Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Sergeant J. Heath, Royal Air Force, who flew operationally as a pilot and 2nd pilot in Lancasters of No. 170 Squadron in the closing weeks of the War, including the strike on Hitler’s “Eagle’s Nest” at Berchtesgaden on 25 April 1945

1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, good very fine or better (4) £250-300

John Heath enlisted in the Royal Air Force in November 1939 and quickly witnessed active service with the B.E.F. in February-June 1940. Appointments at Duxford and Coltishall having followed, he was embarked for Canada in May 1942, where he trained as a pilot at Moncton, Moose Jaw, and elsewhere, prior to returning to the U.K. in early 1943.

Having then attended No. 14 O.T.U. at Market Harborough, and converted to Lancasters, he was posted to No. 170 Squadron at Hemswell in Lincolnshire February 1945, in which capacity he completed four sorties, including the strike on Hitler’s “Eagle’s Nest” on 25 April 1945 - ‘Ops. to Berchtesgaden. 4 Photos Taken. 1 4000lb. 6 1000lbs. 2 500lbs. 1 25lb. Hope Hitler was There’ (his flying log book refers).

Heath was demobilised in November 1945.

Sold with the recipient’s original R.A.F. (Form 414 type) Pilot’s Flying Log Book, with opening endorsement reporting the loss of his first log book in transit from Canada, and covering the period April 1943 until June 1945, the entries for No. 14 O.T.U. with touches of ‘poetic licence’, namely several listed targets which do not tally against official records; together with a wartime portrait photograph.