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Auction: 7012 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Lot: 553

The O.B.E., 192 Squadron D.F.C. Group of Six to ´Special Operator´ Group Captain I. ´Tommy´ Thomas, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Who Flew in Special Duty Operations Including Berchtesgaden, Hitler´s Fortified Retreat, April 1945 a) The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, 2nd type, Military Division, Officer´s (O.B.E.) breast Badge, silver-gilt b) Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., reverse dated ´1945´ c) 1939-1945 Star d) Air Crew Europe Star, with France and Germany Bar e) Defence and War Medals, good very fine, mounted court style as originally worn, with the associated miniature awards, similarly mounted; Pilot´s Flying Log Book (16.12.1941-8.9.1943); Observer´s and Air Gunner´s Flying Log Book (31.8.1942-31.10.1948); and two Navigator´s, Air Bomber´s and Air Gunner´s Flying Log Books (1.11.1948-7.7.1952 and 8.8.1952-1.8.1967), three photographs of the recipient and a quantity of original documentation and correspondence (lot) Estimate £ 2,000-2,400 O.B.E. London Gazette 31.12.1960 Wing Commander Ieuan Thomas, D.F.C. (134556), Royal Air Force D.F.C London Gazette 16.2.1945 Ieuan Thomas FL (134556) R.A.F.V.R., 192 Squadron. The Recommendation, dated 15.11.1944, states: ´This officer has completed a tour of operations on heavy bomber aircraft as a Air Bomber and a Special Operator. He has taken part in both bombing and special missions and due to his outstanding efficiency much extremely valuable information has been obtained. He has at all times shown remarkable keenness not only to partake in operations but also to impart his knowledge to other members of this Squadron.´ Remarks by Station Commander: ´The work of a special operator in this Squadron is extremely difficult and calls for an exceptionally high degree of skill and efficiency. Thomas has given a very good account of himself on operations and by his untiring efforts has obtained much valuable information about the enemy.´ Remarks by Air Officer Commanding: ´The exceptionally high degree of skill and efficiency of this Special Operator has done much to help his Squadron obtain valuable results from their special investigational work. He has been untiring in his efforts.´ Group Captain Ieuan ´Tommy´ Thomas, O.B.E., D.F.C. (1921-2000); Leading Aircraftman, 1941; posted 18 E.F.T.S., Fairoaks, Surrey, 14.12.1941; posted B.F.T.S. Alabama School of Aeronautics, Hargrove Van De Graaf Field, 31.3.1942 and flew his first solo there 15.4.1942; after further postings to the U.S.A. and Canada and being commissioned in 1942, Thomas was posted as Air Bomber 620 Squadron, Chedburgh (Stirlings), 28.6.1943, and flew in 4 operational sorties with the squadron including Essen, 25.7.1943 and Nurenburg, 27.7.1943; posted 214 (Federated Malay States) Squadron, Chedburgh (Stirlings), 6.9.1943, and flew in 23 operational sorties with the squadron including: Boulogne; Montlucon, 15.9.1943, ´Dunlop Rubber Factory´ (Log Book refers); Modane, 16.9.1943, ´Marshalling Yards, Station and Railroad Tunnels through Alps´ (Log Book refers); Hanover, 23.9.1943, ´combat with intruder on return´ (Log Book refers); Kattergat; Mannheim-Ludwigshaven, 18.11.1943, ´F.W. 190 destroyed by Sgt. Read´ (Log Book refers); Leverkusen, 19.11.1943 ´D.N.C.O. Rear Turret U.S. M.E. 110 Destroyed. F/S Gilpin´ (Log Book refers); Berlin; moved with the squadron to Downham Market, December 1943 and to Sculthorpe, Norfolk, January 1944; moved to 214 (F.M.S) Special Duties Squadron (100 S.D. Group), Oulton (Fortresses), 18.5.1944, Murray Peden author of A Thousand Shall Fall, remembers ´Tommy´ Thomas in a letter to his brother dated 20.12.2000, ´I appreciate your courtesy all the more because ´Tommy´ (as we all called him) was, and will remain, an outstanding figure in my mental picture of our 214 Squadron aircrew. I shall always remember him as the most cheerful flyer of the squadron, and cheerful at times-with most of us-that did not make for an abundance of that characteristic. I mentioned in my book, A Thousand Shall Fall, that Jake Walter´s crew (with Tommy as Bomb Aimer) had had a string of ´near miss´ trips several of which were of the most frightening character imaginable. Outwardly these fazed Tommy not at all, although inwardly the strain had to have been intense. His great sense of humour never deserted him, and when Jake and Tommy and I got together in the mess on nights when we weren´t flying, we chaffed each other with great spirit´; posted 192 B.S. Squadron, Foulsham (Halifaxes), July 1944; and mainly flew in Special Duty Patrols, operational sorties including: Brunswick, 12.8.1944, ´S.D. Bomber Support. Shot up by flak over Bremen and Wilhelmshaven´ (Log Book refers); Gydinia (Poland), 18.12.1944, ´landed with F.I.D.O.´ (Log Book refers); Berchtesgaden, 25.4.1945 ´A. Hitlers House and S.S. Guards Huts´ (Log Book refers); post war service included serving on the Staff of the Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic, December 1966-March 1969 (see original named Certificate of Service, included in lot); Group Captain 1969; retired1976.

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