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Auction: 6007 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals & Militaria
Lot: 390

´All the Crew Were Valiant´ An ´Immediate´ 1942 Bomber Command D.F.M. Group of Six to Sergeant, Later Flight Lieutenant S.D. Gunnell, Lancaster 2nd Pilot, No. 61 Squadron, for Gallantry in a Blazing Aircraft over Denmark; Following Attacks by Enemy Fighters his Contribution to the Safe Return of his Aircraft and Crew to England after a Four Hour Struggle was Outstanding; One of Seven ´Immediate´ D.F.M.s Awarded to Each N.C.O. Crew Member of Lancaster (R 5724) Distinguished Flying Medal G.VI.R., 1st ´Ind: Imp:´ type (1390988. Sgt. S.D. Gunnell. R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence and War Medal; General Service 1918-62, G.VI.R., two clasps, Palestine 1945-48, Malaya (Flt. Lt. S.D. Gunnell. R.A.F.), very fine or better, together with Captain´s original and comprehensive report of the operation, several photographs including one of damaged aircraft, congratulatory telegram from Air Marshal ´Bomber´ Harris, contemporary newspaper report and an extract from Station Routine Orders (6) Estimate £ 2,800-3,200 D.F.M. London Gazette 20.10.1942 ´Sergeant Stanley Dennis Gunnell, No. 61 Squadron, listed jointly with Sergeant F.C. Bunclark, Air Bomber; Flight Sergeant P. Campbell, Pilot; Sergeant C.H. Coakley, Wireless Operator; Sergeant E.H. Corbett, Navigator; Sergeant S. Smith, Mid-Upper Gunner; and Sergeant S.J.Thompson.´ Sergeant Gunnell´s Recommendation, dated 27.9.1942, states: ´Sergeant Gunnell was second pilot to Flight Sergeant Campbell on the night of 24th/25th September, 1942. After the aircraft had been set on fire by anti-aircraft fire and despite the facial burns he sustained when the anti- aircraft shell exploded in the nose, blowing out the perspex all around him and the resultant draught blowing him back onto the floor of the aircraft, Sergeant Gunnell returned to his post beside the Captain immediately and assisted the pilot in regaining control of the aircraft whilst the aircraft was engaged by fighters. He then gave the pilot great assistance by recording the readings of all instruments regularly until the fire in the aircraft had been got under control by other members of the crew. When the aircraft was clear of the enemy coast, the Wireless Operator had established contact with Base aerodrome. Sergeant Gunnell took over control of the aircraft from the Captain and flew it for over two hours, thus enabling the Captain to get a very much needed rest. This enabled the Captain to resume control of the aircraft and make a successful belly-landing. Throughout, Sergeant Gunnell gave the greatest assistance to the Captain. It is considered that Sergeant Gunnell displayed outstanding gallantry and devotion to duty. His efforts were a very considerable factor in ensuring the safe return of this aircraft and crew. He is most strongly recommended for the immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.´ Flight Sergeant Campbell´s rather more comprehensive Recommendation, dated 27.9.1942, states: ´Flight Sergeant Campbell was Captain of a Lancaster aircraft detailed for mine-laying in the Baltic on the night of 24th/25th September 1942. After successfully completing their allotted task, course was set for home. While crossing Denmark at a height of 6,000 feet, they were engaged by anti-aircraft fire. A shell exploded in the bomb compartment. A fire of considerable proportions started in the fuselage of the aircraft and reconnaissance flares and distress signals commenced to burn. At the same time, another shell burst in the nose of the aircraft blowing in all the perspex nose and the majority of the perspex of the pilot´s cupola with the exception of the front windscreen. The Air Bomber, who was seated in the nose of the aircraft at the time, was blown back beside the pilot. The second pilot, who was standing beside the pilot at the time, was blown back onto the floor beside the Navigator. The pilot, the second pilot, the Navigator, and the Wireless Operator all received facial burns from the explosion of this shell. The aircraft was full of smoke and the pilot unable to see his instruments and at this moment, the aircraft was attacked by two fighters. The aircraft was hit by cannon and machine gun fire. Cannon fire entered both rear and upper mid turrets. The aircraft stalled and lost 2,000 feet before the smoke cleared and the pilot was able to regain control. He immediately dived for some clouds just below them and escaped from the fighters and anti-aircraft fire. There was now a big fire in the fuselage and, in addition to the fire, ammunition was exploding in all directions in the aircraft. The rear gunner was seriously wounded and had a broken leg. The combined efforts of the navigator, the Air Bomber, and the mid-upper gunner were then directed towards getting the fire under control so as to be able to reach the rear turret. They fought their way through the fire and pulled the rear gunner out of the turret and carried him to the rest chair. The fire was still of considerable proportions and the fire and the fuselage was largely burnt away. The efforts of the Navigator, the Air Bomber, and the mid-upper gunner were then redirected to keeping the fire under control, which they did without being able to extinguish it completely. With the perspex missing from the nose of the aircraft, there was a terrific draft blowing through. All maps, navigation and wireless logs, and documents had been blown out of the aircraft when the shell exploded in the nose. The Wireless Operator, though considerably burnt about the hands and face, remained at his post throughout and contacted his base aerodrome from the Danish coast. He maintained contact with base throughout the rest of the homeward trip, obtaining bearings regularly from the pilot. The pilot handed over control of the aircraft to the second pilot after the latter had taken stock of readings of all instruments. The pilot took over control of the aircraft when over this country and, despite conditions of bad visibility, made an excellent belly-landing at an aerodrome without further injury to any members of the crew. The whole of the hydraulic and emergency gear for the operation of the undercarriage and flaps were completely destroyed. It is considered that the captain of the aircraft displayed outstanding qualities of gallantry, devotion to duty, and leadership in bring this aircraft and crew safely home under these conditions. It would have been possible for some of the crew to bail out over Denmark but some of the parachutes were burnt and the rear gunner was too badly injured to jump. All members of the crew therefore gallantly stuck to their posts. Finally, it is desired to pay tribute to the outstanding qualities of the construction of the aircraft and engines which enabled it to fly back home after the damage that had been inflicted.´ Sergeant Gunnell´s Air Officer Commanding remarked: ´After having inspected this aircraft, I most strongly support these recommendations. It is almost inconceivable that any crew would have carried on, had a 400 mile sea crossing, and landed without further incident.´ Tragically not all of this valiant crew were to receive their much deserved awards. The entire crew were to be presented with their D.F.M.s by the King, on 24.11.1942, however five days before the ceremony Flight Sergeant Campbell, Sergeants Bunclark, Coakley and Corbett were all killed attempting a crash landing in Devon whilst returning from a mine-laying operation in the Bay of Biscay. Flight Lieutenant Stanley Dennis Gunnell, D.F.M., born 1922; enlisted Royal Air Force, 1941 and after pilot training was posted to 61 Squadron, Syerston (Lancasters); Pilot Officer March 1943 and Flying Officer three months later; he took a permanent commission after the war; for the last five years of his service, he was employed on the staff of the Directorate of Intelligence, retiring in 1966.

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