Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Second War D.F.C., D.F.M. group of seven awarded to Squadron Leader R. N. Ayles, Nos. 103 and 61 Squadrons, Royal Air Force, a veteran of the Battle of France and two ‘thousand bomber‘ raids

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated 1943; Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (581490 Sgt., R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star, clasp, France & Germany; Defence & War Medals; Coronation 1953, mounted as worn, together with his Observer’s and Air Gunner’s Flying Log Book for the period August 1939 to March 1945 and numerous documents, photographs and strike-photos, good very fine (7) £1500-1800

D.F.C. London Gazette 13 July 1943: ‘Since the award of the Distinguished Flying Medal, this officer has taken part in many operations with much success. During all his flights, his navigation has been faultless. Even when his aircraft has been damaged by anti-aircraft fire, he has remained cool and undaunted and his example has been an inspiration to his crew. During his second tour of duty, he has completed three attacks on Berlin and six on Essen, and has also operated against heavily defended targets, in the Ruhr and Italy. He has always displayed unswerving loyalty, courage and devotion to duty.’

D.F.M. London Gazette 24 October 1941: ‘Sergeant Ayles, since joining the squadron in June 1940, has become the most experienced navigator in the squadron. On no occasion has he failed to bomb his object due to any navigational errors, and on one occasion only has his aircraft failed to return to base after operations. On this occsion, the 7/8 August 1941, the pilot was forced to make an emergency landing at Bircham Newton due to engine trouble after being badly hit by flak over Germany. Besides carrying out his duties as bomb aimer, Sergeant Ayles is particularly successful on photography and various occasions has succeeded in bringing back a good exposure of the aiming point. By his coolness and show of spirit when under fire, and over the target, this N.C.O. is to a large extent responsible for the fine high morale which exists in his crew as a whole, which sets a very fine example to the remainder of the squadron.

Squadron Leader Reginald Norman Ayles was born in Kensington in 1919 and enlisted in 1939, making several trips across the Channel from R.A.F. Benson with 98 Squadron during the Fall of France. On qualifying as an Air Observer in July 1940 he joined No. 103 Squadron (Wellingtons) and on 3 March 1941 commenced his first tour of operations as navigator, photographer and bomb aimer against targets in Germany and France, the latter including the battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau at Brest. On 2 August 1941 his Wellington ran into trouble on the way to Hamburg, his log recording: ‘Hit by flak at Delmenhorst. Kite holed in 80 places. Jettisoned bombs and returned to make forced landing at Bircham Newton. Port motor cutting on landing.’ While instructing at 27 O.T.U. he was called up for participation in Thousand Bomber Raids on Cologne on 30 May 1942, and Essen two nights later. He started his






second tour of war operations on posting to No. 61 Squadron (Lancasters) at Syerston in December 1942, making trips to Stetin, Duisberg, Munich, Essen, Dusseldorf and Berlin; and Lorient, Milan and Spezia in early 1943. From May to November 1943 he served with the Lancaster Heavy Conversion Units at Winthorpe and Balderton. In 1944 he became Senior Navigating Officer, Balderton, and on 11 and 12 March 1945 flew two final missions against German targets. In April he moved to Skellingthorpe and in September 1945 became Wing Navigating Officer at Metheringham.

In addition to his Flying Log Book the lot includes the following original material: eight target strike photographs; congratulatory typescript letter on award of D.F.M., signed by the A.O.C., 1 Group, and dated 27 October 1941; Royal Air Force Air Navigator’s Certificate Second Class, 7 May 1942; two printed wartime mission souvenirs, the first comprising b/w illustration of a Lancaster inscribed ‘Lorient 61 Squadron 13/14 February 1943’, signed by Ayles and others, and inscribed with crew names, the second similar but inscribed with crew names and ‘Spezia 18/19 April 1943’; a collection of twenty-eight wartime and post-war photographs; congratulatory letter on promotion from Air Vice-Marshal G. R. Beamish, 2 July 1954; and an invitiation to an official reception in Singapore, 7 September 1960.