Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War Battle of France and Battle of Britain Hurricane pilot’s campaign group of four awarded to Sergeant Pilot, later Squadron Leader, W. J. Etherington, 17 Squadron, Royal Air Force, who shared at least one enemy aircraft probably destroyed, 18 May 1940.

1939-45 Star, 1 clasp, Battle of Britain; Air Crew Europe Star, 1 clasp, France and Germany; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted on a board for display, generally very fine or better (4) £2000-2400

Wilfred John Etherington was born in Bromley, Kent, in 1911. He lost his job during the depression, when the company he worked for went out of business. As a consequence, Etherington joined the Royal Air Force as an Aircrafthand in December 1931. He took part in the Royal Tournament of 1932, as a member of the Display team, and was subsequently posted on general duties to 111 Squadron at Hornchurch. Determined to move up the ranks, Etherington went on an equipment course at Cranwell, after which he was posted as an AC1 Storekeeper to 32 Squadron at Biggin Hill.

Etherington was posted overseas for service as an LAC with 47 Squadron at Khartoum. Whilst posted at the latter he applied for pilot training, in which he was successful and was posted to 4 F.T.S. at Abu Sueir. He carried out his initial training in Avros there from July 1935, and returned to the UK the following year. Etherington was posted as a pilot to ‘B’ Flight 17 (Fighter) Squadron (Bulldogs) at Kenley in June 1936. Having advanced to Sergeant, Etherington converted with the Squadron to Gloster Gauntlets the following year. The Squadron moved to North Weald in May 1939, and re-equipped with Hurricanes in June of the same year.

17 Squadron became operational for the Second War whilst based at Debden in September 1939, and Etherington flew offensive patrols from Kenley in May of the following year. The Squadron was heavily engaged during the Battle of France (sadly for this period much of Etherington’s log book is damaged) and Air Vice-Marshal H. Bird-Wilson records the following:

‘Wilfred Etherington flew with my flight throughout the period of the Battle for France and the later Battle of Britain, during which time he was involved in combat on many occasions. However, I cannot recall how many enemy aircraft he shot down, but he no doubt shared in quite a few, because in those days a Section of three aircraft went in to attack. The aircraft became a shared victory.’

An example of the above was 18 May 1940, near Seclin, when Etherington shared a Me. 110 probably destroyed with the other members of his Section - Pilot Officer Manger and Sergeant Wynn.

Bird-Wilson records a number of offensive patrols carried out over France in May 1940, and in particular over Dunkirk towards the end of the month. Etherington adds the following:

‘On 10th May, 1940, we flew a patrol to Rotterdam and were pounced upon by Bf 109s; only seven of us got back to our forward base at Martlesham Heath. On return we only had time to refuel before setting out to Lille in France where we stayed two hours before returning to England and Hawkinge. Then we covered the evacuation of Dunkirk and lost half our unit in the operation.’

The following month 17 Squadron used Le Mans and Dinard as its forward bases, until it had to return to the UK, as Etherington describes, ‘when we had to leave it was in haste and all our supporting spares were left behind!’

After a week’s leave the Squadron was brought back up to strength again and thrust straight into the Battle of Britain. Operating initially from Debden and then Tangmere, Etherington flew in a large number of patrols and convoy patrols during the Battle:

‘During the Battle of Britain we flew from Debden. This was a very hectic time about which much has been written, but most of the stories are decorated with padding and glamour, nothing like the battle I took part in. Our unit did well in the Battle with a score of 80. Towards the end of September, however, with more pilots coming through, some of the older hands on the squadron were pulled out to become instructors in Flying Training Command. On 27th September, 1940, I was posted to 5 F.T.S. at Tern Hill to instruct on Ansons. In the following December the school moved out to Canada where we instructed on Harvards at Moose Jaw in Saskatchewan. I clocked up 1,000 hours on the Harvard and received a commission after serving 14 months as Warrant Officer.

Then came another move: nine pilots from various schools who had served operationally on Hurricanes were sent to Lethbridge in Aberta to form 133 Squadron for the R.C.A.F. Our task was to train pilots up to operational standard. When the unit moved to Vancouver Island I was again posted, to Bagotville to help in the formation of 1 O.T.U. Another change came in March, 1943, when I was posted home to the UK, to 59 O.T.U. at Millfield where I flew Hurricanes, Masters and the odd Typhoon. At the end of January 1944 Millfield was closed as an O.T.U. and I was on the move again. My next posting was a shock: I was to go to Woodvale as u/t ops officer and that meant coming off flying! I tried every way to get my posting altered but spent several months here before moving to Tern Hill, where for two months I was unit test pilot with 5 (P) A.F.U. I stayed at Tern Hill until March, 1945, when I went to 2 F.I.S. at Montrose for a course in instructing before once again going south to Cranwell. Here I remained until August, when I finally said goodbye to the R.A.F.’

Etherington was released from the R.A.F. with the rank of Squadron Leader, and resided in Cirencester in later life. Squadron Leader Etherington died in 1994.

Sold with the following related items: Three Royal Air Force, and one Royal Canadian Air Force, Pilot’s Flying Log Books (15 July 1935 - 31 August 1945), first two log books which cover up to 18 August 1940 are significantly damaged but still legible, their condition being a result of bomb damage suffered during a German raid (laminated letter from recipient’s son included with lot refers); letter from Air Vice-Marshal H. Bird-Wilson, Etherington’s Flight Commander in 1940 with 17 Squadron, listing from his own log book information missing from recipient’s damaged log for the period, dated 13 September 1995; a quantity of photographs from various stages of recipient’s career, some annotated; a copy of Strive to Excel, The Story of No. 17 (Fighter) Squadron At War (1939-1945) by K. Hiscock; a diving medal and various lapel ephemera; copied research including an typed article on the recipient’s career and correspondence between the recipient and a researcher of Bristol Bulldogs written in the 1980’s.