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Auction: 26001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 286

The mounted D.F.M. group of four miniature dress medals and archive of Sergeant D. E. Webb, D.F.M., Royal Air Force, No. 617 (Dambusters) Squadron, who took his Immediate award as an Air Gunner on 'O' Orange during Operation 'Chastise', the Dams Raid of 16/17 May 1943

Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R.; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star, clasp, France and Germany; War Medal 1939-45, mounted as worn, very fine (4)

His full-size awards were sold in these rooms in 2002.

D.F.M. London Gazette 28 May 1943. A joint recommendation along with Sergeant R. Wilkinson states:

'Sergeant Webb has completed 26 sorties and Sergeant Wilkinson 22 sorties with Flight Sergeant Townsend, all of them against targets in Germany or Italy and, on all occasions, these two gunners have displayed courage and keenness of a high order. On 16th May, 1943, Sergeant Webb was front gunner and Sergeant Wilkinson rear gunner of a Lancaster aircraft Captained by Flight Sergeant Townsend detailed to attack the Ennepe Dam. To and from the target, the opposition was heavy from light flak but, by displaying complete understanding with the pilot and by skilful handling of their guns, these two gunners enabled their aircraft to make a successful attack on the dam and then return to safely to base. I strongly recommend that the good work of these two gunners be recognised by the immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.'

Douglas Edward Webb was born at Leytonstone, London on 12 September 1922. After leaving school, he worked briefly for the photographic supplies company Ilford and then for the London News Agency in Fleet Street as a photographic printer. He joined the Royal Air Force in 1940 as soon as he had turned 18 as he wanted to be an air gunner. After a substantial delay he began training in 1942 and qualified as a gunner later that year. He was posted to 49 Squadron where he became one of Bill Townsend's core crew, along with Dennis Powell, Lance Howard and fellow gunner Ray Wilkinson. He flew on some 25 operations before the crew were transferred to the newly formed 617 Squadron in March 1943.

Before the Dams Raid started Webb thought he was going to be busy in AJ-O's front turret, so he scrounged an extra 1,000 rounds of ammunition for each gun from the squadron armoury. And then with the Third Wave not scheduled to take off until more than two hours after the second, he filled in some of the time by having a bath. He recalled later that he was convinced that he wasn't going to come back, and that he wanted to 'die clean'. Fortunately his premonition didn't come true. From his seat in the front turret, he was able to see how dangerous the German defences were (he saw the shooting down of Burpee in 'a bloody great ball of fire'), and also appreciate the airmanship of his skipper as Townsend flew as low as he dared. And his decision to bring extra ammunition proved vital, since without it he would have run out during the trip. Webb was awarded the D.F.M. for his role on the raid. He didn't believe this at first, suspecting he was being set up as part of some elaborate joke. Having checked, he then found a shop where he could buy the appropriate medal ribbons. Due to an administrative error, his actual medal was engraved 'E Webb' missing out his first name.

In July 1943, he flew with Bill Townsend on two of the raids on Italian target and was then loaned to George Holden's crew for another. It was anther stroke of fortune that he did not remain on the Holden crew, as in September they were all killed on the disastrous attack on the Dortmund Ems canal.

Webb was now tour expired, and he was posted to a conversion unit for a spell as an instructor, along with his rear gunner colleague Ray Wilkinson. The pair moved on to other training roles but in October 1944, they both came back on operations with 617 Squadron. He flew his first operation of this new tour in December, and went on to fly on about another ten before the end of the war. During this last phase of the war, Barnes Wallis's 'Tallboy' bomb came into production, but in order to carry this 12,000lb monstrosity, the Lancasters had to be modified. The mid-upper gunner was often left behind, so Webb's opportunities to fly were reduced. Later, when the 22,000lb 'Grand Slam' became available, the wireless operator was also dropped. Webb did however fly on 617 Squadron's last wartime operation, an attack on Hitler's mountain lair on 25 April 1945. Lem Sumpter, another Dams Raid participant, also flew on this sortie, making them the only two men to fly on the squadron's first and last wartime operation.

After he was demobilised in 1946, Webb rejoined the London News Agency as a staff photographer. He went on to work in the film industry as a stills photographer and then opened his own studio in Soho, where he specialised in theatrical and film portraits. In 1948, he took some of the first professional nude pictures of the model and actress Pamela Green, thereby beginning an association which would last almost fifty years.

Webb had a prolific life in stills photography, cinema and television. His television work included the title sequences for ITV's 'Special Branch' and 'The Sweeney'. In the latter, the famous enlarged fingerprints were those of Pamela Green. Although they were never married, Webb and Green became life partners, and in 1986 when Webb retired they moved together to the Isle of Wight. Webb died at Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, on 8 December 1986 and Pamela Green died on 7 May 2010.

Sold together with the following archive of original material comprising:

i)
A Crew listing for the attack on Genoa on 7/8th November 1942 with 49 Squadron.

ii)
Buckingham Palace witness ticket dated 22 June 1943, in O.H.M.S. envelope franked 18 June 1943.

iii)
A professionally taken photograph of crew and family taken outside Buckingham Palace, backed with card mount.

iv)
A photograph of him and his immediate family taken outside Buckingham Palace.

v)
Assorted original and copy photographs of him in uniform, other R.A.F. images and one taken in Germany in later life resting on one of the Dams.

vi)
Invitation for a Reunion Dinner which took place at the R.A.F. club on 3 June 1966.

vii)
A letter from Group Captain W. S. O. Randle C.B.E., A.F.C., D.F.M. on behalf of the Battle of Britain Museum Appeal, dated 27 May 1980 thanking him for accepting to sign 1,000 copies of a Lancaster Print. With a further letter dated 27 June 1980 thanking him for his efforts of the 20 June 1980.

viii)
A letter written by Mr D. Grain, dated 20 March 1989 asking whether he had any details or photographs of his brother who flew in 49 Squadron, the letter erroneously written Dear Mr Townsend (sic) and the envelope addressed Mr Douglas Webb D.F.M. (Dambuster) Yarmouth Isle of Wight.

ix)
A letter from the Air Crew Association, Isle of Wight Branch, dated 9 January 1992 asking if he could attend the Annual Dinner as guest of honour.

x)
A letter from Squadron Leader P. C. Osborn of 617 Squadron dated 14 January 1993 asking if he could sign prints commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Dams Raid.

xi)
A King's Crown 617 Squadron blazer badge.

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Estimate
£1,200 to £1,500

Starting price
£1000