This really is a unique collection reflecting sustained gallantry over a lengthy period of time

David Erskine-Hill, Spink auctioneers

The medals, sold by specialist auctioneers Spink, in London, were bought by a private collector.

David Erskine-Hill, Spink's director of medals, said: "Such is the emotive nature of medals in general and these medals in particular, that the atmosphere in the sales room became intense as the bidding increased.

"This really is a unique collection reflecting sustained gallantry over a lengthy period of time."

Mr Erskine-Hill said the collection of 19 medals with accompanying warrants, five original flying log books and five photograph albums would remain in the UK.

Combat record

Air Vice-Marshal Johnson's determination and skill behind the controls of his Spitfire elevated him in the ranks from fighter pilot to one of the greatest Allied Wing Commanders of the Second World War.

He survived nearly 700 combat missions during the campaign.

A village policeman's son from Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, he graduated as a civil engineer from the University of Nottingham before joining the RAF.

His first sorties as a fighter pilot in the summer of 1941 were made under the command of Sir Douglas Bader, with whom he became close friends.

Air Vice-Marshal Johnson died in January this year, aged 85, at his home in Derbyshire.

The sale price of his collection, including buyer's premium, broke the previous highest amount paid for combat medals.

In 1997, a collector spent 400,000 Canadian dollars (£180,000) on medals won by John McCrae, the Canadian war poet who wrote In Flanders Fields.