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Auction: 20025 - Historical Documents, Postal History and Autographs
Lot: 666

Great Britain
Vernon Byers (RCAF), 617 Squadron 'Dambuster' Pilot
1941-43, an extraordinary and rare group providing unique insight into the service of Vernon Byers (1919-43) as a pilot of 'K King' with the 617 Squadron commanded by Guy Gibson, tasked with carrying out Operation Chastise, otherwise known as the 'Dambuster' raids. Comprising Byers' dramatic and extremely scarce flying log book (one of very few to have survived from the nineteen pilots involved in the raids) sold with his poignant group of medals: 1939/45 Star, Aircrew Europe Star, Defence medal, Canadian Voluntary Services medal with "overseas Service" clasp, War Medal 1939-45, all un-named but attributed to Pilot Officer Vernon Byers, together with his winged 'O' silver operational badge awarded posthumously, small enamel #6 group badge, RCAF wings and RAF officers cap badge.
Dating 1941 (Sept.) - 1943 (May), Byers' logbook provides a remarkable and unique view of the preparations made for the Dambuster raids. Much of the entries record Byers' training and operations under the 467 squadron listing activities such as "L.L. X Country Bombing & Firing", "Low level x country & bombing", "Spotlight runs" and more. Some pages have been signed off by four pilots: Byers himself, David Maltby, Henry Melvin 'Dinghy' Young and Guy Gibson V.C., the latter two signing on the same page for the 16/17th May, 1943. The last entry in red pen on the 16th May, 1943 reads "'OPS' SORPE. MISSING.", signed twice by Maltby beneath. This entry represents the date that Byers took off from RAF Scampton at 21:30 for Sorpe Dam, after which time official records stop. It is said that Byers was highly unfortunate to have been shot down by a German flak gun as Byers flew low over the Dutch coast by Texel, crashing into the Waddenzee and becoming the first casualty of the 'Dambuster' raids. Comes well researched with two original photographs, one of Byers and one of him with his crew, RCAF records and a letter in which the RACF send the logbook to Byers' Father. A highly emotive and undoubtedly scarce group with great importance.

Vernon Williams Byers (1919-43), born in Star City, Saskatchewan, enrolled in the Canadian Army in 1941, later in the year transferring to the RCAF and eventually receiving his wings in 1942. Byers arrived in the UK in May of 1942, finishing his training at RAF Wigsley, soon after transferring to 467 Squadron at RAF Bottesford in Feb. 1943 to begin operational duties. By March of the same year, Byers had been transferred to the 617 Squadron having stepped up after the first nominated pilot from 467 declined.
At this point Byers had only 40h, 50m in a single-engine trainer, 267h, 50m by day and 131h, 35m by night in a multi-engine bomber, which is interestingly relatively little experience for what promised to be a challenging mission.

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Sold for
£16,000

Starting price
£7500