Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Six: Warrant Officer D. L. Bassett, Royal Air Force

1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, E.II.R. (1605154 F. Sgt. D. L. Bassett, R.A.F.); Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue, with Second Award Bar (1605154 F. Sgt. D. L. Bassett, R.A.F.), Bar loose, mounted as worn, contact marks, nearly very fine and better (6) £120-160

Bassett appears to have commenced his aircrew training at Pembrey in October 1943, prior to going operational with No. 99 Squadron out in India in September 1944, his flying log book revealing 31 sorties as an Air Gunner in the unit’s Liberators over Burma in the period leading up to May 1945 - largely against Japanese ammunition dumps and communications. In a bridge busting operation on the Bangkok-Moulmein Railway on 1 January 1945, his aircraft was hit by flak - ‘2 engines u/s. Fire on beam deck. Forced landed Cox’s Bazaar’. Having then been demobilised, Bassett rejoined the Royal Air Force in April 1947 and served in No. 15 Squadron in the U.K. in the period leading up to the mid-1950s, following which he was rested from aircrew duties.

Sold with the recipient’s original Flying Log Books (3), comprising Air Forces of India Observer’s and Air Gunner’s Flying Log Book (Form 1767 type), covering the period November 1943 to December 1951; R.A.F. Navigator’s, Air Bomber’s and Air Gunner’s Flying Log Book )Form 1767 type), covering the period October 1943 to April 1947; and R.A.F. Navigators, Air Bombers, Air Gunners and Flight Engineers Flying Log Book (Form 1767 type), covering the period January 1953 to October 1954; together with an old No. 99 Squadron bullion embroidered blazer patch, and silk wartime ‘blood chit’ for the Burma front, with crew signatures in ink.