Eight: Group Captain G. R. O’Sullivan, Royal Air Force and Royal Flying Corps, late Royal Dublin Fusiliers and Royal Irish Rifles, who was shot down whilst serving as a B.E.2e Observer with 5 Squadron, 28 April 1917. He retrained as a pilot and flew Vernons, Wapitis and Harts with 45 and 6 Squadrons during operations in Kurdistan, before ending his operational flying with 27 Squadron on the North West Frontier

General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Kurdistan (F/O. G. R. O’Sullivan. R.A.F.) suspension slack; India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1935 (F/L. G. R. O’Sullivan. R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Coronation 1937, mounted as originally worn, generally very fine (8) £380-420

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Awards to the Royal Air Force between the Wars (1919-1939) formed by Group Captain JE Barker.

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Provenance: Group Captain F. Newall Collection, Christie’s March 1988.

Garth Richard O’Sullivan was born in Dublin, Ireland, in August 1897. He attested for the 7th (Service) Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, at the city of his birth, in September 1914. O’Sullivan served during the Great War with the Battalion in the Balkans theatre of war from 10 July 1915 (entitled to 1914-15 trio). He was commissioned Second Lieutenant, Royal Irish Rifles, in December 1915.

O’Sullivan was posted to the Royal Flying Corps, and served as a Flying Officer, Observer from January 1917. He served with 5 Squadron (B.E.2e’s) which flew as a tactical reconnaissance squadron in France. O’Sullivan was crewed with Second Lieutenant N. C. Buckton as his pilot, and they flew together on a photographic patrol West of Gaverelle, 28 April 1917. During the latter patrol they engaged an enemy aircraft in combat and were shot down. Despite their B.E.2e being wrecked, both O’Sullivan and Buckton were unhurt by the crash. The victory was claimed by Ltn. K. Wolff of Jasta 11.

Having transferred to the Royal Air Force as Lieutenant in April 1918, O’Sullivan was posted to the Electrical and Wireless School, Winchester, in September 1920. He was posted overseas in May the following year for service with 45 Squadron, Almaza, Egypt. O’Sullivan moved with the Squadron to Hinaidi, Iraq, in May 1922. The Squadron History The Flying Camels by Wing Commander C. G. Jefford gives O’Sullivan as having retrained and operating as a Vernon pilot during operations:

‘Meanwhile the Turkish forces which had been infiltrating across the border since the summer were growing stronger and intelligence reports indicated that attacks were imminent on Koi Sanjak, Kirkuk and Erbil. It was decided to reinforce the northern sector on January 24th and then to take the offensive. A total of thirty-nine aeroplanes was accordingly deployed to Mosul and Kirkuk in addition to the twelve which were already in situ. This force included most of the Vernon fleet, its activities being co-ordinated by Sqn Ldr Francis Don on attachment from HQ Iraq. No. 45 Sqn’s commitment was eight aircraft which were based at Mosul. Fg Off Garth O’Sullivan in J6870 was forced to land at Shergat en route but a replacement was provided the following day. In all, the squadron’s detachment numbered nineteen officers and sixty-six airmen, all of whom had been airlifted to Mosul.

Almost as soon as they arrived the newly deployed units began to undertake offensive air action against both the Turks in the north and the dissident Sheikh Mahmud in the Sulaimaniyah district. No. 45 Sqn’s Vernons flew bombing missions on February 3rd and 5th and again on March 7th and 9th, attacking several villages between Sargali and Sitak; it is know that Arthur Harris participated in the first two raids and that Bob Saundby flew on all four. For the most part, however, the Vernons were employed on casualty evacuation and resupply missions in support of the designated bomber squadrons and the troops of KOICOL as they moved north through the mountains.’

O’Sullivan was posted to 6 Squadron (Bristol F.2b’s), Hinaidi, 27 March 1923. The Squadron was employed with patrol duties and further action in Northern Iraq against Turkish backed rebels. He returned to the UK in August 1923, and was promoted Flight Lieutenant in July 1925. O’Sullivan held four Coastal Area postings prior to his return to India in 1931. He returned to operational flying, this time on the North West Frontier, with 39 Squadron (Wapitis and Harts), Risalpur, 16 October 1931. The Squadron’s Operations Record Book gives O’Sullivan as flying a number of bombing sorties throughout 1931-32. He transferred to No. 2 (Indian Wing) Station, Risalpur, in March 1934.

The unrest caused by the Faqir of Alingar brought a return to operational flying for O’Sullivan, and he was posted to 27 Squadron (Wapitis) in September 1935. Having operated out of Kohat, he was attached to Probyn’s Horse at Lachi Camp in February of the following year. O’Sullivan advanced to Squadron Leader in October 1936, and was posted to the Air Armament School, Eastchurch, in February 1937.

O’Sullivan served during the Second War, and advanced to Temporary Group Captain in December 1941. He retired 9 November 1945, and emigrated to Australia. O’Sullivan died in Perth, Western Australia, in 1968.