A fine Second World War D.F.M. group of five awarded to Flight Sergeant P. F. Jackson, Royal Air Force, an Air Bomber in No. 9 Squadron who participated in the attack on the Tirpitz on 29 October 1944, alongside Lancasters of 617 “Dambuster” Squadron led by Wing Commander J. B. “Willie” Tait - in fact No. 9 was the only other squadron capable of carrying the “Tallboy” bomb and was consequently ordered to join 617 Squadron on a number of special missions, attacks on the Sorpe and Urft Dams, and Hitler’s famous “Eagle’s Nest” among them

Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (1428058 F./Sgt. P. F. Jackson, R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals, mounted court-style as worn, suspension claw re-riveted on the first, generally good very fine (5)
£2500-2800

D.F.M. London Gazette 17 July 1945. The original recommendation states:

‘This N.C.O. has completed 33 sorties as an Air Bomber. In addition to heavily defended targets in Germany, he has attacked many targets requiring extremely accurate bombing, often in the face of strong defences. He took part in the second attack on the battleship Tirpitz and was prevented from taking part in the first attack, from a base in Russia, by the unserviceability of his aircraft. In the journey to the Russian base on the second attack on the Tirpitz, Flight Sergeant Jackson materially assisted in the navigation of his aircraft by the accuracy of his map reading. He has at all times shown the greatest keenness to operate and has proved himself a very valuable member of a successful bombing team.’

Philip Frederick Jackson commenced his wartime career at No. 42 Air School in South Africa in March 1943, was embarked for the U.K. and attended a course at R.A.F. Penrhos that September. Having then attended O.T.Us and a conversion course, he was posted to No. 9 Squadron, a Lancaster unit operating out of Bardney, Lincolnshire, in June 1944, in which month he was quickly employed in operations in support of the Allied landings in Normandy - his Lancaster was shot up by a Ju. 88 on his second trip, a strike against Prouville. And with the exception of strikes on Kiel and Stuttgart, he remained on the French-run throughout July and August, many of the sorties in question being of the daylight variety and including a brace of attacks on the U-Boat pens and oil depot at La Pallice, shipping at Brest, and against the flying-bomb site at Trossy St. Maxim on 3 August, when five of our aircraft were lost - in fact Jackson completed no less than a dozen operations in August alone.

In September, in conjunction with 617 Squadron, Jackson and his crew were ordered to attack a target of a very different nature - the mighty German battleship Tirpitz, heavily protected and camouflaged in a Norwegian fjord, a journey entailing a stop over at Yagodnik in North Russia, via Kinloss, prior to launching the attack with 12,000lb. Tallboy bombs - so it must have been very frustrating indeed when his Lancaster was declared unserviceable after having reached Yagodnik. Yet No. 9’s association with 617 continued, a daylight attack against the Sorpe Dam being carried out on 14 October, which initiative received the full attention of the home press.

Moreover, orders were now received for another strike against the Tirpitz on the 29th, this time a direct trip via Lossiemouth since the enemy battleship had been towed to Tromso Fjord. As it transpired, even though a P.R.U. aircraft saw explosions all round the target, the Tirpitz remained afloat - but her propeller shaft was damaged by a near miss and she took on around 800 tons of water, the former damage meaning she could no longer steam under her own power.

Having then flown on another “dambusting” operation against the Urft on 11 December, and attacked Munich on the 17th, Jackson appears to have enjoyed some leave prior to returning to operations in February 1945, when he participated in attacks on the U-boat pens at Ijmuiden and the viaduct at Altenbeken - the former operation once more being flown in conjunction with 617 Squadron. And in mid-March, having also participated in strikes on Sassnitz and Harburg, Jackson was recommended for the D.F.M. - he had completed 33 sorties and around 190 hours of operational flying.

Yet Jackson remained actively engaged on an extended tour, March 1945 also witnessing him participate in attacks on the viaducts at Arnsberg and Vlotho, in addition to a trip to destroy the railway bridge at Bremen (when a dozen Me. 262 jet fighters appeared on the scene) and, on the 27th, again in conjunction with 617 Squadron, an attack on the U-Boat pens and oil depot at Farge. Finally, on 25 April, and still with his original pilot at the helm - the recently promoted Flight Lieutenant R. F. Adams, D.F.C. - he and his crew were detailed to attack Hitler’s “Eagle’s Nest” and the S.S. Barracks at Berchtesgaden, a successful outing assisted by Tallboys delivered by 617 Squadron.

Jackson transferred to No. 50 Squadron at Sturgate in June 1945 and would appear to have been released from the Service towards the end of the year.

Sold with the recipient’s original Observer’s and Air Gunner’s Flying Log Book, covering the period April 1943 to August 1945, together with a wartime newspaper cutting reporting on the daylight attack on the Sorpe Dam in October 1944 (’R.A.F. Dam-Busters Strike Again in Daylight ...’).