Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War ‘Bomber Command’ D.F.M. group of five awarded to Flying Officer Flight Engineer K. L. Pile, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who was killed on 11 March 1945 when his Lancaster crashed near R.A.F. Molesworth during a daytime training flight

Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (1456141 Sgt. K. L. Pile. R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; with named Air Council enclosure, extremely fine (5) £1,800-£2,200

D.F.M. London Gazette 19 September 1944

The original Recommendation states: ‘This N.C.O. as Flight Engineer has completed 23 sorties against the enemy including the most heavily defended targets in Germany and occupied territory. He has displayed skill of a high degree at his work and has been undeterred by any opposition the enemy has offered. He has proved himself to be a worthy member of a gallant crew and has, when flying with a different crew, inspired them to the same spirit and devotion to duty and crew discipline as he possesses himself. To the experienced crews with whom he has flown, his mature knowledge has been of the greatest assistance. For his coolness under Fire and high sense of duty, he is recommended for the award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.

Remarks by Station Commander: Sergeant Pile has set a fine example of skill and devotion to duty throughout his tour and I strongly recommend that he merits the award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.

Remarks by Base Commander: Sergeant Pile has on all occasions when flying on operations displayed great resource and commendable courage and devotion to duty. His skill and initiative together with his coolness under fire has proved him to be a worthy member of a very excellent crew. I support his recommendation for the non-immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.’

Kenneth Laurence Pile was born in Mitcham, Surrey, in 1922, and was educated at the Wimbledon Technical Institute. He joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in October 1943, and served during the Second World War as a Flight Engineer with 166 Squadron. Flying Lancasters, his first operational sortie was to Berlin on 29 January 1944; further operation sorties over the next five months included Leipzig, Stuttgart (twice), Schweinfurt, Frankfurt, Nuremberg, Dusseldorf, Karlsruhre, Essen, Freidrickshaven, Duiburg, Dortmund, Aachen, and Gelsenkirchen, as well as three more raids on ‘the Big City’, and various attacks on marshalling yards in northern France. For his services during his tour he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal.

Commissioned Pilot Officer on 15 August 1944, he was promoted Flying Officer on 15 February 1945, and was posted to 156 Squadron. He was killed on 11 March 1945 when his Lancaster PB669 crashed at Weston, approximately 1 mile from R.A.F.Molesworth, during a daytime training flight, killing the entire crew. He is buried under a C.W.G.C. headstone in London Road Cemetery, Mitcham.

Sold together with the recipient’s Navigator’s, Air Bomber’s, and Air Gunner’s Flying Log Book, commencing on 21 October 1943, and stamped ‘Killed in Action’.