Orders, Decorations and Medals

An important C.B., C.B.E., D.F.C. and Bar group of twelve awarded to Air Vice-Marshal C. B. S. Spackman, Royal Air Force, late Norfolk Regiment

The Most Honourable Order of The Bath, C.B. (Military) neck badge in silver-gilt and enamels; The Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Military) 2nd type neck badge; Distinguished Flying Cross, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar; 1914-15 Star (2.Lieut., Norf.R.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut., R.A.F.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Iraq (F/O., R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals; Greek War Cross 1916-1917, generally good very fine (12)

C.B. London Gazette 2 January 1950.

C.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1945. The following recommendation is taken from Air Ministry records: ‘This officer has for over 12 months been Air Officer in Charge of Administration for A.D.G.B. Both before and during the Normandy operations, the allied air forces depended very largely on the A.D.G.B. administrative organisation. Large numbers of new units had to be formed, new landing grounds opened up and a great number of stations had to be handed over to the USAAF. The smooth and efficient working of the administrative machine, both before and during the battle, was mainly due to the zeal, ability, tact and steadiness shown by Air Vice-Marshal Spackman.’

D.F.C. London Gazette 3 June 1918. One of the first batch of awards of the D.F.C. General citation but believed to be for good work with No’s 47 and 150 Squadrons in Salonika.

Greek War Cross London Gazette 12 July 1920.

Bar to D.F.C. London Gazette 10 October 1922. ‘For gallant and distinguished service in Iraq 1921-22.’ The following recommendation was submitted for approval by His Majesty the King on 9 September 1922: ‘For conspicuous courage and devotion to duty in the air throughout the operations in South Kurdistan from May to September 1921. While taking part in operations with a column of Levies and Police on September 12th, 1921, he landed in a most difficult country and picked up an injured pilot (who had been forced to land his machine), displaying great gallantry and marked skill in effecting a good landing under difficult conditions, and taking off again with an excessive load.’ Only four D.F.C’s and two Bars awarded for Iraq in 1922.

The following details are taken from But not in Anger by Cole and Grant: ‘Most dramatic of the early Iraq ‘casevacs’ was that by two DH9As of No. 55 squadron, based at Mosul, on 12 September 1921. While co-operating with the Army in the Desht-I-Harir area on a low-level reconnaissance, Flying Officer C. H. Teagle in aircraft H153 was hit by a rebel bullet and forced to crash land. This caused him further injuries and his observer was also hurt. It was the familiar situation of requiring an air lift or a punishing surface trek to the nearest base hospital, and the troop signalled the next two Ninacks arriving for operations to land nearby. The pilots, Flying Officers Frederick Damant and Charles Spackman, thought it feasible to carry the two injured officers in the rear cockpits, but the displaced gunners would be little more than two extra mouths for the Army to feed. So these unknown heroes, doubtless airmen of humble rank, volunteered to fly out lying on the wings, with minimal moral and physical support provided by some rope lashings. It is sad to record that after this display of initiative and cool nerve, Teagle died of his injuries four days later.’

Charles Basil Slater Spackman was born in Happisburgh, Norfolk, on 4 July 1895, and was first commissioned into the Norfolk Regiment on 3 April 1915, serving in Gallipoli and Egypt with the 1/4th battalion. He was seconded into the Royal Flying Corps in October 1916, serving on the Salonika front with No’s 47 and 150 Fighter Squadrons. During this period Spackman is credited with shooting down three enemy aircraft. He transferred into the Royal Air Force in April 1918 and between the wars served in Egypt, Iraq, Palestine, Sudan and Aden. During the Second World War Spackman served in Libya 1941; Air Officer Commanding Sudan and Eritrea 1941-42; H.Q. Fighter Command 1942; Air Officer in command of Administration 1943-45. He was subsequently Air Officer Commanding No. 19 Group, Coastal Command, 1945-47; SASO British Air Forces of Occupation, Germany, 1947-50; retired 1950. Air Vice-Marshal Spackman died on 7 December 1971.