103
A rare Malaya operations Vampire jet pilot's D.F.M. group of five awarded to Master Pilot...
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Description
A rare Malaya operations Vampire jet pilot’s D.F.M. group of five awarded to Master Pilot A. E. Cover, 60 Squadron, Royal Air Force, who flew in at least 80 operational sorties against terrorist targets in the jungle - including having to make a forced landing returning from a strike on the Seremben area, after his engine failed
Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R., 2nd issue (1807040 Sgt. A. E. Cover. R.A.F.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, G.VI.R. (1807040 Sgt. A. E. Cover. R.A.F.); Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue (M. Plt. A. E. Cover. (1807040). R.A.F. ) mounted as originally worn, rank of last partially officially corrected, light contact marks overall, very fine (5) £4,000-£5,000
---
Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, February 2015
A total of 24 D.F.M., 2nd type, were issued for service in Malaya and Korea, of which 10 were awarded to the Royal Air Force.
D.F.M. London Gazette 18 December 1951. The original recommendation states:
‘Sergeant Cover has been a Squadron Pilot with a Vampire Squadron since July, 1949. During the time he has been in the Squadron, he has completed over 80 operational strikes against the insurgents operating in the jungles of Malaya. He has often led sorties in adverse weather conditions, when finding and attacking the targets has not been easy. At all times, Sergeant Cover has displayed fine qualities of leadership and has set a splendid example to the other members of the Squadron. On one occasion while returning from a strike in the Seremben area, his engine developed a coolant leak and subsequently seized. Sergeant Cover made a fine forced landing in very difficult terrain. His airmanship on this occasion was of a high order. Although suffering from shock and an injured hand, Sergeant Cover was again flying with the Squadron in a few days. Sergeant Cover has shown commendable zeal, courage and determination while serving in his Squadron on operations in connection with the Emergency in Malaya. As a pilot he has proved himself capable of successfully facing a difficult situation calling for airmanship of a high order. His cool efficiency has been an inspiration to his fellow pilots.’
Arthur Ernest Cover was ‘born in December 1924, at Tidworth, Amport, Southampton, enlisted in June 1942. During the war he served in South Africa, the Middle East and India. His wife lives at Weybridge, Surrey’ (Press addendum to D.F.M. recommendation refers).
Whilst the D.F.M. recommendation does not refer to the Cover’s Squadron, it can only be 60 Squadron as they were the one unit operating with Vampire aircraft in Malaya at that time. The squadron had taken delivery of Vampires between December 1950 - January 1951, having previously been equipped with Spitfires. The award of a D.F.M. for jet aircraft operations is believed to be the first such award in that theatre. Cover was promoted Master Pilot in August 1958, and there is a record of him and 37 other R.A.F. personnel leaving Liverpool on the S.S. Brittanic bound for York on 9 January 1959. It would appear that this detachment was a selected crew visiting the U.S.A for training in operations with the American Thor Missile - soon to be deployed in the UK and manned by R.A.F. crews. The men, at least 5 being Master Pilots, were detached to US manufacturers for training and then shipped to Vandenburg Air Force Base, California for specialist launch training. It is worth noting that Master Pilot Maurice Sloan, a colleague of Cover on the detachment to the U.S.A., is pictured in a Flight Magazine as being the Launch Missile Console Operator on the inaugural trial launch by R.A.F. personnel in April 1959.
Cover was awarded his L.S. & G.C. in October 1961, and he was discharged from the Royal Air Force in 1966. In later life he resided in Berkshire, and he died in Bracknell in January 1991.
Sold with copied research.
Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R., 2nd issue (1807040 Sgt. A. E. Cover. R.A.F.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, G.VI.R. (1807040 Sgt. A. E. Cover. R.A.F.); Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue (M. Plt. A. E. Cover. (1807040). R.A.F. ) mounted as originally worn, rank of last partially officially corrected, light contact marks overall, very fine (5) £4,000-£5,000
---
Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, February 2015
A total of 24 D.F.M., 2nd type, were issued for service in Malaya and Korea, of which 10 were awarded to the Royal Air Force.
D.F.M. London Gazette 18 December 1951. The original recommendation states:
‘Sergeant Cover has been a Squadron Pilot with a Vampire Squadron since July, 1949. During the time he has been in the Squadron, he has completed over 80 operational strikes against the insurgents operating in the jungles of Malaya. He has often led sorties in adverse weather conditions, when finding and attacking the targets has not been easy. At all times, Sergeant Cover has displayed fine qualities of leadership and has set a splendid example to the other members of the Squadron. On one occasion while returning from a strike in the Seremben area, his engine developed a coolant leak and subsequently seized. Sergeant Cover made a fine forced landing in very difficult terrain. His airmanship on this occasion was of a high order. Although suffering from shock and an injured hand, Sergeant Cover was again flying with the Squadron in a few days. Sergeant Cover has shown commendable zeal, courage and determination while serving in his Squadron on operations in connection with the Emergency in Malaya. As a pilot he has proved himself capable of successfully facing a difficult situation calling for airmanship of a high order. His cool efficiency has been an inspiration to his fellow pilots.’
Arthur Ernest Cover was ‘born in December 1924, at Tidworth, Amport, Southampton, enlisted in June 1942. During the war he served in South Africa, the Middle East and India. His wife lives at Weybridge, Surrey’ (Press addendum to D.F.M. recommendation refers).
Whilst the D.F.M. recommendation does not refer to the Cover’s Squadron, it can only be 60 Squadron as they were the one unit operating with Vampire aircraft in Malaya at that time. The squadron had taken delivery of Vampires between December 1950 - January 1951, having previously been equipped with Spitfires. The award of a D.F.M. for jet aircraft operations is believed to be the first such award in that theatre. Cover was promoted Master Pilot in August 1958, and there is a record of him and 37 other R.A.F. personnel leaving Liverpool on the S.S. Brittanic bound for York on 9 January 1959. It would appear that this detachment was a selected crew visiting the U.S.A for training in operations with the American Thor Missile - soon to be deployed in the UK and manned by R.A.F. crews. The men, at least 5 being Master Pilots, were detached to US manufacturers for training and then shipped to Vandenburg Air Force Base, California for specialist launch training. It is worth noting that Master Pilot Maurice Sloan, a colleague of Cover on the detachment to the U.S.A., is pictured in a Flight Magazine as being the Launch Missile Console Operator on the inaugural trial launch by R.A.F. personnel in April 1959.
Cover was awarded his L.S. & G.C. in October 1961, and he was discharged from the Royal Air Force in 1966. In later life he resided in Berkshire, and he died in Bracknell in January 1991.
Sold with copied research.
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A rare Malaya operations Vampire jet pilot’s D.F.M. group of five awarded to Master Pilot A. E. Cover, 60 Squadron, Royal Air Force, who flew in at least 80 operational sorties against terrorist targets in the jungle - including having to make a forced landing returning from a strike on the Seremben area, after his engine failed
Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R., 2nd issue (1807040 Sgt. A. E. Cover. R.A.F.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, G.VI.R. (1807040 Sgt. A. E. Cover. R.A.F.); Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue (M. Plt. A. E. Cover. (1807040). R.A.F. ) mounted as originally worn, rank of last partially officially corrected, light contact marks overall, very fine (5) £4,000-£5,000
---
Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, February 2015
A total of 24 D.F.M., 2nd type, were issued for service in Malaya and Korea, of which 10 were awarded to the Royal Air Force.
D.F.M. London Gazette 18 December 1951. The original recommendation states:
‘Sergeant Cover has been a Squadron Pilot with a Vampire Squadron since July, 1949. During the time he has been in the Squadron, he has completed over 80 operational strikes against the insurgents operating in the jungles of Malaya. He has often led sorties in adverse weather conditions, when finding and attacking the targets has not been easy. At all times, Sergeant Cover has displayed fine qualities of leadership and has set a splendid example to the other members of the Squadron. On one occasion while returning from a strike in the Seremben area, his engine developed a coolant leak and subsequently seized. Sergeant Cover made a fine forced landing in very difficult terrain. His airmanship on this occasion was of a high order. Although suffering from shock and an injured hand, Sergeant Cover was again flying with the Squadron in a few days. Sergeant Cover has shown commendable zeal, courage and determination while serving in his Squadron on operations in connection with the Emergency in Malaya. As a pilot he has proved himself capable of successfully facing a difficult situation calling for airmanship of a high order. His cool efficiency has been an inspiration to his fellow pilots.’
Arthur Ernest Cover was ‘born in December 1924, at Tidworth, Amport, Southampton, enlisted in June 1942. During the war he served in South Africa, the Middle East and India. His wife lives at Weybridge, Surrey’ (Press addendum to D.F.M. recommendation refers).
Whilst the D.F.M. recommendation does not refer to the Cover’s Squadron, it can only be 60 Squadron as they were the one unit operating with Vampire aircraft in Malaya at that time. The squadron had taken delivery of Vampires between December 1950 - January 1951, having previously been equipped with Spitfires. The award of a D.F.M. for jet aircraft operations is believed to be the first such award in that theatre. Cover was promoted Master Pilot in August 1958, and there is a record of him and 37 other R.A.F. personnel leaving Liverpool on the S.S. Brittanic bound for York on 9 January 1959. It would appear that this detachment was a selected crew visiting the U.S.A for training in operations with the American Thor Missile - soon to be deployed in the UK and manned by R.A.F. crews. The men, at least 5 being Master Pilots, were detached to US manufacturers for training and then shipped to Vandenburg Air Force Base, California for specialist launch training. It is worth noting that Master Pilot Maurice Sloan, a colleague of Cover on the detachment to the U.S.A., is pictured in a Flight Magazine as being the Launch Missile Console Operator on the inaugural trial launch by R.A.F. personnel in April 1959.
Cover was awarded his L.S. & G.C. in October 1961, and he was discharged from the Royal Air Force in 1966. In later life he resided in Berkshire, and he died in Bracknell in January 1991.
Sold with copied research.
Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R., 2nd issue (1807040 Sgt. A. E. Cover. R.A.F.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, G.VI.R. (1807040 Sgt. A. E. Cover. R.A.F.); Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue (M. Plt. A. E. Cover. (1807040). R.A.F. ) mounted as originally worn, rank of last partially officially corrected, light contact marks overall, very fine (5) £4,000-£5,000
---
Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, February 2015
A total of 24 D.F.M., 2nd type, were issued for service in Malaya and Korea, of which 10 were awarded to the Royal Air Force.
D.F.M. London Gazette 18 December 1951. The original recommendation states:
‘Sergeant Cover has been a Squadron Pilot with a Vampire Squadron since July, 1949. During the time he has been in the Squadron, he has completed over 80 operational strikes against the insurgents operating in the jungles of Malaya. He has often led sorties in adverse weather conditions, when finding and attacking the targets has not been easy. At all times, Sergeant Cover has displayed fine qualities of leadership and has set a splendid example to the other members of the Squadron. On one occasion while returning from a strike in the Seremben area, his engine developed a coolant leak and subsequently seized. Sergeant Cover made a fine forced landing in very difficult terrain. His airmanship on this occasion was of a high order. Although suffering from shock and an injured hand, Sergeant Cover was again flying with the Squadron in a few days. Sergeant Cover has shown commendable zeal, courage and determination while serving in his Squadron on operations in connection with the Emergency in Malaya. As a pilot he has proved himself capable of successfully facing a difficult situation calling for airmanship of a high order. His cool efficiency has been an inspiration to his fellow pilots.’
Arthur Ernest Cover was ‘born in December 1924, at Tidworth, Amport, Southampton, enlisted in June 1942. During the war he served in South Africa, the Middle East and India. His wife lives at Weybridge, Surrey’ (Press addendum to D.F.M. recommendation refers).
Whilst the D.F.M. recommendation does not refer to the Cover’s Squadron, it can only be 60 Squadron as they were the one unit operating with Vampire aircraft in Malaya at that time. The squadron had taken delivery of Vampires between December 1950 - January 1951, having previously been equipped with Spitfires. The award of a D.F.M. for jet aircraft operations is believed to be the first such award in that theatre. Cover was promoted Master Pilot in August 1958, and there is a record of him and 37 other R.A.F. personnel leaving Liverpool on the S.S. Brittanic bound for York on 9 January 1959. It would appear that this detachment was a selected crew visiting the U.S.A for training in operations with the American Thor Missile - soon to be deployed in the UK and manned by R.A.F. crews. The men, at least 5 being Master Pilots, were detached to US manufacturers for training and then shipped to Vandenburg Air Force Base, California for specialist launch training. It is worth noting that Master Pilot Maurice Sloan, a colleague of Cover on the detachment to the U.S.A., is pictured in a Flight Magazine as being the Launch Missile Console Operator on the inaugural trial launch by R.A.F. personnel in April 1959.
Cover was awarded his L.S. & G.C. in October 1961, and he was discharged from the Royal Air Force in 1966. In later life he resided in Berkshire, and he died in Bracknell in January 1991.
Sold with copied research.
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