Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry

A Second War D.F.C. and Second Award Bar attributed to Lancaster and Mosquito pilot Flight Lieutenant L. L. Fletcher, Royal Air Force, who flew in at least 77 operational sorties, with 100 and 571 Squadrons - the latter as part of the Light Night Striking Force Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1943’, with Second Award Bar, reverse officially dated ‘1945’, and reverse of cross additionally engraved ‘P/O L. L. Fletcher’, very fine £1,000-£1,400 --- D.F.C. London Gazette 19 October 1943. The original recommendation states: ‘Pilot Officer Fletcher has now completed his first operational tour of duty during which he has completed 24 sorties. As a captain of a heavy bomber he has attacked all the more important heavily defended industrial areas in Germany and Italy. These include Hamburg, Cologne, Essen and Spezia. Despite intense flak opposition he has pressed home his attacks and can be relied upon to successfully complete the most difficult tasks. His personality inspires confidence and commands respect which has led his crew to have complete confidence in him and to follow his direction. It is recommended that P/O Fletcher be rewarded for his valuable qualities and devotion to duty by the award of the D.F.C. Remarks by Station Commander: P/O Fletcher is a conscientious and determined captain of aircraft. His courage, skill and devotion to duty have been an inspiration to his crew and to other aircrew personnel of his Squadron throughout his operational tour. He is strongly recommended for the award of the D.F.C.’ D.F.C. Second Award Bar London Gazette 12 January 1945. The original recommendation states: ‘Flying Officer Fletcher has completed 50 operational sorties (in this squadron) as a pilot. He has shown himself to be possessed of great determination and courage and his keenness to operate against the enemy has been most marked. I strongly recommend him for the award of a Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross. Remarks by Station Commander: I agree, this officer has taken part in attacks against all the most heavily defended areas in Germany including 13 sorties on Berlin. Very strongly recommended.’ Leslie Leonard Fletcher served with the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, and advanced to Sergeant in June 1943. After carrying out initial training he was posted as a pilot for operational flying with 100 Squadron (Lancasters) at Grimsby in March 1943. Fletcher flew in at least 24 operational sorties with the Squadron, including: Nurnberg; St. Nazaire; Frankfurt; Pilsen; Spezia; Stettin; Duisburg (2); Bochum; Dortmund; Dusseldorf (2); Essen (2); Wuppertal (2); Oberhausen; Gelsenkirchen; Colgone (3); Turin and Hamburg. Fletcher was commissioned Pilot Officer, and advanced to Flying Officer in December 1943. He retrained as a Mosquito pilot, and was posted for operational flying to 571 Squadron at Oakington as part of No. 8 (Pathfinder) Group in May 1944. The Squadron carried out night raids as part of the Light Night Striking Force, and Fletcher flew in at least 50 operational sorties with the Squadron, including: Cologne (4); Berlin (13); Dusseldorf; Ludwigshaven (4); Hannover (2); Leverkusen; Gelsenkirchen (3); Kiel; Scholven (2); Cuxhaven; Bremen (3); Mannheim (3); Frankfurt (2); Castrop Rauxel; Dortmund Ems; Karlsruhe; Hamburg (2); Nuremburg; Brunswick; Bochum; Wilhelmshaven and Wiesbaden. He relinquished his commission as Flight Lieutenant in February 1964.