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Auction: 20003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 302

An outstanding Second World War Pathfinder's D.F.C., D.F.M. group of five awarded to Flying Officer A. J. 'Jenkie' Dick, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

A veteran of two operational tours and a highly impressive tally of 86 sorties - in Halifaxes and Lancasters of 102 and 35 (P.F.F.) Squadrons - he invariably experienced some close calls, among them a combat with an Me. 210 in the vicinity of Magdeburg in January 1944; so, too, no less than six trips to the 'Big City'

But most memorable of all was likely the occasion his flak-damaged Halifax ditched off the Dutch coast on the night of 21 June 1943: he and his dinghy-bound crew were spotted by Typhoons in the afternoon of the 22nd and were subsequently rescued by a Walrus pick-up that evening

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated '1945'; Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (F./Sgt. A. J. Dick, R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, generally good very fine (6)

D.F.C. London Gazette 25 May 1945. The original recommendation states:

'Since being awarded the D.F.M., Pilot Officer Dick has carried out a further 25 sorties, mainly against heavily defended targets, bringing his total number to 71.

As a Flight Engineer, he shows a high degree of skill and his cheerfulness and confidence have inspired a high standard of morale in his crew. It is considered his fine offensive spirit and operational record fully merits the non-immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.'

D.F.M. London Gazette 15 August 1944. The original recommendation states:

'This N.C.O. has completed numerous operations against the enemy's most heavily defended targets. He is a Flight Engineer of the highest quality, possessing a very thorough knowledge of his aircraft. On several occasions, he has assisted his captain in bringing back a damaged aircraft to base and making a safe landing.

Flight Sergeant Dick continually shows exceptional keenness and enthusiasm for operations against the enemy. His skill and the reliability of his work have inspired the confidence of his crew. In recognition, this N.C.O. is recommended for a non-immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.'

Andrew Jenkinson Dick was born in Edinburgh, Scotland on 24 September 1906 and was educated at Heriot's School, prior to leaving at a young age to take up work as a labourer.

In July 1941, he enlisted as a mechanic in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve but subsequently qualified as a Flight Engineer. Posted to a Heavy Conversion unit on qualification, he teamed up with Sergeant Sidney Honey's crew and joined No. 102 (Ceylon) Squadron in May 1943, operating in Halifaxes out of R.A.F. Pocklington, Yorkshire.

No. 102 Squadron - Goldfish Club

Having participated in strikes on Dortmund, Dusseldorf, Essen, Bochum and Le Creusot, he and his crew was allocated to an attack on Krefeld on the night of 21 June 1943.

On returning from the target over the Dutch coast, their Halifax was severely damaged by flak, and Sergeant Honey decided to 'ditch' the aircraft up moon. This he successfully accomplished, about 30 kilometres off Le Havre, and the crew took to their dinghy. At 0635 hours they were fortunate to be spotted by a flight of Mustangs, their position subsequently being confirmed by a formation of Typhoons at 1530 hours. As a result, a brace of Walrus aircraft was scrambled from No. 277 Squadron and pilot and crew were duly rescued, albeit with the additional assistance of an M.G.B., which delivered them to the safety of Felixstowe. Dick duly won entitlement to the membership of the Goldfish Club.

In the following month, Dick and his crew volunteered for the Path Finder Force, and were posted to No. 35 (Madras Presidency) Squadron, another Halifax unit, operating out of Gravely, Huntingdonshire; in March 1944, it converted to Lancasters.

Path Finder - No. 35 Squadron - D.F.C. and D.F.M.

Dick's subsequent operational career with No. 35 - between July 1943 and April 1945 - comprised the completion of two operational tours and a further 76 sorties, a noteworthy achievement by any standards, not least for his survival.

His targets - attacked with his old pilot Sidney Honey, and later Flight Lieutenant E. C. Gregory - were invariably representative of the heavily-defended kind. They commenced with the Hamburg 'firestorm' raids at the end of July 1943 and included the equally famous 'firestorm' strike on Dresden in February 1945.

Yet much took place in between, not least six trips to Berlin, four to Stuttgart and three to Frankfurt, in addition to targets such as Cologne, Dortmund, Essen and Hanover on at least two occasions; he was commissioned in August 1944, after being rested on completion of his first tour.

Dick flew his final sortie against gun positions on Wangerooge Island on 25 April 1945 and departed the R.A.F.V.R. as a Flying Officer at the year's end.

A mechanical engineer by profession post-war, he died in Chelsea, London on 17 January 1971.

Sold with a comprehensive file of research, including one or two wartime photographs and a copy of Flight Engineer's Notes for Lancaster Aircraft.

For his miniature dress medals, please see Lot 500.


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Sold for
£4,000

Starting price
£3000