DFC awards

andy · Pilot Officer

DFC awards

William Heron · Group Captain

Hi Andy,

Here is the criTeria for the awarding of the D.F.C.

The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against the enemy".
Hope this is of some help. Perhaps the Australian crew got their award from previous operations prior to your father becoming part of that crew. Just a thought.My brother's pilot and Nav. were both awarded the DFC and yet this crew never flew with anyone else except for the very last operation of the pilot who was only one of three of the orginal crew left, they flew 34 Op's together. We found out many years later why only the P & N got the award.Bill Heron/Niagara/Canada

andy · Pilot Officer

Thanks Bill
Most of the crew got their award when they returned to Austrailia.

Date: Oct 23, 2011

Hi;

Talking to my pilot after the war he told me he got the DFC for the crew.

FWIW

Gus Hallgren

dawallace · Wing Commander

From what I have seen Pilots and Navigators were awarded DFCs more often that the other crew members. Gunners were often awarded them for their role in combats with enemy aircraft. They seem to be awarded less frequently to Flight Engineers than any of the other crew members. The recommendations came from the Squadron and Station Commanders and it was subjective. My father was a Navigator who was awarded a DFC, but only after he had completed his 90th operation with Bomber Command. Many Navigators were awarded them after completing one tour of 30 ops.

Regards

Dave Wallace

manxix · Squadron Leader

Dave

Tough luck on Dad - 3 TOURS TO GET A D.F.C. - bloody shame.

Who worked that one out? He should at very least had a bar to that DFC.

Mind you, his best award was his survival against those incredible odds. 90 ops! Incredible, what bravery.

My 2 uncles got DFCs and so did their crews! I have no idea about awarding medals to others in the crews. After all Bobbie was a Navigator (DFC before second tour) in IX Squadron and Ken was a Pilot in 101 Squadron.

Phil

dawallace · Wing Commander

Hi Phil

My father actually only did two tours with Bomber Command and both were somewhat unusual. His first tour was flying on Stirlings with 214 Squadron during the Battle of the Ruhr in 1943. They were screened from ops after his 17th trip. 214 Squadron suffered very high losses in the Stirling and only two of their Stirling crews actually reached the required 30 ops between April 1942 and Jan. 1944. The rest were either screened from ops early or failed to return. The loss rate they had was twice the average of other units at that time.

His second tour was with 109 Squadron doing Oboe marking for the Pathfinders and he did 73 ops with them. He had commited to do 50 ops wiith the Pathfinders and when he had completed them he requested to stay on and keep flying. He was finally sent back to Canada in Jan. 1945. 109 Squadron had more than 20 of their men fly over 100 ops and his tour of 73 ops with them was not unusual for that squadron. Some 109 personnel flew as many as 145 ops, so their standard were quite high there. That being said, his Pilot put in one more op than my father flew and got a DSO!

I have a copy of the 101 Squadron ORB if you need anything.

Cheers

Dave

manxix · Squadron Leader

Dave

Even more incredible odds - Stirlings!! for the first tour.

Thanks for the offer regarding 101 Squadron. Have you the details of Sergeant/Flight Lieutenant Kenneth David Corkill DFC - pilot especially as regards his crewe and any changes made. I would like to find out about the 8th crew member,the Oboe operator. I especially would like to get a photograph of him, as I have group one without him and he never appeared on others that I have.

Phil

dawallace · Wing Commander

Hi Phil

Your uncle K.D. Corkhill (151714) was posted to 101 Squadron from 1662CU Nov.7.43 along with (Nav.) Sgt. K.G Thompson (1228603); (A/G) Sgt. E.C. Welsh (1101908); (WO/AG) Sgt. C. Manser (13918290; (A/G) Sgt. LP. Swales (1625665); (F/E) E.A.F Cole (1800509) and joined by (B/A) R.M. Gundy RCAF (R160449).

1st op on Dec.2/43-BERLIN - the Special Duties Operator was Sgt. C.E.H. Schultz

His regular 8th man fron Jan.44 on was Sgt. P.N.D. Skingsby.

Gundy's DFC recomendation provides some detail on their operations:

"GUNDY, WO (now P/O) Richard Montross (R160449/J86500) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.101 Squadron - Award effective 2 October 1944 as per London Gazette dated 17 October 1944 and AFRO 2637/44 dated 8 December 1944. Born in St.Thomas, Ontario, 1921; home in Toronto. Enlisted in Toronto, 20 April 1942. Trained at No.6 ITS (graduated 23 October 1942) and No.4 AOS (graduated 5 February 1943). Commissioned May 1944. No citation other than "completed...numerous operations against the enemy in the course of which [he has] invariably displayed the utmost fortitude, courage and devotion to duty". Public Records Office Air 2/9025 has recommendation dated 13 July 1944 when he had flown 30 sorties (199 hours 40 minutes).

2 December 1943 - Berlin - Fairly concentrated attack with good results.

20 December 1943 - Frankfurt - Large fire to east and others in target area.

23 December 1943 - Berlin - many fires taking hold; good attack.

1 January 1944 - Berlin - Attack well developed; fires concentrated around markers.

2 January 1944 - Berlin - Explosions and incendiary fires seen through cloud. Attack well concentrated.

5 January 1944 - Stettin - Many large incendiary fires in target area, especially in south section.

20 January 1944 - Berlin - When attacking target, aircraft was engaged by three enemy fighters.

27 January 1944 - Berlin - Flares shot down by light flak; marking rather scattered.

30 January 1944 - Berlin - Glow of fires seen through thick cloud in target area.

15 February 1944 - Berlin - Target marking good; glow of fires in target area clearly seen.

19 February 1944 - Leipzig - Two large areas of red glow overlapping reflected on thick clouds.

20 February 1944 - Stuttgart - Many flares shot down by flak; fires to north of target area.

24 February 1944 - Schweinfurt - Good marking. Smoke obscuring target. Fires visible for 200 miles on return.

15 March 1944 - Stuttgart - Fires concentrated around markers. Visual Monika unserviceable prior to attack.

18 March 1944 - Frankfurt - Early in attack, not many markers seen, but these were accurately placed.

22 March 1944 - Frankfurt - Good attack. Many incendiary fires and one large explosion.

24 March 1944 - Berlin - Marking scattered. No target indicators seen until leaving target.

26 March 1944 - Essen - Large orange explosion seen in target area. Flak came up through cloud.

30 March 1944 - Nuremburg - Good visibility; effective enemy opposition; marking well grouped.

10 April 1944 - Aulnoye - Successful attack indicated good results.

18 April 1944 - Rouen - Opposition encountered was moderate, resulting in heavy and concentrated attack.

20 April 1944 - Cologne - Large explosion in target area; widespread fires in heavy attack.

30 April 1944 - Maintenon - Attack very successful. Target located and destroyed.

11 May 1944 - Hasselt - Bombs brought back on instructions of Master Bomber.

19 May 1944 - Orleans - A concentrated attack. Target well marked.

21 May 1944 - Duisburg - Bombed sky markers; no results seen.

22 May 1944 - Brunswick - Bombed fires. Markers scattered.

24 May 1944 - Aachen - A very good attack.

27 May 1944 - Aachen - Concentrated bombing on PFF markers.

31 May 1944 - Trappes - Red target indicators subject to concentrated bombing.

Warrant Officer Gundy, a Canadian, has carried out 30 successful sorties in his first operational tour as an Air Bomber, and throughout the time he has been with the squadron has displayed a constant spirit of determination and a very high standard of keenness and efficiency.

The sorties made by Warrant Officer Gundy against some of the most heavily defended targets in Germany include nine attacks on Berlin, and on all of these operations, in the face of most intense enemy opposition, he has always directed his captain with unerring skill and judgement.

With complete disregard of enemy opposition, this Warrant Officer has completed his allotted task with a high degree of courage, skill and initiative, and by his cooperation, coolness and devotion to duty has contributed in no small measure to the splendid results achieved by his crew.

It is recommended that Warrant Officer Gundy's courage, devotion to duty and fine record of achievement merit consideration for an award of the Distinguished Flying Cross."

From "Courage & Service" by Halliday & Blatherwick

Combat reports available here:

Jan. 21/44 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=7768498&queryType=1&resultcount=71

Jan.2/44 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=7768453&queryType=1&resultcount=71

Cheers

Dave

-- Edited by dawallace on Thursday 27th of October 2011 06:12:23 PM