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Auction: 6007 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals & Militaria
Lot: 402

A Good 1944 Bomber Command D.F.M. to Wellington and Liberator, Wireless Operator, Flight Sergeant G.D. Leach, No. 40 Squadron, for 38 Operational Sorties, Many over Heavily Defended Targets in Italy and the Balkans Distinguished Flying Medal G.VI.R., 1st ´Ind: Imp:´ type (1439458 F/Sgt. G.D. Leach. R.A.F.), extremely fine Estimate £ 1,200-1,400 D.F.M. London Gazette 20.4.1945 1439458 Flight Sergeant George Derek Leach No. 40 Squadron The Recommendation, dated 21.1.1945, states ´Flight Sergeant Leach has recently completed a tour of operations as wireless operator/ air gunner with a night bomber squadron in Italy. During his tour, this N.C.O. has consistently displayed magnificent fighting spirit and determination which, in the face of set-backs, has been an inspiration to other members of his squadron. Early in his tour, after having completed operations against several targets in Northern Italy and Budapest, he was detailed to fly as wireless operator on the night of 17th April 1944, in an aircraft detailed for an operation against Plovdiv marshalling yards. On take off, the aircraft burst a tyre at high speed and crashed, immediately bursting into flames. The conflagration was spread by the explosion of the bombs. It carried to two other aircraft; one of these was loaded with a 4,000 lb bomb which exploded and both aircraft were destroyed. The members of Flight Sergeant Leach´s crew were badly burned, one dying a few days later. Flight Sergeant Leach himself was in hospital for three months as a result of the injuries he sustained, but he returned to the squadron at the end of July 1944 undaunted and, with renewed enthusiasm, completed many more operational sorties including operations against some of the most heavily defended targets the squadron has been called upon to attack - namely Ploesti, Miskolc, and Szogny as well as targets in Northern Italy, Greece, France, Jugoslavia, and mining in the River Danube. During the course of these trips he did not waver in purpose, notwithstanding several hazardous trips in which his aircraft was damaged by flak or developed engine trouble. In an attack against Bologna on the night of 1st September 1944 his aircraft was heavily engaged and damaged by flak, while on one trip he experienced total failure on one engine, and on another occasion, in August 1944, after returning to base from an attack on a target in Northern Italy, the aircraft was forced to land with three bombs which the crew had been unable to jettison or release. Flight Sergeant Leach´s exceptional grit, courage, and devotion to duty in the face of experiences which would have dismayed many is well worthy of recognition and I strongly recommend him for the Distinguished Flying Medal.´ Flight Sergeant Leach´s Officer Commanding, No. 236 Wing, remarked: ´Strongly recommended. This N.C.O. has been particularly unfortunate during this, his first tour, having had more than his fair share of misfortunes in the air. He is an asset to the Service and, for his unwavering and constant courage, I support the Squadron Commander´s remarks.´ Flight Sergeant George Derek Leach, D.F.M., born Bradford, Yorkshire, 1924; enlisted Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, June 1941; served 38 Operational Sorties as Wireless Operator with 40 (Abingdon) Squadron, Foggia Main, Italy (Wellingtons and Liberators).

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