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Auction: 26001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 275

(x) A Second World War Pathfinder Pilot's D.F.C. group of six awarded to Flight Lieutenant K. A. Evans, Royal Australian Air Force, who was decorated for an operational tour in Lancasters of No. 7 Squadron, in which his Lancaster was holed by flak on two occasions and his bomb aimer wounded in the face and stomach

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated '1945', in its Royal Mint case of issue; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Australian Service Medal 1939-45, these last three officially engraved, '418368 Evans, K. A.', mounted as worn, together with a Path Finder Force badge, good very fine (7)

D.F.C. London Gazette 17 July 1945, the original recommendation states:

'Flight Lieutenant Evans has completed numerous operations against the enemy in the course of which he has invariably displayed the utmost fortitude, courage and devotion to duty.'

Keith Ainslie Evans was born in Colac, Victoria on 9 January 1923 and enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force in Melbourne in May 1942.

Having then been embarked for the U.K., and qualified for his 'Wings' in June 1943, he was commissioned Pilot Officer in June 1944. And shortly afterwards he joined No. 7 Squadron, a Lancaster unit of the Path Finder Force, at R.A.F. Oakington. Thus ensued a busy tour of operations, commencing with a strike on Venlo airfield in occupied Holland on 3 September 1944.

A week later, on the night of the 11th, Evans and his crew were detailed to attack Kamen, an eventful trip in which their Lancaster was holed in 11 places by flak - in the port and starboard wings, bomb bay and tail plane. And in a trip to Nordstern just 48 hours later, they collected another flak hole in their Lancaster's starboard wing.

Having then rounded off September's operational agenda with sorties to Kiel and Calais, Evans had to deal with an emergency in a strike on the Schloven power station on the night of 6 October 1944. Approaching the target amidst 'very heavy flak', his bomb aimer was wounded in the face and stomach. The bombing run had to be abandoned, and Evans made haste for Oakington. Nonetheless, the very next night, he was detailed to attack Emmerich, a 'highly concentrated raid'. Next up in October was Duisburg, followed by strikes on Stuttgart and Essen towards the end of the month.

In November, Evans and his crew were detailed to attack Munster and Dortmund, whilst in December they flew sorties to Osnabruck, Ulm, Opladen, Cologne and Osterfeld. Then in the new year, they undertook trips to Ludwigshaven and Stuttgart, followed by a return trip to the former on 1 February 1945. Having then attacked targets in Polite on the 8th and Reisholz on the 20th, they rounded off the month with trips to Kamen and Maine. And following an outing to Rheine in March, pilot and crew ended their operational tour with strikes on Harburg and Kiel in April.

Latterly having held the acting rank of Flight Lieutenant, Evans was released from the R.A.A.F. in September 1945. He received his D.F.C. from the Governor of Victoria at Government House, Melbourne, on 10 July 1947; sold with copied research, including O.R.B. entries.

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

Estimate
£1,400 to £1,800

Starting price
£1100