Three: Flying Officer R. J. Bordiss, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who was killed in action while serving as a pilot in No. 35 (Pathfinder) Squadron in April 1944

1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal 1939-45, all privately named ‘Boots-style’ ‘F./O. R. J. Bordiss, R.A.F.’, together with medal issuance and condolence slips, the latter in the name of ‘Flying Officer R. J. Bordiss’, and an old photograph of the recipient’s grave, extremely fine (3) £180-220

Ronald John Bordiss, a native of Torquay, Devon, joined the strength of No. 77 Squadron, a Halifax unit operating out of Elvington, in September 1943 and flew his first sortie against Kassell - on the night of 3-4 October. He subsequently flew a further ten sorties with the squadron, including two trips to Berlin, following which, in March 1944, he volunteered for the Pathfinders and was posted to No. 35 Squadron. Completing his first such sortie - against Nuremburg - on the last day of the month, Bordiss was killed in action on a strike against Lille on the night of 9-10 April. With one other exception, all his crew survived, four being taken P.O.W. and another, Flight Sergeant P. A. O’Brien, evading capture. Bordiss, who was 21 years of age, is buried in Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension, France; sold with copied research, including O.R.B. extracts.