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Auction: 15002 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 20

A Second War 1945 Liberator 'Wireless Operator - Special Operator's' D.F.C. Group of Five to Warrant Officer R.J. Tanner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Who Flew in At Least 69 Operational Sorties, 17 of Which Were With Guy Gibson's 106 Squadron, and 32 Were 'Special Duties' Operations with 223 Squadron
a) Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated '1945', in Royal Mint case of issue
b) 1939-1945 Star
c) Air Crew Europe Star, with France and Germany Bar
d) Defence and War Medals, generally very fine or better, with the following related contemporary documentation:
- Named Enclosure slip for D.F.C.
- Recipient's R.A.F. Service and Release Book
- Air Ministry letter, dated 7.6.1947
- A group photograph including recipient in uniform; and photocopies of several pages of Log Book, including page originally signed by Guy Gibson (lot)

D.F.C. London Gazette 6.11.1945 Warrant Officer Reginald John Tanner (755488) R.A.F.V.R., 223 Sqn.
The Recommendation, dated 15.5.1945, states: 'This Warrant Officer, a wireless operator, serving as a Special Operator with this Squadron, has recently completed a second tour with Bomber Command. He has flown on a total of 57 sorties; of those 20 sorties 142.50 hours have been flown on Bomber Support duties. During his first tour W/O Tanner participated in attacks against many important and strongly defended German targets and was actively engaged on operational duties for ten months. Whilst serving with this Squadron he displayed a most determined attitude towards operational duties and his sound practical handling of his special equipment was most noticeable. By his keen and courageous actions W/O Tanner set a fine example to his crew and I consider his devotion to duty fully merits the award of the D.F.C.'

Remarks by Station Commander: 'This Warrant Officer has been latterly employed as a Special Operator, which position demands constant attention to detail in order that success might be achieved. Warrant Officer Tanner has undertaken these duties with efficiency, and has at all times displayed a spirit of firm determination. A member of aircrew who has flown consistently against most of the more heavily defended targets in Europe.'

755488 Warrant Officer Reginald John Tanner, D.F.C. (1919-1974), born Reading; educated at Battle School, Maidenhead; the Reading Standard offers the following, 'Warrant Officer Reginald J. Tanner, R.A.F.V.R., who has been awarded the D.F.C., is the son of Mr and Mrs R.J. Tanner, of 117 Belmont Road, Reading. He joined the R.A.F.V.R. in 1939 and took part in operations from 1940 until after D-Day. He had flown in Manchesters, Hampdens, Lancasters and Liberators, including many trips to Berlin…and is a well-known local footballer, having played for Maidenhead United and signed amateur forms for Reading FC.

With his two friends Flight Lieut. Diment, D.F.C., of Castle Crescent, Reading, and Flight Lieut. S.G. Keatley, D.F.M., of 49, Norfolk Road - all three whose numbers are consecutive, have now been decorated.'

Tanner qualified as a Wireless Operator, May 1941; he was posted for operational flying to 50 Squadron (Hampdens), Swinderby, Lincolnshire, September 1941; he flew in 20 operational sorties with the Squadron, including: Hulse; Bremen; Kiel; Schipol Aerodrome; Hamburg; Oslo; Lorient; Maloy Island; St. Nazaire; Munster; Paris; Tershelling; Essen (2); Cologne; Bordeaux; Lubeck; Papenburg; Quiberon Bay; and Heligoland (Daylight); posted for service with 106 Squadron (Manchesters) Coningsby, Lincolnshire, May 1942; he flew in 17 operational sorties with the Squadron (then commanded by Wing Commander Guy Gibson), including: Cologne; Essen Amiens; Bremen (3); Bordeaux; Duisburg (3); Hamburg; Dusseldorf (2); Danzig (2); Frankfurt and Kassel; having been assessed 'Grade 1' Wireless Operator, he was posted for instructorial duties to No.26 O.T.U.; he returned to operational flying when he was posted to 223 Squadron (Liberators), Oulton, Norfolk, September 1944; as part of 100 (Bomber Support) Group the Squadron was equipped with Liberators and was employed on Special Duties, especially radio counter-measures, the detection and jamming of enemy radio and radar equipment; he flew in 32 operational sorties with the Squadron, including: Special Patrols - Dutch Coast (4); Cologne; Dusseldorf; Coblenz; Window Patrols Ruhr area (12); Karlsruhe; Frieburg; Rheiner; Frankfurt; Houffalize; Gravenhorst; Neuss; Delmenhorst; Kamen; Mannheim; Hagen and Hanau; having been categorised as a 'Special Operator' with the Squadron, he was discharged 29.11.1945.

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Sold for
£1,500