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Auction: 8023 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Lot: 59

A Second War Lancaster Flight Engineer´s D.F.M. to ´Battle of Berlin´ Veteran Sergeant J.C. Thompson, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Who Flew in 26 Operational Sorties with 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron, 10 of Which Were Over The German Capital Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (1393914 Sgt. J.C. Thompson R.A.F.), very fine Estimate £ 1,400-1,600 D.F.M. London Gazette 30.6.1944 Thompson, John Charles, 1393914 Sergeant, No. 44 Sqn. The Recommendation, dated 14.4.1944, states: ´´Sergeant Thompson is a Flight Engineer who has participated with his crew in 26 successful sorties against the enemy. With the exception of Ossun and Milan all of these were against heavily defended German targets, including Berlin (10) times, Leipzig, Munich and Stuttgart. His skill, untiring zeal and energy in training as well as operational duties demonstrated his conscientious conception of his duty, and has resulted in the greatest confidence being placed in him by his Captain and the remainder of his crew. I strongly recommend Sergeant Thompson for a Non-Immediate Award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.´´ 1393914 Sergeant John Charles Thompson, D.F.M., served during the Second World War as a Sergeant (Flight Engineer) Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve; he served with 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron (Lancasters), Dunholme Lodge, Lincolnshire; he flew in 26 operational sorties with the Squadron between August 1943-March 1944, including: Nuremburg (2); Milan; Leverkusen; Hanover; Stuttgart (3); Berlin (10), eight of these raids were in succession for Thompson´´s crew as part of Bomber Command´´s ´´Battle of Berlin´´, 18/19 November 1943-31st March 1944, two of which Thompson´´s crew undertook on consecutive nights (27th and 28th January 1944); on the 15/16 February raid to Berlin 891 aircraft (561 Lancasters, 314 Halifaxes, 16 Mosquitoes) were dispatched -´´This was the largest force sent to Berlin and the largest non-1,000 bomber force sent to any target.... The quantity of bombs dropped, 2,642 tons, was also a record´´ (The Bomber Command War Diary, refers); Schweinfurt; Frankfurt (2); Ossum and Essen.

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£1,700