Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War 1944 Lancaster Air Gunner’s D.F.M. awarded to Flight Sergeant S. Loseby, 582 Squadron, Royal Air Force, who flew in at least 49 operational sorties, the vast majority as part of Pathfinder Force, No. 8 Group. Heavily engaged in the lead up to D-Day, he continued to take part in raids on important targets in the immediate aftermath of the invasion. Loseby also participated in a large number of raids on V Rocket sites situated throughout France

Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (1399608. F/Sgt. S. Loseby. R.A.F.) abrasive marks to edge around first part of number, very fine £1600-1800

D.F.M. London Gazette 12 December 1944:

‘Flight Sergeant Loseby has completed a long tour of operations as a rear gunner, having voluntarily continued beyond the first tour limit. Many of his operations have been against heavily defended targets. He has carried out his duty in the air with cheerfulness and in good spirits. He is recommended for a non-immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.

Remarks by Station Commander:

This N.C.O. has completed many sorties over some of the most heavily defended targets in Germany and Occupied Territory. He has displayed courage of the highest order, and is recommended for the award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.’

Sydney Loseby served as a Flight Sergeant and Air Gunner with the Royal Air Force during the Second War. He flew in 16 operational sorties, 23 May 1943 - 2 February 1944, prior to joining 582 Squadron and these included: Dortmund; Dusseldorf; Essen; Krefeld; Gelsenkirchen; Turin; Remschied; Milan (2); Peenemunde; Berlin (2); Nurnburg; Mannheim; Frankfurt and Augsberg.

Loseby was posted for operational flying with 582 Squadron (Lancasters), Little Staughton, upon it’s formation 1 April 1944. The Squadron was formed from personnel mainly drawn from 7 and 156 Squadrons, and served as part of the Pathfinder Force, No. 8 Group. Loseby flew in at least 33 operational sorties with the Squadron, including: Lille; Laon (2); Noisy-Le-Sec; Cologne; Nantes; Louvain; Boulogne; Duisberg; Aachen; Mardyck; Mont Couple; Calais (Coastal Batteries), 4 June 1944; Foret De Cerisy, 7 June 1944, an attack on an important 6-way road junction halfway between Bayeux and St.-Lô, surrounded by woods believed to contain fuel dumps and German tank units preparing to counter-attack the Allied landing forces; Rennes, 10 June 1944, airfield situated to the south of the Normandy battle area; Tours, 11 June 1944, railway targets; Oisemont (flying-bomb site); Wizernes (flying-bomb site); L’Hey (flying-bomb site); Nucourt (flyng-bomb site); Gapennes (flying-bomb site), 11 July 1944, the first ‘heavy Oboe’ attack of the war; St. Philibert Ferme (flying-bomb site); Vaires; Mont Cadon (flying-bomb site); Forêt de Croc (flying-bomb site); Stuttgart; Chateau Berniapre (flying-bomb site); L’Isle Adam (flying-bomb site); Trossy St. Maxim (flying-bomb site); Mare De Magne; Brest; Kiel and Stettin.