Three: Pilot Officer (Air Bomber) T. D. L. Mason, 7 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who was killed in action when his Lancaster was lost on bombing operations over Duisberg during Operation Hurricane, on 14-15 October 1944

1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal 1939-45, with named Air Council enclosure, in card box of issue, addressed to ‘C. D. Mason, Esq., “Meadow Croft”, Westow Village, South Shields, Co. Durham’, extremely fine (3) £300-£400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to Second World War Royal Air Force Casualties.

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Thomas Donald Lawson Mason was part of a very experienced crew who spent their entire operational life together. Having ‘crewed up’ and completed crew training, Mason’s crew went for conversion, in early 1944, at 31 Base, Tempsford to the four engined heavy bombers, On 19 March 1943 they were posted to 218 Squadron and on 22 March they were posted immediately to 75 Squadron where they began their operational duties firstly on Short Stirlings and later on Lancasters. They took part in 26 operational sorties, 16 with 75 Squadron and 10 with the 7 Squadron as part of the Path Finder Force. From March to July 1944 the crew were engaged on bombing missions to targets such as Courtrai, Duisberg, Dortmund, Gelsenkirchen oil plant, bombing Le Harve E Boat Flotillas that had been attacking the D-Day invasion fleet, bombing the 2nd and 9th Panzer Divisions in Villers Bocage, and the Walten and Beauvoir V1 flying bomb sites.

At the end of July 1944 the crew were transferred to 7 Squadron Pathfinder Force. Target Marking amongst other cities included Soesterberg, Bremen, Russelheim, Emden, Karmen, Gelsenkirchen, and the Wanne - Eickle GAVEG chemical works.

Mason was killed in action when Lancaster PB357, piloted by Flying Officer C. N. C. Crawford, was lost without trace whilst taking part of the attacking force in Operation Hurricane, when over 1,000 aircraft attacked the Thysen Mines at Duisburg, on 14-15 October 1944. All the crew were killed.

Mason is buried alongside his crew in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany. His medals were sent to his father, Clifford Donald Mason, who had been awarded the Military Cross during the Great War.

Sold with copied research.