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Auction: 6007 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals & Militaria
Lot: 396

An ´Immediate´ 1943 Bomber Command, Battle of the Ruhr D.F.M. to Sergeant F.C. Blair, Wellington Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, No. 466 (R.A.A.F.) Squadron, for Gallantry over the Stuttgart Area when Attacked by Night Fighters, and in the Home Run, when he Repeatedly Attempted to Save the Rear-Gunner´s Life at 15,000 Feet without Oxygen Distinguished Flying Medal G.VI.R., 1st ´Ind: Imp:´ type (1126195 Sgt. F.C. Blair. R.A.F.), good very fine, with photographs of the recipient Estimate £ 1,800-2,200 D.F.M. London Gazette 14.5.1943 Sergeant Frederick Charles Blair No. 466 (R.A.A.F.) Squadron, listed jointly with Pilot Officer J. Hopkins (D.S.O.), Flying Officer R.F. Clayton (D.F.C.) and Sergeant E.F. Hicks (C.G.M.), Wireless Operator, Air Bomber, Navigator and Captain respectively. Sergeant Blair´s Recommendation dated 21.4.1943 states ´At 00.40 hours on 15th April 1943, Wellington "X" HZ-256 was flying at 15,000 feet, course 101 degrees True, 150 m.p.h. indicated air speed, position 49 degrees 12´ N., 08 degrees 45´ E. (which is midway between Mannheim and Karlsruhe) when it was attacked without warning by a twin-engined enemy fighter. The first burst fatally injured the rear gunner and wounded the W/T Operator, the Navigator and Air Bomber. The pilot took evasive action but when he came back on course, the fighter attacked again but he avoided the fire by turning steeply under the enemy aircraft which was not seen again. The hydraulic and brake systems had been damaged and the wheels were down and the bomb doors open. The crew decided to carry on to the target which was 15 minutes flying time away and they successfully bombed their target area, supporting this claim with a photograph. The Air Bomber, although wounded by machine gun fire and suffering from a compound fracture of the arm, directed the pilot and dropped the bombs. After bombing, for more than two hours, the Navigator, Air Bomber and Wireless Operator tried to assist the Air Gunner by extricating him from his turret and administering morphia while the Navigator carried on with his task as well as acting as look-out. Some of these movements were made at 15,000 feet without oxygen. Nearing the English Channel, the Wireless Operator passed a message asking for assistance on landing and successfully received a diversion to R.A.F. Ford where, after hand pumping, the undercarriage locked and the pilot made a landing without flaps. Unfortunately, damage to the tail wheel and brakes and port undercarriage resulted in a violent swing which collapsed the port undercarriage but none of the crew was injured further. As Wireless Operator, Sergeant Blair played his part ably in the crew. His efforts to help the Air Gunner and his efficient operating of his W/T equipment in spite of injuries were outstanding. He suffered from cannon shell splinters in the right thigh.´ Remarks by Station Commander. ´The courage and determination shown by Sergeant Blair both in continuing to operate his set and his efforts to help save the rear gunner´s life prove him to be a man of outstanding gallantry and it is recommended that this fact be recognised by award of the D.F.M.´ Of the 462 aircraft which took part in this Stuttgart operation, 23 aircraft were lost. Sergeant Frederick Charles Blair, D.F.M., born Kilrea, County Londonderry 1920, resided in Belfast.

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