WW2 R.A.F DISTINGUISHED FLYING MEDAL GROUP 6 MEDALS MOSQUITO NAVIGATOR 128 SQUADRON PATHFINDER FORCE

Description

Offered is a Distinguished Flying Medal group of 6 medals to Flight Sergeant A. Brown, who flew as a Navigator in Mosquitoes as part of the 128th Squadron (Pathfinder Force) R.A.F.

The swing mounted group consists of: Distinguished Flying Medal (G.VI.R.). impressed named 530644. F/SGT. A. BROWN. R.A.F.; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star with imitation clasp AIR CREW EUROPE; Africa Star; Defence Medal; War Medal 1939-45 with Mentioned In Despatches oak leaf. The medals are swing mounted. All medals excluding the D.F.M. are unnamed – as issued. Comes with Air Ministry envelope containing unused period form. Copy of the D.F.M. recommendation and & details of sorties-targets and dates. Copies London Gazette 1945.

Andrew Brown, who presumably was active earlier in the Coastal Command, began his operational career with the 128th Squadron in September 1944, the same month that the squadron was reformed at Wyton as a Mosquito light bomber unit (8th Path Finder Force Group), as part of the P.F.F. Fast Night Strike Force. In this capacity, Brown went on to complete his 40 operational sorties against German targets. This included 18 sorties to Berlin. A scarce WWII D.F.M. group. Accompanied by copy of his recommendation for the D.F.M., but M.I.D. unverified.

128^th Squadron.

No.128 Squadron reformed at Wyton on 5 September 1944 as a Mosquito squadron in No.8 Group, and was part of the Light Night Striking Force. The squadron flew night intruder missions over Germany for the rest of the war. Locations: September 1944-June 1945: Wyton. June-October 1945: Warboys. October 1945-March 1946: B.58 Melsbroek.

The Light Night Striking Force (LNSF) was an outgrowth of the Pathfinder Force use of the fast and long-ranged Mosquito bomber, which could carry a sizeable bomb load. Under 8 Group, the number of Mosquito squadrons was built up. These were used for harassing raids on Germany. To the two (Oboe-equipped) Mosquito squadrons already in Pathfinder Force, a third (No. 139) was added in June 1943, which Bennett intended to use for diversionary raids to draw the German nightfighters away from the main force. In February 1944 an entirely Mosquito raid was mounted against Düsseldorf. It was formed of the usual marker aircraft from 105 Squadron and 692 Squadron Mosquitos, each carrying a single 4,000 lb “cookie”, and backup aircraft with 500 lb delayed action bombs. With Harris’ support, Bennett formed more Mosquito squadrons to expand the LNSF, giving him nine bomber squadrons, as well as the Oboe-equipped markers and 8 Group’s own meteorological Mosquitoes. The LNSF achieved 27,239 sorties, their best month being March 1945 with nearly 3,000 sorties. This was achieved with the loss of just under 200 aircraft on operations or “damaged beyond repair”.

Flight Sergeant Brown flew 40 operation sorties in Mosquitoes from September 1944-10^th April 1945. Targets were : Karlsruhe, Hamburg, Osnabruck, Hannover x 5, Munster, Berlin x 18, Mannheim x 2, Sterkrade, Stuttgart, Magdeburg x 3, Erfurt x 2, Nuremburg, Kassel x 2 & Essen.

Note: Tunic backdrop not included as part of the auction.