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Auction: 7012 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Lot: 570

The 1943 Stirling Pilot´s D.F.C. Group of Seven to Flight Lieutenant J.G. Neilson, Royal New Zealand Air Force, Who Crashed and Was Killed Returning from an Operational Sortie to Berlin, 20.1.1944 a) Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., reverse dated ´1943´ b) 1939-1945 Star c) Air Crew Europe Star d) Defence and War Medals e) New Zealand Service Medal f) New Zealand Memorial Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially impressed (NZ40423 F/L. J.G. Nielson D.F.C.), extremely fine, mounted for display (7) Estimate £ 1,400-1,600 D.F.C. London Gazette 14.5.1943 Acting Flight Lieutenant James Gillespie Neilson (N.Z.40423), Royal New Zealand Air Force, No. 218 Squadron. The Recommendation, dated 17.3.1943, states: ´F/Lt. Neilson is a Pilot of 218 Squadron who has been operating since October 1942. In December 1942 while on an operation to Frankfurt, the Stirling of which he was captain was subjected to intense flak in the target area. One engine was rendered useless but F/Lt. Neilson pressed home his attack successfully. Again in December at Fallersheim (sic) his aircraft received a direct hit in the bomb-aimer´s compartment on the first run over the target. One engine was put out of action and the aircraft suffered considerable damage. Despite this, F/Lt. Neilson made a second run and successfully bombed the aiming point. He has at all times displayed a great spirit of enthusiasm and devotion to duty of a high order and has been a splendid example to the younger pilots in the squadron. He is very strongly recommended for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.´ Flight Lieutenant James Gillespie Neilson, D.F.C., born Auckland, New Zealand, 1913; joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force, 26.1.1940; transferring to England, posted 218 (Gold Coast) Squadron, Downham Market, Norfolk (Stirlings), October 1942; and flew in over 23 operational sorties with the squadron including: Krefeld; Aachen; Osnabruck; Bordeaux (4); Turin (2); Frankfurt; Mannheim; Fallersleben, 17.12.1942 (see D.F.C. recommendation), when 16 Stirlings and 6 Wellingtons attacked the Opel works, 6 Stirlings and 2 Wellingtons were lost during this night time action (Bomber Command War Diaries, refers); Lorient (3); Essen; Nuremburg; Munich; Stuttgart; Flight Lieutenant Neilson was killed on a return trip from Berlin, 20.1.1944, when his aircraft crashed, and he is buried in Cambridge City Cemetery.

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