AN EXCESSIVELY RARE & DESIRABLE
“CROWNED HEAD”
(George V)
DISTINGUISHED FLYING MEDAL
&
INDIAN GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL
“North West Frontier 1930-1931”

To:
Leading Aircraftsman JAMES ANTHONY DWYER. R.A.F.
(No.60 Squadron) LAHORE, INDIA.

(One Of Only 22 “Crowned Head” D.F.M.s Awarded)

[THE MEDALS]
Distinguished Flying Medal.
Officially Impressed
(In WW1 capitals style)
359428.
L.A.C. J.A. DWYER.
R.A.F.


[D.F.M.]
THE BACKGROUND]
The D.F.M. was introduced in 1918 at the time of the formation of the Royal Air Force and was the standard gallantry award for the decoration of airmen and non-commissioned aircrew who had flown on active operations against the enemy. The D.F.C. being for commissioned & occasionally warrant officers.

Indian General Service Medal (North West Frontier 1930-31)
359428.
L.A.C. J.A. DWYER.
R.A.F.

359428, Leading Aircraftsman James Anthony Dwyer, was an early air photographic and camera operator flying with No.60 Squadron RAF when it was based in Kohat, India on the North West Frontier in the early 1930’s when the unit operated Westland Wapiti biplane bombers.

His regular pilot on the squadron was the then Sergeant Pilot Richard A.R. Falconer. (Later Squadron Leader) Both Sgt Falconer & L.A.C. Dwyer were jointly decorated in the same London Gazette of 26th June 1931 for their many gruelling hours of tenacious flying & photographic prowess in connection with military operations on the North-West Frontier of India during the period between 23rd April & 12 September 1930.

Sgt Pilot Falconers’s original recommendation which is shown below highlights the situation where at this time is was normally the pilot of a two seat - multi crew, aircraft who was mentioned where gallantry awards were concerned, where quite obviously in this case the operational details completely mirror those of L.A.C. James A.Dwyer DFM & his camera work.

Therefore, the details of their “joint” efforts reads:

“Distinguished Flying Medal” for devotion to duty whilst flying on Photographic Reconnaissance over enemy territory. When operations commenced this year, it was shown that the maps of the country over which aircraft were operating were very in accurate; it therefore became necessary to prepare very large Photographic mosaics with upmost speed. Pilot Sgt Falconer showed great aptitude for this type of highly skilled work and during operations photographed an area of well over 1,000 square miles with excellent results. Had it not been for the whole hearted manner in which the pilot undertook his task, the actual photography would have taken considerably longer than it did, at considerable expense in both flying time and photographic material. Also the excellent results which have been attained in Bombing can be directly attributed to him in producing accurate photos of the area to be bombed. Pilot Sergt Falconer did 102hrs 40mins flying on these photographic flights, in addition he did 29hrs 40mins over enemy country.
He is an excellent pilot and a zealous worker at all times”

This is an extraordinary and quite astonishingly rare & desirable example of the “Crowned Head” DFM of George V which replaced the earlier & initial “Coinage Head” design seen on the WW1 & immediately post war medals, which are themselves rarely seen.

FROM OUR OWN COLLECTION.