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Auction: 25001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 387

A fine Second World War D.F.C. group of six awarded to Pilot Officer F. Edmondson, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who was lucky to survive at least four separate attacks by enemy fighters

The first of those close encounters occurred during 46 sorties as a Rear Gunner in Wellingtons of No. 37 Squadron in North Africa - most of them to Tobruk or in support of the El Alamein operations - followed by a second tour as a Mid-Upper Gunner in Lancasters of No. 166 Squadron, in which he completed 25 further sorties against targets in the heart of the Reich and elsewhere

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated '1944', with Royal Mint case of issue; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Air Crew Europe Star, clasp, France and Germany; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, sold together with Flying Log Book, embroidered Air Gunner's Brevet and Warrant Officer's rank insignia, and metal R.A.F. badge, generally good very fine (9)

D.F.C. London Gazette 19 September 1944, the original recommendation states:

'As a Mid-Upper Gunner this non-commissioned officer has taken part in 67 sorties against the enemy, being now on his second tour, on targets ranging from the Middle East and Occupied Territory to the most heavily defended targets in the Reich.

He is skilled as a gunner and his vigilant watch, maintained through so many hours over enemy territory, has enabled his crew to reach the target, attack it, and return safely to base.

His cheerfulness and example have greatly contributed to the morale of the gunners and his coolness and unquestioned courage have in no small measure contributed the success of his crew.

For his determination and fine offensive spirit, he is recommended for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.'

Frank Edmondson volunteered for aircrew duties in October 1940 and was called-up in March 1941 to attend a Wireless Operator's course. Shortly afterwards, however, he transferred to an Air Gunner's course, in which discipline he qualified in September 1941 after several training flights in Whitleys.

Having then attended an O.T.U. at R.A.F Wellesbourne and also served in Ferry Command, he was posted in July 1942 to No. 37 Squadron, a Wellington unit in the Middle East. Thus commenced a busy tour of operations as a Rear Gunner in which he completed 46 operational sorties, largely comprising raids on Tobruk and a few months later attacks on enemy tanks and motor transport during the El Alamein offensive in October 1942.

As evidenced by the entries in his Flying Log Book, not a few of these outings were of an eventful nature, a case in point being his very first sortie, in which his aircraft was attacked by a Ju88 and Edmondson returned fire. Just five days later, in a strike against Tobruk on 9 July 1942, his pilot had to undertake a forced landing in the desert, owing to the weather and a shortage of fuel, and it was not until 11 July that the crew were located and rescued.

Over the coming weeks and months, Edmondson made regular references to the Tobruk's searchlights and 'extremely accurate' A.A. fire, in addition to noting two further close encounters with Ju88s.

Tobruk and El Alamein missions aside, he and his crew were detailed to attack enemy airfields in the vicinity of Fuka, in addition to a brace of strikes against targets in Rhodes, and his final sortie was against enemy armour west of Derna. Tour-expired by mid-November 1942, Edmondson was rested with an appointment as a gunnery instructor.

But he returned to an operational footing as a Warrant Officer in February 1944 when he joined No. 166 Squadron, a Lancaster unit at R.A.F. Kirmington, this time as a Mid-Upper Gunner.

His first two sorties - to Berlin on the 15th and Leipzig on the 19th - ended with his aircraft landing at alternative airfields. And, up until June 1944, Edmondson's Operational career continued apace, with regular visits to targets of the heavily defended kind, with Cologne, Essen and Stuttgart among them. So, too, Dusseldorf, on the night of 22 April, when his Lancaster was attacked by a Fw190. In the period marking the end of his second tour, he and his crew were delegated to half-a-dozen targets in France. Finally rested at the end of June - the same month in which he was recommended for the D.F.C. - Edmondson converted to ground duties in October and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer.

Sold with a quantity of original documentation, comprising:

(i)
The recipient's R.A.F. Observers and Air Gunners Flying Log Book, covering the period August 1941 to October 1944.

(ii)
Buckingham Palace forwarding letter for his award of the D.F.C.

(iii)
A portrait photograph, in uniform.

(iv)
His R.A.F. Service and Release Book and Flying Clothing Card.

(v)
A congratulatory letter on the award if his D.F.C. from Air Vice-Marshal E. A. B. Rice, C.B., C.B.E., M.C.

(vi)
A Desert Air Force 'blood chit', in Arabic.

(vi)
A handwritten summary of his wartime career, 4pp., signed by the recipient.

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Estimate
£1,000 to £1,400

Starting price
£800