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Auction: 21003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 135

General Service Medal 1962-2007, 2 clasps, Borneo, Malay Peninsula (Sqn. Ldr. D. A. Lock. R.A.F.), with named box of issue, minor contact marks, very fine

David Anthony Lock was born on 12 May 1931 the son of Harold and Gladys May Lock and baptised at All Saint's Church, Stamford on 7 June 1931. He joined the Royal Air Force with the rank of Aircraftman Class II. Commissioned Pilot Officer with the RAF Regiment on 26 October 1950 as part of his national service with the number '2464140'. Relinquishing his national service rank Lock was Commissioned Acting Pilot Officer (General Duties) on 4 June 1952 and confirmed in the rank on 3 March 1953. Joining 130 Squadron at Bruggen on 5 October 1953 when Lock arrived the Squadron was equipped with Vampires but in November they were informed that they would soon be changing to Sabres. 'A' Flight began their conversion on 21 January 1954 with the rest including Lock's 'B' Flight doing so in February. He was present on 3 June when Flying Officer Bill Ireland's nose undercarriage collapsed, causing him to run from the runway in Lock's own words:

'He was Lucky the aircraft did not cartwheel as the nose wheel collapsed. He seemed to lose power on the take-off roll at about 100kt, which left him a bit short on the runway (which was 3,000 yd. long). I suspect a tyre blew and he came off the runway at quite high speed. The aircraft, strong as it was, was not designed for cross-country!'

Serious accidents continued several fatal, with two Flying Officers killed on 26 September, Lock was particularly affected by these deaths:

'Being ex-Regiment, I was always on funeral duty, which can be quite depressing as a young man. A low point in the moral with the aircraft. We lost Jenkins (112) and Stan Weir (130) in a Meteor accident- practising asymmeterics. A lunatic training exercise for single-engine jockeys.'

Promoted Flying Officer on 1 October 1956 and Flight Lieutenant on 19 February 1957, during this time he deployed to Borneo as part of the Borneo confrontation and later the extension of the conflict to the Malay Peninsula. Advanced Squadron Leader on 1 January 1965 likely serving with the Central Flying School from April 1967 until his retirement January 1969. Several photographs of Lock with Pilots wearing the uniform of the Royal Saudi Arabian Air Force have raised the possibility of him working as an Instructor for Airwork Services in Saudi Arabia after retirement; sold together with corresponding miniature campaign medal, Signals Command bronze shooting medal and a bronze Royal Life Saving Society medal inscribed 'D.A.Lock, 1948' to the reverse, as well as an archive comprised of four flying suit badges comprised of 'No.'130' Squadron', 'RAF 2nd Tactical Air Force', 'RAF Signals Command' and 'Manchester University Air Squadron, R.A.F.V.R.' along with documents relating to his baptism and memorial with R.A.F. Operations Record Book with an extract on 130 'Punjab' Squadron as well as a number of photographs of him as an instructor including two with R.S.A.A.F. personnel and a presentation trophy crowned by the emblem of the Central Flying School.

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Sold for
£170

Starting price
£100