A fine Great War 'Independent Force' immediate D.F.M. group of nine awarded to Sergeant...

A fine Great War ‘Independent Force’ immediate D.F.M. group of nine awarded to Sergeant Observer, later Wing Commander, F. Lee, 99 Squadron, Royal Air Force - a D.H.9 air gunner who was decorated for his gallantry during a raid on the railway at Lahr, 30 July 1918, and was credited with at least 3 ‘victories’ from June 1918 to the end of war Distinguished Flying Medal, G.V.R. (7054 Sergt. Obs. Lee, F., R.A.F.) suspension slack; British War and Victory Medals (7054. Sgt. F. Lee. R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Jubilee 1935, unnamed as issued; Coronation 1937, unnamed as issued; Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (7054. F/Sgt. F. Lee. R.A.F.) mounted on card for display, polished, nearly very fine (9) £2,800-£3,200 --- D.F.M. London Gazette 21 September 1918: ‘During a recent long-distance bombing raid the formation to which Sergt. Lee belonged was attacked when over the objective by 20 enemy scouts. He engaged one of them with his double gun, which caused the enemy to turn over on his back, and after various gyrations the pilot fell out of the aeroplane. This NCO has proved himself a gallant and skilful observer, and in all respects a most reliable man in the air.’ Frederick Lee was born in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire in July 1895 (despite his attestation papers stating that he was born in April 1897). He enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps in July 1915, served in France from July 1916, and advanced to A.M. 1 in February 1917. Lee transferred to the Royal Air Force as a Private, Aerial Gunner in April 1918, and advanced to Sergeant in June 1918. He served as Sergeant Observer with 99 Squadron (DH.9’s), Independent Force from June 1918, and was crewed with Sergeant H. H. Wilson as his pilot for the raid on the railway at Lahr, 30 July 1918, for which he was awarded the D.F.M. More detail is given about the raid on Lahr in the History of No. 99 Squadron, Independent Force R.A.F., published in 1920: ‘Eight pilots dropped bombs on the railway at Lahr, 15 miles SSE of Strasbourg, results being unallocated owing to mist. The formations were attacked by twenty hostile machines when re-crossing the Rhine. Lieuts. Dietz and Batty were shot down and killed, their machine being seen to break up in the air. Lieut. Martin’s machine was disabled by a bullet through the radiator, and his observer, Lieut. Burton, was killed before re-crossing the lines. The pilot was wounded in the foot, but managed to land with a serious crash, in a marsh which appeared through a gap in the mist. His machine was very badly damaged by bullets. Lieut. Notley, with Captain Taylor, shot down an E.A. in flames; Lieut. Taylor, with Capt. Beecroft, shot another to pieces; and Sergt. Lee, with Sergt. Wilson, brought down a third, from which the pilot was seen to fall. The excellent fighting qualities of Sergt. Lee, which had resulted in shooting down three hostile machines, were recognised by an immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.’ The raid is also extensively described in Independent Force, The War Diary of the Daylight Squadrons of the Independent Air Force, June - November 1918, which also gives: ‘The whole formation were banging away trying to keep the scouts at bay. Sgt. Lee fired one hundred rounds claiming an Albatros scout where the pilot was seen to fall out; this was Lee’s third victory this month [one also being recorded on 22 July 1918].’ One D.F.C., and one D.F.M. were awarded for the action. Lee remained in the R.A.F. after the war, and remustered as a M.T. Fitter in August 1919. He then applied for pilot training and gained his ‘Wings’ in May 1924, advancing to Flight Sergeant the following year (awarded L.S. & G.C. in April 1933). Lee served in Egypt, Iraq and India prior to the Second World War. He advanced to Warrant Officer in December 1935, and was commissioned Flying Officer in the Technical Branch in June 1940. Lee advanced to Squadron Leader in March 1945, having served as Acting Wing Commander from March the previous year. He was placed on the Retired List in July 1946, and resided in Ellesmere, Salop in later life. Lee died in February 1976. Sold with copied research, which includes a photographic image of recipient wearing medal ribbands to which he was not entitled. When the medals were originally sold to J. B. Hayward several decades ago the group included a renamed 1914-15 Star; an erased I.G.S. with ‘N. W. Frontier 1936-37’ clasp; and French Legion of Honour 5th Class with a Croix de Guerre. These medals, to which he was not entitled, were removed from the group many years ago.