A Collection of Awards to the R.F.C., R.N.A.S. and R.A.F.

A good Second World War A.F.C. group of six awarded to Squadron leader N. J. Wheeler, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, late Auxiliary Air Force, who flew operationally in Hurricanes of No. 615 Squadron during the Battle of Britain

Air Force Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated ‘1942’; 1939-45 Star, (copy) clasp, Battle of Britain; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Air Efficiency Award, G.VI.R., 1st issue (800292 Cpl. N. J. Wheeler, A.A.F.), contact marks and the last a little polished, otherwise very fine or better (6) £2000-2500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Awards to the R.F.C., R.N.A.S. and R.A.F..

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A.F.C. London Gazette 11 June 1942. The original recommendation states:

‘This officer is exceptionally painstaking and conscientious and has completed 470 hours instructional flying since he was posted to this unit a year ago.’

Norman John Wheeler was one of the first men to enlist in the Auxiliary Air Force upon its formation in 1925, when he was posted to No. 600 (City of London) Squadron as an Aicrafthand. He later trained as a Radio Operator on Wapitis and also served as an Air Gunner on Harts and Demins, prior to undertaking pilot training with the Squadron in August 1939.

Commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in July 1940, and having qualified as a pilot in Blenheims, he returned to his old unit, No. 600 Squadron, at Manston, and thence, in late August, was posted No. 615 (Churchill’s Own) Squadron, a Hurricane unit based at Kenley and commanded by Squadron Leader J. R. Kayll, D.S.O., D.F.C.

Shortly afterwards, however, the Squadron was sent north to Prestwick, but nonetheless continued to fly operational patrols and when, in October, it returned south to Northolt, Wheeler and his fellow pilots commenced a flurry of activity over the Maidstone-Biggin Hill sector. Added to which, after Squadron Leader R. A. Holmwood had assumed command, he participated in two or three offensive sweeps and escorts over the Channel in the New Year, sometimes acting as “Wingman” to Flying Officer Christopher Foxley-Norris - afterwards Air Chief Marshal Sir Christopher.

Rested with an appointment at No. 52 O.T.U., 81 Group, Fighter Command, at the end of February 1941, he was awarded the A.F.C. in June 1942, following which he joined No. 504 Squadron at Ballyhalbert as a Flight Lieutenant, remaining actively employed in the unit’s Spitfires until January 1943, not least after the Squadron’s move to Middle Wallop to undertake Circuses and Ramrods over the Channel at the end of the previous year. In March 1943, Wheeler transferred to No. 129 Squadron at Ibsley, another Spitfire unit engaged on cross-Channel sweeps, while in August - no doubt by way of resting him from operational flying - he was posted No. 116 Squadron, a radar callibration unit, at Croydon.

Latterly, he served as a Test Pilot at Aston Down and Brize Norton, until taking up his final wartime appointment at R.A.F. Lyneham in April 1944. He had, meanwhile, received his Air Efficiency Award, named to him in the rank in which he qualified in the Auxiliary Air Force (AMO No. 1708 of December 1942 refers). Released from the Service at the end of 1945, Wheeler died in 1996; sold with a file of research.