Orders, Decorations and Medals

The original grant of the squadron badge for ‘No. 281 Squadron’, hand-illuminated badge and motto, as painted by an artist of the College of Arms, dated January 1943, and signed by the Chester Herald and Inspector of Royal Air Force Badges, J. Heaton-Armstrong, and H.M. King George VI, the Chester Herald’s signature faded, otherwise in excellent condition £100-150

No. 281 Squadron was formed at Ouston in March 1942 as an air-sea rescue unit. Initially equipped with Defiants, it was re-equipped with Walrus aircraft in early 1943 and in June with Ansons. Absorbed by No. 282 Squadron at the end of the same year, No. 281 was quickly reformed with Warwicks, and continued to fly air-sea rescue operations from assorted U.K. bases until the War’s end, latterly being based in Northern Ireland. No. 281 was disbanded in October 1945.