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

Three: Sergeant (Air Gunner) R. Lobb, 156 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who was killed in action when his Lancaster was shot down by a night fighter and exploded, whilst on the Firestorm raid to Hamburg, Operation Gomorrah, on 27-28 July 1943

1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal 1939-45, with named Air Council enclosure, in card box of issue, addressed to ‘Mrs. F. Lobb, 19 Donald Road, West Croydon, Surrey.’; together with the recipient’s R.A.F. cap badge, Air Gunner’s cloth insignia, and Volunteer Reserve shoulder titles, 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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Robert Lobb served during the Second World War as an Air Gunner with 156 Squadron. He flew his first operational sortie in a raid on Cologne on 28 June 1943. The circumstances of this raid were not promising, the target was projected to be cloud covered. However, despite every setback the main bombing force delivered the most powerful air raid of the whole of the Battle of the Ruhr. It was Cologne’s worst raid of the war; 43 industrial, 6 military and 6,368 other buildings were completely destroyed. Over 15,000 other buildings were damaged. 4,377 people died and over 230,000 were made homeless. On 3 July 1943 he returned to Cologne, and accurate Pathfinder marking lead to a high precision air raid.

On 24 July 1943 his crew flew against Hamburg in the build up to Operation Gomorrah, the Firestorm raids. For the first time ‘Window’ was used to disrupt enemy radar. On 25 July 1943 they attacked the Krupp's works at Essen, which suffered their most damaging air raid of the war.

Lobb was killed in action when Lancaster EE178, piloted by Flight Sergeant G. W. Wilkins, was shot down by a night fighter and exploded in mid air at 13,500 feet whilst on Operation Gomorrah, the Firestorm raid against Hamburg, on 27-28 July. The pilot was thrown clear and made a prisoner of war the rest of the crew perished immediately. The raid itself was a considerable success. Well concentrated marking led to a colossal firestorm, and it is estimated that over 550 to 600 bomb loads fell into a 2 square mile area. The firestorm raged for approximately 3 hours and consumed most of the city.

Lobb is buried in Becklingen War Cemetery, Germany. His medals were sent to his mother, Florence Lobb.

Sold with copied research, including a photograph of the recipient’s original grave.