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Auction: 6007 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals & Militaria
Lot: 398

An ´Immediate´ Bomber Command, Path Finder Force D.F.M. Group of Five to Flight Sergeant D.R. Bradley, Halifax Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, No. 35 Squadron, for his Courage and Resourcefulness After Bailing Out from his Flaming Aircraft Over France Whilst en route to Pilsen on his 27th Mission Over Germany and the Occupied Territories; He Evaded Capture and Returned to England via Barcelona and Gibraltar, April to June 1943 Distinguished Flying Medal G.VI.R., 1st ´Ind: Imp:´ type (1377851. F/Sgt. D.R. Bradley. R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star, with Caterpillar Club, gold brooch attached to riband, reverse engraved ´Flt Sgt D.R. Bradley´; Defence and War Medals, good very fine, with two official replacement D.F.M.s (1377851 FS D R Bradley RAFVR), both stamped "R", nearly extremely fine, with recipient´s Observer´s and Air Gunner´s Flying Log Book (21.11.1941-24.10.1946) (7) Estimate £ 2,400-2,800 D.F.M. London Gazette 7.9.1943 1377851 Flight Sergeant David Ronald Bradley No. 35 (R.A.F.V.R.) Squadron, listed jointly with Flight Sergeant W.G. Allen (D.F.M.). Flight Sergeant Bradley´ s Recommendation dated 16.7.1943 states ´Flight Sergeant Bradley has taken part in 27 night bombing attacks on Germany and the occupied countries and throughout he has always been most conscientious and reliable. On his 27th sortie on 16th April 1943, his aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire and burst into flames, the crew being compelled to abandon the aircraft by parachute. Flight Sergeant Bradley made a safe landing and managed to evade capture by the enemy, ultimately returning to the United Kingdom on 22.6.1943. It is considered that Flight Sergeant Bradley´s fine operational record, culminating in an escape from enemy territory fully merits the immediate award of the D.F.M.´ Remarks by Station Commander ´Flight Sergeant Bradley´s resource and devotion to duty in evading capture and returning to his unit so promptly are most praiseworthy and thoroughly deserving of the Distinguished Flying Medal in recognition.´ Flight Lieutenant David Ronald Bradley, D.F.M., born Kingston, Surrey, 1922; enlisted Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 1940; posted 19 O.T.U. Kinloss 31.5.1942-9.7.1942; posted 35 Squadron, Linton-on-Ouse, 22.7.1942-14.8.1942 and with the same squadron at Gravely, 16.8.1942-16.4.1943; took part in 27 night operations including: Saarbrucken, Bremen (twice), Kiel, when his plane ´Returned on three engines. Hydraulics shot away´ (13.10.1942), Turin (five times) including 29/29.11.1942, for more details of the raid see lot 392. On the night of 16.4.1943, Bradley took off from Graveley at 2116 hours in Halifax W.7873 detailed, as a member of the Pathfinder Force, to act as a ground marker in an attack against the Skoda Factory in Pilsen. At 2255 hours, on the way to the target, the aircraft was hit by heavy anti-aircraft fire about 30 kilometres west of Reims and set ablaze. The crew baled out and Bradley landed by parachute in a field near Villiers le Thour, France. On the 19th Bradley made contact with members of the Comete organisation and managed to cross the Pyrenees into Spain before making his way to the British Consulate in Barcelona. He returned to England, via Gibraltar, on 22.6.1943. Of the crew of seven, four were killed, Allen and Bradley evaded capture, and Flight Lieutenant F.L. Owen was made Prisoner of War. On his return to England Bradley was posted to the Central Navigation School at Cranage and Shawbury in 1944 and to 16 Ferry Unit 1946. Flight Lieutenant 1945.

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