SUPERB ‘SPECIAL FORCES FLIGHT’ NORTHERN IRELAND 1995 AIR FORCE CROSS AND AFGHANISTAN 2004 COMMENDATION AWARDED TO HELICOPTER PILOT TO BE SOLD AT NOONANS

The superb ‘Special Forces Flight’ Northern Ireland 1995 Air Force Cross, along with an Afghanistan 2004 Chief of Joint Operations Commendation are among a group of ten awarded to Gazelle, Lynx and Apache pilot Major Paul Bookham of the Army Air Corps, and later Royal Military Police which are to be offered in an auction of Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria at Noonans Mayfair (16 Bolton Street) on Wednesday, February 11, 2026. They are being sold by the recipient and expected to fetch £18,000-22,000.

Having already carried out a tour of Northern Ireland with the R.M.P., as part of the Weapons Intelligence Section and as the Personal Protection Officer for the Brigade Commander of 8 Infantry Brigade, Londonderry, Bookham came back to complete a further 2 tours as a pilot. A determined pilot, Bookham distinguished himself whilst serving with 665 Squadron, A.A.C., on operations as part of the Special Forces Flight, Northern Ireland, August 1994 - December 1995. He flew in support of covert surveillance operations over extended periods, day and night, and in all weather conditions. And it was after a successful insertion that Bookham’s skill as a pilot came to the fore, 20 February 1995. After completing his 4-hour operational duty in East Tyrone, Bookham was recalled to the aide of an injured operative whom he had inserted earlier. Despite ‘deteriorating weather conditions and very low light levels... he immediately flew to the site to render assistance. When he arrived around Toome Bridge, a well-known hostile republican location, the casualty required immediate evacuation... At 2318 hours on an unrecced, unlit, two-way road bridge, with high winds, a low cloud base and with no assistance Staff Sergeant Bookham landed his aircraft in the vicinity of the casualty.’ He later effected the evacuation of the casualty with the assistance of a Lynx, making his own aircraft the potential target for any attack.

In 2004 Bookham deployed to Afghanistan (the first of 4 tours) as a Lynx Flight Commander with 657 Squadron - forming the Lynx Component of the Joint Special Forces Air Wing. He worked in-conjunction with 22 SAS Regiment on deployment during Counter Narcotics operations. The most audacious of which being to Tora-Bora, 31 May 2004 - leading to destruction of 25 heroin labs, nearly 1,000 kgs of heroin, and 5 tonnes of opium.

Major Bookham explained: “I was deployed away from my family for well over 2/3 of my 32 years’ service many of those in foreign lands but also hostile.  I missed many precious moments with my family as they grew and on returning home it always took time and effort to settle back into their routine and normality.  My son is getting married this year and I want to be able to help him more and watch him enjoy the benefits of it and spend more time travelling together as a family.”

Mark Quayle, Medal Specialist and Associate Director of Noonans commented: "This superb group of medals is reflective of a career of a specialist in flying under intense pressure, in extreme circumstances.  Whether the threat came from terrorists, drug lords or the weather conditions - Major Bookham greeted it in the same way, with the same valiant determination to see the job through." 

Major Bookham was born in London into a Military family, spending the majority of his childhood travelling but primarily in Cyprus where his father served with the RAF. He resigned his commission in 2013 after 32 years of continuous Army service to join the Qatar Emiri Air Force as a contractor flying instructor/advisor.’

The medals are being sold with a substantial group of certificates, letters, logbooks, maps, newspaper cuttings and photographs.

The following lot in the sale is a General Service Medal awarded to his wife Julie Sutton (later Bookham).

Link to catalogue https://www.noonans.co.uk/auctions/calendar/855/catalogue/519837/?sort=Estimate_Reverse