Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War 1945 Bomber Command Replacement D.F.C. group of four awarded to Lancaster pilot Flight Lieutenant G. Langridge, Royal Air Force, who flew 30 missions with No 57 Squadron at the end of World War Two, including the famous raids on Hitler’s ‘Eagles Nest’ at Berchtesgaden, 25 April 1945, the last main Bomber Command raid of the War

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1945’ and officially engraved ‘R’ (for Replacement), and additionally privately engraved ‘Flt. Lt. R. Langridge, 57 Squadron B.C.’, with Royal Mint case of issue; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; War Medal 1939-45, extremely fine £600-700

D.F.C. London Gazette 6 November 1945.

The recommendation states: ‘All the bombing attacks made by Flight Lieutenant Langridge in the tour of operations which he has just completed were against targets in Germany and German occupied territory, many of them, such as Munich, Politz, Merseberg, Brux, and Leipzig, being very strongly defended. He also carried out three hazardous mining operations in narrow and well-defended waters. Throughout his tour he has shown by the photographic results he brought back that he was a determined captain who could be relied upon to make his attacks accurate however difficult or dangerous the target might be. Flight Lieutenant Langridge has established a firm reputation in the Squadron as a determined, gallant, and capable captain of aircraft. He is strongly recommended for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.’

Reginald George Langridge served during the Second World War with No. 57 Squadron (Lancasters). His first operational sortie was a raid over Nuremberg on 19 October 1944; subsequent targets included Dusseldorf, Munich, and Leipzig. His final operational sortie was the raid on Berchtesgaden on 25 April 1945, the last main Bomber Command raid of the War.

Sold together with photocopied details from the Squadron’s Operations books covering all his raids.