Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare and highly unusual ‘Cold War’ surveillance A.F.M. group of four awarded to Master Signaller and ‘Special Operator’, later Flight Lieutenant, J. J. Coucher, Royal Air Force, who served with 192 Squadron - a ‘spook’ electronic counter measures/surveillance unit, who flew Canberras and Washingtons on secret surveillance missions over Soviet territory during the 1950s. A practice that was brought to public attention and featured in the BBC Timewatch programme - Spies in the Sky in February 1994

Air Force Medal, E.II.R (1382398. F. Sgt. J. J. Coucher. R.A.F.).; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue (Fg. Off. J. J. Coucher. R.A.F.) mounted on card for display, very fine (4) £3,000-£4,000

A.F.M. London Gazette 1 January 1954.

J. J. Coucher was born in 1921, and advanced to Master Signaller whilst serving with the Royal Air Force. He served with 192 Squadron in the 1950s during the Cold War. The Squadron was a ‘spook’ electronic counter measure/surveillance unit based at Watton. Coucher was rather guarded about his work with the Squadron:

‘I seem to have been rather camera shy during my RAF career. However, to expand the award of the A.F.M., I was a ‘Special Operator’ on 192 Sqn operating out of R.A.F. Watton on intelligence missions and I enclose a copy of a letter for your retention that you may find interesting...’ (Letter included with lot refers)

The above letter to which the recipient refers was sent to him by the Production Company - Brook Associates - asking him to take part in the research process and be interviewed for the BBC Timewatch programme Spies in the Sky:

‘For the first time, with the end of the Cold War, the story can be told from all sides. Thus, the programme will be looking at the air intelligence operations from the British, US and Soviet viewpoints. One of our producers has recently returned from the US, where he interviewed many former USAF crew members of this period. A Russian speaking colleague is currently in Moscow, speaking to former officers of the PVO. We have also spoken to many former R.A.F. officers.

One part of the programme will cover R.A.F. missions flown in the 1950s. We have been in contact with members of 192 Squadron from this period, including Ben Burton [presumably Roalnd ‘Monty’ Burton, A.F.C. and Bar] and Ron Dubock [O.B.E., A.F.C.] and understand that you flew with the squadron at this time. I would therefore be most grateful if I could arrange to speak to you at your earliest convenience.’

Needless to say, Coucher declined to be involved, and indeed large elements of what occurred are still subject to the Official Secrets Act. However, flying Canberra and Washington aircraft, the Squadron flew radar and communications surveillance over Soviet territory. Selected R.A.F. aircrew flew U.S.A.F. planes - a gamble taken by Churchill to help the Americans, when for political reasons in that country they had to pull back from its direct probing of Soviet air space. Units such as 192 Squadron penetrated Soviet defences, gathering information to be subsequently deciphered by Government Communications Headquarters.

During the air intelligence gathering missions of the early 1950s, some 40 NATO spy planes were shot down by Soviet aircraft and anti-aircraft fire. The above mentioned Timewatch programme features the actual Soviet aircraft camera footage of the shooting down of a U.S.A.F. C.130 which had ‘strayed’ over their borders.

Aircrew decorated for these reconnaissance missions were invariably awarded A.F.C.s and A.F.M.s. In ‘peacetime’ these awards were given for operations that would probably have earned the D.F.C. in wartime. The A.F.C. and the A.F.M. required no citation, and during the Cold War era were deemed the correct awards for aircrew who flew such operations.

Coucher was commissioned Flying Officer in February 1957, and advanced to Flight Lieutenant in February 1960. He retired in October 1968, and in later life resided in Ripon, North Yorkshire.

Sold with the following original related documents: Letter of congratulation addressed to the recipient as ‘Master Signaller J. J. Coucher, A.F.M., 192 Squadron, R.A.F. Watton, Thetford, Norfolk’, on the occasion of his award of the A.F.M. from Air Vice-Marshal W. E. Theak, C.B. C.B.E., Headquarters No. 90 Group’, dated 1 January 1954; Letter from the Production Company - Brook Associates - to recipient in relation to asking him to take part in the research process/be interviewed BBC Timewatch programme Spies in the Sky, dated 13 October 1993; a VHS recording of that programme when it appeared on BBC 2 in February 1994; copied correspondence between the recipient and the then purchaser of the medals in March 1994.