A Second War 1940 Immediate 'Battle of France' D.F.M. awarded to Flight Sergeant T. C....

A Second War 1940 Immediate ‘Battle of France’ D.F.M. awarded to Flight Sergeant T. C. Davies, Royal Air Force, an Observer with 226 Squadron, who was killed in action on 4 July 1941 Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (580453. Sgt. T. C. Davies. R.A.F.) nearly extremely fine £1,800-£2,200 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- D.F.M. London Gazette 25 June 1940. The original Recommendation, for an Immediate award, dated 8 June 1940, states: ‘This Air Observer has been a member of Pilot Officer Crooks' crew on all missions and it is largely owing to his exceptional navigational ability that the missions have so successfully been completed. This N.C.O. has used his gun most effectively during low-flying bombing attacks on convoys in addition to navigating his aircraft under difficult conditions of visibility by day and by night.’ In the same Gazette, Pilot Officer D. A. C. Crooks was awarded an Immediate D.F.C., the Recommendation stating: ‘During a day in May, 1940, Pilot Officer Crooks carried out an extensive reconnaissance of the Amiens-Albert road with great determination and gallantry. At a low altitude, and under heavy fire from the ground, he bombed a large convoy of enemy armoured vehicles, obtaining direct hits with his bombs. Although his aircraft was hit by heavy pom-pom fire he succeeded in reaching his base. Pilot Officer Crooks and his crew have shown initiative and exceptional devotion to duty in many missions undertaken by night and under adverse weather conditions. They have pressed home their attacks, invariably from low altitudes, in spite of enemy opposition from the ground and from the air. Thomas Clifford Davies enlisted in the Royal Air Force and served as an Observer with 226 Squadron throughout the Battle of France, being awarded an Immediate Distinguished Flying Medal. Evacuated with the Squadron from Brest, and converting to Blenheims, he remained with the Squadron and was killed in action on 4 July 1941 when his Blenheim, commanded by Wing Commander R. G. Hurst, was hit by flak and crashed into the sea of Norderney. Davies is buried alongside his two crew in Sage War Cemetery, Germany. Sold with two rolls of original Royal Air Force riband, for the R.A.F. Meritorious Service Medal, and the R.A.F. Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.