Beschreibung:

A superb but poignant family group to a series of Grand National jockeys: A rare Second World War Coastal Command pilot’s D.F.C. group of four awarded to Pilot Officer W. H. A. Jones, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who fought in several engagements with U-Boats prior to being posted missing in November 1944: he had been unseated from “National Night” in the 1940 Grand National Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated 1943, in its Royal Mint case of issue; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal 1939-45, M.I.D. oak leaf, the campaign awards in their original card forwarding box, addressed to the recipient’s father, with accompanying named condolence slip and original M.I.D. certificate to ‘Warrant Officer W. H. A. Jones, R.A.F.V.R., and dated 1 January 1943, extremely fine Three: Flight Sergeant M. A. Jones, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, a Photographic Reconnaissance Unit (P.R.U.) pilot who was posted missing in April 1942: he had ridden “Bogstar” to victory in the 1940 Grand National 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal 1939-45, in original card forwarding box, addressed to the recipient’s father, with named condolence slip, extremely fine Pair: Lieutenant J. R. Anthony, Wiltshire Yeomanry: the uncle of the Jones brothers, he became a famous trainer after having ridden - uniquely - three Grand National winners British War and Victory Medals (2 Lieut.), in original named card boxes of issue, extremely fine (9) Footnote D.F.C. London Gazette 20 August 1943. The original recommendation states: ‘Pilot Officer Jones has maintained a very high standard in his work throughout his operational career. He made four attacks on U-Boats, inflicting damage on three occasions. He has also made a very determined attack on a blockade runner. Recently he was captain of an aircraft which successfully fought off attacks by seven Ju. 88s over a period of 45 minutes. The safe return of the aircraft was largely due to this officer’s fine tactics and superb airmanship.’ Mention in despatches London Gazette 1 January 1943. William Hywell Anthony Jones enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in 1939 and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the course of 1942. As evidenced by his D.F.C. recommendation, he was frequently in action in his role as a Coastal Command pilot with No. 58 Squadron, one such incident being described in U-Boat versus Aircraft, by Norman Franks and Eric Zimmerman: ‘Wing Commander W. E. Oulton commanded No. 58 squadron, but was not content to lead from the ground. He often took a crew out on anti-sub patrols and had some measure of success in mid-1943. He had attacked a submarine on 5 May, had a gun-duel with another on the 7th, sank U-266 on the 15th, then shared in the sinking of U-563 on the 31st. The action of 7 May was against U-214, commanded by Kapitanleutnant Gunter Reeder, after he had already encountered one boat earlier. Wilf Oulton headed out on a Derange sortie at 0435 hours and at 0655 his second pilot, Pilot Officer [W. H. A.] Jones, sighted a U-boat on the starboard bow and dropping down to 300 feet, they attacked with six D/Cs in their Halifax HR745 ‘S’. The D/Cs went down 10-15 seconds after the boat had crash-dived and nothing else was seen. This had been U-306. At 1015, flying just above broken cloud, at 4,000 feet or so, the watchful Jones saw another boat. Using cloud cover Oulton headed for it and when they broke into a clear patch at 3,000 feet, the boat was four miles ahead. As the Halifax came in the boat opened fire - this one was not crash-diving. The gunners’ aim was good. Hits were scored on the leading edge of the starboard wing between the engines, damaging the super-charger control, constant speed control unit, wing tank and with some slight damage to the outer starboard engine’s cowling. The navigator began to return fire with the VGO gun as Oulton continued the approach although the starboard outer was beginning to sound distinctly rough. Their remaining t