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Auction: 19003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 408

An original Observer's and Air Gunner's Flying Log Book appertaining to Flight Lieutenant (Gunner) L. W. D. Fagan, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who flew over 60 operational sorties in Hudson aircraft of No. 269 Squadron, including the search for the Bismarck on 24 May 1941, and a further 10 operations as Rear Gunner in Halifax aircraft of No. 10 Squadron. Awarded the D.F.C. for 'marked ability and enthusiasm,' he was killed in action on a bombing mission to Kassel, the entire crew being lost

[D.F.C.] London Gazette 18 May 1943. The official recommendation states:

'Flight Lieutenant Fagan is now on his second tour of operational duty. For the past five months he has served as Squadron Gunnery Leader with marked ability and enthusiasm.'

Leslie William Dudley Fagan was born in January 1920 at Edmonton, London, the son of William Henry Fagan and his wife Lily. He enlisted into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in December 1939 and was posted to No. 9 (Bombing & Gunnery) School, Penrhos, on 31 January 1940. Transferred to Silloth, Fagan completed a second gunnery course on 10 August 1940, before being posted to No. 269 Squadron at Wick the next month.

'Crashed on Landing'

On 9 September 1940, Fagan received an early welcome to the Squadron when on his third flight, his pilot Flight Lieutenant Grant crashed Hudson 'M' when attempting to land. On 23 September he conducted his first operational 'dusk patrol' flight as Air Gunner in a Hudson flown by Pilot Officer Patterson. A few days later he was involved in a search for a lost aircraft in the North Sea, his log book noting, 'bombed German ship and Dornier 18. (M.E.s in vicinity)'. Thereafter, Fagan was involved in a series of dawn and dusk patrols, including an anti-submarine search on 29 April 1941 off the coast of Iceland and a search for the Bismarck and her escort.

Transferred to the Central Gunner School at Castle Kennedy in October 1941, Fagan began to gain experience as Gunner in Wellington and Hampden aircraft. He flew a single operation from Eastmoor with No. 158 Squadron on 26 September 1942, but was recalled eighty miles from the target of Flensburg in Halifax J.7783 piloted by Squadron Leader Robinson. Sent to No. 10 Squadron in November, he served as Rear Gunner on bombing operations to Lorient, Wilhelshaven, St. Nazaire and Bochum on 13 May 1943, his log noting 'coned by S/L's. 5 mins. Evaded 2 fighters'. Further operations followed to Hamburg and Milan on 12 August 1943.

On 23 October 1943 Fagan and his entire crew were lost in Halifax JD315 on a bombing mission to Kessel - recorded in pencil in his log book. Aged 23, he is buried alongside his crew at Hanover War Cemetery, Niedersachsen, Germany; sold with copied research.


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Sold for
£200

Starting price
£210