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Auction: 24003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 213

'War is unpleasant and it breaks many hearts, but don't let it break yours. It doesn't matter so long as we win and we surely will.'

The final words of Flying Officer Fuchs, in the letter left for his father, in the event of his death.

A 'Circus Operations 1942-43' D.F.C. group of four awarded to Flying Officer (Pilot) C. C. A. Fuchs, No. 226 Squadron Royal Air Force, who was later killed in a flying accident on 12 March 1943

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., dated 1943 and additionally engraved (C. C. A. Fuchs 12th March); 1939-1945 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal 1939-45, good very fine (4)

D.F.C. London Gazette 20 April 1943. The original Recommendation states:

'Pilot Officer Fuchs joined the Squadron in April 1942 as a Sergeant Pilot and was commissioned in July the same year. During this period Pilot Officer Fuchs has carried out 24 sorties which include 6 Searches, 1 Low Level, 2 Night and 15 Circus operations. This Officer is a good operational pilot and a first class leader. Very shortly after joining the Unit he was leading his Flight in Circus operations and recently he has led the Squadron. His hard work, and keenness is beyond praise. He is an asset to the Unit and Service, and he deserves recognition for his efforts.'

Cecil Carl Albert Fuchs - or Jimmy to his friends and comrades - was born in Kent on 4 June 1920, the son of Carl and Cathleen Fuchs, of Hendon. He joined No. 226 Squadron in mid-April 1942 when they were flying from RAF Sydenham. The unit's motto was Non sibi sed patriœ (For country and not self), something he would come to embody to the full.

With this unit he flew a total of 26 Ops, mainly of the 'Circus' variety from April 1942-February 1943. 'Circus' was the codename given to operations where bombers, with a mass escort of fighters, were sent over continental Europe to bring Luftwaffe fighters into combat. These were usually formations of 2030 bombers escorted by up to 16 Squadrons of escort fighters. Bomber formations of this size could not be ignored by the Luftwaffe.

Continuing to fly after the award of his decoration, Fuchs was killed during a training flight on 12 March 1943. As Pilot of Boston III AL269 which took off from Swanton Morley for 'Exercise Spartan', the aircraft crashed at Burtonwood airfield in Lancashire. He is commemorated at the Golders Green Crematorium, London. Fuchs left behind his parents and a fiancee, Betty, who left various notices of longing and affection in newspapers on what would have been his 24th birthday in June 1944; sold together with named Condolence slip, ticker-tape for confirmation of the Second World War campaign Medals and photograph of him in uniform.

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Estimate
£1,000 to £1,400

Starting price
£1000