Three: Sergeant Air Gunner P. D. Webb, Royal Air Force, who flew 11 operational sorties with 103 Squadron, and then a further 8 operational sorties with 156 Squadron, Path Finder Force, February to April 1943

1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal 1939-45, with Air Council enclosure, in named card box of issue, addressed to ‘P. D. Webb, Esq., Ravenfield, Rotherham, Yorks.’, extremely fine (3) £380-£420

Philip David Webb was born on 27 June 1920, and attested for the Royal Air Force on 9 September 1942. Promoted Sergeant on 28 November 1942, he undertook a conversion course at 1656 Conversion Unit at R.A.F. Linholme in January 1943, before being posted as an Air Gunner to 103 Squadron, based at R.A.F. Elsham Wolds, in February 1943. Flying Lancasters, his first operational sortie was to Lorient on 7 February 1943; further operational sorties over the next 30 days included Wilhelmshaven, Bremen, Nuremberg (twice) Cologne, St Nazaire, Hamberg, Essen, Munich, and Berlin: ‘1 March 1943. Operation No. 7. Berlin. Air Opposition: Saw 3 fighters, 1 Ju.88 ands 2 Me.210s. Ground Opposition: Bags of searchlights and light and heavy flak over target. On way back ran into a terrific barrage at 4,000 feet over Emden. Bomb Aimer hit in face by piece of shrapnel. Bombed target which was a mass of flames.’ (the recipient’s Log Book refers).

At the end of March 1943 Webb transferred with his crew to 156 Squadron, Path Finder Force, based at R.A.F. Warboys, and throughout April, again flying Lancasters, carried out a further 8 operations sorties. His first three were to St. Nazaire, Essen, and Dusiberg, before his crew had their first operational sortie as Markers, to Stuttgart: ‘14 April 1943. Operation No. 15. Stuttgart. Chased by Ju.88. Successful E.A. taken and fighter lost. Moon very bright. Target burning well. First trip as markers.’ (ibid).

Webb carried out four further operational sorties in April 1943, to Pilsen, Spezia, Stettin, and Duisberg, enjoying the low level flying which he describes as ‘Wizard’. However, after 19 operational sorties, and less then two thirds of the way through his tour, he transferred to Airfield Control, for reasons unknown.

Sold with the recipient’s Royal Air Force Observer’s and Air Gunner’s Flying Log Book, covering the period 28 October 1942 to 3 February 1944, in which each operational sortie is well written-up; the recipient’s Airman’s Service and Pay Book; and cloth Air Gunner’s brevet.