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Auction: 23002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 127

(x) A Second World War D.F.C. group of six awarded to Pilot Officer W. R. Cornell, Royal Canadian Air Force, a skilled Mid-Upper Gunner who flew 36 Operational Sorties

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated '1944', with its Royal Mint case of issue; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence Medal 1939-45, suspension neatly re-affixed; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal 1939-45, with Overseas Service clasp; War Medal 1939-45, these last three Canadian issues in silver, mounted court-style, good very fine (6)

D.F.C. London Gazette 25 May 1945.

William Robert Cornell joined No. 432 Squadron at East Moor, Yorkshire on 5 June 1944 and flew his first Op that same day in a Halifax flown by Flight Lieutenant Pettit, bombing Houlgate. He flew on Coutances on D-Day and made it a hat-trick, bombing the railway yards in Paris on 7 June to notch his first 3 Sorties in three days. Having completed 5 Sorties by 15 June, Cornell joined No. 419 Squadron at Middleton St. George and flew his first Sortie in a Lancaster on 24 June, raiding Bamieres. As the months rolled on, Cornell honed his skills, firing on a Ju88 when attacking Vileneuve St George on 4 July and taking flak on Sortie 13 to Stuttgart on 25 July. Their Lancaster returned home from Hamburg on just three engines on 28 July.

Cornell joined No. 431 Squadron at Croft, Durham in August 1944 and flew his 20th Sortie to attack guns, tanks and troops in the Falaise area on 18 August. He was on the raid of 4 October to Bergen, Norway to attack the submarine pens, but it was his 28th Sortie on 6 December that would see Cornell called upon. Flying home from their target of Osnabruck, Squadron Leader Smith had their Lancaster flying level at 16,000ft at around 2200hrs. An enemy Ju88 attacked them from the port quarter, with Cornell getting in two bursts and the Rear Gunner, Pilot Officer Supergia getting off five bursts. A starboard corkscrew was called for and executed, with the Ju88 spotted to have fire pouring from its port engine - it was claimed probable destroyed (A Yorkshire Squadron - History of 431 RCAF, 1942-45, refers).

Cornell flew his 36th and final Sortie on 12 March 1945, for a raid on Dortmund. He completed 204.05 operational hours and having flown as a Training Gunner, was returned to Canada with 661 Wing at Dartmouth; sold together with his Flying Log Book, besides a number of buttons, cloth insignia and badges.

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

Sold for
£1,600

Starting price
£1400