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Auction: 11010 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals & Militaria
Lot: 17

A Fine Second War 1943 ´Immediate´ D.F.C. Group of Four to Halifax and Lancaster Air Gunner, Flying Officer D.A. ´Punch´ Weatherill, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Who Carried out Over 48 Operational Sorties With 158 and 35 Squadrons, Including 31.8.1943 to Berlin, When He Shot Down a Me 110 and Damaged a Ju 88; A Veteran of the Peenemunde Raid, 17.8.1943, When He Damaged Another Enemy Aircraft; He Was Shot Down and Killed By An Enemy Night Fighter Over Dunkirk, 23.6.1944 a) Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ´1943´ b) 1939-1945 Star c) Air Crew Europe Star, with France and Germany Bar d) War Medal, generally very fine or better, with Royal Air Force Observer´s and Air Gunner´s Flying Log (covering the period 16.8.1942-23.6.1944), this water damaged and extremely fragile, and forwarding letter for Log Book from R.A.F. Central Depository addressed to ´A. Weatherill, Esq., Muscot House, South Ascot, Berks´, this also water damaged (lot) Estimate £ 2,000-2,500 D.F.C. London Gazette 23.11.1943 Pilot Officer Douglas Alfred Weatherill (148094), R.A.F.V.R., 158 Sqn The Recommendation, dated 21.10.1943, states: ´On the night of the 31st August, 1943, this Officer was Mid Upper Gunner in an aircraft detailed to attack Berlin. Whilst over the target the aircraft was attacked by three enemy night fighters. On the first attack the rear turret was rendered unserviceable. P/O Weatherill then took over fire control, gave his pilot evasive action and succeeded in avoiding the enemy´s fire whilst damaging one of the attacking aircraft, which was probably destroyed. The safe return of the aircraft was undoubtedly due to this Officer´s promptitude in taking over fire control. In addition, he has now completed 28 operational sorties against such heavily defended targets as Essen, Mannheim, Duisburg, Stettin, Nuremburg and 3 to Berlin, on which he has proved himself to be a gunner of outstanding qualities, and on many occasions his prompt and accurate fire against enemy night fighters has been responsible for the success of the sortie and the safe return of the aircraft and crew. Remarks of Station Commander: A particularly fine piece of work, which there can be no doubt resulted in the aircraft not only bombing its objective but returning to its Base to fight again another day. This example typified this Officer´s outstanding operational career in which he showed magnificent qualities of courage, determination and devotion to duty. He is very strongly recommended for the Immediate Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.´ Flying Officer Douglas Alfred ´Punch´ Weatherill, D.F.C., son of Alfred Weatherill, who was Director of Bernard Weatherill Ltd the Saville Row tailors, D.A. Weatherill was also cousin of the Rt. Hon. Bernard Weatherill, P.C., M.P., the Speaker for the House of Commons; joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 1942; after training at No. 4 A.G.S., he was posted for operational flying as a Mid Upper Gunner to 158 Squadron (Halifaxs), East Moor and subsequent move to Beaulieu, October 1942; the detachment at Beaulieu were engaged for operations with Coastal Command and Weatherill flew in his first Anti-Sub Patrol, 26.11.1942, having moved to Rufforth and resumed operations with Bomber Command he flew to Mannheim, 6.12.1942, ´Ops Mannheim. Bailed Out at Amersham Bucks On Return´ (Log Refers); a Squadron narrative included with the lot gives further detail of Weatherill´s aircraft, skippered by Pilot Officer Reynolds, ´Over Mannheim heavy flak harrassed the attacking force, and P/O Reynold´s Halifax was hit in the port wing just as he completed his bombing-run. The control surfaces were severely damaged and a stunned crew turned for home. For several minutes the navigator, who was making his first operational flight, was uncertain of their position and much time was spent before course for base was set. Eventually a landfall was made on the south coast, by which time P/O Reynolds was having great difficulty in controlling the damaged bomber. Realising a crash-landing was out of the question he calmly outlined the situation to his crew, selected the automatic-pilot and ordered everyone bale out. All made good their departure and minutes later P/O Reynolds landed heavily on the tiled roof of a large building. Before he could gather stock of his situation P/O Reynolds was ´arrested´ by a band of very unsympathetic soldiers. He had landed on the roof of Sandhurst Military College. A few miles away at Greens Farm, High Wycombe, the doomed bomber plunged into the ground´; Weatherill went on to fly another 27 operational sorties with the Squadron, including: Lorient (4); Turin; Essen (2); Nuremburg; Stuttgart (2), including 14.4.1943, ´ops Stuttgart. Turned back. Collided with anoth A/C´, the narrative adds the following to the Log entry, ´F/Lt. Reynolds collided with a Halifax over the French coast while evading two single-engine fighters. The force of the collision jammed his rudders, but by skilful flying he maintained control and after jettisoning his bombs was able to make a safe return to base´; Berlin (3), including 31.8.1943, ´Ops Berlin D.C.O. Attacked by two Ju 88´s, F.W. 190 and Me 110 over target. R. Gunners gun U.S. Shot down Me 110 and damaged Ju 88. Landed at Manston owing to Damaged A/C and Port-Outer Engine U.S.´ (Log Book refers); Duisburg; Pilsen; Stettin; Dusseldorf; Bochum; Le Creusot, Schneider Works, 19.6.1943; Krefeld; Mulhiem; Cologne (2); Aachen; the Peenemunde Raid, 17.8.1943, when piloted by Wing Commander Calder, ´Ops Peenemunde D.C.O. Attacked by F.W. 190. Damaged Enemy A/C´ (Ibid) and Modane; Weatherill flew in two more sorties with the squadron (Stuttgart and Magdeburg) before being posted to 35 (Madras Presidency) Squadron, Path Finder Force (Halifaxs), Graveley, Huntingdonshire, February 1944; the following month the squadron converted to Lancasters and Weatherill found himself as a Rear Gunner; he flew in 21 operational sorties with the squadron including: Frankfurt (2); Berlin; Nuremburg; Cologne; Laon; Karlsruhe; 26.4.1944, ´Ops Paris (Villeneur) M-Yds D.C.O. B.M.I. Attacked by Me 109. Damaged enemy A/C´ (Log Book refers); Acheres; Montdidier Aerodrome; Lens; Louvain; Boulogne; Dortmund; Trappes; Foret-de-Cerisy; Tours; Arras; Sterkrade; Evercy and 23.6.1944, to Coubrone, in Lancaster III ND734 TL-H, piloted by Squadron Leader G.F.H. Ingram, D.F.C., ´T/o 2344 Graveley to mark a flying-bomb site. Homebound, when shot down from 11,000 feet by a night-fighter in the vicinity of Dunkerque´ (Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War, refers); both the pilot and Weatherill where killed, whilst the remaining 6 members of the crew were taken POW; Flying Officer Weatherill was buried in the Coxyde Military Cemetery, Belgium.

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