Rare ‘Malaya Operations’ D.F.M. Group of Three – Sgt. C. A. Cornford, 48 Sqdn. Royal Air Force (late Royal Navy)

A rare ‘Malaya Operations’ DFM medal group to 3504359 Sergeant Clifford Albert Cornford, No. 48 Squadron Royal Air Force, who was decorated for services as a Valetta pilot in No. 48 Squadron on jungle supply dropping missions. 

Elizabeth II Distinguished Flying Medal named to 3504359 Sgt C.A. Cornford. R.A.F. 
Naval General Service Medal (Clasp – Palestine 1945-48) named to P/JX. 721797 C.A. Cornford. A.B. R.N. 
General Service Medal (Clasp – Malaya) named to 3504359 Sgt. C.A. Cornford. R.A.F. 

D.F.M. –  London Gazette 6 March 1953
The original recommendation states:
  ‘Sergeant Cornford joined No. 48 Squadron in January 1951. During the 22 months which have elapsed since then he has flown 200 hours in direct support of the Emergency Force operating against the terrorists. On many occasions, he has had the task of supplying units located in dense jungle in the mountainous interior of Central Malaya. Frequently the weather conditions have been adverse and the ordinary difficulties of locating and supplying these small and dangerously situated dropping zones have been greatly accentuated. There have also been occasions when the task has been further aggravated by technical difficulties in his aircraft. On each and every occasion, Sergeant Cornford has dropped the supplies with a high degree of skill and accuracy. In the course of his route flying duties, he has many times been confronted with difficult circumstances and, on these occasions as on all others, he has met adversity with an outstanding degree of determination, without which the tasks could not have been completed. Sergeant Cornford started his tour as a junior and inexperienced pilot. By his determination, courage and patience, he has made himself an outstanding operational supply dropper who has done much to maintain the very high reputation of the supply dropping crews with the ground forces.’  

Regiment: Royal Air Force