Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Sergeant R. P. Behanna, Royal Air Force, a Wireless Operator who flew operationally in Lancasters of No. 227 Squadron at the War’s end

1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal 1939-45, extremely fine (3) £200-250

Having qualified as a Wireless Operator at No. 2 radio School in August 1944, Behanna commenced his operational career with No. 227 Squadron, a Lancaster unit operating out of Balderton in Nottinghamshire in April 1945.

Completing his first sortie as a member of Flight Sergeant Marquiss’ crew on the night of 8-9 April, when assigned to Lutzekendorf, he completed nine trips in the same month, among them a brace of trips to the “Big City” and to Pilsen, in addition to Munich and Berchtesgaden, the latter - where Hitler’s “Eagle’s Nest” was located - on the 29th, the day before his suicide. Behanna, who next flew a brace of “Operation Exodus” missions in May, appears to have been released in 1946.

Sold with the recipient’s original R.A.F. (Form 1767) Observer’s and Air Gunner’s Flying Log Book, covering the period June 1944 to May 1945, together with some copied portrait images.