Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry 126
A particularly fine Second War D.F.C and Second Award Bar, A.F.C. group of six awarded to Wing Commander W. J. “Marmaduke” Alington, Royal Air Force Reserve of Officers, late Mercantile Marine and Royal Naval Reserve, who, having shot down two Dornier 217s flying Beaufighters at night in 1942, converted to Mosquitos, destroying or damaging seven locomotives in May 1943. Rated an ‘exceptional’ pilot, the following month he led the four most experienced Mosquito crews of 264 Squadron in executing the highly successful ‘Instep 184’ low-level night raid on the German sea plane base at Biscarosse Lake, an action that is vividly described in a secret Official Intelligence Report, the recipient’s original copy of which is included in the lot
Distinguished Flying Cross,
G.VI.R., with Second Award Bar, the reverse of the Cross officially dated ‘1943’ and the reverse of the Bar ‘1943’; Air Force Cross,
G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1941’; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star, 1 clasp, Atlantic; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted as worn, good very fine (6)
£5,000-£7,000
D.F.C. London Gazette 2 February 1943: ‘This officer has completed a large number of sorties and has destroyed 2 enemy aircraft at night. He is an extremely able flight commander, whose efforts to achieve success in night fighting have been most praiseworthy.’
D.F.C. Second Award Bar London Gazette 23 July 1943: ‘This officer has displayed exceptional keenness and determination to inflict loss on the enemy. On 1 sortie, he damaged 7 locomotives. More recently, in June, 1943, he led a formation of light bombers on an operation which resulted in the destruction of 4 enemy aircraft on the ground, while much damage was caused to a hangar. In addition, a minesweeper was attacked and damaged. By his fearless and skilful leadership, Wing Commander Alington played a large part in the success of the sortie.’
A.F.C. London Gazette 30 September 1941. The recommendation (abridged) states: ‘This Officer has completed 2700 hours of instruction flying of which 595 have been flown since December, 1939. His great enthusiasm for the work is reflected in the high standard of his pupils.’
William James Alington was born on 26 March 1906 at Hythe, Kent, the son of Lieutenant-Colonel A. C. M. Alington, East Lancashire Regiment and the grandson of Admiral A. H. Alington. His two brothers also served with distinction: Paymaster Lieut.-Cdr. R. H. Alington, Royal Navy, mentioned in despatches and killed in the Mediterranean on active service in September 1943 and Wing Commander P. H. Alington, D.F.C. for gallantry as captain of a Sunderland aircraft during the evacuation from Greece, 1941.
Allington initially embarked on a naval career, serving with the Mercantile Marine from 1921, and was also appointed Midshipman in the Royal Naval Reserve, 1 January 1923, advancing to Sub-Lieutenant on 12 June 1928. His attention then switched to flying, however, and having obtained his Royal Aero Club Aviator’s Certificate at Hampshire Aeroplane Club on 24 June 1932, he joined the Royal Air Force Reserve, Class “F”, as a Sergeant on 15 October 1934 - this despite having rather inauspiciously crashed his Moth on Burbage Edge near Buxton just 4 days earlier. He joined the staff of Aberdeen Airways as a pilot in 1935 and, gaining his wings in the Reserve in April the same year, he was commissioned Pilot Officer on probation in the Royal Air Force Reserve of Officers on 4 April 1936, advancing to Flying Officer, October 1937 and Flight Lieutenant, November 1940.
No. 54 O.T.U. Flying Instructor - A.F.C.
On 18 May 1941, whilst employed as a Flying Instructor at at No. 54 Operational Training Unit, R.A.F. Church Fenton, Alington survived another plane crash; on this occasion, whilst giving dual instruction at night on instruments in a Miles Master, his pupil inadvertently switched off the engine shortly after take-off and during the attempted forced landing a wing tip of the aircraft clipped a tree. The aircraft was written off and Both Alington and his pupil were removed to York Hospital, seriously but not fatally injured. Alington resumed flying on 10 July and later the same year he was awarded the A.F.C. in respect of his services as a Flying Instructor, both before and since the start of the war.
25 Squadron - Beaufighter nightfighter operations - D.F.C.
On 27 July 1941, Alington went operational with a posting to 25 Squadron, a Beaufighter unit flying out of R.A.F. Wittering. He flew four night patrols in August and continued flying regular sweeps and patrols over the course of the the next 15 months, gaining promotion to Squadron Leader on 1 December 1941. On 24 July 1942, his logbook describes an unusual sortie in search of a pilot downed over the sea. After 2.5 hours of searching he was then directed to pursue nearby enemy aircraft but after being misidentified and chased by Spitfires he finally landed at Catford with just 30 gallons of fuel left. On 23 August, he was again shot at by friendly fighters but the same night he destroyed a Dornier 217, the enemy aircraft crashing at Sutton Bridge killing all its crew. He shot down his second Dornier 217 off Sheringham on 15 September but on 11 November 1942, after 85 night sorties, Alington was posted back to No. 54 O.T.U., with which unit he resumed Instructor duties for a few months, this time on Beaufighters. He was awarded the D.F.C. in February 1943 for his night fighter exploits with 25 Squadron.
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