1. Home
  2. /
  3. Fine Arms, Armour & Militaria Auction
  4. /
  5. Catalogue
  6. /
  7. An Impressive 1943 Bomber Command Distinguished Flying Medal Group of 5 to the Engineer in the Lancaster Bomber ‘Phantom..
Catalogue Auction Information

Fine Arms, Armour & Militaria Auction (169) 23/10/24 10:00 AM Closed

Starts Ending 23/10/24 10:00 AM BST

Auction Info
Similar Items
Click image to enlarge

Lot 26An Impressive 1943 Bomber Command Distinguished Flying Medal Group of 5 to the Engineer in the Lancaster Bomber ‘Phantom of the Ruhr’ for his Skill in Getting the Badly Damaged Plane Back to Base in a Feat That Even Astonished the Avro Engineers who Examined the Plane on its Return

An Impressive 1943 Bomber Command Distinguished Flying Medal Group of 5 to the Engineer in the Lancaster Bomber ‘Phantom of the Ruhr’ for his Skill in Getting the Badly Damaged Plane Back to Base in a Feat That Even Astonished the Avro Engineers who Examined the Plane on its Return

An Impressive 1943 Bomber Command Distinguished Flying Medal Group of 5 to the Engineer in the Lancaster Bomber ‘Phantom of the Ruhr’ for his Skill in Getting the Badly Damaged Plane Back to Base in a Feat That Even Astonished the Avro Engineers who Examined the Plane on its Return, Distinguished Flying Medal, GVIR 1st type, officially engraved naming “57**** SGT H. BENNETT R.A.F.”, medal polished with loosely fitting suspender, contact marks to the edge of the medal making part of number illegible, 1939-45 Star Medal, Air Crew Europe Star with clasp France & Germany, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45. Barrington Kennett Trophy Medal, with clasp Football Senior 1939, reverse of medal engraved “A/A BENNETT H.”. In fitted case of issue. With large archive of original ephemera including parchment RAF certificate of service to 570107 Harold Bennett, covering service from 1s September 1936 to 9th October 1948, RAF Station Halton Association Football team photo for the season 1938/39 with all members including the recipient identified, similar team photo of the cricket team (members not identified), 1945 Canadian passport to the recipient with uniform photo, newspaper cutting regarding the award of the DFM to Flight Sergeant Harold Bennett, Black & white photographs of the Lancaster bomber Phantom of the Ruhr, Reunion paperwork of 34th Entry RAF Halton 1985/86/87, Copies of Air Mail magazine (journal of the RAFA), Spring 1991 and Winter 1993, Aircraft Magazine, March 1988 – this contains the full story of the Phantom of the Ruhr on the Mannhein raid 23/24th September 1943 as told by Harold ‘Ben’ Bennett, an amazing read! Hand written correspondence from other members of the crew regarding the Mannheim raid and the details in the article, book, ‘Lancaster at War’ by Mike Garbett and Brian Goulding, book, ‘Claims to Fame – The Lancaster’, this included a chapter on the bomber EE139, Phantom of the Ruhr, a copy article form the Daily Express, 26th April 2008, about Prince William going for flight in Lancaster Phantom of the Ruhr. An outstanding grouping of material. Distinguished Flying Medal, London Gazette 19 October 1943 - 570107 Sergeant Harold BENNETT, Royal Air Force, No. 100 Squadron: Warrant Officer Clark and Sergeant Bennett were captain and flight engineer of an aircraft detailed to attack Mannheim and Ludwigshafen one night in September, 1943. Whilst over the target area, the bomber was illuminated by the searchlights and subjected to heavy fire from the ground defences. In spite of this, Warrant Officer Clark executed a successful bombing run. The aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire, however, and one shell, which passed through the structure almost severed an aileron control rod. The bomber immediately went into a steep dive. As Warrant Officer Clark, assisted by the flight engineer, battled to pull the aircraft out of the dive, the aileron control snapped. An enemy fighter then came in to attack, causing further damage by its cannon fire. Despite this, control was regained, the fighter evaded and ultimately, Warrant Officer Clark flew the crippled bomber to base. In the face of a perilous situation, these airmen displayed great gallantry, skill and resource, setting an example worthy of great praise. A total of 613 aircraft took part in the raid on Mannheim, 20 of them were from 100 Squadron including Phantom of the Ruhr. After an uneventful crossing the plane commenced its bombing run at 21,000ft, almost immediately they were conned in the searchlights with the inevitable heavy flak. There was a terrific thud and the aircraft went into a dive with both the Pilot and Engineer struggling to regain control, eventually they managed to level out at 8,000ft deciding to jettison their bomb load. At this point the rear gunner called out ‘fighter’ as tracer flashed past the aircraft followed by the enemy fighter but luckily it did not return, and the stricken bomber returned to England. When the aircraft was inspected the following day the full extent of the damage to the aircraft became apparent, an anti-aircraft shell had passed through the bomb bay doors missing the bomb load and exiting the plane through the roof creating a 2 foot wide hole, other flak damage was also evident as wall as damage from cannon fire from the fighter, a tailfin from an incendiary bomb was found in the engine exhaust cowl indicating that they had flown through a falling bomb load from another aircraft. Most significant though was the fact that the wings had been bent out their usual dihedral shape with the wing root fittings having been subjected to abnormal stress during the dive, the Avro engineers who inspected the plane were amazed that the wings had not come off the plane. The pilot, W/O R Clark was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his part in this mission, 32 planes were lost during the attack on Mannheim. The Phantom of the Ruhr was repaired and went on to fly 121 operations during the course of the war.

Categories: Medals
Estimate:
Lot closed - Winning bid:£1,400
Estimate: £1,400 - £1,800
Similar Items

 

  • An Impressive 1943 Bomber Command Distinguished Flying Medal Group of 5 to the Engineer in the Lancaster Bomber ‘Phantom of the Ruhr’ for his Skill in Getting the Badly Damaged Plane Back to Base in a Feat That Even Astonished the Avro Engineers who Exami
  • An Impressive 1943 Bomber Command Distinguished Flying Medal Group of 5 to the Engineer in the Lancaster Bomber ‘Phantom of the Ruhr’ for his Skill in Getting the Badly Damaged Plane Back to Base in a Feat That Even Astonished the Avro Engineers who Exami - 2
  • An Impressive 1943 Bomber Command Distinguished Flying Medal Group of 5 to the Engineer in the Lancaster Bomber ‘Phantom of the Ruhr’ for his Skill in Getting the Badly Damaged Plane Back to Base in a Feat That Even Astonished the Avro Engineers who Exami - 3
  • An Impressive 1943 Bomber Command Distinguished Flying Medal Group of 5 to the Engineer in the Lancaster Bomber ‘Phantom of the Ruhr’ for his Skill in Getting the Badly Damaged Plane Back to Base in a Feat That Even Astonished the Avro Engineers who Exami - 4
  • An Impressive 1943 Bomber Command Distinguished Flying Medal Group of 5 to the Engineer in the Lancaster Bomber ‘Phantom of the Ruhr’ for his Skill in Getting the Badly Damaged Plane Back to Base in a Feat That Even Astonished the Avro Engineers who Exami - 5
  • An Impressive 1943 Bomber Command Distinguished Flying Medal Group of 5 to the Engineer in the Lancaster Bomber ‘Phantom of the Ruhr’ for his Skill in Getting the Badly Damaged Plane Back to Base in a Feat That Even Astonished the Avro Engineers who Exami - 6
  • An Impressive 1943 Bomber Command Distinguished Flying Medal Group of 5 to the Engineer in the Lancaster Bomber ‘Phantom of the Ruhr’ for his Skill in Getting the Badly Damaged Plane Back to Base in a Feat That Even Astonished the Avro Engineers who Exami - 7
  • An Impressive 1943 Bomber Command Distinguished Flying Medal Group of 5 to the Engineer in the Lancaster Bomber ‘Phantom of the Ruhr’ for his Skill in Getting the Badly Damaged Plane Back to Base in a Feat That Even Astonished the Avro Engineers who Exami - 8
  • An Impressive 1943 Bomber Command Distinguished Flying Medal Group of 5 to the Engineer in the Lancaster Bomber ‘Phantom of the Ruhr’ for his Skill in Getting the Badly Damaged Plane Back to Base in a Feat That Even Astonished the Avro Engineers who Exami - 9
  • An Impressive 1943 Bomber Command Distinguished Flying Medal Group of 5 to the Engineer in the Lancaster Bomber ‘Phantom of the Ruhr’ for his Skill in Getting the Badly Damaged Plane Back to Base in a Feat That Even Astonished the Avro Engineers who Exami - 10
  • An Impressive 1943 Bomber Command Distinguished Flying Medal Group of 5 to the Engineer in the Lancaster Bomber ‘Phantom of the Ruhr’ for his Skill in Getting the Badly Damaged Plane Back to Base in a Feat That Even Astonished the Avro Engineers who Exami - 11
  • An Impressive 1943 Bomber Command Distinguished Flying Medal Group of 5 to the Engineer in the Lancaster Bomber ‘Phantom of the Ruhr’ for his Skill in Getting the Badly Damaged Plane Back to Base in a Feat That Even Astonished the Avro Engineers who Exami - 12
  • An Impressive 1943 Bomber Command Distinguished Flying Medal Group of 5 to the Engineer in the Lancaster Bomber ‘Phantom of the Ruhr’ for his Skill in Getting the Badly Damaged Plane Back to Base in a Feat That Even Astonished the Avro Engineers who Exami - 13
  • An Impressive 1943 Bomber Command Distinguished Flying Medal Group of 5 to the Engineer in the Lancaster Bomber ‘Phantom of the Ruhr’ for his Skill in Getting the Badly Damaged Plane Back to Base in a Feat That Even Astonished the Avro Engineers who Exami - 14
  • An Impressive 1943 Bomber Command Distinguished Flying Medal Group of 5 to the Engineer in the Lancaster Bomber ‘Phantom of the Ruhr’ for his Skill in Getting the Badly Damaged Plane Back to Base in a Feat That Even Astonished the Avro Engineers who Exami - 15
mgctlbxN$MZP mgctlbxV$5.3.7 mgctlbxL$C