Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War D.F.C. group of seven awarded to Wing Commander R. G. M. Walker, Royal Air Force, who during 1940-41 flew a large number of photographic reconnaissance sorties over the Middle East in a specially converted and unarmed ‘spy’ aircraft

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1942’; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, 1 clasp, Air Crew Europe; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Coronation 1953, unnamed as issued, mounted court-style as worn; together with the recipient’s related miniature awards and miniature riband bar, lacquered, about extremely fine (7) £1,400-£1,800

D.F.C. London Gazette 30 January 1942.
The original Recommendation states: ‘This Officer has been in this command since June 1940 during which time he has been engaged in photographic reconnaissance work. He has now completed 50 successful sorties over enemy territory all of them in unarmed aircraft and the majority involving flights of over 1,200 miles mainly across large expanses of sea, were carried out in a single engine aircraft with no navigational facilities. Only a high degree of skill, combined with personal courage and determination could have obtained the valuable information revealed by the photographs.’

Reginald Geoffrey Miles Walker was born on 30 June 1917 and was Commissioned Acting Pilot Officer in the Royal Air Force on 8 June 1936 (General Duties Branch). He was promoted Pilot Officer a year later and Flying Officer on 8 January 1939. During much of the second year of the Second War, Walker was serving in 2 photo reconnaissance squadron, flying ‘spy’ flights over the Middle East and Mediterranean in a Lockheed Hudson, which was specially converted into a photo reconnaissance aircraft. To these ends, all the Lockheed’s armaments were removed, and it was painted to resemble a civilian aircraft and given a civil registration markings ‘G-AGAR’. Promoted Flight Lieutenant on 3 September 1940, Walker transferred to 267 squadron and then Head Quarters Middle East, again flying many similar photographic missions. The majority of these in Hudson ‘G-AGAR’ which was now given R.A.F. Roundels and an R.A.F. serial number (N7354); presumably to avoid the crew of it being treated as spies if shot down. In February 1941, Walker’s logbook shows him and N7354 to have transferred back to No 2 photo reconnaissance Unit (again Middle East).

On 4 April N7354 was attacked by Italian aircraft whilst at an aerodrome on Crete, after which Walker flew in Blenheims, Beaufighters, Electras and Hurricanes. Promoted Temporary Squadron Leader on 1 December 1941 and awarded the D.F.C. in January 1942, Walker spent a large amount of 1942 at Head Quarters Middle East and the flying school at Haifa. In May 1943, he was posted to Command of 244 Squadron (Middle East) mainly flying Blenheims on escort and anti-submarine patrols. By 1944, he was also flying Wellingtons, having transferring to Command of 294 (Air Sea Rescue) Squadron in March of that year and promoted Temporary Wing Commander. He would serve for the rest of the War with this Squadron. Post War, Walker extended his service Commission, being transferred to the Secretarial Branch on 21 February 1949. He died in Gloucester on 2 September 1998.

Sold with original Royal Air Force logbook, giving details of all flights from 4 June 1940 to January 1952, named D.F.C. Buckingham Palace enclosure, a number of sweetheart pins/squadron badges, and a book on the Walker family; together with a photographic image of the recipient and a large quantity of copied research.