Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Flying Officer J. S. Lindsay, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, all in card box of issue addressed to ‘F/O J. S. Lindsay, 3 Red Hill Way, Bassett, Southampton’; Air Efficiency Award, G.VI.R., 1st issue (W/O. J. S. Lindsay (742146) R.A.F.V.R.), in named card box of issue, extremely fine (5) £200-240

John Short Lindsay served with the Royal Air Force during the Second World War and qualified as an Air Observer Navigator on 15 June 1940. Posted to the Takoradi Ferry Flight on 26 January 1941, he flew a variety of aircraft over Africa, on the 3,600 mile delivery route from Takoradi on the Gold Coast to Cairo, including Blenheims, Lockheed 14s, Junkers 82s, Bombays, and D.H. 89s. A typical route was Takoradi- Accra- Lagos- Kano- Maiduguri- El Geneina- El Fasher- Khartoum- Wadi Halfa- Luxor- Cairo, and would typically take 5 days to complete:
‘It was certainly a route over which the wireless would come in useful. The first stage, 378 miles of humid heat diversified by sudden squalls, followed the palm-fringed coast to Lagos, with a possible halt at Accra. Next came 525 miles over hill and jungle to an airfield of red dust outside Kano, after which 325 miles of scrub, broken by occasional groups of mud houses, would bring the aircraft to Maiduguri. A stretch of hostile French territory some 650 miles wide, consisting largely of sand, marsh, scrub and rocks, would then beguile the pilot's interest until he reached El Geneina, in the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. Here, refreshed with the knowledge that he had covered nearly half of his journey, he would contemplate with more equanimity the 200 miles of mountain and burning sky which lay between him and El Fasher.
A brief refuelling halt, with giant cacti providing a pleasing variety in the vegetation, before the 560 mile run to the Sudanese capital of Khartoum, this time facing typical sandstorms of East Central Africa. Upon arrival the wearied airman might brave the disapproving glances of immaculate figures in khaki, and luxuriate for a few hours in the comforts of Khartoum. Thence, he had only to fly down the Nile a thousand miles. Stretching out 560 long miles to Wadi Halfa, where orange trees and green gardens contrast strangely with the desert, and a house built by Gordon and used by Kitchener shelters the passing traveller, he would re-fuel before heading to Luxor and finally, after five days over the perilous jungle and thunderstorms of Equatorial Africa, barrens and desolate landscapes of the semi-deserted southern Sudan, and the green vegetation on the banks of the Nile, there came in sight the greatness of the pyramids and the historical intriguing city of Cairo, the outpost of Middle East Command. When he got there his airmanship would be doubtless be all the better for the flight. Not so, however, his aircraft.’

More than 5,000 aircraft of several types were ferried across that route from 1940 to 1943. Many aircraft crashed in the desert due to running out of fuel or mechanical failure but when they were spotted the R.A.F. rescue teams were soon despatched and the crew-members and plane were saved.

After a year on the Takoradi Ferry Flight, Lindsay transferred to the Aircraft Delivery Unit, R.A.F. Middle East on 4 January 1942, and adding D.C. 3s to his repertoire. He was commissioned Pilot Officer, General Duties Branch, on 4 December 1944, and was awarded his Air Efficiency Award on 21 June 1945.

Sold together with the recipient’s Observer’s and Air Gunner’s Flying Log Book, covering the period 31 January 1940 - 17 March 1942; Air Council enclosure for the Second War awards; two of the recipient’s identity tags; a group photograph taken in Durham; and a portrait photograph of the recipient.