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Auction: 22003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 333

(x) Six: Flying Officer D. E. Walters, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, later Leading Observer, Royal Observer Corps

1939-45 Star, copy clasp, Bomber Command; copy Africa Star; copy France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Royal Observer Corps Medal, E.II.R. (Leading Observer D. E. Walters), mounted court-style as worn by his son, good very fine (6)

David Elwyn Walters - or 'Dewi' to his friends and comrades - was born at Gowerton, near Swansea on 29 April 1917 and worked as a Laboratory Assistant at Baldwin's Elba Steel Works from 1934. Upon the outbreak of the Second World War he enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve on 8 August 1940. Having undertaken his training he went overseas to the Middle East in February 1942, serving in Khartoum. Returned home he underwent training to become a Flight Engineer and passed out on 29 January 1944 and gaining his Brevet. He flew Ops with No. 76 Squadron, including aboard Halifax LL554 'I' on 10-11 August 1944 when they attacked Dijon from 10,500ft. A few nights later on 12-13 August 1944 he flew on Russelheim but LN637 'B' was shot up, with the Rear Gunner being killed in his seat and the aircraft forced to land at Woodbridge, Suffolk.

Transferred to Transport Command, Walters joined No. 51 Squadron in Africa and thence No. 242 Squadron. He was discharged on 21 November 1946 with some 919 hours in his Log Book. He took up civil employment with 38 Maintenance Flight, Llandow which saw him work upon the first generations of jet aircraft. When the family moved to North Cornelly, he took work at the Abbey Works Steel Works, Port Talbot and joined the Briton Ferry Unit of the Royal Observer Corps as a Leading Observer; sold together with slip confirming award of the Bomber Command clasp and copied Service Record.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£450

Starting price
£220