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Auction: 25001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 390

A 'Mustang Ace's 1944' D.F.C. and Bar group of five awarded to Flight Lieutenant M. H. Pinches, No. 122 & 65 Squadron, Royal Air Force, who accounted for 5 aircraft outright, 3 shared destroyed, and 3 destroyed on water and land with a further 7 damaged, who survived being shot down by an American P-38 but later died on 24 October 1944 from jaundice; possibly as a result of the burns he suffered from being shot down

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., dated '1944' with Second Award Bar, dated '1944'; 1939-1945 Star; Air Crew Europe Star, clasp, France and Germany; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, sold together with an archive of original material including an Observer's and Air Gunner's Flying Log Book covering the period 23 August 1939 - 20 May 1941, the D.F.C. toned, otherwise very fine or better (5)

D.F.C. London Gazette 23 June 1944, the original citation states:

'This officer has proved himself to be a determined and resolute fighter. Within a short period he has destroyed at least 5 enemy aircraft, two of which he shot down in one sortie recently. His example has been most praiseworthy.'

Recommendation of Wing Commander C. F. "Bunny" Currant, commanding No.122 Wing:

'Since this officer commenced flying against the enemy in March of this year he has, in 10 weeks personally destroyed 5 1/2 enemy aircraft and damaged 3 more. Whilst on an offensive sweep over Denmark on 17.5.44 he destroyed 2 E/A in the air, damaged 2 on the water and shared in the destruction of 1 other. He has taken part in escort to Bombers over Germany, Panzers, deep offensive sweeps and dive-bombing. He is a brilliant and agressive pilot and by his example has enthused all with the offensive spirit.'

Bar to the D.F.C. London Gazette 20 October 1944, the original citation states:

'Flight Lieutenant Pinches has now destroyed four more enemy aircraft and damaged several others. He continues to display a fine fighting spirit and great gallantry'.

Recommendation by Squadron Leader R. L. Stilwell commanding No.122 Squadron:

'Since his previous award this officer has destroyed a further 4 aircraft and damaged 5, making a total of 10 aircraft destroyed and 9 damaged. He continues to display a magnificent aggressive spirit. One day recently he took 3 aircraft to the outskirts of Paris and destroyed a Ju88. On another occasion he carried out a gun test behind enemy lines and damaged one of three enemy aircraft encountered. He has proved a difficult man to keep on the ground and his example is an inspiring one to the whole Wing.'

Maurice Henry Pinches was born at Hanwood, Shrewsbrury, Shropshire on 7 May 1918 and enlisted into the Royal Air Force on 20 November 1935. After a period with the Air Armaments School beginning on 14 February 1936 he transferred to R.A.F. Catterick on 22 October 1936. Pinches then transferred to R.A.F. Dishforth on 1 December 1936 and during his time at Dishforth was promoted to A.C.1. on 1 July 1937 before being transferred to the Far East on 16 July 1938.

Posted to R.A.F. Seletar at Singapore on 10 August 1938, prior to joining No. 36 (Torpedo Bomber) Squadron on 1 August 1939, he was again based in Singapore for flight training. He commenced his flying on 23 August 1939 as an Air Gunner and a Bomb Aimer on Vickers Vildebeest aircraft. Remaining with this Squadron until 20 May 1941 having amassed a total of 450 hours on type, on this date his log book notes 'Going West at Last'.

Pinches then served in Southern Rhodesia from 24 May 1941 and was stationed at Bulawayo from 18 June 1941 for further flight training. He was discharged on 31 July 1942 on appointment to a Temporary Commission and returned to the U.K. to join No.1 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit from 24 November 1942. He was posted to No. 1611 Flight from 5 December 1942 and No. 1622 Flight from 18 February 1943. Advanced Flying Officer on 1 February 1943, he joined No. 122 Squadron just as they converted to Mustang IIIs being one of the very first units to get this aircraft.

Pinches claimed two Bucker Jugmeister and an HS126 on the ground on 30 April 1944 and followed this up on 17 May 1944 in the Aalborg area with an He177, a Ju188, 2 Ar196s (damaged on water) along with a share in the kill of a JuW34 all on the same day. Shooting down a Me109 on 17 June in the South Dreux vicinity he followed this up by damaging another on 13 July 1944 in the Evreux area. Two days later he again shared in the kill of a Ju188 in the South Conflans vicinity. On 25 July 1944 Pinches took down his first FW190 with a further two damaged all within the South Evreux area and operating in the Pont l'Eveque area two days later he claimed another FW190 with two more damaged and a share in another.

No. 122 Squadron moved to Normandy three weeks after the Normandy landings and there Pinches was promoted Flight Lieutenant on 1 August 1944. Unfortunately, at this time he was shot down in error on 10 August 1944 by a USAAF P38 Lightning, one can only assume with the slight similarity with the square tipped wings they assumed his aeroplane was an Me109.

Luckily, he was able to bale out successfully and only suffered slight burns but it was enough to be invalided back to Great Britain on 12 August 1944. Joining No. 83 Group Support Unit on 25 September 1944 he rejoined No. 122 Squadron on 2 October 1944. In the meantime his squadron had returned to Great Britain and were used to undertake bomber escort missions for the remainder of the war, given the range of the Mustangs this proved decisive in the bombing campaign.

The development of papier mache drop tanks enabled these fighters to venture deep into Germany to escort the bombers to their targets, the Germans could not use these tanks for any purpose hence why they were made from papier mache and not aluminium. Pinches then joined No. 65 Squadron on 13 October 1944 and became a Flight Commander, again this squadron had the benefit of flying Mustang IIIs. He was involved with this Squadron as target support for the 1,000 Halifaxes and Lancasters who were to bomb Duisberg on 14 October.

Pinches had recovered from his burns from the friendly fire incident yet sadly he contracted jaundice and died at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, on 24 October 1944. It was thought amongst the family that he contracted this as a result of the long term effect of his burns. He is buried in Bourton Churchyard, Bourton, Shropshire.

Sold together with the following original archive comprising:

(i)
Observer's and Air Gunner's Flying Log Book covering the period 23 August 1939 - 20 May 1941.

(ii)
R.A.F. Pocket Book 1937 named to him.

(iii)
Assorted photographs of family, sporting activity, and of his time in the Far East wearing tropical uniform clearly showing an Air Gunner's brevet.

(iv)
Correspondence from the Pinches family regarding the record of service, dated 9 March 2004.

See Lot 439 for the Flying log book to his brother.

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Estimate
£4,000 to £5,000

Starting price
£3800