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Auction: 17003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 722

Sold by Order of a Direct Descendant

A Second World War immediate 'Battle of Berlin' D.F.M. group of five awarded to Pilot Officer K. L. Howard, Royal Air Force, who visited the 'big city' in Lancasters of No. 44 Squadron on four occasions in the Winter of 1943-44: he was decorated for his gallant deeds when his aircraft was severely damaged by flak on just such a trip

Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (572262 F./Sgt. K. L. Howard, R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star, clasp, France and Germany; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, good very fine or better, mounted court-style by Spink & Son (5)


SALEROOM NOTICE:
Lot now offered with the named card boxes of issue for the D.F.M. and Second War awards.



D.F.M. London Gazette 25 January 1944. The original recommendation states:

'Flight Sergeant Howard has now completed an operational tour of 30 successful sorties as Flight Engineer. He has taken part in attacks on all the most formidable German targets including Berlin (4) and Cologne (3). On his first 19 trips, 16 of which were to the Ruhr when the battle of the Ruhr was at its height.

On the night of 29-30 December 1943, en route to Berlin, his aircraft was hit by flak, putting one engine out of action and so damaging the hydraulic system that the bomb doors could not be closed. Flight Sergeant Howard showed great initiative and resource in his endeavours to make the hydraulic system serviceable, spending approximately two hours on repairs to the hydraulic header tank. A great part of his time was spent gathering hydraulic fluid in the rear of the aircraft without heating and even without oxygen for some periods. Base was reached safely but, on final approach, the failed engine burst into flames. Prompt and efficient fire drill by this N.C.O. averted what might have been a disaster.

His conduct in the incident described above comes as no surprise to his crew or squadron colleagues to whom his selfless devotion to duty and complete disregard for personal safety have been an inspiration throughout his association with them. The same qualities of devotion and enthusiasm characterise his work on the ground where, as Deputy Flight Engineer Leader, he has spared no effort to increase the efficiency not only of himself but also his section.

I strongly recommend Flight Engineer Howard for an immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.'

Kenneth Lionel Howard, who was born in April 1921, qualified as a Flight Engineer after joining the Royal Air Force, and commenced his operational tour in No. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron - a Lancaster unit - in 1943. He likely knew Squadron Leader John Nettleton, V.C., a senior squadron pilot who was killed in action in a sortie against Turin in July of the same year.

As outlined in the recommendation for his immediate award of the D.F.M., dated 4 January 1944, he was a veteran of numerous sorties to the Ruhr, in addition to three trips to Cologne.

Yet it was his part in Bomber Command's campaign against Berlin in the winter of 1943-44 that likely proved to be the most memorable chapter in his operational career. In pursuit of 'Bomber' Harris's plan to 'wreck Berlin from end to end', 10,000 aircraft dropped 30,000 tons of bombs on the 'Big City' between August 1943 and March 1944.

For its own part, No. 44 Squadron sent 246 Lancasters on 20 Berlin raids in the same period and suffered the highest percentage casualty rate (6.5%) in No. 5 Group: a loss of 16 aircraft with 103 aircrew killed and 11 taken prisoners of war; see Martin Middlebrook's The Berlin Raids - The Bomber Battle, Winter 1943-1944.

Commissioned Pilot Officer at the end of his operational tour in early 1944, Howard was advanced to Flight Lieutenant in January 1946 and remained in the Royal Air Force. Tragically he died in November 1950, aged 29, the result of 'the bends' (altitude induced decompression sickness) suffered due to nitrogen poisoning after 'he had flown to a height of 30,000 feet' (Daily Herald, 24 November 1950, refers). Following his death, his good friend Wing Commander Arthur 'Artie' Ashworth married his widow (http://arthur.corranashworth.info/ refers). Howard is buried in Ship Lane Cemetery, Farnborough.

His awards have remained in the Ashworth family as Howard had no surviving family (his brother being killed during the War and both parents deceased); sold with copied research and a photograph of the recipient's grave.


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Sold for
£1,900

Sale 17003 Notices
Lot now offered with the named card boxes of issue for the D.F.M. and Second War awards.