Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War 1945 Pathfinder’s D.F.M. group of five awarded to Lancaster Navigator and H2S set operator, Flight Sergeant P. J. Leeves, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who flew in at least 41 operational sorties with 35 (Madras Presidency) Squadron, with his pilot flying as Master Bomber and Deputy Master Bomber on a number of occasions, and his crew shooting down 2 enemy fighters during his tour of operations

Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (1584286. F/Sgt. P. J. Leeves. R.A.F.) with original named card box of issue; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, generally good very fine (5) £1,400-£1,800

D.F.M. London Gazette 25 September 1945:

‘Flight Sergeant Leeves, as a Navigator operating special equipment, has completed numerous sorties with a crew employed on special marking duties. He has proved himself most accurate and reliable. Flight Sergeant Leeves shows a commendable spirit of keenness to proceed on operations on all possible occasions, combined with a coolness and determination under fire which is an inspiration to the rest of the crew. In recognition of this N.C.O’s courage and devotion to duty, he is recommended for the non-immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.’

Peter James Leeves served with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve during the Second War, and undertook initial training as a Navigator in Canada in January 1944. Having qualified as a Navigator in June of the same year, Leeves returned to the UK for further training in the use of specialist equipment at R.A.F. Mona, Anglesey and at the Path Finder Force Navigation Training School, R.A.F. Warboys. He was posted for operational flying to 35 (Madras Presidency) Squadron (Lancasters) at Graveley in October 1944.

Leeves flew in at least 41 operational sorties with the Squadron, as part of Path Finder Force, including: Duisburg; Wilhelmshaven; Stuttgart (2); Hannover; Essen (2); Walcheren (2), including 29 October 1944, when his pilot flew as Deputy Master Bomber for the raid; Oberhausen; Gelsenkirchen (2); Freiburg; Dortmund (2); Heimbach Dam; Leuna; Mannheim (2); Ulm; Cologne, including 23 December 1944, when the aircraft received severe damage over the target, and two of the crew were injured during the attack; St. Vith; Rheydt; Bonn (2); Scholven/Buer; Ludwigshafen; Mainz (2); Wanne-Eickel; Dresden; Chemnitz; Bottrop-Stinnes, 15 March 1945, when his pilot flew as Deputy Master Bomber for the raid; Hemmingstedt; Gladbeck, 24 March 1945, when his pilot flew as Master Bomber for the raid; Munster; Nordhausen; Hamburg, 8/9 April 1945, when the crew shot down an Me. 410 during the raid; Bayreuth; Potsdam, 14/15 April 1945, when his pilot flew as Master Bomber for the raid; Schwandorf, 16/17 April 1945, when the crew shot down an Fw. 190; and Heligoland, 18 April 1945, when his pilot flew as Deputy Master Bomber for the raid.

Sold with extensive research, which was formed with access to the recipient’s Log Book.