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Auction: 25003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 224

A Second World War D.F.C. group of six awarded to Flight Lieutenant T. H. Bates, Royal Air Force, a Fighter Pilot flying both Hurricanes and Spitfires who saw action in Malta, Iraq, Greece and the North West Europe theatres of war

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R. reverse officially dated '1945'; 1939-1945 Star; Air Crew Europe Star, clasp France and Germany; Africa Star, clasp North Africa 1942-43; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, mounted as worn, extremely fine (6)

D.F.C. London Gazette 27 February 1945.

Remarks of Squadron Commander:

Flight Lieutenant T. H. Bates has completed 240 operational sorties, of these 100 were done from Malta during 1941 - 1942 when the air opposition was very strong. In July 1943, F/Lt. Bates, flying a Hurricane IIB., took part in an operation from a Base in the Western Desert to CRETE and return, which enabled a sea flight of approx. 500 miles at low level. On this trip F/Lt. Bates destroyed a truck, which was full of enemy troops, and strafed other M.T and the German Headquarters on the Island. During the AEGEAN campaign, September - October 1943, he took part in the invasion of COS; during his last patrol from COS the aerodrome was made unserviceable through bombing and he carried out a successful landing on the Salt Pans, which was only 10 yards wide in places. When the Island was invaded by the Germans, he made a successful getaway in a launch. Since June this year he has completed a further 100 operational sorties - bombing, strafing, sweeps & etc. - in which he has helped in the destruction of enemy Headquarters, gun-pits and defended positions, which at times has entailed flying through very concentrated Flak. He has destroyed 1 enemy aircraft, damaged another and destroyed at least 10 M.T.

Remarks of Officer Commanding Wing:

This very gallant officer is most strongly recommended for the award of the D.F.C.. His operational career which is described above, is, indeed, a fine one and well worthy of recognition.

Trevor Harry Bates was born at Eltham, Kent on 16 May 1921 and was educated at Harrow School. Mobilised the Royal Air Force in May 1940 Bates learnt to fly at Cambridge between June 1940-May 1941. Joining Debden Operational Training Unit from 6 May 1941 - 20 June 1941, Bates boarded Furious on 20 June 1941. Transferring to Ark Royal on 24 June 1941 before arriving at Halfar, Malta on 27 June 1941 where he served with No.185 Squadron.

The Squadron flew Hurricanes out of Malta, in early 1942 they were replaced with Hurricanes however Bates was not able to enjoy this development for long, being posted to Cairo on 2 April 1942. Transferring to the Aden Battle Flight at Sheikhothman from 23 April 1942, performing defensive flights over Aden and the Red Sea. Bates joined No. 74 Squadron based at Abadan, Iraq on 30 February 1943 and was still with them when they moved to Egypt in May of that year. They flew missions over the Mediterranean targeting Axis shipping and took part in a major offensive over Crete in July.

Transferring to Cyprus and rearming with Spitfires Bates and 78 Squadron took part in the Battle of Kos, where they arrived on 28 September 1943. They were unable to prevent a German landing on the Island and Bates was forced to escape by boat on 3 October 1943. His Log Book notes 'Previous Log Book destroyed by Bombs (1.10.43) on island of Cos (Aegean Sea)'.

No.74 Squadron was moved from Egypt to England by boat at the end of March 1944 and Bates arrived at North Weald on 24 April 1944 receiving a week's leave before new aircraft arrived. Equipped with Spitfire Mk IXs, he had his first 'Sweep' on 20 May but did not see any enemy aircraft. The following day he had better success over Brussels where he shot up a lorry and trailer, and on 28 May, he attacked a small lorry which in turn caught fire.

Throughout June 1944 Bates carried out numerous convoys and beach patrols and on 16 June 'Fired all ammunition into a Doodle bug but missed'. Later in the month he carried out further 'Diver Patrols', destroying 1 Lorry on 11 August and on 16 August shot up a train. Four days later, Bates shot up another lorry but his starboard guns packed up when he fired at a motorbike.

For the remainder of August he performed a variety of 'Sweeps' and 'Armed Recces' damaging lorries, trucks and motorbikes. His September was again extremely busy with a total of 15 different Ops including strafing the gun positions at Cape Griz Nez on 17 September. Both October and November saw him fly Spitfires on bombing and strafing missions but also saw him fly Austers for moving both Airmen and Officers around.

Bates was posted to No.57 Operational Training Unit at Eshott on 20 December 1944 and was then posted to the Fighter Leader's School based at Tangmere in March 1945 where he had to force land at Greenham Common on 16 April as a result of an oil leak. In May 1945 he was posted to the Central Flying School at Trenton, Canada and began flying various aircraft to include Cornell, Harvard and Anson. He had completed his course by the end of July but did not see Operational flying again.

Joining the University of London Air Squadron in May 1948, he flew from Fairoaks before flying from Shoreham for the summer camp between 19-29 July 1948. The summer camp for 1949 was at North Weald between 7-19 July 1949 and for 1950 was at Leuchars from 10-22 August. By the end of his career Bates had flown over 1100 hours by the end of January 1951.

He died on 27 April 2008 at Belleville, Ontario, Canada; sold together with an archive of copied research and photographs as well as the recipient's Pilot's Flying Log Book, Pilot's wings and D.F.C. case of issue.

For the recipient's miniature dress medals, please see Lot 329.

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Estimate
£1,400 to £1,800

Starting price
£1100