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Auction: 23003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 106

Three: Sergeant L. G. Jones, Royal Air Force, who was killed on the night of the 1-2 September 1942 aboard Lancaster R5741, being posthumously 'mentioned' for the Augsburg Raid in April 1942

1939-1945 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal 1939-45 with M.I.D. oakleaf, mounted for wear, sold together a comprehensive archive, good very fine (3)

M.I.D. London Gazette 1 January 1943.

Leslie George Jones was born at Chingford on 17 June 1922 the son of Richard and Ethel Jones of Doncaster, Yorkshire. Enlisting with the Royal Air Force on 21 October 1940 as a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner he was posted to No. 97 Squadron from 25 Operational Training Unit on 3 October 1941. Jones soon began flying Manchester's with this unit on raids to Emden and Brest. He was involved on the raid on the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau at Brest on 9 January 1942, followed by a raid to Hamburg on 15 January.

Converting to Lancasters in April 1942 Jones saw Ops to Augsburg on 17 April 1942, followed by late Ops to Stuttgart, Cologne and Essen. He was aboard Lancaster R5741 to Saarbrucken on the night of 1 September 1942. The aeroplane took off successfully but nothing further was heard of the crew. Jones' body washed up on 22 August 1946 and it was assumed that he drowned when the aircraft crashed into the North Sea. He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial; sold together with an archive of original material comprising:

(i)
Mentioned in Despatches certificate.

(ii)
Air Gunner brevet

(iii)
Wireless Operator's insignia.

(iv)
Air Defence Cadet Corps Uniform Payment Book.

(v)
Leave or Duty Ration Card for 25-31 January 1942.

(vi)
Air Defence Cadet Corps Membership Card.

(vii)
Letters dated 5 June 1942 and 30 August 1942.

(viii)
Seven assorted photographs including one of an unrelated Czech Airman.

(ix)
Airdrop propaganda from the Royal Air Force.

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Sold for
£850

Starting price
£320