Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An Unusual Series of Original R.A.F. and Civil Flying Log Books, appertaining to Flight Lieutenant C. H. Ball, Royal Air Force, a Navigator who completed a tour of operations in Wellingtons of No. 70 Squadron in North Africa, and who afterwards worked with B.E.A., B.O.A.C. and Irish International Airways, notching up in excess of 19,000 flying hours by the time of his retirement in December 1973, comprising his R.A.F. Observer’s and Air Gunner’s Flying Log Book, covering the period of his training in November 1939 through to his final R.A.F. posting to No. 46 Squadron in December 1945, including some 60 operations with No. 70 Squadron between December 1940 and February 1942, and a few early flights with B.O.A.C. and B.E.A. in 1946-47; together with Ministry of Aviation Flying Log Books (3), various types, between them covering the continuous period of August 1946 through to November 1973, incorporating a huge range of international flights and many aircraft types, and finally ending with cross-Atlantic runs in Boeing 707s of Aer Linte; and U.K. Ministry of Civil Aviation Flight Navigator’s Licence, dated 5 November 1949, in the full name of Clement Hayward Ball (Born London, May 1918), with portrait photograph and several certificates of renewal up until October 1963, bindings worn, contents good, a remarkable record of continuous service as a Navigator for nearly 35 years, several of them at war £400-500

In September 1940, for the first time, Wellingtons of No. 70 Squadron bombed shipping in Benghazi harbour. Over the coming months the same target was visited by the Squadron with such alarming regularity that it became known as the “Mail Run”, and, in due course, the inspiration for No. 70’s song, The Mail Run Melody, which was sung to the tune of Clementine. One verse in particular was pertinent to Flight Lieutenant Ball’s in-flight role:

‘Have you lost us, Navigator?
Come up here and have a look
Someone’s shot our starboard wing off
We’re all right then, that’s Tobruk’