A Second War ‘Pacific’ theatre D.F.M. group of five awarded to Flight Sergeant T. W. Galliford, No. 209 Squadron, Royal Air Force, for gallantry as Flight Engineer of a Sunderland Flying Boat

Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (652617 F/Sgt., R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; Defence & War Medals, good very fine (5) £900-1100

D.F.M. London Gazette 4 June 1946. The following is extracted from the original recommendation: ‘During a low level attack on two armed enemy vessels on August 9th, 1945, this N.C.O. was manning the beam gun of a Sunderland. He used this with considerable effect. The aircraft was damaged by anti-aircraft fire and aileron control was lost. In his capacity as Flight Engineer, Flight Sergeant Galliford discovered fractures in the control cables. He crawled inside the wing to the point of fracture and working in a cramped and confined space directly behind the fire wall, he effected a temporary repair. Had the aircraft crashed owing to lack of control he would have had no chance of survival. Despite this he worked for nearly an hour at the task, thereby enabling the aircraft to return safely to base. He has shown throughout his operational tour, a high standard of technical ability, a capacity for hard work, and a constant devotion to duty.’

Flight Sergeant Thomas William Galliford, a mechanic by trade, was born at Hinckley, Leicestershire, in 1919, and enlisted in the R.A.F. in 1939. As a flight engineer during the last days of the war against Japan, Galliford flew long anti-shipping patrols with 209 Squadron Sunderlands, operating from an advanced base at Rangoon. Sold with copied research.