Beschreibung:

A Fine Collection of Awards to the Men of Bomber Command 1939-45 An exceptional Second World War Air Gunner’s C.G.M., D.F.M. group of six awarded to Warrant Officer S. Nuttall, Royal Air Force, who survived over 90 operational sorties, the vast majority of them with the Path Finder Force, including the disastrous Nuremburg raid of March 1944 when he claimed a J.U. 88 damaged Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Flying), G.VI.R. (W./O. S. Nuttall, R.A.F.); Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (1684518 F./Sgt. S. Nuttall, R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence and War Medals, one or two edge bruises and minor contact wear, good very fine (6) £6000-7000 Footnote C.G.M. London Gazette 26 October 1945. The recommendation states: ‘Since being awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal, Warrant Officer Nuttall has completed a further 38 operational sorties against enemy targets as an Air Gunner in heavy bombers, all with a crew engaged on important marking duties. Warrant Officer Nuttall is an extremely fine Air Gunner; his keen vigilance has, on many occasions, enabled his Captain to take action to avoid enemy night fighters. He has always shown exceptional keenness to fly in action and his high standard of efficiency has gained for him a very good name in the Squadron. In recognition of Warrant Officer Nuttall’s excellent record of service and devotion to duty, he is recommended for the non-immediate award of the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal.’ D.F.M. London Gazette 12 December 1944. The recommendation states: ‘This N.C.O. has a fine record of service as a Mid-Upper Gunner having completed 53 operational sorties. His crew has operated for a long period in a most important role and has attacked some of the most heavily defended targets in Germany, amongst them Berlin, Schweinfurt, Nuremburg and Cologne. Flight Sergeant Nuttall sets an example of coolness under the heaviest fire and always shows the greatest skill in directing his Captain in avoiding fighter and searchlight interception. It is considered that this N.C.O’s fine record of service and devotion to duty fully merits the non-immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.’ Warrant Officer Squire Nuttall, C.G.M., D.F.M., commenced training as an Air Gunner in May 1943 and received his first operational posting in September of the same year, when he joined No. 77 Squadron, a Halifax unit, as a Mid-Upper Gunner. Having completed just four sorties to Germany, however, he volunteered for the Path Finder Force and was posted to No. 35 Squadron, another Halifax unit, that November - in March 1944 the Squadron converted to Lancasters and in October of the same year Nuttall transferred to the role of “Tail End Charlie”, a post he had occupied on occasion in the interim. His subsequent operational career spanned 19 months of continuous active service and culminated in a tally of 91 sorties, a remarkable record by Bomber Command standards. And many of these sorties were of an eventful nature, as illustrated by the following combat reports: ‘At 1946 hours on the night of 20-21 January 1944, Halifax II (HR 857) “S” of 35 Squadron was doing a bombing run on Berlin at 18,000 feet with an I.A.S. of 140 knots, when it was encircled by 10 or more fighter flares. The Rear-Gunner saw an M.E. 210 astern slightly port up at 600 feet. When the range closed to 500 feet, the Rear-Gunner told his Captain to “Corkscrew port,” and opened fire with a short burst of approximately 180 rounds. The enemy aircraft replied with cannon and M.G. fire but the tracer passed wide of the bomber. As the fighter was trying to follow the corkscrew, the Rear-Gunner fired another short burst of approximately 180 rounds. Again the M.E. 210, now on starboard quarter up, replied, but the shots went wide. The fighter still tried hard to follow the corkscrew, but was unable to do so and breaking off starboard quarter up was not seen again. Throughout this combat there was 10th/10ths cloud below which was illuminated by s