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Auction: 20003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 456

The well-documented campaign group of three awarded to Warrant Officer (Navigator) J. B. Jones, Royal Air Force, who was shot down whilst on a raid over Cologne on 17 June 1941, their Whitley became the first victory of night fighter ace Wolfgang Thimmig

Badly wounded, Jones was cared for by a doting Dutch family who tended his wounds before he was made a Prisoner of War - appearing to spend time at Stalag Luft III, scene of 'The Great Escape', whilst performing in a theatrical at that Camp

1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal 1939-45, in their named boxed of issue addressed to 'J. B. Jones, Esq.,..Redheugh Rd, ...[Mine]head, 8, ...[Dur]ham.' and with Air Council enclosure, good very fine (3)

J. Bernard Jones served with No. 58 Squadron as a Warrant Officer (No. 942685) and was flying in Whitley N1462 which was on its way to attack Cologne on the night of 17 June 1941. They were attacked and shot down by Wolfgang Thimmig- who claimed 23 victories during the Second World War - with Jones the only surviving member of the crew. Jones was severely wounded and had broken legs after the crash. He was tended by the Louwers family and was eventually captured and taken to Camp 357, Koperikus, Poland. He also appears to have spent time at Stalag Luft III - for an image included with the Lot shows Jones performing in 'Bums on Broadway' in 1942.

A letter from Harry Louwers, to Jones in February 1946:

'I am very pleased to hear that you are all keeping fine. The whole family here is in the best of health and we are working hard, rebuilding everything especially our own house. Maybe you are interested to know something about us. Having been occupied by the Germans from 5 years we were liberated by the American airborn troops. At the same time they landed at Arnhem, Nijmegen and near our village. We were unlucky enough to have some stubborn fightings in our village, it changed hands eleven times. During a short period were were occupied by the Germans, these Typhoons (excuse me for not liking them at all) and bombed German guns near our house. They hit the guns alright, but did more than that. We lost half our house. Afterwards we were forced by the Germans to evacuate the whole village leaving everything behind, we spent 6 weeks in the wood without food or shelter and coming back we found a damaged house, were all furniture and everything removable was pinched....I can imagine that you are smiling the whole time reading this letter, I know it is not Kings English, but I hope that you can understand it. The difficulty is; in Dutch we turn every sentence the other way round. The Germans have stolen my dictionary, so I must do it without help.

I can't say what I wish to write down, but I wish to thank you and the whole English nation for all they have done for us, poor Dutchmen.'

Sold together with an interesting archive comprising two letters from Mr Lowers (one mentioning connections to the Dutch Resistance), Gateshead Welcome Home Committee Certificate of Service in the name 'Bernard Jones', besides a good collection of contemporary photographs of varying size, showing RAF crews and the service of Jones.

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Sold for
£350

Starting price
£260