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Auction: 26003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 330

A Second World War pilot's D.F.C. group of six awarded to Flight Lieutenant W. D. Barlow, Royal Rhodesian Air Force, late Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who flew 36 operational sorties in Lancasters of No. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron, in one of which - a strike on Giessen on the night of 6-7 December 1944 - his gunners claimed a Me. 410 'Hornet' as damaged

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated '1945'; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Rhodesia General Service Medal (Capt. W. N. Barlow), note incorrect initial, together with Royal Rhodesian Air Force embroidered or metalled uniform 'Wings' and badges (6), the last with refixed suspension and re-impressed naming, generally very fine or better (12)

D.F.C. London Gazette 21 September 1945, the original recommendation states:

'Flying Officer Barlow has now completed a highly commendable tour of 36 successful sorties as captain of a Lancaster aircraft. His tour included many attacks on heavily defended and far distant targets such as Konigsberg, Munich (three times) and Nuremburg, as well as highly successful attacks at shorter range such as those on the canals at Gravenhorst and Dortmund. He has in addition invariably been selected for the more difficult mining missions.

This officer pressed home his attacks with great determination and skill, often in the face of fierce opposition. On one occasion, while running up to the target, he was attacked by a Me. 410. As a result of skilful handling and good crew co-operation his aircraft received no damage while the enemy aircraft was driven off with one of its engines on fire. Flying Officer Barlow returned to the target and bombed successfully.

On another occasion, when detailed to attack the Dortmund Ems Canal, he experienced engine trouble early in the sortie. Unable to reach his bombing height, he continued to the target and bombed from a lower altitude.

The gallantry and resolution which this officer has displayed throughout his tour have been an inspiration and example, not only to his own crews but to all in his squadron. I recommend him for the Distinguished Flying Cross.'

Walter Dudley Barlow commenced his pilot training at Fort Belvedere, Southern Rhodesia in December 1942, from whence he was embarked for Canada and then for the U.K. in the summer of 1943. Having then attended further courses and qualified as a pilot on Lancasters, he joined No. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron at R.A.F. Dunholme Lodge in Lincolnshire in August 1944, from where he flew his first operational sortie - a strike on Konigsberg - on the 29th.

The squadron having then moved to R.A.F. Spilsby in September, Barlow flew seven further sorties in the same month, his targets including Bremerhaven, Darmstadt and Stuttgart. Likewise, in October, he flew six more sorties, all of a German nature except an outing to Bergen. Then in November, he and his crew carried out strikes on the canals at Gravenhorst and Dortmund-Ems, in addition to attacking targets in Dusseldorf, Munich and elsewhere. And it was on 6 December that they were attacked by a Me. 410 in a raid on Giessen, which was claimed as 'damaged', whilst also undertaking their second trip to Munich.

In the new year, after flying four more sorties in January, including a third to Munich, Barlow and his crew were assigned to their first 'gardening' trip, as well as returning to the canal at Gravenhorst and attacking Karlsruhe. And they rounded off their operational tour with a return trip to the heavily defended Dortmund-Ems canal on the 12th. Barlow was awarded a well-merited D.F.C. and was demobilised after a final posting to Canada.

Post-war, he joined Central African Airways as a pilot in May 1946, in which he flew Rapides, the commencement of lengthy employment in civil aviation. But it would appear he was additionally employed during the Rhodesian Bush War in 1964-79, an S.A.S. paratroop drop from a Dakota over Salisbury and a water descent flight carried out over Lake McIllwaine on 22 March 1966 being cases in point; accompanying images refer. In the latter Barlow appears in the image, suggesting he was parachute qualified himself.

Sold with a quantity of original documentation, comprising:

i)
A privately bound R.A.F. Pilot's Flying Log Book, covering the period 7 December 1942 to 26 February 1948, namely the official record of his career from pilot training at Fort Belvedere, Southern Rhodesia to employment as a pilot for Central African Airways, via operational service in No. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron.

ii)
Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, Department of Civil Aviation Personal Flying Log Book for Aircraft Operating Crew, with entries covering the period 13 September 1960 to 24 December 1969, mainly flights in Dakotas and Viscounts as a Training Captain and Instrument Rating Examiner.

iii)
Republic of Lebanon, Directorate of Civil Aviation Pilot Log Book, with entries covering the period 9 May 1963 to 3 October 1963, including an emergency landing in a Viscount at Beirut on 31 August.

iv)
Rhodesia Department of Civil Aviation (CA Form 142) Personal Flying Log Book for Aircraft Operating Crew, with entries covering the period 12 January 1970 to 28 July 1984, mainly flights in Viscounts and VC-10s on the international circuit.

v)
An original photograph of 'S.A.S. paratroops jumping from a Royal Rhodesian Air Force Dakota over Salisbury' on 16 January 1964.

vi)
Two civil logbooks covering 1948-1955 and 1955-60.

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Estimate
£1,400 to £1,800

Starting price
£1200