I am researching my father's WW2 RAF service. He was a bomb aimer on Stirlings and served in 149 Squadron. I know he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal in 1943 or 1944. Although mentioned in The London Gazette, there are no details of a citation there. Are any members able to access THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING MEDAL REGISTER FOR THE SECOND WORLD WAR by Ian Tavender to check this for me. Alternatively does anyone have other suggestions for how I can find out more about my father's DFM? Thank you.
New Years Honours - most likely meritorious service rather than specific gallantry incident (these typically are immediate award) If the citation survives it will be buried in AIR2 as Tavender lists name only. Ross
Many thanks Temujin and Ross for your information. Both replies are very helpful. Much appreciated Andrew
Clark, Gordon, 659102 Flight Sergeant, No. 149 Sqn. London Gazette 18/1 1944. Sorties 27. Flying Hours 145.15. Air Bomber. AIR2/9153. This Air Bomber has completed 27 operations against the enemy, his targets including Berlin, Essen and Hamburg on three occasions. Throughout his tour, he has consistently brought back photographs of the target culminating in an aiming point on Remscheid. His tenacity and persistent devotion to duty in the face of heavy opposition have caused him to guide his aircraft to the heart of the target and have been directly responsible for the many succesful sorties accomplished by his crew. His keenness and example are indeed praiseworthy and I therefore strongly recommend that Flight Sergeant Clark be awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal. 9th November, 1943. Finn
Hello Finn, Wow, that is fantastic. I have been searching the London Gazette for this info for quite a while without success. Your detective powers are obviously far superior to mine. Many thanks. Andrew
Hi again Finn. I have tried again to find this information in The London Gazette but with no luck. Please can you let me know where you found this info as I would like to try and get a copy of the original. Thanks, Andrew
The citation Finn gave is from AIR2, not the London Gazette. AIR2/9153 DECORATIONS, MEDALS, HONOURS AND AWARDS (Code B, 30): Non-immediate awards: R.A.F. and... | The National Archives Ross
Hello Andrew, It is from AIR2. Already mentioned by Ross with link. Wish you good luck with the research. Finn
Hi Mark, You are quite right. My father joined the army straight from school and than transferred to the RAF in 1941. He told me that he started to train as a pilot but had an ‘unsuccessful’ first solo landing and so was transferred to bomb aiming. My next task is to see if I can unearth anything about his short flying time with the RAF. I have his Bomb Aimee’s log book but naturally there is no mention of pilot training in this. I guess that he may have once had a trainee pilot’s log book but I have not found any trace of this.
His service record will give those postings for pilot training and subsequent Bomb Aimer. Have you applied to Cranwell for it? Ross
Thanks for the suggestion. In fact I did apply for his service record. I attach a screen shot from it. As far as I can see there is no mention of flying training. One other thing that you may be able to help me with is that it appears my father's service number changed to 170877 when he was promoted to Flight Lieutenant. Should I be applying to Cranwell for any records held under this service number? Andrew
His trade mustering records the sequence ACH u/t Aircrew 27/10/41, ACH Pilot 6/3/42, u/t Air Bomber 11/5/42 and Air Bomber 23/7/42 So looks like he came out of No.4 Initial Training Wing as a u/t Pilot and was sent to No.50 (Training) Group where his trade was changed to u/t Air Bomber co-incident with a posting to No.3 Air Observer School. I'll look and see if I can find anything on bending an aircraft on solo but I would not discount a medical recat. Anything on medical category on the front or rear sheets of his F543? His discharge from RAFVR on 14/10/43 was for appointment to commission gazetted 15/10/43 as Pilot Officer, probationary not F/Lt https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36389/supplement/894/data.pdf His promotion from Flying Officer to F/Lt was gazetted 15 Oct 1945 I'm surprised disclosures did not send you the continuation of service record for his commissioned period - they are usually good at following the trail - but yes you should contact them for the record under his officer personal number of 170877 Ross
Thank you again Ross for the speedy reply. Only mention of anything medical is on the attached clip from a form AM1406. I sure that he told me his failure to qualify as a pilot was a skill issue. I will contact Cranwell and see if they can get me the continuation of service record. I definitely feel as though I (we) are starting to build up a good picture of my father's war service.
Form 1406 was his Officer Record of Service (beyond present emergency) Form 1406 : RAF Officers Record of Service (Post War) – RAFCommands So if you are missing anything from disclosures it's dates 1943 to 1945, but that was normally transcribed onto F1406 Ross
