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Auction: 20001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - conducted behind closed doors
Lot: 740

(x) The unique Second World War 'Operation Ladbroke' D.F.C. and D-Day Second Award Bar D.F.C. awarded to Major J. A. Dale, Army Air Corps, recognised as the finest Hamilcar glider pilot who also shared in the action at Arnhem when he formed part of 'Thompson Force'

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated '1943', Second Award Bar, dated '1944', nearly extremely fine, it its Royal Mint case of issue

D.F.C. London Gazette 1 November 1943:

'For gallant and distinguished services in Sicily.'

The original recommendation states:

'Lieutenant Dale has shown great courage and initiative during the glider-borne operation in Sicily. One evening in July, (9th), he was in charge of a glider. Although faced with extremely bad weather, he remained in position for 4 hours. On arrival at the target, although visibility was poor and he was flying through anti-aircraft fire and searchlights, Lieutenant Dale made a brilliant landing in a rock-strewn field and in so doing enabled the equipment carried to move forward as a result of which the capture of the Syracuse bridge was effected. Lieutenant Dale also took a prominent part in the ground operation and fought courageously for 15 hours.

Second Award Bar to D.F.C. London Gazette 19 October 1944:

'For gallant and distinguished services in Normandy.'

The original recommendation states:

'Ranville - On the evening of 6th June Major Dale led his Hamilcar Glider Squadron carrying vital loads for the airborne troops. Major Dales gliders made perfect landings in the correct area, in spite of obstructions, and in spite of intense enemy ground fire. The gilders were unloaded at once and the loads went into action, materially contributing to the success of the whole operation. Major Dale, by his inspiring leadership not only in action, but also during the most arduous training previous to the invasion was in a very large part responsible for the undoubted success of the Hamilcar Glider Crews.'

James Alexander Dale

- or 'Dickie' to his comrades - appears to have first been commissioned Lieutenant in the Lancashire Fusiliers on 25 May 1942 but was serving with the Army Air Corps as a Lieutenant (Glider Pilot) by the time of the Sicily landings. Dale shared in the famous actions at the Ponte Grande as pilot of a Hamilcar on 9-10 July 1943, for which he earned his first D.F.C. and was one of just 19 who survived from the force who made land near their objectives. Having been captured, he was returned to London in time to receive his well-earned D.F.C. from the King on 23 May 1944.

The Hamilcar was the largest glider used during the Second World War was a feat of engineering. With a wingspan of 34m it could carry some 8,000kg into action, enabling it to deliver a tank direct to the field. It was for his actions on D-Day that Dale added the unique distinction of a Bar to his decoration. A period newspaper ran the story with the title 'Tank-carry glider was big secret':

'With a wing span greater than that of a Lancaster bomber and capable of landing on a small meadow, was one of Britain's most cherished secret D-Day weapons on the invasion...Immediately the glider touches down the nose of the machine swings open, the fuselage sinks into the ground and the tank goes into action. One of the first to be landed in France silenced a dangerous gun post inside two minutes of touching down.

Major Alec Dale, a Shropshire man who lived in Cornwall until the war started, awarded the D.F.C. for his handling of gliders in Sicily, is the leading Hamilcar pilot.

"They are beautifully easy to handle in spite of their weight. The organisation of the landings in France was so good compared to the Sicilian show, that there was really nothing to do."'

Dale latterly commanded 'C' Squadron, No.2 Wing of the Hamilcar unit, Army Air Corps and rose to the rank of Major by the time of Arnhem. He commanded those men of his unit which remained in the screen which formed up on the railway embankment at Oosterbeek Laag Station. His ability to keep spirits high was noted in Middlebrook's The Airborne Battle, for he was famed for taking parties out for 'turkey shoots' into the German lines to 'let fly with all they had'. Sold together with the following attributing archive:

(i)
The Buckingham Palace Investiture slip, dated 23 May 1944.

(ii)
Period newspaper cutting mounted together with slip noting award of the Bar, together with an old mounted sales listing, most likely from the Spink Circular.

(iii)
Letter from Seaby, dated 11 June 1973, offering the item for sale.

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Sold for
£2,900

Starting price
£1900