A Collection of Medals to Second World War Royal Air Force Casualties 684


Four: Leading Aircraftman (Wireless Operator / Air Gunner) H. B. Jones, 218 Squadron, Royal Air Force, who was shot down and evaded capture on 12 May 1940, returning to action with his Fairey Battle Squadron later in that month, and was recommended for the Military Medal


1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf, mounted for wear, with medal ticket and card box of issue, addressed to ‘H. B. Jones, Esq., 4 Pennington Road, Litherland, Liverpool 21’, nearly extremely fine (4)


£400-£500


Harry Jones joined the Royal Air Force and was with 218 Squadron when they moved from Boscombe Down to France on the night of 2 September 1939, as part of the Advanced Aircraft Strike Force (A.A.S.F.). From examination of the Squadron O.R.B. records the squadron was on continual practice for hostilities throughout the ‘Phoney War’ from 2 September onwards. Throughout the Autumn and Winter of 1939-40 they carried out practice low level bombing attacks, formation flying and reconnaissance. These practice raids were sometimes enhanced with the occasional real ‘nickel’ sortie, dropping leaflets over enemy territory.


On 10 May 1940 the Squadron went into action as the German forces invaded France and the Low Countries. The Squadron O.R.B. for May cannot be found it was probably lost during the chaos of punishing losses and the eventual evacuation of the decimated squadron back to England. From Chorley and other reference works about the early air battles in France the following has been identified:


The squadron had been attacking German positions and troop formations in a desperate attempt to stem the rapid German advance. On 12 May 1940 Jones was the Wireless Operator / Air Gunner in Fairey Battle P2183 along with pilot Frederick S. Bazalgette and Sergeant W. H. Harris. They were part of a six aircraft formation airborne from Auberive-sur-Suippes, tasked to attack enemy formations. Some seven kilometres West South West of Sedan, near Nouvion-sur-Meuse they were shot down, crashing in front of the enemy lines but on the wrong side of the river Meuse. Jones and Harris managed to drag their pilot clear of the downed aircraft under heavy enemy fire but it was to no avail and Bazalgette died of his injuries. Both men were forced to leave their pilot and after a few days evading enemy patrols got over to the right side of the river and the British Lines.


They were immediately sent back to their Squadron which by this time had been decimated after the fierce actions and dreadful losses of 14 May when attempts were made to halt the enemy advance by bombing the bridges across the Meuse river at Sedan. Some 40 aircraft were lost on this day, an appalling loss rate. The Squadron O.R.B. entry of 4 June 1940 refers to one remaining Leading Aircraftman, which can only be Jones.


For his services, Jones was recommended for a non-Immediate award of the Military Medal by the Air Marshal, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, British Air Forces in France, but in the event this was downgraded to a Mention in Despatches (London Gazette 1 January 1941).


The Squadron returned to England and on 24 June 1940 Jones was promoted Sergeant. The Squadron, now equipped with Blenheim Bombers continued to carry out bombing sorties over France, Holland and Belgium. From August to the end of October Jones, carrying out bombing raids on docks (enemy invasion barges), airfields, and other targets.


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685


Three: Flight Sergeant (Pilot) G. T. Barker, 150 Squadron, Royal Air Force, who was killed in action when his Fairey Battle was shot down by Me.109s attacking pontoon bridges at Remilly Aillicourt, on the Meuse, on 14 May 1940, on a day in which the R.A.F. lost over 40 aircraft in this operation


1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal 1939-45, with named Air Council enclosure, in card box of issue, addressed to ‘Mrs. V. Barker, 62 Charlton Road, Andover, Hants’, extremely fine (3)


£300-£400


George Thomas Barker, a former R.A.F. Halton Apprentice, served during the Second World War as a Pilot with 150 Squadron from their deployment to Challerange Benson and then Ecury-Sur-Coole on 2 September 1939 as part of the A.A.S.F. By 18 September they were flying regular reconnaissance and combat patrols over the Franco-German border. On 30 September the Squadron suffered heavy casualties in an early engagement with Me.109’s. Barker and two others were patrolling the border and were not engaged.


From October 1939 to March 1940 Barker engaged in evasion techniques against enemy fighters, practice flying, reconnaissance photography and ferried in much needed replacement aircraft. On 3 March 1940 he was lead aircraft in a bombing attack on enemy positions near Bapaume. During March and April the squadron carried out numerous Nickel raids on various towns. By 2 May 1940 the squadron was fully engaged in low level bombing strikes on enemy positions, the invasion of France and the Lowlands was about to begin.


On 14 May with the German army advancing at a pace the Squadron was ordered to carry out Low level strikes on the pontoon bridges crossing the Meuse at Sedan. They sent four aircraft in two groups of two, and none returned. Barker was killed in action when Fairey Battle P5282, which he piloted, was ‘jumped’ and completely destroyed by Me.109’s as the made their bomb runs, his aircraft being claimed by Oberlt. Mayer of 1/JG53.


The only survivor of the four crews was Barker’s Air Gunner, Summerson, who would later be awarded the Croix de Guerre. In response to Barker’s widow’s subsequent attempts to find out what actually happened to her husband, Air Gunner Summerson gives a detailed account of the action:


‘Sergeant G. T. Barker, who was my pilot, whilst on operations in France, I regret to inform you that both he and the observer, Sergeant Williams were hit in the air by machine gun fire before our machine caught fire, and when we crashed in flames I was luckily thrown clear but the others were trapped in the aircraft. Although I tried to get them out, the flames and heat were too much for me and I was forced to leave them. One thing is certain though - they were unconscious at the time - perhaps dead already so the poor chaps would feel nothing. Please convey my deepest sympathy to Mrs. Barker and tell her that her husband died bravely for the sake of England and how much everyone with whom he came in contact liked him.”


Summerson says that although he had tried to write to Mrs. Barker he was unable to finding it the ‘most difficult task I have ever tackled.’ He asked for the letter to be forwarded.


Some 40 RAF aircraft were lost on this day during operations against the bridges, a catastrophic loss rate. Barker is buried in Choloy War Cemetery, France. His medals were sent to his widow, Vi Barker.


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