Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria including the collection to Naval Artificers formed by JH Deacon

A very rare Second World War Rear-Gunner’s D.F.M. and Bar group of six awarded to Flight Sergeant R. Roberts, Royal Air Force, who survived two operational tours totalling nearly 50 sorties, claiming one enemy aircraft destroyed and two probables

Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R., with Second Award Bar, the reverse of the Bar dated 1943 (619126 Sgt. R. Roberts, R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals, the first with neatly repaired suspension claw, generally good very fine (6) £3800-4200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Fine Collection of Awards to the Men of Bomber Command 1939-45.

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D.F.M. London Gazette 24 April 1942. The immediate award recommendation states:

‘Since 20 November 1941, Sergeant Roberts has taken part in 17 operational sorties over enemy territory and by his courage, skill and determination has twice extricated his crew from a perilous situation, thereby safeguarding lives and much valuable equipment. On the night of 29 March 1942, Sergeant Roberts was a Rear-Gunner on a Wellington bomber which was attacked by an enemy night fighter near Emden and by his skilful shooting succeeded in warding off the attack, claiming the aircraft as probably destroyed, so enabling the Captain to bomb Emden successfully. Again, on the night of 5 April 1942, he was Rear-Gunner in an aircraft attacked by an M.E. 110 over Belgium. The enemy aircraft made two determined attacks, badly damaging the Wellington, but during the whole combat Sergeant Roberts used his guns with great skill and courage, claiming the enemy aircraft destroyed. His fine fighting qualities, courage and skill set a praiseworthy example to his crew. He possesses morale of the highest order and I strongly recommend him for the immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.’

Bar to D.F.M. London Gazette 10 September 1943. The recommendation states:

‘Flight Sergeant Roberts was posted to No. 57 Squadron on 18 February 1943, from No. 1660 Conversion Unit, to carry out his second tour of operations. Since being posted to the Squadron, Flight Sergeant Roberts has completed 20 sorties and has now carried out a total of 45 operational sorties. Amongst the targets he has attacked are most of the heavily defended targets of the Ruhr and two attacks on Berlin. On the night of 8-9 July 1943, when the crew, of which he was a member, was detailed to attack Cologne, the Lancaster was attacked by enemy night fighters on the return flight from the target. The enemy night fighters attacked with determination, eventually fatally wounding the Mid-Upper Gunner. Flight Sergeant Roberts, however, continued to press home his accurate fire until one enemy aircraft was shot down. Flight Sergeant Roberts has at all times shown courage and determination whilst flying on operations, and has worked hard and set an excellent example both in the air and on the ground. He has now practically finished his second tour of operations and I strongly recommend the award of the first Bar to the Distinguished Flying Medal.’

Flight Sergeant Ronald Roberts, D.F.M., qualified as an Air Gunner at No. 8 Air Gunnery School in July 1941 and was posted to No. 27 Operational Training Unit to gain experience on Wellingtons prior to joining his first operational unit, No. 150 Squadron, at Snaith, that October, his first sortie being to Emden on the 20th. Trips to Dusseldorf, Frankfurt and Mannheim followed and in the new year No. 150 concentrated on Brest, Roberts completing four visits there between January and February, in addition to a trip to Munster. He was also assigned to the daylight attack on the Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Prinz Eugen on 12 February, but mercifully the targets were not located. Another trip to Mannheim was completed on the 14th and his aircraft was hit by flak during a return visit to Frankfurt on the 21st.

It was, however, during March and April 1942 that Roberts encountered the hardest period of his first tour, not least on the nights of 29-30 March and 5-6 April, as detailed in the recommendation for his immediate D.F.M. His Flying Log Book states:

‘29 March 1942. Ops. Emden. Attacked by M.E. 110. Fired 1200 rounds ammo. Probably destroyed E.A.’

‘5 April 1942: Ops. Cologne. Attacked by M.E. 110. Starboard wing set on fire. Destroyed enemy aircraft. 600 rounds ammo. expended. Awarded D.F.M.’

In addition to these notable outings, Roberts participated in raids on Essen (thrice), another trip to Emden, and Dunkirk, Poissy and St. Nazaire, the latter on the night of 28-29 March in co-operation with the Commando raid on that place. His tour completed, Roberts was next posted to No. 29 Operational Training Unit as a Gunnery Instructor, but a shortage of aircraft ensured he was assigned to a Wellington for the 1000 Bomber Raid on Essen on the night of 25-26 June 1942.

Then in February, following a conversion course to Lancasters, Roberts reported to No. 57 Squadron at Scampton, opening sorties including Nuremburg and St. Nazaire that month. Heavily defended German targets were now very much on the agenda, and in March he participated in raids on Berlin (twice), Essen and Munich. Interestingly, the Squadron’s Operational Record Book erroneously reported his death in action following a raid on the German capital on the night of 1-2 March, an error made possible by his sudden - and extremely fortuitous - transferral to the crew of Pilot Officer Greig at the end of the previous month. He had not, in fact, been operational that night.

April witnessed sorties being flown to Duisburg, Essen (twice) and La Spezia (twice), the latter trips being of a 10-hour duration and in an effort to cripple the dockyard. And on the 4th of the month witnessed another combat with an enemy night fighter ensued:

‘Ops. Kiel. Attacked by J.U. 88. Fired 800 rounds. Damaged E.A.’

May brought a return to solely German targets, Roberts participating in raids on Dortmund, Essen and Wuppertal, as did June, with trips to Bochum, Dusseldorf and Friedrichshafen. On the latter occasion, in order to confuse awaiting enemy night defences, the attacking Lancaster force flew straight on to North Africa, attacking La Spezia on the way home a couple of nights later.

In July, as detailed in the recommendation for his D.F.M. Bar, Roberts fought another engagement with an enemy night fighter. His Flying Log Book bears testament to the ferocity of the incident:

‘8 July 1943. Ops. Cologne. Attacked by J.U. 88. Fired 1200 rounds. Destroyed enemy night fighter. Mid-Upper Gunner died of injuries received in combat. Landed at Manston. Awarded Bar to D.F.M.’

The remainder of the month comprised sorties to Essen - Roberts’ seventh visit - and Hamburg thrice, the latter being in support of the famous ‘firestorm’ raids that resulted in over 40,000 casualties. A trip to Mannheim on the 9 August marked the end of his second tour of operations, and the final entry in his Flying Log Book.

Sold with the recipient’s original Flying Log Book, covering the period July 1941 to August 1943; and a Postagram from “Bomber” Harris congratulating him on the award of his D.F.M., dated 10 April 1942.