A post-war O.B.E., Second World War D.F.C. group of five attributed to Squadron Leader K. Dear, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 2nd type breast badge; Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1944’ and privately inscribed, ‘F./Lt. K. Dear, 239 Squadron’; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal 1939-45, these last three also privately inscribed, ‘F./Lt. K. Dear, 239 Squadron’, good very fine and better (5) £600-800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Awards to the R.F.C. and R.A.F. formed by Wing Commander Bill Traynor.

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O.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1959.

D.F.C. London Gazette 14 November 1944:

‘Flight Lieutenant Dear has completed many eventful sorties during his two tours of operations. He has participated in the destruction of a Junkers 88, and damaged another, and also a Messerschmitt 110. Two further Me. 110s were destroyed in July 1944 near Meaux and Compiegne. He has displayed commendable keenness for operational flying, which with his fine technical skill and cheerfulness sets a splendid example to all navigators.’

Kenneth Dear, who was born in December 1909, was commissioned in the General Duties Branch as a Navigator in July 1942, having gained operational experience in Beaufighters of No. 125 Squadron on nightfighter duties. At the end of 1943, having acted as a Liaison Officer to the U.S.A.A.F., and assisted in training Radar Operators for the first American nightfighter unit, based at Ayr, he commenced his second operational tour with No. 239 Squadron, a Mosquito unit operating out of West Raynham and, according to his D.F.C. citation, with notable success. He retired as a Squadron Leader in January 1959, shortly after being gazetted for his O.B.E.