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Auction: 19003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 623

An original Observer's and Air Gunner's Flying Log Book appertaining to Sergeant R. Apps, Royal Air Force, who completed a tour of operations involving 28 operational sorties as Mid-Upper Gunner in Stirling Aircraft of No. 138 Squadron

R. Apps enlisted into the Royal Air Force in the late summer of 1943 and was posted to No. 7 Air Gunnery School, R.A.F. Stormy Down, near Bridgend, on 16 October 1943. He graduated on 11 December 1943 having completed 21.35 flying hours, the instructor noting, 'A quiet and intelligent Cadet who worked hard. Has a sound knowledge of his job & should make a most satisfactory Air Gunner'.

Sent to R.A.F. Westcott, Apps spent a period in the Station decompression chamber on 7 January 1944 having been taken to a height of 27,000 feet, remarks noting, 'Instructed in the use of oxygen'. He subsequently continued training on Wellington and Stirling aircraft, being posted to No. 138 Squadron at Tempsford in June 1944. On 4 July 1944 Apps carried out his first operational sortie as Mid Upper Gunner in a Mk. V Halifax tasked to bomb targets in France. He flew a further 8 sorties in July to targets in France, likely supporting the landings in Normandy, his log briefly noting 'Operations as ordered'. The following month Apps conducted a further 6 bombing raids on northern France, before accompanying Flying Officer Moffatt on two sorties to Denmark aboard Stirling aircraft on 28 & 30 September, the log recording, 'Op's as ordered, Denmark 'Joy'. November continued apace, with further bombing sorties to Denmark and a fighter affiliation with a Spitfire above The Wash on 4 November 1944. On Christmas Eve Apps flew a bombing mission to Germany, before returning to targets in Norway, his final operation being on 26 February 1945. Transferred to No. 26 O.T.U., Apps made his final flight aboard a Wellington Mk. X on 23 May 1946.

The log book in fair condition, with pages detached from October 1943-January 1944 and 1 page likely missing between 3 December 1943-23 January 1944.



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Sold for
£170

Starting price
£110