Orders, Decorations and Medals

An extremely rare Second World War “Triple D.F.C.” group of six awarded to Squadron Leader R. Van den Bok, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who, having survived a very close encounter with the Scharnhorst during the famous “Channel Dash” in February 1942, and been awarded his first D.F.C., added an immediate Bar for making a successful evasion attempt after being shot down and wounded over Belgium - a Second Bar followed for radio counter-measure operations in Flying Fortresses in 1944-45

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., with Second and Third Award Bars, the reverse of the Cross officially dated ‘1942’ and the Bars ‘1942’ and ‘1945’; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star, clasp, France and Germany; Defence and War Medals; U.S.A., Silver Star, the reverse inscribed, ‘F./O. R. Van den Bok, D.F.C.’, mounted as worn, together with the recipient’s Caterpillar Club Membership Badge, gold, with “ruby” eyes, the reverse officially inscribed, ‘F./O. R. Van den Bock, D.F.C.’, lacquered, generally good very fine (6) £2500-3000

Ex John Hayward collection and thence Hayward’s Gazette (No. 3, October 1974, Item No. 423); just 46 British and Commonwealth aircrew were awarded the D.F.C. with 2 Bars in the 1939-45 War.

D.F.C. London Gazette 4 August 1942. The original recommendation states:
‘Flying Officer Van den Bok has taken part in 29 sorties, a large number of them being carried out against heavily defended targets, and pressed home with determination and resolve. He has participated in repeated attacks on Mannheim, Duisberg, Huls, Bremen, Kile and Hamburg, returning from seven different sorties in aircraft severely damaged by enemy A.A. fire. As a Wireless Operator he has been responsible on many occasions for his aircraft’s safe return in bad weather.

He was the Wireless Operator / Air Gunner on a Hampden which made a low-level attack on the Scharnhorst during the battleship’s flight from Brest. The whole aircraft was severely damaged by Scharnhort’s A.A. defences: included in this damage was the radio installation: this Flying Officer Van den Bok repaired and re-established communication with his base. While carrying out the repair he observed an enemy fighter stalking his aircraft which by this time was in no condition to face an engagement. By following Flying Officer Van den Bok’s evasive directions, his captain was able to shake off the fighter.

While this officer was detached from the Squadron on a course he obtained 48 hours leave in order that he might take part in the Squadron’s effort against Rostock. Last autumn he took part in the Squadron’s daylight attacks on enemy targets in occupied France.

As Squadron Signals Officer, Flying Officer Van den Bock is in a large measure responsible for the high standard of W./T. operating obtained in this squadron. Throughout his cool steadfast courage has been an example that the Wireless Operators have been eager to emulate.’

Bar to D.F.C. London Gazette 24 November 1942. The original recommendation states:

‘Since the beginning of his tour on operations, commencing 22 August 1941, Flying Officer Van den Bok has taken part in 25 sorties over enemy territory against very heavy enemy defences. Targets he has attacked are Duisberg, Essen, Bremen, Mannheim, Dusseldorf, Huls, Cologne, Rostock and Flensberg.

On his last trip to Saarbrucken on 28 August 1942, on returning from the target, his aircraft was attacked by enemy aircraft and shot down over Belgium. He sustained a wound in his leg by the entry of a piece of flak and despite physical suffering due to his wounded leg, he was able to travel some 3,000 miles through enemy territory to escape capture and arrived in Gibraltar in less than three weeks.

Under a calm and quiet manner he has a fine offensive spirit in action which inspires confidence in his fellow aircrew.’

Second Bar to D.F.C. London Gazette 26 October 1945. The orginal recommendation states:

‘This officer has operated with No. 214 Squadron 16 times on his second tour, in which number is included the last Bomber Command attack in the Berlin area and the last operation by that Command in Europe.

His attention to detail and planning, and his outstandingly good captaincy, have been responsible for the seemingly effortless manner in which he has operated against many targets well known for the strength of their defences.

His enthusiasm for operations was in no way diminished by his experiences in evading capture after being shot down by flak over occupied Belgium after 29 sorties on his first tour. He has always been anxious to fly on every possible occasion when his duties as Flight Commander would permit.

Despite his personal keenness for operational flying, he has, however, devoted a large amount of time to the instruction of new captains and crews, and has always been tireless in his efforts to improve the operational and training efficiency of his flight and the Squadron as a whole.’

Ralph Van den Bok qualified as a Wireless Operator / Air Gunner in April 1941, and is believed to have flown an operational sortie to Kiel with No. 83 Squadron, a Hampden unit operating out of Scampton, Lincolnshire, that July. Be that as it may, his operational career commenced proper with his appointment to No. 408 (Goose) Squadron, R.C.A.F., another Hampden unit, operating out of Balderton, Nottinghamshire, in August 1941.

Between then and being recommended for his D.F.C. in May 1942, he completed 22 sorties and 126 operational flying hours, and gained appointment as Squadron Signals and Gunnery Leader, his targets, as stated, including the Scharnhorst. Not mentioned in the recommendation, however, is the fact his captain, a New Zealander, D. S. N. “Tinny” Constance, attacked the enemy battleship from about 800 feet, or indeed the fact that one projectile came through the fuselage - right between Van den Bok’s legs - and out through the roof: the date in question was the 12 February 1942, the day of the famous “Channel Dash”, when another gallant aviator, Eugene Esmonde, won a posthumous V.C.

Nearing the end of his operational tour with a strike on Saarbrucken on the night of 28-29 August 1942, Van den Beck added an immediate Bar to his D.F.C., when, on returning from the target, his Hampden (AE197 EQ) was shot down by an enemy night fighter - piloted by top-scoring ace Hauptman Wilhelm Herget - and crashed at Boussu-lez-Walcourt, some 25 kilometres S.S.W. of Charleroi. His pilot, Wing Commander J. D. Twigg, and Flight Lieutenant I. Maitland, D.F.C., were killed, but Van den Bok, who was wounded in the leg by a piece of shrapnel, and Flight Lieutenant G. C. Fisher, both evaded - a remarkable journey of 3,000 miles through enemy occupied territory, the whole accomplished in just three weeks. He was duly elected to membership of the Caterpillar Club.

Grounded and “rested”, Van den Bok trained as a pilot, was awarded his “Wings” in November 1943, and returned to the operational scene as an Acting Squadron Leader and Flight Commander in No. 214 (Federated Malay States) Squadron, an American Flying Fortress unit operating out of Oulton, Norfolk, in November 1944. Charged with carrying out radio counter-measure operations, No. 214 flew “Window” and jamming sorties right through to the War’s end, Van den Bok completing a further 17 sorties, thereby bringing his tally of trips to 46, with a total of 282 operational flying hours. He was duly recommended for a Second Bar to his D.F.C. in June 1945.