Beschreibung:

A particularly fine Second World War D.F.C. and Bar, A.F.C. group of seven awarded to Acting Squadron Leader R. Edmonds, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who completed three operational tours, many of the resultant 140 plus sorties comprising costly raids in Baltimores and Mitchells - and over 40 of these as Squadron Leader Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., with Second Award Bar, the reverse of the Cross officially dated ‘1943’ and the reverse of the Bar ‘1945’; Air Force Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated ‘1944’; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, North Africa 1942-43; France and Germany Star; War Medal 1939-45; Air Efficiency Award, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Plt. Off. R. Edmonds, R.A.F.V.R.), good very fine and better (7) £3500-4000 Footnote D.F.C. London Gazette 5 February 1943: ‘This officer has participated in very many sorties, comprising attacks on airfields, harbours, lines of communications and troops. Throughout, he has displayed great courage and leadership. In November 1942, whilst attacking the enemy, his aircraft was hit and damaged by anti-aircraft fire, which caused the engine to fail. Pilot Officer Edmond was forced to leave the formation while still some 50 miles within enemy territory. With great difficulty, he succeeded in flying his damaged aircraft to base where he effected a masterly landing. His skill and determination were responsible for the safe return of the aircraft and its crew.’ Bar to D.F.C. London Gazette 1 June 1945. The original recommendation states: ‘Since receiving the immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for gallantry during the opening stages of El Alamein battles in North Africa, this officer has completed a further 72 sorties. He has flown the last 42 while leading the Squadron against the varied targets attacked since D-Day, and is now completing his third tour. His coolness, leadership and obvious determination in the face of the most bitterly defended targets has been of the highest possible value to his squadron and in the best traditions of the Service. His example during the period of steady losses against the Rhine bridges and important rail centres kept his squadron at a steady high level of morale. The quiet confidence he displays and instils into those who follow make him an outstanding operational leader. As a well-deserved reward for his qualities and his long operational record, Squadron Leader Edmond is strongly recommended for the award of a Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross.’ A.F.C. London Gazette 1 September 1944. Ronald Edmonds was educated at Dover County School, but later moved to Hayes, Middlesex, and was employed in the Civil Service prior to the outbreak of hostilities, so, too, as a member of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, in which he enlisted in 1937. Called up in September 1939, he was awarded his Flying Badge in October 1940, when rated as an above average pilot, and shortly thereafter departed for the Middle East. But it was in Malta with No. 148 Squadron, a Wellington unit, that he flew his first operational sortie, a strike against Catania Aerodrome in Sicily on 11 February 1941. As it transpired, he spent the next eight weeks in hospital and did not return to operations until early May, when he flew as 2nd Pilot in an attack on Tripoli. Shortly thereafter, he was transferred to another Malta-based unit, No. 69 Squadron, flying Marylands, and in the period July to September flew around another 20 sorties. Posted to Egypt in November 1941, he attended an Operational Training Unit prior to being posted to No. 223 Squadron in February 1942, then equipped with Marylands but shortly to convert to Baltimores. And it was in the latter aircraft type that he again went operational that May, this time completing around another 75 sorties in the period leading up to May 1943, when he returned to the U.K. Targets largely comprised enemy armour, motor transport and forward aerodromes in support of operations at El Alamein, Tobruk and Me