A fine Second World War Fleet Air Arm observer’s D.S.C. group of five awarded to Lieutenant-Commander H. E. H. “Pancho” Pain, Royal Navy, who was decorated for his part in the Battle of Cape Matapan, while operating in Albacores from the Formidable: he had earlier seen action in the Norwegian campaign in 1940, when he operated in Swordfish aircraft from the Ark Royal, and latterly won a “mention” as Air Staff Officer in the escort carrier Chaser during Russian convoys in 1944

Distinguished Service Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1942’, in its Garrard & Co. case of issue; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45, M.I.D. oak leaf, extremely fine (5) £2500-3000

D.S.C. London Gazette 27 July 1941:

‘For bravery and enterprise in the Battle of Cape Matapan.’

Mention in despatches London Gazette 30 May 1944. The recommendation states:

‘As Air Staff Officer of H.M.S. Chaser, Lieutenant-Commander Pain has been responsible for the training and efficiency of the Air Plotting and Fighter Direction Staff, of the Observers and Air Gunners of Aircraft, and for the communications between ships and aircraft. During recent operations his untiring zeal in directing aircraft attacks on U-boats and in inspiring his subordinates with the same unfailing keenness contributed very largely to the successes obtained.’

Howard Elsley Herbert “Pancho” Pain was commissioned as an Acting Sub. Lieutenant in December 1931, and enjoyed regular seagoing experience aboard such ships as H.M.S. Warspite prior to gaining attachment to an R.A.F. Pilot’s Course in 1935. Two years later, however, he trained as an Observer, and was posted to No. 810 Squadron aboard the Ark Royal in November 1938. He was similarly employed in the rank of Lieutenant on the outbreak of hostilities, when his Squadron quickly undertook anti-submarine patrols in Swordfish aircraft in the Western Approaches and mounted a number of operational sorties in the Norwegian campaign - official records confirm an early forced landing in the sea on 25 April 1940, when he was picked up by the destroyer H.M.S. Maori. Notwithstanding this undoubtedly cold ditching, Pain went on to participate in the Swordfish strikes against the airfield at Vaernes on 25 and 28 April 1940, when his aircraft was credited with one direct hit on a hangar.




Shortly afterwards, he joined No. 829 Squadron at R.A.F. Eval, from which base in October 1940 he commenced night operations in Alabcores against enemy shipping at Brest, an early casualty being his Squadron C.O. - his Flying Log Book records much opposition and a hit in his aircraft’s port aileron on the 13th, but also a ‘lovely bang’ after the despatch of a landmine on the 10th. In the following month, the Squadron was embarked in the Formidable, in which carrier he served with until June 1941, winning his D.S.C. for the Battle of Cape Matapan on 28 March 1941 - he flew three sorties that day, the last of them being modestly described in his Flying Log Book as an ‘attack on the Wop fleet’ (One of 829’s aircraft scored a hit on the Italian battleship Vittorio Veneto but yet another C.O. was among the casualties, being shot down and killed). In May, 829 kept up the pressure with a strike against the enemy airfield at Scarpanto Island on the 26th, and while six enemy aircraft were brought down by her pilots, others got through and severely damaged the Formidable with a brace of 2,000lb. bomb hits - she was forced to withdraw to Cyprus.

For his own part, Pain assumed temporary command of No. 830 Squadron, a Swordfish unit, on Malta, and remained actively employed in the same role until early 1942, when he returned to the U.K. for a rest period as an Instructor - he received his D.S.C. at an investiture held in February of the same year. During his Maltese sojourn, he flew around 50 operational sorties, most of them at night, targets being located by ASV radar (“ping”) and illuminated by flare. Although several times ordered to attack targets in Tripoli, by and large he and his fellow crews concentrated on enemy shipping, a case in point being a successful “ping” south of Pantellaria on 31 July, when despite poor visibility and an escorting destroyer, a 6,000-ton freighter was hit by a torpedo and left in flames. Nor were such operations without opposition, his Flying Log Book recording attacks being made by Me. 110s and, on one occasion, by a SM. 79, the latter resulting in another forced landing in the sea: other than the relentless operational agenda recorded in his Flying Log Book (with many “M.Vs” described as damaged or sunk), Night Strike From Malta is recommended for some more detailed accounts of the actions in question.

Advanced to Lieutenant-Commander in February 1943, he next joined the escort carrier Chaser, and it was for his services in her as an Air Staff Officer during Russian convoys JW. 57 and RA. 57 in February-March 1944 that he won his “mention” - F.A.A. aircraft under his direction in the Chaser accounted for no less than three U-boats. Pain ended the War with an appointment at the St. Merryn air station Vulture, and remained in the Service after the War.

Sold with a quantity of original documentation and related artefacts, the fomer including the recipient’s R.A.F.-type Observer’s and Air Gunner’s Flying Log Book (Form 1767), covering the period July 1940 to July 1950, his first Flying Log Book very probably having been lost during the course of the above mentioned Norwegian operations; “Crossing of the Line” and “Arctic Circle” certificates / proclamations, the first as a Lieutenant in the Ark Royal, dated 18 October 1939, and the second as a Lieutenant-Commander in the Vengeance, dated 9 February 1949; three of four wartime vintage photographs; his Officer’s F.A.A. side-cap, Lieutenant-Commander’s epaulette and a Morse signalling device, presumably as removed from a Swordfish aircraft.