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Auction: 25003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 227

The superb posthumous 'Malta 1941' D.F.M. awarded to Sergeant C. Clark, Royal Air Force, whose exploits alongside Sergeant Mutimer saw them take advantage of low level reconnaissance flights to destroy a large number of Italian aircraft and vital war material on the ground

Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (550958. Sgt. C. Clark. R.A.F.), nearly extremely fine

D.F.M. London Gazette 16 September 1941, the original citation states:

'Sergeants Clark and Mutimer have displayed a high standard of ability throughout the 40 operational missions in which they have participated as wireless operator-air gunner and air observer respectively. Sergeant Clark showed great keenness to engage the enemy, using his guns with damaging effect, while Sergeant Mutimer always willingly co-operated with his pilot when the opportunity for offensive action occurred. They have damaged or destroyed three Italian flying boats and, in one machine gun attack on an enemy aerodrome, destroyed one enemy aircraft and damaged several others.'

Campbell Clark joined No. 69 Squadron on Malta as a Wireless Operator and Air Gunner on 14 March 1941, he first appears in the Squadron Operations Record Book, flying a mission on 3 June 1941, flying a reconnaissance mission over Corfu. They attacked and damaged an enemy aircraft, forcing the rear gunner to bail out and were themselves unsuccessfully attacked during the engagement. Three more such missions occurred throughout the month, seeing Clark and Mutimer hunt for Italian Naval forces moving through the Mediterranean.

They launched a reconnaissance on 3 July 1941 with Flying Officer Drew at the controls to ascertain the results of a raid over Tripoli and Zuara, the Operations Record Book states the following:

'Recc. Tripoli, 4 merchant vessels, and one merchant vessel on fire was result of Swordfish attack; Zuara, machinegunned from 100 feet 1 S.M.81 on fire, other aircraft (S.M.79s an prob. S.M.82s) damaged one badly. Effective smokescreen observed.'

The Air Ministry report on Clark's award adds detail to this exploit and other the trio undertook, stating:

'An immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Medal has been made to 581062 Sergeant Richard Saxby Mutimer and 550958 Sergeant Campbell Clark of Number 69 Squadron Sergeant Mutimer R.S. (Air Observer) and Sergeant Clark C. (W. OpTr. A/G) The crew of lying Officer Drew have carried out 40 Operational Flights from Malta. Sergeant Mutimer has at all times used the highest standard of work. Although this airman has had no offensive armament to operate in the front cockpit of a Maryland aircraft he has shown a great willingness that the pilot should take offensive action when the opportunity has offered. Sergeant Clark has at all times produced a high standard of work both as wireless operator and air gunner. He has displayed a keen desire to engage the enemy when opportunity offered and when Flying Officer Drew has made attacks on Italian Seaplanes and aircraft on the ground he has produced accurate fire with his rear guns with damaging effect. This crew has damaged or destroyed 3 Italian Flying Boats and on the afternoon of 3/7/41 they machine gunned parked aircraft on the Aerodrome at Zuara and destroyed 1 aircraft and damaged others.'

A further flight over Syracuse on 9 July saw an H.E.115 set on fire by Clark's machinegun and three other aircraft damaged. Further flights continued until 10 August when Clark joined Mutimer and a Flight Lieutenant Wylde on a reconnaissance over Catania. The Squadron Operations Record Book for the day their award was announced states:

'Sergeant Mutimer was killed on August 10th on returning from Sicily, and Sergeant Clark died the following day, on their return a signal was received saying that they were returning on one engine, the starboard motor having failed. The aircraft AR.739 crashed short of the aerodrome while making an approach, the pilot A/F/Lieut. P.R. Wylde, and Sergeant Mutimer being killed instantly. Sergeant Clark received burns and severe concussion and was taken to Hospital, where he died the following morning. The aircraft was burnt out but the observer's log and the camera were saved.'

Sold together with an original Central Chancery invitation to Buckingham Palace and copied research.

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Estimate
£1,400 to £1,800

Starting price
£1100