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Auction: 7012 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Lot: 604

The Scarce 1940 ´Battle of France´ Fairey Battle Pilot´s D.F.M. Group of Eight to Squadron Leader R.A.C. de C. White, Royal Air Force, a Korea Veteran a) Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (580094. Sgt. R.A.C. De C. White. R.A.F), initial ´a´ officially corrected b) 1939-1945 Star c) Air Crew Europe Star d) Italy Star e) Defence and War Medals f) Korea 1950-53, 1st type (Flt. Lt. R.A.C. de-C. White R.A.F.) g) United Nations Korea Medal, good very fine or better, mounted as originally worn (8) Estimate £ 3,200-3,500 D.F.M. London Gazette 16.7.1940 580094 Sergeant Raymond Arthur Cecil de Courcy, No. 150 Squadron. The Recommendation, dated 8.6.1940, states: ´This N.C.O. has rendered consistently good flying service since joining the squadron on active service on 8th October 1939. Recently, Sergeant White has flown in one day and ten night sorties against the enemy. During the day sortie, he pressed home his attack on an enemy column in the Echtenbach area although his engine had been damaged by anti-aircraft fire and was showing signs of failure. Subsequently he was compelled to land in the forward area owing to engine failure; he returned to the squadron with his crew some 48 hours later and resumed his duties forthwith. Six of the night sorties were carried out on successive nights, sometimes in bad weather conditions. Despite these difficulties, he has always succeeded in locating and attacking his targets and returned with valuable information. I consider Sergeant White´s devotion to duty to be of the highest order.´ Squadron Leader Raymond Arthur Cecil de Courcy White, D.F.M., born 1917; posted as Sergeant (Pilot) 150 Squadron. Ecury-sur-Coole, France (Fairey Battles), 11.10.1939, and flew with the squadron in operational sorties including: ´Nickelraid on Speyer and recce of Rhine from Germershein to Speyer´, 22/23.4.1940 (Squadron´s Operations Book refers); ´Sgt. R.A.C. de. C. White, Sgt. C.W.K. Booth and L.A.C. R.H. Burrows previously reported missing 10th May 1940 [see D.F.M. Recommendation] returned to unit by road as aircraft had been force landed 10 miles West of Thionville on 10th May 1940 owing to Glycol and Petrol leaks caused by A.A. Fire in the vicinity of attack´, 13.5.1940 (Squadron´s Operations Record Book refers); Montherne; Libramont (2); Railway line at Nouzonville; Chardeville; Troop Concentrations in Foret de Bizy, 11.6.1940; Troop Concentrations in Vernon-Poix-Evreux area, 13.6.1940; moved with the squadron to Stradishall, Newmarket, June 1940 and flew in further operations including: Barge Concentrations at Calais, 7.9.1940 and a similar target at Boulogne, 15.9.1940; commissioned Pilot Officer 19.7.1941; from early 1942 White was posted to Canada, where he spent two years at a training unit before returning to Home Establishment postings; Flight Lieutenant 1.9.1945; after the War White served in the Mediterranean and Middle East with 216 and 70 Squadrons before a posting to the Mediterranean and the Middle East Communication Squadron; Squadron Leader 1.7.1954; his last posting before retirement was with Flying Training Command; retired 1958.

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£2,800