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Auction: 25003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 228

The 1944 D.F.M. awarded to Flying Officer (Flight Engineer) F. J. Ricketts, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who took part in some of the heaviest bombing raids of the war including the 'Big Week' raid over Leipzig on 19 February 1944, tragically, he was later killed in action over Germany in 1945

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (1042460 Sgt. F. J. Ricketts. R.A.F.), sold together with the recipient's medal issue ticker tape, good very fine

D.F.M. London Gazette 6 June 1944, the original recommendation states:

'As flight engineer, this airman has contributed much to the successful completion of numerous sorties by his careful engine handling and great skill. He has participated in attacks on heavily defended objectives such as Essen, Berlin and Hamburg. Over Cologne on one occasion, he was wounded in the eye but continued to perform his duties with coolness and efficiency. On several sorties when bad weather and strong enemy opposition have been encountered Sergeant Ricketts has proved his skill as a flight engineer.'

Frederick James Ricketts was born in 1922, a native of Benwell, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. He qualified as a Flight Engineer with No 1656 Conversion Unit and was posted to 100 Squadron on 21 April 1943. His first raid with them was over Bochum on the night of 13-14 May and the second was the bombing of Dusseldorf on 11-12 June 1943. This was followed by further raids over Bochum, Cologne and Krefeld, with the latter destroying half of the city centre and killing over 1,000 on the ground.

After another devastating raid on Eberfold Ricketts and his crew were involved in a major attack on Cologne on the night of 28-29 June, their last of the month which saw their bomber hit by flak. Fortunately, Ricketts and the pilot were able to bring them home safely. July and August 1943 saw further raids, three of which were over the heavily defended city of Hamburg.

Transferring to 625 Squadron in October 1943, his first mission with them was over Kassel on 22 October 1943. This was quickly followed up by sorties over Dusseldorf, Modane and Frankfurt as the Royal Air Force's air bombing campaign ramped up.

He kicked off the new year with four raids in January 1944 including two major daylight raids over Berlin on 20 January and 28 January. The 'Big Week' raids planned from 19-25 February began with a major raid over Leipzig, with 823 crew- including Rickett's- taking part. The raid was a fiasco as the diversionary attacks failed to pull the German fighter aircraft away from the city leading to the highest casualties of the week with 79 aircraft lost.

Commissioned Pilot Officer on 5 March 1944 and advanced Flying Officer on 5 September 1944, Ricketts was attached to 619 Squadron as Flight Engineer to Squadron Leader Palmer on 13 March 1945. They undertook a mission over a synthetic oil plant near Bohlen on 20 March 1945 their aircraft was attack by a night fighter and shot down, crashing near Netze. Ricketts was killed in the attack and is buried at Hanover War Cemetery; sold together with copied research.

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Estimate
£1,000 to £1,400

Starting price
£800