Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Sergeant (Navigator) W. E. Stobbs, 75 (Royal New Zealand Air Force) Squadron, Royal Air Force, who was killed in action when his Stirling was lost without trace whilst on a mine-laying sortie off the Frisian islands, on 5-6 July 1943

1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal 1939-45, with named Air Council enclosure, in card box of issue, addressed to ‘D. Stobbs, Esq., 78 Hampton Road, Stockton on Tees, Durham.’, extremely fine (3) £300-£400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to Second World War Royal Air Force Casualties.

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William Edward Stobbs served during the Second World War as a Navigator with 75 (Royal New Zealand Air Force) Squadron, having crewed up at 29 O.T.U. and then having proceeded to 1657 Conversion Unit. He joined the Squadron on 1 July 1943, and was killed in action when Stirling EF436, piloted by Flight Sergeant R. Thomas, was lost without trace whilst on a mine-laying sortie off the Fresian islands, on 5-6 July 1943, on what is believed to have been his first sortie. All the crew were killed.

Reliable reports from the Dutch said that the aircraft had been shot down by a night fighter over the sea, 12 miles North West of Terscherlling (the middle island of the Southern Frisian Group) at approximately 02:31 hours. The night fighter was captained by Oblt. Georg-Hermann Grenier, of IV/NJG1, this was his sixth kill out of a total of 51. The kill is confirmed in Grenier’s war records.

Stobbs is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. His medals were sent to his father, D. Stobbs.

Sold with copied research.