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Auction: 26003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 328

A well-documented Second World War pilot's D.F.C. group of five awarded to Flight Lieutenant J. G. 'Steady' Barker, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, whose operational tour in Lancasters of No. 106 Squadron included four Hamburg 'firestorm' raids and the famous strike on the V-weapon site at Peenemunde

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated '1943', in its Royal Mint case of issue; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, good very fine (5)

D.F.C. London Gazette 10 December 1943.

John Gilbert Barker was born in Surrey on 24 October 1914 and was raised at Aldershot, where he attended the Junior School.

Having enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in 1941, he was selected for pilot training in the U.S.A., as part of the Lend-Lease programme which had been introduced earlier that year. In Barker's case, he attended courses in Florida, Georgia and Alabama, where he took his 'Wings' in April 1942.

Back home, in the summer of 1942, his training continued apace at R.A.F. Little Rissington, Gloucestershire, and in early 1943 he attended No. 16 Operational Training Unit at Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire. Having then qualified in Lancasters in May 1943, he flew his first operational sortie - a strike on Dusseldorf at the end of the month - as a 2nd Pilot.

Barker was then posted to No. 106 Squadron at R.A.F. Syerston in Nottinghamshire, from whence he continued his operational tour with a strike on Dusseldorf on the night of 11-12 June 1943. And he undertook eight further sorties before the month's end, including raids on Bochum, Gelsenkirchen, Krefeld, and Mulheim, and two trips to Cologne.

As it happened, his first sortie in July was another visit to Cologne, followed by a trip to Essen and no fewer than three 'firestorm' strikes on Hamburg as part of Operation 'Gomorrah', which made another appearance on the squadron's agenda on the night of 2 August. His remaining sorties in the latter month comprised Berlin and Mannheim, and three trips to Milan, in addition to the famous strike on the V-weapon establishment at Peenemunde on the night of the 17th-18th.

Then, having participated in two sorties to Hanover and another to Mannheim in September, Barker and his crew completed their operational tour in October, in which month they returned to Hanover on two occasions, in addition to attacking targets in Kassel and Munich.
Commissioned in the same month, he was awarded the D.F.C. and 'rested' as an instructor.

Barker's award was referenced in a newspaper article in Aldershot and Fleet where he had been living prior to enlisting. This states:

'The name of Pilot Officer John Gilbert Barker, R.A.F.V.R., of No. 106 Squadron, is included in a recent list of awards of the D.F.C. published by the Air Ministry, which have been made for the display of high skill, fortitude and devotion to duty while engaged in operations against the enemy.

By this John Gilbert Barker, of Fleet, has brought honour to his family, his school and his home town. When our representative called at the home of Pilot Officer Barker's parents, Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Barker, of 150, Clarence-road, Fleet, he had the pleasure of acquainting them with the official news of their son's achievement and the award of his decoration. They had no previous knowledge of it. When he was home on leave recently, with characteristic modesty, he gave no inkling that anything of an unusual nature had occurred.

He was born in 1914, and attended the Fleet Church of England School, and then entered his uncle's business. It was not until he was 27 (his occupation then becoming de-reserved) that he was allowed to join the Services, and he volunteered as a pilot in the R.A.F.

For training he was sent to America (via Canada), and qualified for his "wings." During his training the United States entered the war, and he became a uniformed member of the R.A.F. From sergeant pilot to flight sergeant he was promoted earlier in this year, and last September was commissioned as a pilot officer.

As a youth he was a keen athlete, and played for the Fleet Football Club, as his father did before him. He was also interested in jumping, and his parents possess a fine action photograph of him making a high jump. He was also an enthusiastic motor cyclist.

He is the only son, but has two sisters, both married.'

In April 1945, he was posted to No. 617 Squadron, in which he participated in P.O.W. repatriation duties. Accompanying the squadron to Bengal, India, in January 1946, he joined them in assorted duties. Barker was released from the R.A.F.V.R. as a Flight Lieutenant in May 1948 and died in Leicestershire in June 1982. Notably at East Kirby Airfield- where Barker once served as an instructor- NX611 'Just Jane' still operates for crowds of enthusiasts, one of only three Lancasters in the world to still run; sold together with an archive of original material comprising:

i)
Flying Log Books dated between 7 October 1941- 20 April 1946, the first a United States Civil Aviation log book, related to his training.

ii)
Suitcase named to 'J. G. Barker'.

iii)
Sixteen photographs, including one portrait photograph, largely of the recipient in groups.

iv)
Invitation to investiture.

v)
A number of items relating to the recipient's training in the United States including a Southeast Air Corps Training Center certificate of recommendation, Graduation programme and autograph book containing autographs from the recipient's class.

vi)
Slips of issue for both campaign and gallantry awards along with dog tags, two riband bars, four sets of pilots wings and two squadron patches.

vii)
R.A.F. Officer's Medical Record Card.

viii)
Service and Release book.

ix)
Map of Northwestern Europe with the recipient's flights mapped out.

x)
Items from the recipient's childhood comprising a school photograph, prayer book named to the recipient and confirmation certificate.

xi)
A newspaper article published in 1943 reporting on the award of the D.F.C.

xii)
Two squadron badges, a Primrose League badge and silver cigarette case engraved to 'Pilot Officer J. G. Barker. D.F.C. by his fellow members of Broadway Club. Fleet. Hants. 1944.' hallmarked for 1946.

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Estimate
£1,000 to £1,400

Starting price
£800