Three: Sergeant (Pilot) E. A. Stokes, 102 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who was killed in action when his Halifax was shot down and crashed over the target area whilst on a bombing raid to the ‘Big City’, Berlin, on 29-30 December 1943- the only casualty amongst his crew, he was able to keep his stricken aircraft aloft long enough for his whole crew to escape and he alone perished, another example of the numerous gallant acts that took place in the air war over Europe

1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal 1939-45, with named Air Council enclosure, in card box of issue, addressed to ‘Mrs. B. E. Stokes, 14 Beverley Drive, Edgware, Middlesex’, extremely fine (3) £400-£500

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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Edgar Arthur Stokes served during the Second World War as a Pilot with 102 Squadron, based at R.A.F. Pocklington, joining with his crew on 23 November 1943. He flew his first operational sortie as 2nd Pilot on 21 December 1943, a raid on Frankfurt. This was supposed to have been a confidence flight for a ‘Fresher’ crew, but did not go entirely to plan- the bomber stream was plotted by the Germans immediately it left the English coast and was attacked by fighters all the way to the target area. Pathfinders had prepared the target based on clear skies, but in fact it was 8/10’s cloud and very difficult to identify. A later report declared that many cultural and historical buildings had been hit.

Stokes and his crew now commenced their tour at the height of the Battle of Berlin. He was killed in action when Halifax JD412, which he piloted, was detailed along with 22 other aircraft from the Squadron to attack Berlin, as part of the main force of 712 aircraft, on 29-30 December 1943. This was the 10th raid on the city during this concentrated period, and Stokes’ aircraft was one of 11 Lancasters and 9 Halifaxes lost in the raid. They crashed in the target area, and although it is not recorded if they were hit by flak or an enemy fighter it seems likely that so close to the target, and with Berlin’s flak defences at full strength, it would seem more likely to be flak.

Martin Middlebrook in The Berlin Raids records:
‘The Germans were definitely confused by the two Mosquito raids, the controllers falling for the first of the two bluffs and ordering the fighters to Magdeburg. The fighters were later switched to Berlin but they did not arrive until the twenty minute raid was over. Only one bomber was observed to be shot down by flak over Berlin but German records show two aircraft crashing in the Berlin area.’

Stokes was the only casualty amongst his crew- he was able to keep his stricken aircraft aloft long enough for his whole crew to escape, and only he perished in the aftermath, another one of the numerous gallant acts that took place in the air war over Europe. His surviving crew were taken prisoners of war, and after a few days at a holding station were sent to Stalag 4B on 15 January 1944. Here they remained prisoners until liberated on 23 April 1945.

Stokes is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. His medals were sent to his mother, Mrs. Blanche E. Stokes.

Sold with copied research.