Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry

A fine Second War D.F.C. group of five awarded to Flight Lieutenant M. Wetz, Royal Air Force, a photo reconnaissance Spitfire pilot of 16 Squadron, whose supplying of photographs was instrumental to the planning of the D-Day invasion as well as the breakout into Normandy. In September 1944, flying a pink Spitfire IX, he volunteered for the highly dangerous job of low level dropping of messages to airborne troops who had landed at Nijmegen, and for his services in connection with Operation Market Garden, was recommended for and received an ‘immediate’ D.F.C.

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1944’, with Royal Mint case of issue and named Buckingham Palace enclosure; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; together with the recipient’s card identity tag; silver ‘St Christopher’s’ pilot wings; and cloth wings, good very fine (5) £2,400-£2,800

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D.F.C. London Gazette 5 December 1944.

The original Recommendation states: ‘Flying Officer Wetz has completed a large number of reconnaissances and has displayed determination and skill of a high order. Not once has he failed to obtained good results. On one occasion he was detailed to reconnoitre a German military headquarters. In spite of intense light and medium anti-aircraft fire. Flying Officer Wetz made three runs over targets and secured excellent photographs. In connection with the airborne landings at Nijmegen, this officer executed three missions which he completed with great distinction.’

Michael Albert Wetz joined the Royal Air Force in 1941 and volunteered for pilot training. In November 1941, he was sent to 21 E.F.T.S., Booker, before being sent to the U.S.A. for further training; first at U.S.N. Detroit and then U.S.N.A.S. Pensacola. He was awarded his Wings on 11 December 1942 and was sent back to Britain for further training at 5(P) A.F.U. and 8 O.T.U. at R.A.F. Dyce. In November 1943, after conversion to Spitfires, Wetz was sent to 16 Squadron, making his first operational flight on 23 December- a photo reconnaissance over St Pol, France. Over the following five months, he completed a further 27 operational flights, mainly over targets in France, being chased by FW190’s during one of these. On 2 June 1944, he notes a ‘Beaches’ photo reconnaissance and other targets in Normandy; followed by operations over Dieppe, Ameins, Vierzon, Lorient &c. During this period, 16 Squadron was credited with supplying photographs instrumental to the planning of the D-Day invasion and Wetz’s logbook shows he was involved in such photo reconnaissance flights. Flights continued over France in July and August, noting flak and being attacked by enemy fighters a couple of times.

The Squadron moved to Normandy in September 1944 and from there Wetz took part in flights that would gain him the award of the D.F.C., additionally noting in his logbook ‘dropping messages to Airborne Division’ on 20-22 September. The job of dropping messages, for which the pilots of 16 Squadron had volunteered, was a highly dangerous one which resulted in the loss of several members of his squadron during the period. On 17 September, flying a pink camouflaged Spitfire IX’s, each carrying a 14in oblique cameras and fitted with two empty drop tanks (which would be filled with messages), Wetz and a fellow pilot flew to Brussels to report to duty at 21 Army Group H.Q.

Wetz’s report of his first mission on 20 September 1944 is as follows:
‘Airborne at Evere at 1730, dropped messages by drop tank to airborne troops near Nijmegan. Some trouble as Army did not show correct signals but as it was definitely the right place and the troops were well in possession, I put it down to finger trouble and dropped the messages to them. Landed 1840. No incidents.’

He flew two further missions to the Landing Zone at Groesbeek on the 21 and 22 September. 56 years later, Wetz wrote of the volunteering for the special missions of message dropping:
‘I volunteered because I wanted to visit the Brussels night-clubs. It seemed a piece of cake. Every morning I went to 21st Army Group to be briefed in their Operations Room. Lots of senior Generals were milling around. I was given my instructions- usually two separate drops. When I got to the Nijmegan area, our troops were not as shown on our map. I stooged around, getting lots of flak from the Germans. I dropped both sets of messages to the British troops near to the point of request. When I came back to report and told them that their map was wrong, a big argument followed. I told them in the end, that they should go and see themselves and it was all a ‘cock-up’. Our chaps seemed glad to see me. I was quite low most of the time- it seemed safer. I couldn’t understand why, if I could go there, we weren’t giving the troops air support. Possibly because my attitude was getting very critical and hostile, they sent me home. I now think that the award to the D.F.C. was just to keep me quiet!’

In October 1944 Wetz took part in only one operation, and in November a further four over Germany, during one of which he notes seeing several Me262’s. With just a couple of operations during December, Wetz was posted to H.Q. 34 Wing on 11 January 1945, as Flight Lieutenant Operations, where he stayed until June that year, before being posted back to 16 Squadron. He finally transferred to 26 Squadron in September 1945, his last flight being recorded on 26 February 1946. Wetz’s logbook notes that during the War he made a total of 76 Operational Sorties.

Sold with the recipient’s Pilot’s Log Book, covering the period November 1941 to September 1945; and a second Log Book covering the period September 1945 to February 1946; an R.A.F. pilots notes book; a photograph of the recipient in R.A.F. uniform; and a magazine article about 16 Squadron and Operation Market Garden.