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Auction: 25113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 500

Four: Flying Officer L. W. E. Banks, Royal Air Force

1939-1945 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, extremely fine (4)

L. W. E. Banks began his flying experience as an Air Gunner in June 1942 flying in Bothas, he qualified on 24 July 1942 at R.A.F. Morpeth. Banks briefly transferred to No.295 Squadron based at Netheravon flying Whitley Mk.V aircraft for November 1942 and transferred to 11 O.T.U. based at Westcott in January 1943 this time flying in Wellingtons.

On 4 March 1943 he survived a crash during a night cross country exercise when the Wellington flown by Sergeant Black overshot its approach and crash landed at Long Crendon. Black and Sergeant Terry the Wireless Operator were killed with the remainder of the crew severely injured with Banks sustaining a badly sprained ankle. He joined 1651 Conversion Unit at R.A.F. Waterbeach where he flew in Stirlings before joining No.75 Squadron in June 1943 based at R.A.F. Newmarket. His first Operation was on the 4 June 1943 where he carried out Mine Laying in the Frisians flying as a Rear Gunner, a position he remained in for all his Ops. He followed his first Op with a similar Op this time on the River Gironde on 14 June. Banks visited Krefeld in the Ruhr Valley on 21 June 1943 and on the following day returned to the Ruhr visiting Mulheim. The Squadron moved to R.A.F. Mepal in July and his next Op was to Aachen on the 13 July followed by his first visit to Hamburg on the 22 July and to Essen on the 25 July. He returned to Hamburg on 27 July and again on the 29 July and the following night visited Remschied in the Ruhr Valley. On 2 August he returned to Hamburg and on the 10 August visited Nuremburg, the aircraft had an engine failure and landed at West Malling, it returned to base the following day. On 12 August Banks visited Turin for the first time and this was followed on the 23 August with his first Op to Berlin. He returned to the Ruhr on 30 August visiting Gladbach and the following night had his second trip to Berlin. On 5 September he visited Mannheim however they jettisoned their bombs and returned to base. Banks was out again on the 8 September this time with an attack on Boulogne followed by an attack on the Dunlop Rubber factory at Montlucon on 15 September and the next night to Modane. He visited Hanover for the first time on 22 September and the following night attacked Mannheim. For October 1943 he visited Kassel on the 3rd, Frankfurt on the 4th and Bremen on the 8th. Banks then joined 1665 Conversion Unit in December 1943 and remained with them until September 1944 where he served as an Instructor. He joined No.1 Empire Air Armament School at R.A.F. Manby flying Wellington XIIIs remaining with them until December 1944 when he returned to 1665 H.C.U. at R.A.F. Tilstock, Shropshire. This unit moved to Saltby, Leicestershire in May 1945 where he carried out his last flight on 12 May 1945.

Sold together with the following archive comprising:

i)
Observer's and Air Gunner's Flying Log Book.

ii)
Postage box for his Second World War medals, addressed to him at 28 Longmead Avenue, Bishopstoke, Eastleigh, Hampshire.

iii)
Identity Tags.

iv)
Photograph of Air Crew.

v)
Photocopies of Operations Record Books, War Diaries etc.

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Estimate

Starting price
£280