Orders, Decorations and Medals

Three: Sergeant V. I. Michael, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who was killed in action during a raid on Ludwigshafen in January 1945, while serving as a Rear Gunner in Lancasters of No. 90 Squadron

1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; War Medal 1939-45, in their original card forwarding box addressed to ‘I. K. Michael, Esq.’ of Cora Street, Barry, Glamorgan, together with related Air Council condolence slip in the name of ‘Sergeant V. I. Michael’, extremely fine (3) £120-140

Vernon Ivor Michael was killed in action on a daylight raid on the railway yards at Ludwigshafen on 5 January 1945, when his Lancaster of No. 90 Squadron was shot down by flak and crashed at Mutterstadt, some five kilometres from the target. His pilot, Flying Officer C. E. Wakeham, R.A.A.F., who survived the ordeal, later reported:

‘The aircraft was damaged by flak over the target and I have the order to abandon, but the inter-com was useless and no acknowledgements were received. The aircraft was filling with smoke and out of control and finally spun to port. Healey and Bilton (Mid-upper gunners) baled out from the mid-upper hatch. Worsnop (Navigator), Boyle (Flight Engineer) and myself from the front hatch. I believe Kemp (Wireless operator) and Michael (Rear gunner) were still in the aircraft when I left at 5,000 feet. The Germans informed me that they had died when the aircraft crashed. The aircraft crashed just outside the target area.’

Michael is buried in the Rheinberg War Cemetery; sold with copied research, including a portrait image.