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Auction: 20001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - conducted behind closed doors
Lot: 1030

(x) An Air Observer and Bomb Aimer's campaign group of five awarded to 2nd Lieutenant H. G. Wilson, No. 30 Squadron, South African Air Force, who flew 56 operational sorties in Marauder aircraft over Italy and Yugoslavia, witnessing extensive action against German 88mm gun emplacements and enemy-held bridges of strategic importance

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; Africa Service Medal 1939-45, all officially named to '328443 H. G. Wilson', nearly very fine (5)

Hugh Gordon Wilson was born on 7 October 1924, the son of Mrs J. Wilson of 164 Muller Street, Belleview East, Johannesburg. Educated at King Edward VII School, Johannesburg, Wilson attested for the South African Air Force on 19 January 1942 and began training as Air Observer at No. 66 Air School, South Africa, from 25 January 1943. Flying aboard Oxford, Anson and Hind aircraft, Wilson successfully passed his course on 29 May 1943 and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant. Sent to No. 27 Squadron, S.A.A.F., Wilson flew his first operational sortie on 29 September 1943 with Pilot Lieutenant Eaton aboard Ventura 6078E. Directed to escort convoys in the vicinity of Walvis Bay, the pair were forced to return to base on account of bad weather and engine trouble.

Similar duties continued throughout October 1943 before No. 27 Squadron were transferred to Phesantekraal in the Western Cape. On 11 & 12 November Wilson conducted searches for a Japanese submarine and on 6 January 1944 he joined Lieutenant Hoole on a further anti-submarine patrol off the Cape of Good Hope. Transferred on 21 January 1944 to No. 61 Air School at George, Cape Province, Wilson conducted numerous interception and creeping line exercises aboard Anson aircraft. Sent to No. 70 O.T.U. at Shandur, he was noted as 'a sound navigator and bomb aimer, inclined to be slow', by Squadron Leader C. R. Thomson on 19 July 1944. Recommended for further specialist training, Wilson was instead posted to No. 30 Squadron who were at that time operating Marauder aircraft in Italy.

Gothic Line

On 26 August 1944, Wilson joined Lieutenant Smith as 1st Navigator on a raid on gun positions to the west of Pesaro. This was followed by a second attack the same day which resulted in 'fires left burning all over the area' (Log Book, refers). The following day the crew attacked the same gun positions for a third time, his log noting 'direct hits scored'. On 28th August Wilson flew a fourth sortie to Pesaro:

'No flak, scored direct hits and silenced several batteries of artillery. Raid on enemy gun emplacements in a river bend west of Pesaro, Canadian troops were being held up by this battery. Area was well plastered. No fighter escort. 9 puffs of flak.'

Such was the success of the repeated pounding of the position that Wilson received a typed letter of congratulations from the Chief of Staff, including a rare eye-witness account of the bombing by a Lieutenant-Colonel, which is pasted within his Log Book:

'I watched the light and medium bombers operating to-day from a forward observation post. It was simply incredibly devastating, the accuracy and destruction caused was unbelievable.'

Chief of Staff:

'The army is thoroughly grateful and the troops have tremendous courage in light and medium bombers.'

Wilson conducted almost daily attacks on enemy strong points and 'Jerry troop' concentrations throughout September in the region of Rimini and the Merecchia River. He was fortunate to survive a near-miss on 5 September 1944 aboard Marauder 'Z', his log noting 'Bags of flak mostly concentrated on the other two boxes of aircraft. Heard several shells exploding underneath the A/C. Whole A/C rocked'. On 22 September he flew his 18th raid on a road bridge south of Revanna. His log notes a 'fair amount' of flak, mostly 105mm and 88mm guns, which resulted in his bombs overshooting the target. As the raids continued, his log book notes increasingly 'stiff' resistance, before Wilson was finally rested on 27 September after 21 raids.

Remaining with No. 30 Squadron, S.A.A.F., Wilson returned to the fray on 4 December 1944 with a raid on a stores dump to the north of Ravenna. Direct hits were scored on the target. Leading a box, he and Lieutenant Williams faced intense flak during a raid on enemy gun positions to the north-west of Frenza:

'One aircraft in our formation was shot down but all the crew managed to bale out and have since returned to base.'

Ten days later, he and Williams had further issues when joining a raid on the marshalling yards at Treviso. Despite enjoying the rare luxury of 6 mustangs as fighter escort, the pair struggled to carry out their mission when their Perspex windscreens frosted over at 13,000 feet:
'At times we could hardly see out. Bombing results were good and the yards got a good pounding.'

Treviso was hit again five days later; 'fires were left burning in target area'. On 23 January 1945, Wilson switched his attention from Italy to Yugoslavia and attempted to bomb a railway bridge a Celje. Leading a box of Marauder aircraft, he was likely disappointed to witness his 4 x 1,000lb bombs burst just to the left of the target. Flying from Iesi, Wilson flew his 32nd raid on 21 February 1945 and attacked an oil refinery. The following day he attacked the Rovigo marshalling yards:
'We went in ahead of the main formation as an anti-flak ship to bomb the heavy gun positions with armour piercing bombs. Straddles the gun pits very successfully.'

The sugar refinery at Seamide received similar attention on 24 February, as did the Monstanta marshalling yards at Gorizia on 4 March 1945. His 37th raid focussed upon the docks to the west of Pola and the 42nd raid 'found the wind' and achieved direct hits on the cellulose factory at Porto Nagaro. On 2 April, Wilson attacked German Headquarters at Porto Garibaldi, and on 10 April 1945 'plastered' the artillery gun positions at Imola with armour-piercing cluster bombs. Remarkably, Wilson flew his 56th raid on 25 April 1945 and scored further direct hits on the Monsanta marshalling yards at Gorizia, his log book noting 423.05 total flying hours. This was his final operational sortie of the Second World War, the log book concluding on 26 June 1945 with a flight from Athens to base at Biferno. Extremely unfortunate not be to recommended for a decoration, Wilson was released from service on 14 December 1945.

Sold with copied service record and his original R.A.F. Navigator's, Air Bomber's and Air Gunner's Flying Log Book detailing training and all operational sorties, bearing correct signatures and stamps of Commanding Officers, together with a second identical book, as compiled by the recipient in case of the loss of first. A third contemporary log book offers 6 pages of early training conducted at No. 7 Air School, Kroonstad, in September 1942. Also included is a large photograph album bearing approx. 30 photographs of aircraft flown and targets, together with 6 portrait photographs of the recipient, along with a fascinating hand-written pocket diary compiled by Wilson from 25 March 1944-27 November 1944. This compliments the detailed descriptions of raids noted in the log books, but also gives a glimpse of his non-operational life:

'28.9.44. Stand-down. Squadron held a dinghy race on the Pescara River. It was good fun. 4.10.44. Stand-down. The mountains round about are covered with snow and really look beautiful. The winter sports have started up in the Grand Lasso mountains for the last week. We have been ploughing about in 6" of mud.'


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Sold for
£850

Starting price
£210