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Auction: 14001 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 82

A Good Second War '1945' Lancaster Mid-Upper Gunner's D.F.M. Group of Four to Flight Sergeant E. Hall, 207 Squadron, Royal Air Force, Who Flew in At Least 36 Operational Sorties, During Which He Accounted For One Confirmed Ju 88, and Another Shared With His Rear-Gunner
a) Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (1759021 F/Sgt. E. Hall. R.A.F.)
b) 1939-1945 Star
c) France and Germany Star
d) War Medal, very fine, with R.A.F. Flying Log Book For Navigators, Air Bombers, Air Gunners, Flight Engineers (21.1.1944-22.8.1945) (4)

D.F.M. London Gazette 21.9.1945 Flight Sergeant Ernest Hall (1759021), R.A.F., 207 Squadron
The Recommendation states: 'This N.C.O. has now completed his first tour of 36 successful sorties, as the Mid-upper gunner of a Lancaster aircraft, involving no less than 252 operational flying hours. Nearly all his sorties were against highly defended targets in Germany itself and many of these were at long-range such as Munich (twice), Bohlen (twice), Politz (twice), Gdynia, Brux, Trondheim, and Lutzkendorf.
On December 4th, 1944, whilst his aircraft was on its bombing run on Heilbronn a JU 88 attacked. F/Sgt Hall took immediate action and with a well-placed burst of fire drove off the enemy aircraft with flames smoke pouring from it. The crew went on to complete their mission, and the enemy aircraft was claimed as damaged.
Again on February 8th, 1945, when approaching the target at Politz, his aircraft was attacked by a JU 88, which scored a direct hit on the port tail plane and elevator before being seen, making the Lancaster very difficult for the pilot to handle. F/Sgt Hall spotted the fighter and coolly instructed his pilot as to the position required for combat. His fire, together with that of the tail gunner, resulted in the confirmed destruction of the enemy aircraft. The target was then successfully bombed.
F/Sgt Hall has at all times shown exceptional gallantry and keenness on operations, and has always been willing and eager to fly as a spare, with the result that he has finished his operational tour before the rest of his crew. His work both in the air and on the ground, has been of an exceptionally high standard, worth of much praise. His courage and devotion to duty have been an inspiring example to his crew and to his fellow gunners.'

1759021 Flight Sergeant Ernest Hall, D.F.M., served with the Royal Air Force during the Second War, and was posted for training as an Air Gunner to 11 A.G.S. Andreas, Isle of Man, January 1944; he undertook further training at No.16 O.T.U. Heyford, from April of the same year; after stints at 1660 Conversion Unit, Swinderby and No.5 L.F.S., Syerston he was posted for operational flying to 207 Squadron (Lancasters), Spilsby, September 1944; he flew in 36 operational sorties with the squadron, including: Karlsruhe; Kaiserlautern; Wilhelmshaven; Flushing; Brunswick; Walacheren; Nurnburg; Dusseldorf; Dortmund (2); Gravenhorst (3); Harburg (2); Duren; Trondheim, 22.11.1944 'U-Boats & Supplies' (Log Book refers); Munich (2); Heilbronn, 4.12.1944, 'Oil Nr. Karlsruhe (Ju 88 Probably Destroyed) "Confirmed" '(Ibid); Geisson; Gdynia; Horton; Houffalize; Ladbergen (2); Royan; Politz (2), including 8.2.1945, 'Oil Nr. Stettin Shot up by Ju 88. (Ju 88 Probably Destroyed) "Confirmed" ' (Ibid); Brux; Rositz; Bohlen (2); Essen and Lutzkendorf; having completed his tour Hall's subsequent postings included No. 84 O.T.U., Desborough and No.17 O.T.U. Silverstone.


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Sold for
£3,300