A Collection of Medals to Second World War Royal Air Force Casualties

Three: Sergeant (Observer) G. D. Savage, 150 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who was killed in action when his Wellington was lost without trace whilst bombing the German Battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau in Brest harbour, on 11-12 February 1942

1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal 1939-45, with named Air Council enclosure and medal ticket, in card box of issue, addressed to ‘G. A. G. Savage Esq., 165 Portland Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham 16’, extremely fine (3) £300-£400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to Second World War Royal Air Force Casualties.

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George Douglas Savage attested on 8 April 1940 and served during the Second World War as an Observer with 150 Squadron, flying Wellingtons, from 29 December 1941. His first operational sortie was a raid on Hamburg on 15 January 1942.
His fifth operational sortie, on 11-12 February 1942, was to bomb installations and ships in Brest Harbour. Brest had become a very important target not only as a major docks facility with Atlantic access but also as the hiding place of the three German capital ships: the Battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau and the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen.

The raid on 11-12 February was the last attempt to damage the vessels and the docks holding them. The raid was not successful, and the following day the two battleships made a daring dash for safety, sailing up the English Channel much of it in daylight. They managed to break out into the North Sea and then headed for the relative safety of the Baltic.

Savage was killed in action when Wellington Z1076, piloted by Sergeant R. B. Dick, was lost without trace during the Brest Raid, and all six of the crew were killed. He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. His medals were sent to his father, G. A. G. Savage.

Sold with copied research, including a photograph of the recipient; and a cloth Observer’s wings.