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Auction: 6007 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals & Militaria
Lot: 388

A Good 1941 Bomber Command D.F.M. Group of Five to Another Crew Member of Hampden AE309 Wireless Operator Sergeant, Later Flight Lieutenant L. Powrie, No.144 Squadron, and Later Special Wireless Operator in No.199 Squadron (Sterlings) Employed with Radio Counter Measures Including ´Window´ and ´Mandrel´ Patrols; He Took Part in 29 Operational Sorties with No.144 Squadron and 44 Special Operational Sorties with No.199 Squadron Before Joining South East Asia Command in March 1945 Distinguished Flying Medal G.VI.R., 1st ´Ind: Imp:´ type (997912. Sgt. L. Powrie. R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence and War Medals, nearly extremely fine, with Observer´s and Air Gunner´s Flying Log Book (27.11.1940-23.3.1946), with Identity Disk, photographs and other ephemera (5) Estimate £ 2,000-2,400 D.F.M. London Gazette 13.2.1942 997912 Sergeant Lewis Powrie 144 Squadron The Recommendation (almost identical to that of Sergeant Lynch), dated 2.1.1942, states ´Sergeant Powrie has taken part in 29 operational sorties as a Wireless Operator in Hampden aircraft. These sorties consisted of attacks on dockyards, industrial targets, and other important enemy targets including Frankfurt (3), Cologne (3), Aachen (2), Hanover (2), Karlsruhe (2), Kiel (2), and one raid on the German Capital itself. On the night of 11th/12th July 1941, while on his second operational sortie against a target at Wilhelmshaven, the aircraft in which he was flying was caught in a circle of searchlights on the way to the target and attacked by three enemy night fighters, two of which were avoided. The third enemy fighter, identified as an Me.110, persisted in attacks making three approaches on his aircraft, all from behind and below. Each attack was beaten off by accurate fire and eventually the enemy aircraft disappeared. On the night of 1st/2nd September 1941, when attacking a target at Cologne, Sergeant Powrie´s aircraft was coned by searchlights in the target area and a twin-engined night fighter made an attack from astern but was driven off by accurate fire from the rear gunner and was not seen again. Still coned by searchlights, the aircraft was subjected to heavy and accurate A.A. fire which burst all around the aircraft, but no damage or casualties were sustained. On the night of 3rd November 1941, Sergeant Powrie was a member of a crew detailed to search for and attack convoys in the vicinity of the Frisian Islands. A convoy was sighted off Wangeroog and was attacked from a height of 30 feet in the face of heavy opposition. Several of their bombs struck a large supply ship from which a column of steam and smoke was seen to rise and a direct hit was claimed. The entire trip including the return to base was made at low level through rain, sleet, and snow. He has carried out his operational duties with great efficiency and complete disregard for enemy opposition, and has contributed in no small measure to the successes achieved by the crew of which he is a member.´ Flight Lieutenant Lewis Powrie, D.F.M., born Edinburgh, 1920; educated at Skerry´s College, Edinburgh; enlisted Royal Air Force, May 1940; posted 144 Squadron, Hemswell (Wellingtons), 6.7.1941, and moved with the squadron to North Luffenham, Rutland (Hampdens); during this period he was a member of the crew of Hampden AE 309: Pilot Officer Craig (Pilot); Pilot Officer Monk (Navigator); Sgt Lynch (Air Gunner) (see lot 387), and Powrie as the Wireless Operator - he was the only one to survive the war, the crew were split after their first operational tour was completed, and subsequently were all killed in action; served as Instructor 16 O.T.U., Heyford, 7.1.1942; Flying Officer 12.5.1944; posted Special Wireless Operator 199 Squadron, North Creake (Sterlings), 10.8.1944; this squadron was employed on radio counter-measures comprising of Window and Mandrel patrols, and also dropped arms and supplies to the French Marquis; Powrie completed 44 Special Operational Sorties with the squadron before being posted to S.E.A.C., India, March 1945; Flight Lieutenant 22.11.1945.

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£2,800