Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An unusual post-War Vampire and Spitfire Test Pilot’s A.F.C. group of seven awarded to Flight Lieutenant D. A. Youngs, Royal New Zealand Air Force and Royal Air Force, who flew in three tours over the South West Pacific, in Kittyhawks and Corsairs, during the Second World War. He was mentioned in despatches for his services as a flight commander with 25 Squadron during his last tour, and retrained as a helicopter pilot to serve in Whirlwinds in Malaya and Cyprus

Air Force Cross, G.VI.R., 2nd issue, reverse officially dated ‘1950’, and additionally engraved ‘D. A. Youngs’; 1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; War Medal 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; New Zealand War Service Medal; General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, Malaya, E.II.R., Cyprus (Flt. Lt. D. A. Youngs. R.A.F.) 2nd clasp loose on riband as issued; U.N. Medal, on UNFICYP ribbon, mounted for display on card, generally good very fine (7) £1,800-£2,200

A.F.C. London Gazette 8 June 1950, the original recommendation states:

‘No. 33 M.U., R.A.F. Lyneham. Flight Lieutenant Youngs has been the unit’s Test Pilot since May 1948. His work consists in testing high speed aircraft - Vampire and Spitfire - newly erected from storage. The work is exacting as it calls for continual concentrated attention in order to detect and record aircraft faults and behaviour. It is also attended by the abnormal risks which are inseparable from the task of bringing into use, for the first time, aircraft from storage, where they may have suffered climatic deterioration. During the whole period of his service with the unit, Flt Lt Youngs has displayed exceptional skill and zeal in the work. He has demonstrated his skill, not only by the accuracy and acuteness of his diagnosis of aircraft faults and characteristics, which has been of the greatest assistance to the tradesman, and has reduced considerably the number of re-tests necessary, but also during many flying displays which he has given at neighbouring units, at functions organised to stimulate recruiting in the R.A.F., and in the air defence services, viz Battle of Britain Displays, Displays for A.T.C. Cadets and Displays for aircraft spotters. At these displays, his courageous and expert demonstrations of aerobatics on Vampire aircraft, at high speed and low altitudes and at great risk, have excited great admiration for the superb quality of the R.A.F. aircraft and pilots, and have often been the outstanding feature of the displays. Flt. Lt. Youngs’ exceptional zeal was well exemplified during the summer months of 1949, when he continually took advantage of the evening hours to test aircraft in readiness for the ground staff next morning. This work, carried out in his own time, meant that he set the pace of work for the ground staff to follow. His flying then reached an intensity which tested his endurance to an extent that it became necessary in the interests of his safety to compel him to go on leave for a short spell for rest. During two of the summer months, he carried out 119 and 123 tests and, during the remaining months, did considerably more than 80 tests each month. Allowing for weather restrictions these are exceptionally high averages. No other test pilot who has served with this unit during the 2 and a half years has approached the high standard which this officer has consistently maintained.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 10 July 1945.

Douglas Alan Youngs was born in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex in January 1920. His family emigrated to New Zealand when he was a boy, and he was educated at Takapuna Grammar School, New Zealand. Youngs was employed as a clerk by the New Zealand Insurance Company in Auckland. He enlisted in the Royal New Zealand Air Force in May 1940, underwent pilot training, and gained his ‘Wings’ in September of the same year. Youngs was commissioned Pilot Officer in November 1940, and flew as a staff pilot at various Flying Training Schools in New Zealand between 1940-1943.

Youngs was posted for operational flying as a fighter pilot with 19 Squadron (Kittyhawks and Corsairs) in February 1944. The Squadron was deployed to Guadalcanal in the South West Pacific, and Youngs flew 2 tours of operational sorties with them. They were employed on flying patrol and ground attack missions against the Japanese, and alternated stations between Guadalcanal and Bougainville. Youngs was posted as a Flight Commander to 25 Squadron (Corsairs) in October 1944, and carried out a further tour of the South West Pacific in that capacity before being posted back to New Zealand as test pilot on the disbandment of the Squadron in March 1945. He carried out at least 123 operational sorties during the war, and flew 2,111 hours from 1940-45.

Youngs transferred to the Royal Air Force, and served two spells with the force including August 1947 - August 1951, and June 1954 - October 1968. He retrained as a helicopter pilot in September 1954, and was posted for operational service with 155 Squadron (Whirlwinds), Kuala Lumpur, as part of the Far East Air Force in November 1954. Youngs served with the Joint Experimental Helicopter Unit, Middle Wallop, from December 1957, and in December the following year was sent out as part of the air reinforcements posted to Cyprus to aid British ground forces with their anti-EOKA terrorist operations. He subsequently served on the strength of 18 Squadron, Gutersloh, and was detached to serve in Nicosia on two separate occasions. Flight Lieutenant Youngs retired in October 1968.

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