*The Northwest Frontier and WW2 Group of 6 awarded to Group Captain Thomas Eady, Royal Air Force. While serving with 28 (A.C.) Squadron in Ambala, he took part in reconnaissance and bombing operations along the North West Frontier, and later served with 84 (B) Squadron in Shaibah, Iraq, comprising: India General Service, 1908-1935, single clasp ‘North West Frontier 1930-31 (F/O. T. W. G. Eady. R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War, 1939-1945; Iraq Active Service, 1924-1938, with clasp dated 1930-31; Group swing-mounted on bar as worn, with matching set of dress miniatures, I.D. tags, cloth insignia ‘wings’, logbooks (4), original portrait and military photographs, and other related ephemera, good very fine (lot) Group Captain Thomas William George Eady, of Eastbourne, Sussex, was born on 31 January 1906. He gained his Private Pilot’s Licence on 28 April 1927 and began his initial pilot training in North London in 1927-28. Upon joining the R.A.F. he was commissioned as a Pilot Officer and continued his training in Egypt. Qualifying as a pilot he was posted to 28 (A.C) Squadron in Ambala, India, he took part in reconnaissance and bombing operations in Bristol Fighter aircraft on the North West Frontier near Peshawar (during one flight his aircraft was struck by lightning). In October 1930 he was posted to 84 (B) Squadron in Shaibah, Iraq, where he again took part in bombing operations and others in support of armoured cars. Promoted to Flying Officer in September 1932, he was attached for a short time to 55 (B) Squadron during operations against Sheikh Mahmoud, in which he made bombing and strafing runs against rebel towns, villages and caves. On one occasion his aircraft apparently came back with 27 bullet holes. He later converted to flying seaplanes, serving first with 201 (F.B.) Squadron in January 1936 and then 203 (F.B.) Squadron in Aden in July that year. Remaining there for a year and a half flying Singapore flying boats, he returned to the U.K. in December 1937. Receiving night-flying training in London II aircraft, he also undertook various experimental and test flights until the outbreak of WW2. In April 1940 he was sent to Rhodesia as part of the Empire Flying Training Scheme, flying Moth, Harvard and Sunderland aircraft, and afterwards took command of 230 Squadron at Aboukir in September 1941. Later that year he was sent to 70 O.T.U. in Nakuru, Kenya, largely flying Gauntlet, Hind and Bisley aircraft, and afterwards served at R.A.F. Helwan between November 1942 and August 1943, flying Hurricane IIc’s. He was promoted to Group Captain in March 1943, and returned to the U.K. - apparently serving as Map Overseer liaising between the aircraft factory at Speke and Bomber Command. In 1945 he was given command of No.1 Parachute Training School at Ringwood and oversaw the school move to RAF Upper Heyford. He commanded RAF Manston and his last posting was to RAF Credenhill, prior to his retirement in 1953.
Estimate: £400-£600