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Auction: 23111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 847

Four: Acting Squadron Leader T. K. Walls, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Air Efficiency Award, G.VI.R. (Act. Sqn. Ldr. T. K. Walls. R.A.F.V.R.) good very fine (4)

Air Efficiency Award London Gazette 30 June 1945.

Tom Kenneth Walls was born on 31 May 1912. He began his flying training on 15 March 1933 on a Gypsy Moth at Lympne. He carries out a R.A.F. Reserve Training Course at the Phillips & Power Aerodrome, Woodley, Reading between the 10-22 August 1936 and continued with a variety of training on on Hawker Harts.

Walls begans an Instructor's Course at Prestwick on 18 September 1939 flying D.H.82s which he completes on 13 October 1939 with an Above Average score. He then transferred to No.14 E.F.T.S. in December 1939 to Elmdon, Birmingham flying D.H.82s where he remains solely as an Instructor until 9 July 1941, by this time he was graded Exceptional in his assessment of ability. He moved to 19 E.F.T.S. Sealand and continues instructing until 15 December 1941 after which he went to No. 41 O.T.U. Old Sarum to complete No. 45 War Course where he flys Lysander IIs completing the course in February 1942.

Moving to No. 309 (Polish) Squadron at Dunino, Fifeshire, Scotland now flying Lysander III, he flew with Pilot Officer Wasikowski, Flight Lieutenant Wolf and Flight Lieutenant Kern as Pilot.

After a short break Walls moved to Old Sarum for a Conversion course, going on to Harvards and then on to Mustangs. He has a brief spell with No. 613 Squadron (A.C.) Twinwoods from the 1-6 May, then to 1526 B.A.T. Flight Andover, flying Oxfords from 11-16 May before going back to No. 613 Squadron. He is moved to 268 Squadron (A.C.) Snailwell again flying Mustangs, he notes on the 5th July Shipping Recce Hook - Texel and Return:

'Section with Billy Griffin, fired on by two coastal vessels NW of Texel. 5,000 Ton wreck seen off.'

Walls moved to No.4 Squadron (A.C.) York flying a combination of Mustangs, Tiger Moths and Battles. On 20 May 1943 he transferred to No. 318 (Polish) Squadron at Detling and flew a Hurricane for the first time on the 21 May before briefly going to 38 Group (Netheravon) where he is a 2nd Pilot on a Hotspur Glider. Returned to No. 43 O.T.U. Old Sarum on 1 January 1944 flying Austers as an Instructor, Walls remained there until 28 September 1944. After a break he transfers to No.7 F.I.S. Upavon for 48 War Course where he converts to Oxfords. By the time of his final flight on 3 September 1945, he had over 2,000 hours of flying in his Log Books.

Sold together with the following archive of original material comprising:

(i)
Civilian Log Book and three R.A.F. Log Books.

(ii)
R.A.F. Officer's side cap by Moss Bros.

(iii)
R.A.F. cloth wings removed from uniform.

(iv)
Framed photographs of him in R.A.F. uniform and another of his wife.

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Sold for
£420

Starting price
£100