Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Sergeant (Air Gunner) R. H. Wells, 35 (Pathfinder Force) Squadron, late 10 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who was killed in action when his Halifax was shot down over Düsseldorf whilst on Pathfinder marking duty on a bombing raid to Berlin, on 2-3 December 1943

1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal 1939-45, with named Air Council enclosure, in card box of issue, addressed to ‘Mrs. H. Wells, 115 Ashdon Road, Saffron Walden, Essex’, extremely fine (3) £360-£440

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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Roy Horace Wells served during the Second World War as an Air Gunner initially with 10 Squadron, then based at R.A.F. Melbourne, Yorkshire, joining with his crew directly from 1663 Heavy Conversion Unit on 9 July 1943. He flew his first operational sortie on 24 July 1943, a raid on Hamburg, and between the end of July and September 1943 the crew flew a further 11 operational sorties including the Krupps works at Essen; Operation Gomorrah, the Hamburg Firestorm raids; Mannheim; Nuremberg; Milan; Operation Hydra, the Peenemunde raid to bomb the V2 rocket research establishment; Leverkusen; and Munchengladbach.

At the end of September the crew were transferred to 35 Squadron to begin Pathfinder Force operations. Serving in Pathfinder Force roles as Supporter, Visual Marker, and Backer Up they completed a further 12 operational sorties including Hannover, Bochum, Kassal (twice), Bremen, Caen, Leverkusen, and Berlin.

Wells was killed in action when Halifax HR876, piloted by Flight Sergeant H. V. Stinson, was shot down whilst on a bombing raid to Berlin, on 2-3 December 1943. Acting on Pathfinder duties as Backer Up, they were lost to either flak or night fighter attack, crashing near Düsseldorf. All the crew were killed.

Wells is buried alongside his crew in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany. His medals were sent to his mother, Mrs. Hannah Wells.

Sold with copied telegram to the recipient’s mother, informing her that her son was Missing in action; copied Air Ministry letters regarding the recipient’s death; copied British Red Cross letter; copied Imperial War Graves Commission letter; three photographs, of the recipient, his crew, and his original grave; and copied research.