A 1939 Test Pilots A.F.C. and posthumous Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air group of three awarded to Group Captain J. F. X. Sam McKenna, Royal Air Force Recognised as a one of the pre-eminent Test Pilots in the world, he was awarded the A.F.C. for his fine work in flying the K5054 Spitfire prototype, McKenna went on to serve as the Chief Test Pilot for the British Air Commission in Washington and as Commandant of the Empire Test Pilots School, Boscombe Down, 1944-45 He was tragically killed whilst testing a Mustang, when a gun panel flew off during a high speed dive and the aircraft went straight into the ground on 19 January 1945 Air Force Cross, reverse officially dated 1939; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf, sold together with Condolence slip and named box of issue, good very fine (3)
