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Auction: 21003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 401

Three: Flying Officer F. M. Allen, No. 467 (Royal Australian Air Force) Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who was killed in action when his Lancaster was lost in action during the Battle of Berlin on 29 December 1943

1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal 1939-45, good very fine (3)

Francis Macivor Allen was born on 5 May 1921 at Bromley, Kent and having joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, qualified as a Navigator in June 1943. Joining No. 16 OTU on Wellingtons and thence 1661 Conversion Unit, he joined No. 467 (Royal Australian Air Force) Squadron flying Lancasters on 4 November 1943. He flew his first Op, as 2nd Navigator, on 2 December, flying on Berlin in a raid comprising 458 aircraft. Having been made Flying Officer on 8 December, he flew his second Op on Frankfurt on 20 December. His final Op would be on 'The Big City' - Berlin once again - on 29 December. Lifting off from RAF Waddington at 1638hrs, his aircraft crashed at Gossziehten some 14km south-east of Berlin. On that night 712 aircraft attacked Berlin, of which 21 were lost. All the crew of ED547 PO-M were lost, with his crew all being buried in the Berlin Cemetery. Allen's body was never recovered and he is commemorated upon the Runnymede Memorial, having lost his life aged 22; sold together with his Observer's and Air Gunner's Flying Log Book (Form 1767).

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Sold for
£600

Starting price
£480