Orders, Decorations and Medals

Three: Leading Aircraftman J. E. Riley, No. 17 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

1939-45 Star; Burma Star; War Medal, all privately named ‘1037091 L.A.C., R.A.F.’; together with named condolence slip and a Field Service Post Card addressed to his mother, extremely fine (3) £25-35

Leading Aircraftman John Edward Riley was killed on 1 November 1944. He is buried in Colombo Cemetery, Ceylon. Sold with further copied research detail, including details from No. 17 Squadron Operations Record Book, from which the following is extracted: ‘A shocking accident occurred during the afternoon. A Beaufighter swung on take off and crashed into the dispersal area, destroying one of our Spitfires and the Squadron Wireless Tender. Leading Aircraftman J. Riley who was working in the Tender was killed.’