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Auction: 1008 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals & Militaria
Lot: 28

An ´Immediate´ 1944 Stirling and Lancaster Rear Gunner´s D.F.M. Group of Four to Warrant Officer W. Aspey, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve; He Flew in 27 Operational Sorties with 149 Squadron, and Shot Down an Enemy Fighter When Returning From a Raid Over Bochum, 13.5.1943; He Was Killed in Action During His Second Tour of Operations, Whilst Serving With 10 Squadron, Path Finder Force, 7.8.1944 a) Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (1437583. F/Sgt. W. Aspey. R.A.F.) b) 1939-1945 Star c) Air Crew Europe Star, with France and Germany Bar d) War Medal, generally good very fine, with Path Finder Force Badge; Air Gunner´s Brevet; the recipient´s riband bar; and a comprehensive file of research (lot) Estimate £ 2,500-3,000 D.F.M. London Gazette 16.5.1944 1437583 Flight Sergeant William Aspey, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 149 Squadron The Recommendation states: ´As Rear Gunner, Flight Sergeant Aspey has taken part in twenty seven operational sorties against the enemy. He has attacked such heavily defended targets as Cologne, Hamburg and Berlin. On one occasion, when detailed to attack Bochum, Flight Sergeant Aspey´s aircraft was subjected to eight attacks by enemy fighter aircraft. The first a Ju.88, made three attacks when en route to the target; the second, an F.W. 190, made a single attack when over the target area; the third, a Ju.88 made three attacks when on the homeward journey. All three enemy aircraft were throroughly engaged and eventually driven off. The fourth, however, a F.W. 190 made only one attack and fell victim to the guns of Flight Sergeant Aspey. Throughout the operation, this N.C.O. showed incredible coolness, his offensive spirit rising with the tempo and fury of the battle, till at last his courage and skill were justly rewarded. Flight Sergeant Aspey has at all times continued to show the same keeness and zest for operations, his devotion to duty amongst other factors being of an extremely high degree. He has set an outstanding example to his comrades. I therefore strongly recommend that he be awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal.´ 1437583 Warrant Officer William Aspey, D.F.M., born Wigan, Lancashire, 1921; educated at St. Patrick´s and St. Mary´s Roman Catholic Schools and Wigan Mining and Technical College; enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, May 1941; initial training postings included No. 4 Air Gunnery School, Morpeth and No. 12 O.T.U., Marham, Norfolk; posted as Air Gunner for operational service with 149 Squadron (Stirlings), Lakenheath, April 1943; Aspey flew in 27 operational sorties with the squadron including: Rostock; Bochum (see D.F.M. Reccomendation); Dusseldorf; Le Creusot; Gelsenkirchen; Cologne (2); Hamburg (3); Nurnburg; Turin (2); Manheim; Berlin and flew in 4 ´Special Operations´ between February 1944 - April 1944, when the squadron was engaged with supplying the French Maquis with supplies, arms and ammunition; promoted Temporary Flight Sergeant, 27.9.1943; posted to 7 Squadron (Lancasters), Path Finder Force, Oakington, Cambridgeshire, June 1944; Aspey flew in 11 operational sorties with the squadron, mainly bombing operations over France, including 7.8.1944 when his Lancaster, ND 460, ´W´ piloted by Flying Officer L. Kidd, took off from Oakington at 22.08 hours to Battle Area No. 5, Normandy; this was a bombing raid carried out in support of the Allied ground forces attack on Caen; Aspey´s aircraft came down near Bolbec (Seine-Maritime), crashing and killing the entire crew of seven; Aspey is buried with his crew in the Bolbec Communal Cemetery.

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£2,800