Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 14001 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 97

An Interesting Second War Campaign Group of Five to Flight Lieutenant A.F.H. Barber, Royal Air Force, An Air Gunner in Fairey Battles and Blenheims, He Was Wounded in Action, 6.6.1940, After a Combat With 4 Me. 109s; He Flew in Hampdens for Operational Sorties with 106 and 44 Squadrons, Before Converting to Catalinas for Service with 202 (Flying Boat) Squadron Against U-Boats
1939-1945 Star; Air Crew Europe Star, with Atlantic bar; Defence and War Medals; General Service 1918-62, G.VI.R., one clasp, Malaya (Flt. Lt. A.F.H. Barber. R.A.F.), light contact marks overall, very fine, with three Identity Tags and R.A.F. Observer's and Air Gunner's Flying Log Book (28.4.1939-26.8.1958), front cover loose, first page annotated time carried forward from previous log 85 hours and 30 minutes (5)

Flight Lieutenant A.F.H. Barber, born 1920; joined the Royal Air Force as a Aircraftman 2nd Class prior to the outbreak of the Second War; he qualified as an Air Gunner, 21.1.1939; he was posted to 40 Squadron (Fairey Battles) and was serving with them at Abingdon, from April 1939; flew with the squadron to their first wartime base, at Bethenivelle, France, 2.9.1939; and took part in their first operational sortie of the war, 21.9.1939, 'H. Level Recco (25,000ft) Over Enemy Country. French Escort' (Log Book refers); he flew in another operational sortie six days later, before the squadron returned to the UK at the beginning of December; having returned the squadron was re-equipped with Blenheims; he flew on a further 12 operational sorties with the squadron including: 12.4.1940, 'Raid On Enemy Warships' [Stavangar]; Wilhelmshaven; The Hague; Dinant; Abbeville; Calais, 25.5.1940, 'W/T Ident. Machine. Hit By A/A. Attacked By Me.109. 50 Rounds Fired' (Ibid); Courtrai; Arras-Menin Road; Bridges at Nieuport, 31.5.1940, 'W/T. Ident. & Homing. 100 Rounds Fired At A/A & Balloon' (Ibid); and Raid on Transport at Bernaville, 6.6.1940, 'W/T. Ident. Attacked By 4 Me. 109's . One Believed Shot Down. 600 Rounds Fired' (Ibid); after the last raid the Log Book is annotated 'Temporarily Grounded owing to injuries received in enemy action June 6th 1940' ; after a period of recuperation Barber was posted for operational flying to 106 Squadron (Hampdens), Cottesmore, September 1940; he flew in two operational sorties with the squadron, to Kiel and Brest, before transferring to 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron (Hampdens), Waddington, November 1940; he flew in six operational sorties with the squadron, including: Dortmund; Hamburg; Lorient; Brest and an 'Interuption Patrol' to Bristol, 6.12.1940; served in an instructional capacity with No.25 O.T.U., from April 1941; subsequent postings included to 1447 Flight and No.131 O.T.U.; he converted with the latter to Catalinas and was posted for operational flying to 202 (Flying Boat) Squadron (Catalinas), Gibraltar, April 1943; he flew in convoy escorts and patrols, including 8.1.1944, 'AS Patrol (East) U/Boat Attacked. One of Crew injured and aircraft damaged' (Log Book refers); he returned to the UK in March 1944, and transferred to Transport Command in July of the same year; he was posted as a Radio Operator to No.45 (Atlantic Transport) Group, R.A.F. Dorval, Canada; he flew in a number of aircraft including Hudsons, Coronados and Flying Fortresses; post-war postings included to H.Q. Bomber Command, Communication Flight; advanced Flight Lieutenant, 9.3.1947; retired 1.11.1961


Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£800