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Auction: 21003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 540A

A Second War D.S.O. group of eight awarded to Air Commodore G. R. Howie, 216 Squadron, Royal Air Force

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.I.R., silver-gilt and enamel, reverse officially dated '1942', with integral top riband bar adapted for mounting; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (Sqn. Ldr. G. R. Howie. R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Coronation 1953, mounted as worn, good very fine (8)

A replacement group known to the market, this the original group.

D.S.O. London Gazette 18 September 1942.

Gilbert Ritchie Howie was born on 24 March 1910 and joined the Royal Air Force for training as a Pilot. After he qualified he remained as an instructor at No. 7 F.T.S. Peterborough for some years. He was posted to Palestine as a Squadron Leader and saw service there in 1939 before the outbreak of the Second World War. He remained in the Middle East and as Wing Commander and Officer Commanding No. 216 Squadron, was awarded the D.S.O. for services in connection with air trooping. No. 216 Squadron was equipped with Bombay aircraft and was responsible for the quick movement of troops from Syria and other trouble spots in that area.

Howie returned to the U.K. and assisted in D-Day operations and the occupation of North West Europe. After the War he was promoted to Group Captain on 1 January 1952, and in 1956 sent to Ankara as Air Attaché to Turkey. He retired from the R.A.F. in March 1960, on his 50th birthday, and subsequently lived at Thames Ditton.

At the time of Arnhem, Howie was a Station Commander, and one of the pilots under his command was Flight Lieutenant J. K. O’N. Edwards, who won the D.F.C. for Arnhem, but who was later better known in the entertainment word as Jimmy Edwards. In his book Take it from Here he makes several references to Group Captain Howie.


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Sold for
£2,300

Starting price
£1100