Orders, Decorations and Medals

A fine Second World War D.F.M. group of six awarded to Flight Lieutenant J. H. R. Price, an Air Gunner and Battle of Britain veteran who achieved notable success in low-level attacks in the Middle East

Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (970175 F./Sgt. J. Price, R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star, clasp, Battle of Britain; Africa Star, clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence and War Medals, mounted as worn, contact marks, generally very fine (6) £3500-4000

D.F.M. London Gazette 13 October 1942. The original recommendation states:

‘This N.C.O. joined No. 38 Squadron on 30 August 1941 and since that date has successfully completed 40 operational sorties. Before joining this squadron he had already completed 20 operational sorties of which 13 were with No. 29 Squadron on night flying interception over France, in Blenheim aircraft, and seven in No. 116 Squadron on Hampden aircraft, making a total of 60 operational sorties altogether.

During his operational tour with No. 38 Squadron, Flight Sergeant Price has shown keenness and devotion to duty which has been an inspiration to the Squadron.

On the night of 12 October 1941, when operating from Malta against motor transport and petrol installations in Tripoli, his ground straffing was so good that large fires were started from petrol ignited by his incendiary bullets.

On the night of 24 October 1941, when operating from Malta against searchlights at Naples, by very accurate firing from the rear-turret a great many searchlights were shot up and many forced to dowse, thereby contributing to the efficiency of the nights successful operations.

On the nights of 8, 22 and 24 May 1942, very successful operations by ground straffing were carried out against motor transport in convoy on the road outside Benghazi, and the convoys successfully hampered and disorganised by his very accurate fire.’

James Henry Reginald Price, a native of Cartref, Glamorgan, who was born in July 1919, entered the Royal Air Force as an Air Gunner under training in October 1939. Duly qualified, he was posted to No. 29 Squadron, a Blenheim unit operating out of Digby, in mid-September 1940, and went on to complete 13 night interception sorties prior to being posted to No. 7 (BAT) Flight in February 1941 - several of them at the height of the Battle of Britain. Although early days for nightfighter operations, No. 29, commanded by Squadron Leader S. C. Widdows, gained some notable successes, a case in point being the first victory credited to John Braham, who ended the War with three D.S.Os, and three D.F.Cs. - and a further 29 “kills” to his name.

As stated in the recommendation for his D.F.M., Price next flew seven sorties in Hampdens of No. 116 Squadron, prior to joining No. 38 Squadron, a Wellington unit, out in the Middle East, in August 1941, in which latter capacity he completed a further 40 sorties before being “rested” in August 1942, a period that witnessed him achieve notable success as a Rear-Gunner on low-level ground straffing duties. But No. 38’s operational brief extended beyond the more usual desert operations of the period, Price’s newly arrived C.O., Wing Commander John Chaplin, D.F.C., master-minding the Squadron’s conversion for torpedo operations and daring attacks on enemy supply ships - Chaplin would win an immediate D.S.O. for just such an operation in June 1942, when, in the face of heavy flak, he sunk an escorted 30,000-ton merchantman: the Wellingtons of No. 38 were promptly christened “Fishingtons”.

Price was released in the rank of Flight Lieutenant in 1946, but later rejoined the Royal Air Force in the same rank in May 1956, and was finally placed on the Retired List in July 1974. He died in March 1988.