A Collection of Medals to Second World War Royal Air Force Casualties 693
Three: Sergeant (Navigator) W. J. Gilmour, 105 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who was killed in action when his Blenheim was lost without trace during an operational sortie on Hamburg, on 16-17 November 1940
1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal 1939-45, with named Air Council enclosure and medal tickets, in card box of issue, addressed to ‘Mrs. A. Gilmour, 29 Coventry Drive, Glasgow E1, Scotland’, extremely fine (3) £300-£400
William John Gilmour served during the Second World War as a Navigator with 105 Squadron, and was killed in action on his first operational sortie, when Blenheim T2329, piloted by Sergeant C. Whitfield, was lost without trace whilst on a raid on the oil refinery at Hamburg, on 16-17 November 1940.
Gilmour, who aged 42 at the time of his death was old for aircrew, is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. His medals were sent to his mother, Mrs. Annie Gilmour.
Sold with copied research.
694
Three: Sergeant (Observer) A. Gowing-Scopes, 58 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who was killed in action when his Whitley crashed into the sea during an operational sortie on Mannheim, on 23 -24 December 1940
1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal 1939-45, with named Air Council enclosure, extremely fine (3)
£360-£440
Alistair Gowing-Scopes, a native of Crofton, Kent, was born in 1910 and served during the Second World War as an Observer with 58 Squadron. He took part in his first operational sortie on 10 September 1940, bombing industrial targets in Bremen, and from September to December 1940 took part in 15 sorties on mainly German industrial targets. On 16 December he took part in Operation Abigail/Rachel on Mannheim, the first area bombing of a German city in retaliation to the attacks on Coventry, and returned to Mannheim the following night.
Gowing-Scopes was killed in action when his Whitley T4159, piloted by Sergeant S. V. Smith, was involved in a further raid on Mannheim, on 23-24 December 1940. The aircraft had taken off from Linton-on-Ouse and successfully bombed the target (combined raids on Ludwigshafen, Mannheim and various ports). 43 aircraft took part in the air raid made up with Wellingtons, Blenheims and Whitleys. Gowing-Scopes’ aircraft was the only aircraft lost on these raids, presumed having been hit by flak over the target area, and they crashed into the sea off Torbay, Devon. All the crew were killed.
At this relatively early stage of the air war a single night’s operations rarely exceeded 100 aircraft. Raids were piecemeal formations sent out to attack a multitude of targets on any given night.
Gowing-Scopes is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. His medals were presumably sent to his parents, Edward and May Evelyn Gowing-Scopes.
Sold with the original telegram to the recipient’s mother informing her of her son’s Missing in action; a hand written letter condolence from the Squadron’s Commanding Officer; an Air Ministry letter; a portrait photograph of the recipient; and copied research.
695
Three: Sergeant (Observer) L. D. Norman, 78 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who was killed in action when his Whitley was shot down by a night-fighter during an operational sortie on Gelsenkirchen, on 9-10 January 1941
1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal 1939-45, with named Air Council enclosure and medal tickets, in card box of issue, addressed to ‘P. W .Norman, Esq., 127 Warren Road, Banstead, Surrey’, extremely fine (3)
£300-£400
Lawrence Dudley Norman served during the Second World War as an Observer with 78 Squadron, and was killed in action on his first operational sortie when Whitley T4203, piloted by Sergeant C. A. Smith, was shot down by a German night-fighter under the command of Oblt. Reinhold Eckardt of 11/NJG1 - 6th Staffel, whilst on a sortie to attack the synthetic oil plant at Gelsenkirchen, on 9-10 January 1941. Gelsenkirchen was throughout the War a major target of Bomber Command, and as a result was heavily defended.
At the time of this victory Eckardt was already a famed fighter ace, including 2 Spitfires during the Battle of Britain. He would go on to claim 22 victories in the next two years before eventually being shot down and killed in action when his parachute caught on the tail of his aircraft.
Norman’s Whitley crashed into ice-encrusted flood water at around 11:18 p.m. between Millingen and Kerkerdam. in Gelderland, Holland. All the crew were killed. Norman’s body was recovered and he is buried alongside his crew in Mook War Cemetery, Holland. His medals were sent to his father, Percy Wilfrid Norman.
Sold with copied research.
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