Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War ‘1943’ D.F.M. awarded to Wellington pilot, Flight Sergeant, later Pilot Officer, T. J. Gosling, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who flew in at least 40 operational sorties with 40 Squadron - predominately low level attacks, on Italian targets, including the Brato Marshalling Yards, 11 November 1943, when ‘he came down to 20 feet and machine-gunned two vehicles on the Florence autostrade.’

Pilot Officer Gosling was killed in action during a raid on Turin, 25 November 1943, ‘his body was recovered from the sea and identified by means of clothing and his flying log’

Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (658167. F/Sgt. T. J. Gosling. R.A.F.) mounted on investiture brooch, very fine £1,800-£2,200

D.F.M. London Gazette 20 April 1945, the recommendation states:

‘This pilot has completed 40 operational sorties for a total of 240 hours on which he has shown skill and resourcefulness as a pilot combined with great courage and determination. During the whole of his operational flying, he has not returned from the sortie without having completed the duty for which he was detailed. On 25th August, 1943, at Taranto marshalling yards, he successfully illuminated the target despite heavy opposition with the result that the raid was successfully accomplished by the bomber force. He has successfully illuminated other targets with the same satisfactory result. His bombing has been extremely accurate on very small targets due to his determination and great care to make accurate bombing runs despite any opposition that may be encountered. On 11th November, 1943, after successfully bombing the Brato marshalling yards, he came down to 20 feet and machine-gunned two vehicles on the Florence autostrade. During the whole of his time on this squadron, Flight Sergeant Gosling has shown great courage and determination which has resulted in a highly successful tour of operations.

Remarks by Air Officer Commanding:
This N.C.O. throughout his tour has shown outstanding courage, determination and devotion to duty. He has been chosen on many occasions to carry out difficult tasks, all of which he has completed successfully. He is a shining example to his fellow crews and I have no hesitation in strongly recommending him for this award.’

Terence James Gosling was a native of Liverpool, and was educated at Oulton High School, ‘aged 26... Gosling joined the Forces the week war broke out, and saw service in the R.A.S.C. before transferring to the R.A.F. as a volunteer for flying duties.’ (newspaper cutting refers)

Gosling subsequently advanced to Flight Sergeant and was posted as a pilot for operational flying with 40 Squadron (Wellingtons). Flying from bases in the Middle East the Squadron bombed targets in North Africa, Sicily, Sardinia, Rhodes, Crete, Greece, Pantellaria, Lampedusa and Italy. By the end of November 1943, Gosling had advanced to Pilot Officer and had flown in at least 40 such operational sorties.

He was killed in action carrying out a raid on Turin, 25 November 1943, and ‘following a message that he intended baling out over Sardinia nothing has been heard about him until recently, when the body of another member of the plane was found in the water.’ (Ibid)

The Air Ministry wrote to Gosling’s brother, 27 August 1947, ‘it is not without some hesitation that I refer again after so long an interval to the sad death in action of ... Pilot Officer T. J. Gosling, but I feel you will wish to know the result of certain investigations conducted by the Royal Air Force Missing Research and Enquiry Service in Sardinia.

It has been established that your son [sic] is buried in grave II, Plot 1, Row in Cagliari Military Cemetery.

His body was recovered from the sea and identified by means of clothing and his flying log.’

Sold with named Buckingham Palace enclosure; Air Ministry letter confirming the whereabouts of the recipient’s burial, addressed to ‘T. Gosling, Flat 1, 4 Alexandra Drive, Liverpool’; two newspaper cuttings relating to recipient, including photographic images of him.