Orders, Decorations and Medals

The important ‘Atom Bomb Testing’ A.F.C. group of six awarded to Squadron Leader E. J. G. Flavell, pilot of the R.A.F. Valiant bomber that dropped Britain’s first operational atomic bomb over Maralinga in South Australia

Air Force Cross, E.II.R., the reverse officially dated ‘1957’; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star, clasp, France and Germany; Defence and War Medals; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1945-48 (Fg. Off. E. J. G. Flavell, R.A.F.) good very fine (6)

A.F.C. London Gazette 1 January 1957.

Edwin James George Flavell was born in London on 25 April 1922, and joined the Royal Air Force as an aircraft apprentice in January 1938. He was remustered as a trainee pilot in December 1941, and commissioned Pilot Officer on 24 October 1944. During WW2 he served with No’s 297 and 644 Squadrons, subsequently serving with No’s 9, 138, and 49 Squadrons.

Promoted to Squadron Leader in January 1956, he proceeded to Australia to participate in operation ‘Buffalo’, at Maralinga, where Britain’s first live nuclear device in the kiloton range was to be dropped from a Royal Air Force Valiant bomber. Two crews were selected for these tests, under Squadron Leader Ted Flavell and Flight Lieutenant Bob Bates, who underwent a period of training in South Australia under the control of Group Captain Paddy Menaul. The scientific Director for the entire test series was Sir William Penney; the tests included ground detonation of some devices, culminating with the live drop from a Valiant B1 under its captain, Squadron Leader Ted Flavell, with his very experienced bomb aimer, Flight Lieutenant Eric Stacey, on 11 October, 1956. A number of delays had been experienced before this actual date became a reality because Sir William Penney had the very difficult task of balancing carefully the need for speed, as each day added enormously to the cost of the operation, with his duty towards the Australian Government, which he had assured that no dangerous degree of radioactivity would fall on any type of residential area. Therefore, with the need to meet these requirements and not jeopardise our right to loose the use of the Maralinga range, he was forced to make no less than nine postponements, for the winds had to be just right for the drop. Eventually, the perfect conditions arrived with the dawn of the 11th October and, at 3.30 p.m. a Royal Air Force Valiant, WZ366, of 1321 Flight, 49 Squadron Wittering, piloted by Squadron Leader Ted Flavell, released the ‘Blue Danube’ weapon which functioned perfectly, detonating at 500 feet. Both Flavell and his bomb-aimer, Flight Lieutenant E. Stacey, were awarded the Air Force Cross for their part in this operation.