Orders, Decorations and Medals

Four: Chief Petty Officer (A.) B. J. Sandoe, Royal Navy, who served in Sea King helicopters of No. 820 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm, in support of the Gulf operations 1990-91 and Former Yugoslavia 1995-96 - having earlier participated in the Falklands War as a Radar Operator aboard H.M.S. Intrepid

South Atlantic 1982, with rosette (A.B. (R.) D171525K, H.M.S. Intrepid); Gulf 1990-91, no clasp (L.A.C.M.N. D171525K, R.N.); N.A.T.O. Medal 1994, clasp, Former Yugoslavia, in its case of issue; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.II.R. (L.A.C.M.N. D171525K, R.N.), mounted as worn except where stated, together with a set of related dress miniature medals, Fleet Air Arm “Wings” and 820 Squadron uniform patch, good very fine (10) £800-1000

Barry John Sandoe, who was born in Senne Lager, Germany in October 1960, entered the Royal Navy in May 1978, and qualified as an Able Seaman (Radar) in April 1980, and it was in the same capacity that he served aboard the amphibious assault ship H.M.S. Intrepid during the Falklands War in 1982. Commanded by Captain P. G. V. Dingemans - who was awarded the D.S.O. - Intrepid served as the H.Q. ship for S.A.S. operations and came under repeated attack in San Carlos Water during the landings. She was also employed in several night operations inserting, or recovering landing craft.

In May 1984, Sandoe underwent aircrew aptitude training and, having been advanced to Leading Seaman (Radar) in September 1986, attended Daedalus for aircrew survival and paramedic training. Further flying training ensued at Seahawk and in September 1987, on graduating as a Leading Aircrewman and being awarded his “Wings”, he joined No. 820 Squadron (F.A.A.), a Sea King H.A.S. Mk. V unit. A nine month tour in Ark Royal in the Far East under his belt, Sandoe passed as an instructor in No. 810 Squadron, but applied for an early return to a frontline unit and rejoined No. 820 Squadron in August 1990. Thus ensued active service in Ark Royal in support of the Gulf War, a period best summarised by the recipient:

‘It was during this period that we participated in the Gulf War, on the Mediterranean side, carrying out range clearance for the Americans and their Tomahawk missile firings, as well as policing ships for gun smuggling ... I was in a helicopter that ditched into the sea after one of the engine computers malfunctioned, but the pilot managed to get it into manual control before we rolled over, making us the only crew to carry out a successful water-take-off for real. Also during this period an R.A.F. pilot dropped a practice bomb into my mess deck literally 60 seconds after I had walked out. Nobody was killed but of the nine Leading Aircrewmen on board, there were only two of us left, as the rest had to be evacuated due to severe burns - a friend of mine lost most of his hand.’

Returning to training duties with No. 810 Squadron in November 1992, Sandoe saw one final tour of active duty back with No. 820, this time aboard the Illustrious, conducting missions in the Adriatic and former Yugoslavia 1995-96. His final appointment was at Seahawk and, having been advanced to Chief Petty Officer Aircrewman, he was discharged in October 2000.

Sold with a quantity of original documentation, including the recipient’s Flying Log Book, covering the period September 1986 to December 1996; N.A.T.O. Medal certificate of award for the period February to July 1995; aircrew course certificates (5), including those for Aircrewman Instructor, dated 28 May 1993 and R.N. Underwater Escape Training, dated 22 January 1988; a fine array of evocative career photographs (approximately 20), among them scenes from the Falklands; a typed resume of his career and photocopied Certificate of Service.