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Auction: 21001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals (conducted behind closed doors)
Lot: 645

The campaign group of four awarded in memory of Pilot Officer H. J. S. Sturgess, No. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, killed in action when his Lancaster was lost in action near Lambrechtshagen on 9 May 1942

1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, all contemporarily engraved 'P/O. H. J. S. Sturgess, 44 Sqdn.', extremely fine (4)

Hubert John Sand Sturgess, a native of Salisbury, Rhodesia, was commissioned into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve on 8 August 1941. Sturgess was lucky to escape uninjured when Lancaster L75549 required a forced landing near Cottesmore on 22 April 1942, injuring five members of the crew.

He was killed in action whilst Second Pilot, when his Avro Lancaster, R5568, was lost near Lambrechtshagen, some 7km west-north-west of Rostock. The wreckage was found close to Lancaster I R5555 which suggests the two aircraft may have collided. Just one of the eight-man crew survived, being taken a Prisoner of War. Sturgess is buried in the Berlin 1939-45 War Cemetery.

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Sold for
£350

Starting price
£220