Orders, Decorations and Medals

A fine Second World War Mosquito pilot’s D.F.C., post-war E.II.R. A.F.C. group of eight awarded to Wing Commander O. D. Staple, Royal New Zealand Air Force, who flew many daring low-level sorties in 2nd Tactical Air Force 1944-45, among them strikes against the Chateau Fou at Chatellerault and the enemy barracks at Arnhem in support of the airborne landings: he twice returned to base in a flak damaged aircraft, once having to carry out a crash landing

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1945’; Air Force Cross, E.II.R., reverse officially dated ‘1960’; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; New Zealand War Service Medal 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, E.II.R. (Wg. Cdr. O. D. Staple, R.A.F., 70136), officially impressed naming as per New Zealand recipients, good very fine and better (8) £3000-3500

D.F.C. London Gazette 8 May 1945. The original recommendation states:

‘This officer has just completed 50 sorties, including three daylight operations, and has shown himself to be an excellent operational pilot and possess a fine offensive spirit, coolness and great determination.

Some excellent results were obtained from his sorties by night. On one occasion, he strafed 14 railway trucks causing two explosions. On another occasion, during a patrol in Germany, he found three trains which he successfully attacked with cannon and machine-gun fire.

On the night of 4-5 October 1944, he found a moving locomotive near Zutphen and despite the flak defences around this town, he dropped a flare and proceeded to attack his target. He obtained many strikes on the locomotive. His aircraft was hit by flak, which necessitated the feathering of the port propeller. The return flight was made on one engine and a crash landing effected at Manston.

Flight Lieutenant Staple took part in the successful daylight operations on 2 August 1944 against the Chateau at Chatellerault; on 25 August 1944, against trains near Chalons-sur-Soane and on 17 November 1944, against the barracks at Arnhem in support of the airborne landings.

In view of his excellent operational record, I strongly recommend him for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.’

A.F.C. London Gazette 1 January 1960. The original recommendation states:

‘Squadron Leader Staple rejoined the R.N.Z.A.F. in April 1947, having previously served from 1942-45. He has completed a total of 4,750 hours, 235 hours of which have been flown in the last six months. In June 1953, he transferred to the Transport role and from June 1954 to June 1956, he was employed in No. 24 (Commonwealth) Squadron in the U.K. On his return he was posted to command No. 40 Squadron. Squadron Leader Staple is an exceptional pilot who sets an excellent example and has earned for himself the respect and admiration of all aircrew who have served with him. His flying has at all times been in the highest traditions of the Service, and has been the subject of most favourable comment by a number of V.I.P. passengers who have flown with him. The Squadron’s excellent record is in no small measure due to his leadership on the ground and in the air.’

Owen David Staple was born in Rotorua, New Zealand in February 1922 and joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force in February 1942. Trained as a pilot out in Canada, he was commissioned on gaining his “Wings” in November of the same year and arrived in the U.K. in December 1943. Having then attended No. 60 Operational Training Unit, he commenced in June 1944 a tour of operations in No. 107 Squadron, a Mosquito unit operating out of Hampshire - but later advanced airfields in France - and a component of 138 Wing, 2nd Tactical Air Force (T.A.F.).

In fact, teaming up with Flying Officer D. Wimmers as his Navigator, he went on to complete 58 operational sorties, the whole comprising a relentless agenda of daring low-level attacks on targets in Austria, France, Germany and the Netherlands, reaping havoc among enemy troop movements, transport and communications. So, too, significant damage on more specific targets, a case in point being the Chateau Fou, near Chatellerault, on 2 August 1944 - where troops of the notorious 158th “Security” Regiment, who had recently murdered members of the S.A.S., were billeted:

‘In the woods to the immediate south of the Chateau, one large explosion was seen after a cannon attack, possibly from motor transport. Bombs landed all round the Chateau but no direct hit was claimed. Strikes were obtained on the roof in a cannon attack and a small fire was seen to start inside. Aircraft ‘D’ sustained the loss of one engine over the target and crash landed at Thorney Island - crew unhurt. The trip back was uneventful except for a little flak soon after leaving the target, which was successfully avoided by all except F./O. Staple in Aircraft ‘J’ ... It is doubtful if the Chateau was entirely destroyed but troops possibly hiding in the woods would have been eliminated’ (107’s Squadron Operational Record Book refers).

So evidence here of Staple returning to the U.K. in another flak damaged aircraft, an experience he would go through again as a result of his gallant attack at Zutphen on the night of 4-5 October 1944. He was recommended for his D.F.C. on 6 February 1945, raised his tally of sorties to 58, and was released in the rank of Flight Lieutenant back in New Zealand that November.

Staple rejoined the R.N.Z.A.F. in April 1947 and commanded No. 40 Squadron, a Hastings unit, 1957-59, and No. 41 Squadron, a Bristol Freighter unit, 1959-61, the latter appointment including service in Singapore at the time of the Malaya operations and witnessing the award of his A.F.C. Having then been advanced to Wing Commander in January 1962, he served latterly as Deputy Director of Postings at R.N.Z.A.F. Headquarters. He died in Rotorua in November 1973.

Sold with the recipient’s original R.N.Z.A.F. Flying Log Book for the period January 1954 to June 1962.