A Collection of Medals to Second World War Royal Air Force Casualties 734
Three: Sergeant (Navigator) J. H. Hawkins, 625 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who was killed in action when his Lancaster was hit by flak and crashed in the Waddenzee off Oosterend, whilst on a bombing raid to Leipzig, on 20-21 October 1943
1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal 1939-45, with named Air Council enclosure and medal ticket, in card box of issue, addressed to ‘Mrs. S. A. Hawkins, 38 Dempster Street, Greenock, Scotland.’, extremely fine (3) £300-£400
John Henry Hawkins served during the Second World War as a Navigator with 625 Squadron, and was killed in action on his first operational sortie when Lancaster JA714, piloted by Pilot officer W. P. Cameron, was hit by heavy flak over the Dutch coast and crashed at Waddenzee some 3 kilometres south east of Oosterend on the island of Texel, whilst on a bombing raid to Leipzig, on 20-21 October 1943. This was the first operational loss for the newly formed squadron. All the crew were killed.
The attack on Leipzig was the first serious attack on this far-flung city. Weather conditions were described as appalling, and some 16 Lancasters and their crews were lost on this raid.
Ground reports on the loss of Hawkins’ Lancaster state that the aircraft exploded in a tremendous fireball parts of which glided down slowly. The aircraft fell and then seemed to regain control at which point it rose up and exploded (possibly its incendiary bomb load blew up). The aircraft came down on the mudflats on Wadden Sea and continued to burn for time. Aircraft returning from the raid reported still seeing it burning. Only one body was recovered, that of Albert Snook, whose body washed ashore on the Terchelling Islands.
Hawkins is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. His medals were sent to his mother, Mrs. Sarah A. Hawkins. Sold with copied research.
735
Three: Sergeant (Navigator) J. Saffrey, 166 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who was killed in action when his Lancaster was shot down and crashed at Obermeiser, whilst on a bombing raid to Kassel, on 22-23 October 1943
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. M. B. Saffrey, 56 Broadway, Mill Hill, London. N.W.7.’, extremely fine (3) £300-£400
John Saffrey served during the Second World War as a Navigator with 166 Squadron. He commenced operational duties with the Squadron on 27 July 1943 when he flew in a Wellington, attacking Hamburg as part of Operation Gomorrah. He then flew on a further 11 sorties, including two more times on Operation Gomorrah, and mining operations off Lorient, the Frisian Islands, St Nazaire, and Brittany. A further bombing sortie was flown against La Portal Gun Battery emplacements.
166 Squadron switched from Wellingtons to Lancasters in September 1943, and Saffrey underwent Heavy Bomber conversion during early October. He was killed in action in his first operational sortie in a Lancaster when Lancaster ED366, piloted by Sergeant K. Hurst, was shot down near Obermeiser, south east of Warberg, whilst on a bombing raid to Kassel, on 22-23 October 1943. All the crew were killed except for the pilot, Hurst, who was taken Prisoner of War.
The Bomber Command War Diaries by Martin Middlebrook states: ‘Although the German decoy may have drawn off part of the bomber force the main raid was exceptionally accurate and concentrated. The result was the most devastating attack on a German city since the firestorm raid on Hamburg in July and the results at Kassal would not be exceeded again until well into 1944. The fires were so concentrated that there was a firestorm though not as extensive as the Hamburg one.’
Saffrey is buried in Hanover War Cemetery, Germany. His medals were sent to his widow, Marjorie Barrie Saffrey. Sold with copied research.
736
Three: Sergeant (Air Gunner) J. D. Scott, 149 (East India) Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who was killed in action when his Stirling was shot down over the target area whilst on a bombing raid to Mannheim, on 18-19 November 1943
1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal 1939-45, with Buckingham Palace enclosure named to ‘Mrs. R. Scott’, in card box of issue, addressed to ‘Mrs. R. Scott, 255 Cumberland Street, Glasgow, C5, Scotland.’, extremely fine (3) £360-£440
James Davidson Scott served during the Second World War as an Air Gunner with 149 (East India) Squadron, then based at R.A.F. Lakenheath, and flew his first operational sortie on 11-12 November 1943, dropping sea mines off the north west coast of France.
Scott was killed in action when Stirling EH903, piloted by Flight Sergeant R. L. L. Smith, was shot down whilst on a bombing raid to Mannheim, on 18-19 November 1943. Either hit by flak or most likely shot down by a night fighter, the aircraft crashed in the target area. Scott (the Mid Upper Gunner) and another air gunner were killed; the rest of the crew bailed out and were taken Prisoner of War. A letter (included with the lot) written to the recipient’s mother by the aircraft’s Wireless Operator, Pilot Officer Albert Sharrock, who survived and was taken Prisoner of War, states: ‘Dear Mrs. Scott, I received your letter a week ago and am most sorry indeed to hear the sad news of your son James. He did everything that was required of him on the trip magnificently, and you can be proud to know that he did his duty without thought of personal danger. Regarding the actual circumstances at the time we were shot down I’m afraid I cannot give you any details, but I have every confidence that he was able to bale out... May I extend my sincerest condolences to you in your loss and express the hope he will not have made the greatest sacrifice in vain.’
This raid was the major diversionary raid from the resumption of the ‘Battle of Berlin’. 395 aircraft were sent to bomb Mannheim. German night fighter successfully engaged the main bomber stream shooting down 23 aircraft. The Daimler Benz car factory suffered catastrophic damage on this raid.
Scott is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. His medals were sent to his mother, Mrs. R. Scott.
Sold with original telegram to the recipient’s mother, informing her that her son was Missing in action; three Air Ministry letters regarding the recipient’s death; British Red Cross letter; hand-written letter to the recipient’s mother from Pilot Officer Albert Sharrock; and named Buckingham Palace enclosure; and copied research.
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