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Auction: 17001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 257

'By this time the fact we badly needed fighter escorts had penetrated and these were provided by Hawkinge, etc. But they were a mixed blessing as they seemed incapable of keeping station across the Channel and to be intent on amusing themselves with mock attacks on our formations. We did not appreciate this or the drain on our nervous energy keeping an eye on them and satisfying ourselves that they were not 109s - so much so that I recall landing at Hawkinge after one raid and having a set-to with them. Webster did so as well. I left them with the thought that in future we would open up on anyone coming within range in a belligerent manner - which we did, and that put a stop to it.'

A Flying Officer and Blenheim pilot of No. 15 Squadron, quoted in Valiant Wings, by Norman Franks.

A noteworthy Second World War Blenheim Observer's immediate D.F.M. group of six awarded to Sergeant R. F. Davis, Royal Air Force, who was decorated for his part in a daring reconnaissance of Kiel harbour to ascertain the extent of damage caused the Scharnhorst by an earlier visit from heavy bombers on the night of 1-2 July 1940: emerging from the cloud base over their heavily defended target at 600 feet, he and his pilot 'displayed great courage and determination' and obtained photographs of 'great importance'

This, however, was but one gallant sortie flown by Davis in May-July 1940, he and fellow aircrew in No. 15 Squadron participating in numerous - and costly - operations to France and Belgium in support of the retreating B.E.F. and the dwindling strength of the Advanced Air Striking Force: on one occasion his pilot made it back to base from Verdun 'having lost the whole of the airscrew and reduction gear of one engine'

Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R (525274 Sgt. R. F. Davis, R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, together with a set of related miniature dress medals, generally good very fine (12)

D.F.M. London Gazette 19 July 1940. The original - joint - recommendation states:

'On 3 July 1940, Pilot Officer Thompson was the pilot, and Sergeant Davis the Observer of an aircraft which carried out a reconnaissance of Kiel harbour.

Their task was to obtain photographs of the extent of the damage inflicted by heavy bombers on the night of 1-2 July 1940 on the German battleship Scharnhorst, which was in dry dock in that harbour.

Adverse weather conditions which prevailed at the time with a cloud base at 600 feet necessitated flying above the clouds, and, due to the very accurate navigation of Sergeant Davis and flying of Pilot Officer Thompson, they were able, on emerging, to pin point their position immediately, enabling the aircraft to proceed direct to the target.

Excellent photographs, which disclosed information of great importance, were obtained, and the pilot and Observer repeated their exceptionally good flying and navigation respectively on the homeward flight, the aircraft arriving at base only two minutes late on the E.T.A. after the 420 mile flight from Kiel.

It is doubtful whether this very important task would have terminated with such success had it not been for the high standard of flying and navigation set by the pilot and Observer. They displayed great courage and determination and set a magnificent example of accuracy.

Apart from this occasion, Pilot Officer Thompson and Sergeant John Davis have taken part in 11 previous successful sorties, and on one occasion Pilot Officer Thompson brought his aircraft back after having lost the whole of the airscrew and reduction gear of one engine over enemy territory.'

Ronald Frederick Davis commenced training as an Air Observer in the summer of 1939 and, on qualifying in September of that year, was posted to No. 108 Squadron at Bicester, then converting from Ansons to Blenheims.

Detached for ferrying duties at R.A.F. Andover in November 1939, he undertook several missions in support of the Advanced Air Striking Force (A.A.S.F.) in France, prior to being posted to 15 Squadron, another Blenheim unit of No. 2 Group, operating out of R.A.F. Wyton, in late May 1940.

Teaming up as Air Observer to Pilot Officer C. E. V. Thompson, he flew his first operational sortie on 29 May 1940, in support of the evacuation of Dunkirk, attacking enemy motor transport: his flying log book for that date notes flak damage to his Blenheim. Two days later, he was detailed to attack enemy transport on the Furnes-Ypres Road, his aircraft obtaining a direct hit.

In June, in common with other Blenheim units, his operational sorties comprised a combination of bombing and reconnaissance work. Indeed a spate such missions to France and Belgium ensued but not always, as cited above, with a co-operative fighter escort. This must have played further on the frayed nerves of No. 2 Group's Blenheim aircrew for, in common with units of the A.A.S.F., casualties were high. Davis's own aircraft was damaged over the Forges-Rouen Road on the 10th and, as cited in the recommendation for his D.F.M., struggled home from Vernon on one engine on the 13th.

Having then won an immediate D.F.M. for his part in the daring reconnaissance of the Scharnhorst at Kiel - carried out in the face of an alert enemy in the immediate wake of a visitation from heavy bombers - Davis embarked on a second flurry of operational activity in the remainder of July. Thus, by way of example, strikes on targets in Cherbourg, Deauville, Merville and Emden.

Tour expired, he was posted to an Operational Training Unit and was advanced to Flight Sergeant in January 1942. Around a year later, he was embarked for India, where he served at the Air Navigation School at Andheri prior to being likewise employed in Ceylon, where he was commissioned and qualified as a Staff Navigator. Towards the end of 1944, Davis joined 230 Squadron, in which he undertook operational sweeps in the unit's Sunderlands and qualified for his Burma Star.

He ended the war back in the U.K., as Station Navigating Officer at the Empire Air Navigation School at Shawbury in the acting rank of Squadron Leader. Next posted to Kaggala in Ceylon in August 1945, Davis witnessed events surrounding the 'mutiny' undertaken by wartime volunteers fed up to their back teeth at the delay in gaining a ticket home.

Davis, who obtained his Specialist Navigation Certificate at the Empire Navigation School in May 1948, was advanced to Flight Lieutenant in July 1949 and transferred to the Equipment Branch in August 1956.

Sold with the recipient's original R.A.F. Observer's and Air Gunner's and Flying Log Book, covering the period June 1939 to February 1956, together with his Specialist Navigation Certificate from the R.A.F. Empire Air Navigation School, dated 10 May 1948, and several photographs.

Additional reference sources:

The National Archives (T.N.A.), D.F.M. recommendation: AIR 2/9744.
Franks, Norman, Valiant Wings (William Kimber, 1988).


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Sold for
£2,700