered. He was buried at Langdon Hills St Mary's Old Church, Melton, Mowbrey, Billericay, Essex, England. Two other personnel were saved and another two were missing and believed drowned.

The Lerwick I flying boat was prone to accidents. They entered service with 209 Sqn in December 1939 and throughout their time of service all the Lerwicks were grounded twice for urgent safety modifications and the squadron began losing aircraft due to accidents. Only 21 of this type of aircraft were built. They had several poor handling characteristics including a vicious stall. Ten were lost to accidents and finally they were declared obsolete in 1942.

With research including copy of the original Operations Record Book accident report.