Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Flight Sergeant Air Gunner D. E. Hills, 75 Squadron, Royal Air Force, who took part in the Dresden Raid, 13-14 February 1945

1939-45 Star, 1 clasp, Bomber Command; France and Germany Star; War Medal 1939-45, extremely fine (3) £200-£240

Donald Eric Hills was was born on 31 May 1925 and joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve on 13 December 1943. He served during the Second World War as an Air Gunner in 75 (New Zealand) Squadron from December 1944, flying Lancasters, and undertook his first operational sortie, a bombing raid on industrial targets in the Ruhr, on 12 December of that year. Further targets included the marshalling yards at Cologne and Vohwinkel, before he took part in the famous raid on Dresden, 13-14 February 1945, during which his aircraft suffered ‘moderate flak’ (the recipient’s Log Book refers).

Hills undertook further operational sorties against further German targets, including Dortmund and Gelsenkirchen (both three times), and was advanced Flight Sergeant. He was discharged on 18 February 1946.

Sold together with the recipient’s Royal Air Force Flying Log Book; R.A.F. Service and Release Book; cap badges, Air Gunners brevets, cloth rank insignia, and various Squadron lapel badges; a copy of Britain’s Wonderful Air Force, by Air Commodore P. F. M. Fellowes; and various photographs and other ephemera.