Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria. To coincide with the OMRS Convention

A fine Second World War Mustang pilot’s D.F.C. group of five awarded to Squadron Leader H. P. “Herb” Peters, Royal Canadian Air Force, a low-level specialist who was killed in action on a “Ranger” mission in November 1943

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated 1943, in its Royal Mint case of issue; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Canadian Voluntary Service Medal 1939-45, with overseas clasp; War Medal 1939-45, silver, extremely fine, together with related Canadian Memorial Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially inscribed, ‘S./L. H. P. Peters, D.F.C., J3512’, memorial bar, officially inscribed, ‘S./L. H. P. Peters, D.F.C., R.C.A.F., Died in His Country’s Service, 5 Nov. 1943’ and silver Operational Wings (8) £1600-1800

D.F.C. London Gazette 25 May 1943. The recommendation states:

‘Since 22 August 1941, this Officer has completed 46 successful operational sorties for a total of 60 hours flying. Seven of these were “Popular” sorties in which oblique photographs were taken along the French coast from Boulogne to Berck-sur-Mer both landwards and seawards. The pictures taken on 4 January 1942 of the coast from Le Touquet to Berck-sur-Mer were taken at an altitude of between 200 and 500 feet and from 400 to 800 yards off shore. Although fired at from several points along the coast he displayed courage and determination in completing his task to produce a perfect set of pictures.

Up to 1 December 1942, Flight Lieutenant Peters led five “Rhubarb” operations during which four locomotives were attacked and damaged in the Dol-Avranches-Folligny area in Brittany and a locomotive, factory and gunpost were all successfully attacked at Yvetot in Normandy. During the Dieppe operation on 19 August 1942, this Officer led two sorties.

From 3 December till 1 January 1943, Flight Lieutenant Peters was engaged in low patrols over the Western approaches and the Bay of Biscay. His skill in navigation of single engine aircraft enabled him to successfully lead 12 sorties all of 550 miles or more in length over water at heights of less than 500 feet.

On 13 March 1943 at 2230 hours, while circling South East of Paris on a “Ranger” sortie in the vicinity of Melun aerodrome his aircraft was illuminated by searchlights just as his No. 2 sighted a Do. 217 circling to land. By turning away from his No. 2 he drew the searchlights away. This presence of mind enabled his No. 2 to engage and destroy the enemy undetected.

On 16 March 1943, while on his second night “Ranger” sortie, he covered 750 miles patrolling the vicinity of Rheims and Laon-Athis Aerodrome. Returning from this sortie he attacked and damaged seven barges at Noyon.

Since this pilot has been on operations he has shown an unswerving determination to get at the enemy in every possible way. His skill in handling single engine aircraft at night has enabled him to operate over enemy territory at periods when such aircraft are not expected. In all operations this Officer has displayed a high standard of leadership. This, together with his ability, coolness and determination, have done much to inspire those under him.

I therefore have the honour to recommend this Officer for the Distinguished Flying Cross.’

Herbert Peter Peters was born in Regina, Alberta, the son of a clergyman, and received his elementary and high school training in Boston and Buffalo, New York, prior to attending the University of Saskatchewan. Enlisting into the R.C.A.F. direct from the latter establishment, he commenced pilot training in Canada in July 1940.

Arriving in the U.K. in the New Year, he originally joined No. 1 School of Army Co-operation at Old Sarum, Wiltshire, in March 1941, where he flew Lysanders. Then in August of the same year, he transferred to 1416 Flight, with whom he gained experience on Spitfires, prior to being posted to No. 400 Squadron, R.C.A.F., back at Old Sarum. Another Lysander unit, No. 400 converted to Tomahawk aircraft towards the end of the year, when Peters flew his first operational sortie, to Beauchamp. In January 1942, he similarly completed his first “Rhubarb” operation, against targets in Le Touquet, and in August, having converted to Mustangs, he participated in two trips in support of the Dieppe raid. The latter outings marked the advent of regular cross-channel operations, largely as outlined in his D.F.C. recommendation, his Flying Log Book listing no less than 24 trips before the year’s end, some of them, however, to intercept “business” over the Isle of Wight. On a sortie to Cherbourg on 4 November, Peters logged 4 railway engines. New Year 1943 commenced with two patrols over the Bay of Biscay, and as his tally of sorties mounted over the coming months, so, too, did recognition of his powers of leadership. In July, he was appointed C.O. of No. 414 Squadron, R.C.A.F., leading his pilots on operations to Paris, Antwerp (via Flushing) and St. Omer in the following month. Outings to Brussels and Cherbourg followed in September, the entry in his Flying Log Book for the latter trip stating, ‘Looked for D. H. Lewis (no luck). Too bad, a good type’. Tragically, the same fate was about to befall the gallant Peters, ever the exponent of the low-level approach. An Air Ministry letter dated 9 November 1943, confirms his final fate:

‘ ...Your husband, piloting a Mustang aircraft [on 5 November 1943], was carrying out day operations over enemy territory South West of Tholen, Holland, when the plane was seen to be hit by flak about fifty feet up when travelling at 250 m.p.h., and the pilot was seen to bale out but the parachute did not have time to open. From this it would appear that there is little likelihood that he could have survived, but unless confirmed by further evidence he will remain classified as “missing” ...’

Another letter, from the Station C.O. of R.A.F. Gatwick, dated 22 November 1943, quotes eye-witness information from Flying Officer G. Wannacott, who was present with Peters on the same sortie:

‘ ... At one point he [Peters] attacked four locomotives, and damaged them all. Later both pilots attacked a 200-ton vessel causing so much damage that when they left the ship, the superstructure appeared on fire. Shortly after this your husband attacked another vessel of approximately the same size near the enemy shore. These attacks were carried out at very low-levels. After the last attack on the above target, Flying Officer Wannacott missed Herb, and on retracing his course, could make no contact with him. He then accordingly returned to base ...’

The author, a Wing Commander, concludes that Peters was ‘a top-notch pilot, a fearless flier, who combined skill and care with daring.’ 25 years of age, his remains were never recovered and his name is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

Sold with a substantial quantity of original documentation, including the recipient’s original Flying Log Books (2), the first, an R.A.F. issue, covering the period July to September 1940, and the second, an R.C.A.F. issue, the period July 1940 to his death in action in November 1943, and with related R.C.A.F. forwarding letter to his next of kin, dated 9 February 1948; congratulatory telegram and letter on award of the D.F.C., the latter from the A.O.C. of the R.C.A.F. (Overseas); a lengthy, handwritten letter of complaint written by the recipient, stating that he was being asked to train pilots who would be ‘needlessly butchered’ as a result of tactical shortcomings, undated; a series of emotive letters regarding the recipient’s loss in action, dating from 1943 to 1952, the last confirming that the official search for his remains had been suspended; Buckingham Palace condolence and investiture letters, the latter addressed to his widow, dated 13 January 1945; forwarding letter, similarly addressed, for the recipient’s Operational Wings, and related certificate of issue, dated 3 October 1946; a good selection of wartime photographs; some newspaper cuttings; and a copy of The R.C.A.F. Overseas, The First Four Years (Toronto, 1944), in which the exploits and successes of Peters receive regular mention.