Orders, Decorations and Medals

An outstanding 1940 Advanced Air Striking Force D.F.M. group of five awarded to Flight Lieutenant J. A. P. Drummond, Royal Air Force, who twice baled out, took part in the first three Thousand Bomber Raids, and was killed in action in a raid on Hamburg in August 1943

Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (550408 Cpl., R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence and War Medals, together with Caterpillar Club brooch in gold with enamelled eyes (P/O J. A. P. Drummond), Memorial Scroll (Flight Lieutenant, D.F.M.), named condolence slip, R.A.F. Sports medal (2nd 440 yds relay B. Newton 1938, J. A. Drummond), and numerous documents, letters, telegrams and news cuttings, extremely fine (7) £1000-1200

D.F.M. (Immediate) London Gazette 21 June 1940: ‘Corporal J. A. Drummond, No. 218 Squadron, No. 74 Wing, Advanced Air Striking Force.

On the 10th May, 1940, this air gunner took part in a low bombing raid on an enemy column near DIPPACH, and in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire he added greatly to the success of the raid by the full use of his machine gun on enemy troops.

On the 14th May, when taking part in another raid his aircraft was attacked by a heavy formation of Messerschmitt 109’s. With confidence and great courage Corporal Drummond engaged the enemy fighters and as a result of his accurate fire shot down one and inflicted damage on others. His coolness and accurate fire in the face of repeated attacks were to a very great extent responsible for the safe return of his aircraft.’

James Anthony Patrick Drummond enlisted as a Boy Entrant Wireless Operator in September 1935, and was posted to 218 Squadron (Battles) at Boscombe Down. In September 1939 he flew to Auberive, France, as part of 75 Wing of the Advanced Air Srtiking Force with 218 Squadron. His first operational flight took place on 22 April 1940 when he flew in Battle L5237 on a reconnaissance of the Rhine and Nickels over Bad Kreuznach. The Squadron Record Book for May 1940 was lost but the 10th May signalled the German invasion of Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg, and was the start of a busy period for the squadron. On this day also, Neville Chamberlain resigned to be replaced by Winston Churchill as Prime Minister. Drummond was presented with his D.F.M. by Air Marshal Sir Charles Portal on 29 July 1940. His pilot on the same occasion, F/Lt. John Hughes, had been awarded the D.F.C. The squadron re-equipped with Wellington bombers in November 1940 and Drummond took part in several bombing sorties in the period up to July 1941, when he was posted to No. 115 Squadron, also equipped with Wellingtons. On 9 July, after a raid on Osnabruck, Drummond and the rest of the crew were forced to bale out over Norfolk, all landing safely. On the 24th of the same month he took part in a raid on the German Battleship Gneisenau in Brest harbour, his aircraft being heavily attacked by M.E. 109’s, one of which was shot down. Over the next month he flew on sorties to Hamburg, Munich, Osnabruck, Duisburg, and, on the 27th of August, against Mannheim, returning from which all the crew were once again forced to bale out over Cromer. Once again all landed safely and Drummond left no doubt about his membership of the Caterpillar Club.

Posted to 12 OTU at Chipping Warden in October 1941, and promoted to Flying Officer on 6 May 1942, Drummond took part in each of the first three Thousand Bomber Raids against Cologne, Essen and Bremen, in May and June 1942. He was next posted to No. 460 Squadron in August 1942, flying two sorties to Essen and Berlin, on both occasions his aircraft being damaged by fighters or flak. He was promoted to Flight Lieutenant on 6 May 1943 and, two days later, posted to No. 100 Squadron, flying Lancaster III’s from Waltham, Grimsby. He took part in eight raids against targets in Germany and Italy before he was posted missing on a raid to Hamburg on the night of August 2/3rd, 1943. His Lancaster is believed to have been shot down by a night fighter (Oblt Hermann Greiner, IV./NJG1) crashing off the Dutch Frisian Islands. Only one body was recovered, F/Lt. Drummond and the other crew members being commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. The group is accompanied by additional research including copies of relevant Squadron Record Books.