Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Sergeant (Air Bomber) F. R. Westall, 101 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who was killed in action when his Lancaster was shot down by the great German night-fighter ace Oblt. Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer over Friesland whilst on his fifth bombing raid to the ‘Big City’, Berlin, on 16-17 December 1943

1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal 1939-45, with named Air Council enclosure and medal tickets, in card box of issue, addressed to ‘B. M. Westall Esq., 17, Kincard Rd., Peckham, SE15.’, 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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Frederick Ronald Westall served during the Second World War as an Air Bomber with 101 Squadron, joining with his crew directly from 1656 Conversion Unit on 9 October 1943. He flew his first operational sortie on 3 November 1943, a raid on Düsseldorf, and carried out a further five missions that month, to Modena, Stuttgart, and three trips to the ‘Big City’, Berlin, including the first raid of the Battle of Berlin, on 18 November 1943.

Westall was killed in action when Lancaster DV300, piloted by Flight Lieutenant R. E. MacFarlane, D.F.M., was shot down by the German night-fighter ace Oblt. Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer, IV./NJG1, and exploded in mid-air over Friesland, Holland, whilst on a bombing raid to Berlin, on 16-17 December 1943. Their aircraft was part of an ABC early warning radar jamming group in sortie out of Ludford Magna to Berlin. All the crew were killed.

Oblt. Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer was the highest scoring night fighter ace, not only of the Second World War, but in the whole history of aerial warfare. This was his 38th victory of the War. He ended up with 121 confirmed victories, nine of which were achieved in a single night, and was awarded the Knight’s Cross with Oakleaves, swords, and diamonds.

Westall is buried in Lemmeer General Cemetery, Holland. His medals were sent to his father, B. M. Westall.

Sold with copied research, including an Airfield Focus booklet on Ludford Magna, by Stewart Scott.