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Auction: 6007 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals & Militaria
Lot: 380

An ´Immediate´ Advance Air Striking Force, 1940 Battle of France D.F.M. to Fairey Battle Air Gunner/ Wireless Operator Leading Aircraftsman Later Flight Sergeant R.W.J. Green, No.226 Squadron, for Successful Low Altitude Attacks on Armoured Columns, Troops, and Convoys, During Day and Night Operations, May 1940; He was Killed in Action July 1941, When His Blenheim was Hit by Flak over Nordeney, There Were No Survivors Distinguished Flying Medal G.VI.R., 1st ´Ind: Imp:´ type (547790. L.A.C. R.W.J. Green. R.A.F.), suspension loose, nearly very fine Estimate £ 2,000-2,400D.F.M. London Gazette 25.6.1940 547790 Leading Aircraftman William Reginald John Green 226 Squadron, joint citation with Pilot Officer D.A.C. Crooks (D.F.C.) and Sergeant T.C. Davies (D.F.M.), ´During a day [28th] in May, 1940, Pilot Officer Crooks carried out an extensive reconnaissance of the Amiens-Albert road with great determination and gallantry. At a low altitude, and under heavy fire from the ground, he bombed a large convoy of enemy armoured vehicles, obtaining direct hits with his bombs. Although his aircraft was hit by heavy pom-pom fire he succeeded in reaching his base. Sergeant Davies, an air observer, has been a member of Pilot Officer Crook´s crew on all missions, and has used his gun most effectively during low flying bombing attacks on convoys. He has also shown exceptional navigational ability under difficult conditions by day and night. As wireless operator, air gunner in Pilot Officer Crook´s aircraft, Leading Aircraftman Green has displayed considerable gallantry in attacking ground targets from a low altitude with his rear gun. Pilot Officer Crooks and his crew have shown initiative and exceptional devotion to duty in many missions undertaken by night and under adverse weather conditions. They have pressed home their attacks, invariably from low altitudes, in spite of enemy opposition from the ground and from the air.´ Flight Sergeant Reginald William John Green, D.F.M., born Newbury, Berkshire; joined Royal Air Force 1938; posted 226 Squadron, Faux-Villecerf, France (Fairey Battles), 1940; operations in which Green flew with Pilot Officer Crooks, D.F.C., included: Dive Bombing, Village of Boeimer, one mile South West of Breda, 10.5.1940; Dive Bombing, near Rethel, ´Four 250 lbs Inst. Fuse bombs dropped on wood alongside road one mile West of Hauteville...Fairly heavy A.A. fire´, 19.5.1940 (Operations Records refer); Dive Bombing, ´on convoy, on road North of Florenville and Neufchateau (shallow dive 3000-2000ft), 22.5.1940; Dive Bombing, ´Four bombs dropped in sticks in shallow dive 4000-2000ft at Florenville. No results observed. Aircraft held by searchlights. Large convoy moving West, machine-gunned this at 1000ft on road Florenville to Carignan (4 miles south of Florenville). Another convoy moving South West on Florenville-Carignan road, machine-gunned this from 1000ft (4 miles S.W. of Florenville). Convoy replied with intense machine gun fire´, 23.5.1940; (Operations Records refer); Dive Bombing, ´Four bombs (slow stick, shallow dive, 5000-2000ft) dropped at 0250 hrs, Target Conz. Bombs seen to burst between houses and river bank. Flew South along railway from Conz to Sierck. Two trains, one moving South and one moving North about one mile South of Nittel. Machine gunned by rear gunner (3 pans) and 11 pans of Observers gun. Dived to 1000ft on train moving South and fired front gun. Intense A.A. fire from ground after firing on train. 36 searchlights in target area´ , 28.5.1940 (Operations Records refers); with Pilot Officer Crooks´ posting to Fighter Command, Green, now a Flight Sergeant, became Air Gunner in Wing Commander Hurst´s Blenheim crew, 1941; on 4.7.1941 Hurst´s crew took off from Wattisham (0530 hours) in Blenheim IV 27291 MQ-, for an operation over Nordeney; the aircraft was hit by flak and crashed into the sea off Nordeney. All the crew were killed in action, Flight Sergeant R.W.J. Green is buried in Sage War Cemetery, Oldenburg, Germany.

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£2,600