WW2 1940 Saro Lerwick RAF accidentally killed medal group Flight Sergeant Corby

Description

WW2 1940 R.A.F. ‘accidentally killed’ medal group of 3 attributed to Flight Sergeant Corby.

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal 39-45 with Mentioned in Despatches clasp. All unnamed as issued; with Mentioned in Despatches certificate to 561526 Flight Sergeant G.A. CORBY Royal Air Force 10/3/1040. Copy London Gazette 20/2/1940 M.I.D. Copy log from Oban (Scotland) 20/2/19140 reporting on the crash of flying boat whilst attempting to land.

Flight Sergeant Corby was drowned and his body recovered. Buried Essex. Medals are court mounted for display. George Arthur Corby was born in Rutlandshire on the 23/4/1912. He joined the R.A.F. on the 23/4/1930 and was a Flight Sergeant pilot with 209 Squadron based at Oban flying Lerwick 1 Flying boats. 20/2/1940 when returning from convoy escort duty L7253 (WQ-G) Made an emergency touch–down in the Firth of Lorn, 5 miles west of Oban. A wing float broke off as it touched down, the aircraft rolled upside down and four crew died. He was 27 years old. The Saro Lerwick flying boat was only in service for just over 1 year. 21 were built the last one being delivered in May 1941 and they were declared obsolete in 1942. The plane had several bad handling characteristics including a vicious stall. They had a poor service record and a high accident rate; of 21 aircraft, 10 were lost to accidents and one for an unknown reason.