Four: Flight Lieutenant (Air Bomber) H. L. Ashman, 7 Squadron, Pathfinder Force, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who was killed in action when his Lancaster was shot down and crashed at Schopoven whilst on a bombing raid to Aachen, on 24-25 May 1944, and was posthumously Mentioned in Despatches

1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf, with named Air Council enclosure and medal tickets, in card box of issue, addressed to ‘Mrs. M. Ashman, 50 Northborough Road, Norbury, London SW16’; together with the recipient’s Memorial Scroll (Flight Lieutenant H. L. Ashman Royal Air Force), in similarly addressed envelope of issue, extremely fine (4) £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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M.I.D. London Gazette 8 June 1944.

Herbert Leonard Ashman was born in Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, in March 1914 and was granted an emergency Commission as Pilot Officer in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve on 24 August 1941. Promoted Flight Lieutenant on 28 August 1942, he served during the Second World War as an Air Bomber with 7 Squadron, as part of the Pathfinder Force, being posted to the Squadron from 17 O.T.U. on 24 April 1944. During May the crew took part in raids on Montdidier, Mantes-Le-Jolie, Nantes, Louvain, Le Mans, Duisberg, and Dortmund- in the main these were French targets being softened up prior to the D-Day landings.

Ashman was killed in action when Lancaster JB313, piloted by Flight Lieutenant G. C. Crew, D.F.C., was detailed to attack Aachen, and crashed at Schophoven, 5km south east of Jülich, on 24-25 May 1944. All the crew were killed. Ashman was Mentioned in Despatches in the Birthday Honours’ list in June 1944, some 14 days after his death in combat.

Ashman is buried along with his crew in Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany. His medals were sent to his widow, Mrs. Mabel Ashman.

Sold with the recipient’s original Mentioned in Despatches Certificate, named to ‘Flight Lieutenant H. L. Ashman, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve’ and dated 8 June 1944; a photograph of the crew’s original grave; and copied research.