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Auction: 6007 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals & Militaria
Lot: 394

An ´Immediate´ 1943 Mediterranean and North Africa ´Special Duties´ D.F.M. Group of Five to Sergeant, Later Flight Lieutenant E.J. Groves, No.192 Squadron, for Obtaining Secret and Vital Enemy ´Air-wave Information´ Distinguished Flying Medal G.VI.R., 1st ´Ind: Imp:´ type (1081751. Sgt. E.J. Groves. R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence and War Medals, very fine or better, mounted as originally worn (5) Estimate £ 1,800-2,200 D.F.M. London Gazette 11.5.1943 1081751 Sergeant Groves No. 192 Sqn. The Recommendation, dated 20.4.1943, states ´Since February 1942, Sergeant Groves has been employed on special duties and has carried out these duties with the utmost skill, courage and determination. He set up an extremely high standard in this specialised work and his fellow operators have been inspired by the results obtained by this one operator. In the face of danger, this N.C.O. has displayed exceptional coolness and has carried out his investigations with complete disregard for his own personal safety with the result that much secret and vital information has been obtained, details of which cannot be given in this recommendation. He has just returned from a detachment in North Africa and carried out his duties there with the same outstanding devotion to duty. Operating with extremely limited facilities and under difficult conditions, this operator was responsible for maintaining a high standard of serviceability with the special equipment and on long, fatiguing flights, displayed the same high standard of skill and determination as has always been forthcoming from him. The great success of the detachment was largely due to this N.C.O.; his untiring efforts were instrumental in acquiring much needed information.´ Remarks by Station Commander ´The results obtained by the detachment of one aircraft of this Special Duties squadron to the Mediterranean have been outstandingly successful. Their importance will be fully appreciated only by those with direct access to the reports; their bearing on future operations in that area remains to be seen. These highly successful results are almost entirely due to the devotion to duty, efficiency and unflagging zeal displayed by this N.C.O. under the most difficult circumstances. Strongly recommended for the immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.´ Flight Lieutenant Eric John Groves, D.F.M., born Manchester, 1921; served 43 operational sorties as a Special Wireless Operator with 192 Squadron; later commissioned Flight Lieutenant. 192 Squadron, formed in January 1943, co-operated with a number of different aircraft for special duties investigating enemy radar and radio.

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