A fascinating Fast Jet and later Helicopter Pilots Brunei operations and later Northern Ireland troubles group awarded to Flight Lieutenant G. Bradford, Royal Air Force who initially saw service towards the end of the Second World War, he would discharged as a Cadet Pilot on 24th April 1949, going on to pilot Meteor fast jets including serving as a Meteor Pilot out of RAF Changi, Singapore during the Brunei operations which lasted from 8th to 23rd December 1962. He would later train as a Helicopter Pilot on Wessex and Whirlwind helicopters, including during the troubles in Northern Ireland. Bradford would also serve as a Radar Approach Controller. He would retire a Flight Lieutenant on 30th June 1977
Group of 3: General Service Medal 1918-1962, EIIR Dei.Grat bust, 1 Clasp: Brunei; (FLT.LT. G. BRADFORD. R.A.F.) Campaign Service Medal 1962, 1 Clasp: Northern Ireland; (FLT.LT. G. BRADFORD. RAF.) United Nations Medal for Cyprus. Court-mounted for wear.
Condition: court-mounted for wear, Good Very Fine
Geoffrey Bradford was born on 31st March 1925 in Bradford, Yorkshire and enlisted as an Aircraftman 2nd Class on 17th September 1942 at 3 Recruit Centrre Badge, he would remain in reserve initially until on 5th August 1943 he was posted to 3 Maintenance Unit at Didcot, transferring to Bridgenorth on 20th October 1943 and the Central Navigation School at Cranage on 27th December 1943, being promoted to Technical Sergeant on 19th February 1944.
He would be posted to the Bombing Development Unit at Newmarket on 26th February 1944, then 2 Personnel Despatch Centre on 6th July 1944. He would then transferred to South East Asia Command, 191 Wing at Coconada on 16th August 1944, this being a provisional posting as the unit had not formed at this time. On 27th June 1945 he was posted to 333 Group at Colombo. Shortly after the cessation of hostilities, on 11th September 1945, he was posted to 203 Squadron at Kankesantari on 11th September 1945, before being posted to 203 Squadron at the same location on 11th April 1946.
He would be posted to 101 Personnel Despatch Centre on 7th June 1946 (Class ‘B’ release), discharged on enlistment to Royal Air Force as a Cadet Pilot on 24th April 1949, attending the 2 Recruit Centre on 25th April 1949, Kirton in Lindsay on 3rd May 1949, Wittering on 11th May 1949 and then Kirton in Lindsay once more on 19th May 1949. Returning to 5 Personnel Despatch Centre at Hednesford on 29th September 1949, he would be sent to 4 Flying Training School at Heany, Southern Rhodesia and was discharge on appointment to a commission on 20th May 1951 as a Cadet Pilot, being appointed Pilot Officer (General Duties) on 31st March 1951, 5 Personnel Despatch Centre on 31st March 1951 on appointment to Commission. He would be posted to 2 Flying Training School at South Cerney on 20th June 1951 for Short Beam Approach and Refresher Training.
He would be posted to 203 Advanced Flying School at Driffield on 14th August 1951 undergoing a General Duties Pilot Course, before transferring to 226 Operational Conversion Unit at Stradishall on 25th November 1951 on No. 26 Meteor Course. He would be posted to 92 Squadron at Linton-on-Ouse on 21st January 1952 for flying duties and appointed a Flying officer on 21st March 1952, He would then travel to Leconfield on 24th June 1953 to attend 121 Pilot Attack Instructors Course. He would return to the Central Flying School (basic) at South Cerney on 3rd November 1953 joining No.159 Flying Instructors Course. He would then move to the Central Flying School (advanced) at Little Rissington on 30th December 1953 where he was a part of No.159 Course Piston Training. He would then return to Royal Air Force College at Cranwell on 7th April 1954 as a Qualified Flying Instructor Duties, being promoted Flight Lieutenant on 10th November 1955. He would be sent to the 229 Operational Conversion Unit at Chivenor on 27th May 1956 on No.17 Hunter Course.
On 24th August 1956 he would be posted to 234 Squadron at Gelsenkirchen as a Flight Commander, Fluing, he would be attached to the Central Fighter Establishment, West Raynham from 24th February to 6th April 1957 to attend 37 Day Fighter Leaders Course. He would then transfer to 20 Squadron at Oldenburg on 24th June 1957, the unit being relocated to Ahlhorn on 26th September 1957. He would then be sent to 5 Personnel Despatch unit on 31st March 1958 pending a posting to Linton-On-Ouse as part of aircraft control, reporting on 8th April 1958 attached to the Central Navigation and Control School at Shawbury from 23rd June to 26th September 1958, being promoted to Flight Lieutenant (General Duties) on 22nd August 1958. He would then be posted to 1 Flying Training School at Linton-on-Ouse on 7th October 1958 where he attended Central Navigation and Control School at Shawbury from 18th October to 13th November 1959, No.58 Aircraft Control Radar 7C Course. He would then attend No.217 All Weather Jet Course at Manby from 5th March to 28th April 1961.
He would be posted to Selatar on 16th May 1961, and then to Changi on 15th August 1962 as Pilot on redeployment of Target Towing Flight. He would be attached to Labuan from 9th December 1962 to 1st January 1963 on Ops Room Duties, before being posted back to Innsworth, Tour Exprired on 22nd November 1963.
At Ternhill on 23rd November 1964 he would be posted as a Pilot, pending No49B Helicopter Course, to report 6th January 1964 at 22 Squadron on St. Mawgan. He would then from 3rd August 1964 be posted as a Pilot for the Thorney Island Detachment, being Flight Commander of ‘B’ Flight from 23rd April 1967. He would then be posted to Thorney Island on 4th March 1968 with Aircraft Control posting, he would then be sent to Shawbury from 18th June to 2nd August 1968 on No.248 Radar Approach Controllers Course.
He would then be sent to RAF Akrotiri on 24th March 1969, going to Syerston on 13th April 1969 and Benson 19th January 1970 as Aircraft Control. He would be posted as Specialist Aircrew on 1st April 1970, RAF Thorney Island on 3rd January 1971as a Pilot, attending Ternhill from 4th to 22nd January 1971 on a Refresher Helicopter Course, he would be sent to RAF Odiham on 29th November 1971 for a Wessex Course. He would be posted to 72 Squadron as a Pilot on 31st January 1972, attached to Aldergrove from 18th January to 1st March 1973, 24th May to 14th June 1973, 27th September to 8th November 1973 and 23rd March to 25th April 1974. He would then be sent to RAF Benson on 2nd February 1976, attached to Aldergrove as Ops Officer from 2nd February to 31st July 1976 and then on Aircraft Control from 1st August 1976 from where he would be attached to Shawbury on 4th October to 3rd December 1976 on a Radar Approach Control Course. He retired a Flight Lieutenant on 30th June 1977.
Additionally entitled to a Defence Medal and War Medal
