Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War ‘1941’ D.F.C. group of five awarded to Whitley pilot, Group Captain L. W. Howard, 77 Squadron, Royal Air Force, who was a Flight Commander and flew in 25 operational sorties with the squadron - 20 of which were carried out in 1940

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1941’; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted as worn by Spink & Son, London; together with a Victoria College Jersey Officers Training Corps Medal, silver, the reverse engraved ‘L. W. Howard. 1925’, in C.T. Maine, Jersey fitted case, generally very fine or better (5) £1800-2200

D.F.C. London Gazette 23 May 1941:

‘This officer has commanded an operational flight since July 1940. During this period he has taken part in numerous attacks on important targets in Germany, and also on the enemy occupied port of Bordeaux. He has at all times displayed a fine spirit in the execution of these flights, and has set and maintained a high standard of operational efficiency throughout his command.’

Leonard William Howard was born in October 1907, and educated at Victoria College Jersey, where he was a member of the College’s Officer Training Corps. He was granted a Short Service Commission as Pilot Officer on probation in the Royal Air Force, September 1927, and was confirmed in that rank in October the following year. Howard advanced to Flying Officer in March 1929, and having been transferred to the Reserve, advanced to Flight Lieutenant in September 1938.

Howard initially served during the Second War with 10 O.T.U., Abingdon, before advancing to Temporary Squadron Leader in June 1940. He was posted as a pilot for operational flying to 77 Squadron (Whitleys), Driffield, 5 July 1940. Howard commanded ‘A’ Flight, and flew in 25 operational sorties with the Squadron, including: Kassell Aircraft Factory 19, 21 and 23 August 1940; Bottrop; Wismar; Frankfurt; Bremen (3); Mannheim; Berlin (3); Stettin; Wesserling; Magdeburg; Cologne; Stettiner; Hanover (2); Bordeaux, Merignac Airfield; Wilhelmshaven; and Gelsenkirchen.

Having completed his tour, Howard was awarded the D.F.C. and was posted back to 10 O.T.U. in April 1941. He advanced to Temporary Wing Commander in December 1941, and was serving as Group Captain at R.A.F. Debert, Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1944. Howard transferred to the Reserve in October 1947, and died in 1974.

Sold with the following original documents: Telegram confirming the approval for the award of recipient’s D.F.C., dated 10 May 1941; Postagram of congratulation to recipient from Air Marshal Sir Richard Peirse on the occasion of the award of the D.F.C., dated 9 May 1941; named Buckingham Palace Investiture instructions; Souvenir Menu for the R.A.F. Debert Farewell Dinner, 7 June 1944, with printed message inside from Group Captain L. W. Howard, D.F.C.; several photographs of recipient in uniform; correspondence from Squadron contemporaries of recipient, written in 2007; and copied research.