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Auction: 7012 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Lot: 567

The Second World War 1945 D.F.C. and Bar Group of Five to Mosquito Pilot Flight Lieutenant N.E. Lichfield, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Who Flew in 90 Operational Sorties, Often as a "Marker" with 8 Pathfinder Force a) Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., reverse dated ´1945´, with Second Award Bar, reverse dated ´1945´ b) 1939-1945 Star c) France and Germany Star d) Defence and War Medals, extremely fine, mounted court style for wear, with two Pilot´s Flying Log Books (28.7.1941-23.9.1944 and 26.9.1944-5.12.1945), named Buckingham Palace forwarding letter for the D.F.C., named Path Finder Force Badge Certificate, dated 1.8.1944 and a personal letter to the recipient from The Right Honourable The Lord Mayor Air Commodore The Honourable Sir Peter Vanneck, G.B.E., C.B., A.F.C., dated 24.11.1977 (lot) Estimate £ 3,600-4,000 D.F.C. London Gazette 16.2.1945 Flying Officer Norman Eric Litchfield (111470), Royal Air Force, No 105 Squadron. The Recommendation, dated 12.11.1944, states: ´F/L. Litchfield joined Path Finder Force in May, 1944. Since then he has completed 57 sorties, with no less than 45 in the role of marker. His work during the whole of this period has been excellent and he has in all these sorties displayed a cool courage and tenacity of purpose that has been a grand example to his fellows. His skill as a pilot and his ability to handle any situation in his capacity of captain of aircraft has enabled him to bring many of his sorties to a successful end, despite the most adverse conditions.´ D.F.C. Second Award Bar London Gazette 21.9.1945 Flight Lieutenant Norman Eric Litchfield, D.F.C. (111470), Royal Air Force, No 105 Squadron. The Recommendation states: ´Since being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Flight Lieutenant Litchfield has completed another 33 sorties and has continued to show himself to be a cool and efficient pilot. Despite enemy opposition and adverse weather, he has always pressed home his attacks with outstanding courage and determination.´ Flight Lieutenant Norman Eric Litchfield, D.F.C., born 1918; enlisted as Aircraftman Second Class, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 11.11.1940; re-mustered for Pilot training in July the following year; commissioned Pilot Officer 4.11.1941; Flying Officer 5.7.1943; Acting Flight Lieutenant 4.11.1943; after initial training he served as a Flying Instructor at various postings including at 6 S.F.T.S. and 3 A.F.U. until attending an OT.U. and Mosquito conversion course at 1655 Mosquito Training Unit, 28.3.1944, after which he was posted to 105 Squadron, 8 Pathfinder Force, Bourn, Cambridgeshire (Mosquitoes), 9.5.1944; he flew two tours of 90 operational sorties with the Squadron, many in the role of Marker and during daylight; on the eve of D-Day he was assigned to a coastal battery at Houlgate; operational sorties in his first tour including: Munchen Gladbach; Schloven (3) including 9.7.1944 ´Operations - Synthetic Oil Plant - Scholven -6 x 500lbs. M.C. Intense Flak - holed port engine - aileron´ (Log Book refers); Le Havre (2); Boulogne; Rheine; Calais; Pforzheim; Saarbrucken; Dusseldorf; Duisburg, 14.10.1944 ´Operations - Duisburg 4 x T.I. Red 100 yds. Badly damaged by heavy - accurate flak´ (Log Book refer); Essen; Schweinfurt; Cologne (3); Oberhausen and Bochum; he flew a further 33 operational sorties in his second tour including: Wesel (2); Stuttgart (2); Karlsruhe; Essen; Bonn; Cologne; Mainz (2); Bremen (3); Frankfurt; Mannheim; Nurenburg (2); released from service as Flight Lieutenant 9.1.1946.

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