Beschreibung:

An outstanding Spitfire and Typhoon Pilot’s ‘Normandy’ D.F.C. group of five awarded to Flying Officer Sydney ‘Crusher’ Croft, Nos. 72 and 247 Squadrons, Royal Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated 1945; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star, clasp, France & Germany; Defence & War Medals, together with his R.A.F. Pilot’s Flying Log Book for the period January 1941 to January 1947, excellent content with notes of more than 20 of his fellow pilots being shot down, and eleven original photographs, good very fine (5) £1200-1500 Footnote D.F.C. London Gazette 10 April 1945. The recommendation states: ‘Warrant Officer Croft is a Pilot of more than average ability, and has led the Squadron on many occasions with great success. On the 26th January he was detailed to lead an attack on an enemy strong-point in the Roermond area. Over the target the section was engaged by intense light and medium ‘flak’, but despite this, and showing a complete disregard for his own safety he led the aircraft in at low level to inflict heavy damage to the enemy. Not satisfied with this partial success he again led the formation into the attack, and on return to Base it was reported that the strong-point had been completely destroyed. Warrant Officer Croft has flown 92 operational sorties since ‘D’ Day, in France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany. He has always shown the utmost enthusiasm, and his aggressive spirit has helped considerably to maintain a high morale in the Squadron.’ After completing his flying training at various establishments, Flight Sergeant Sydney Croft was posted to No. 123 Squadron in August 1941, completing further formation and dog-fight training on Spitfires. On 1 September he was posted to No. 72 Squadron at Biggin Hill to commence his first tour of operations in Spitfires. On 2 October, twelve Spitfires encountered a group of 15 Me-109’s and several dog-fights ensued in which Croft thought he may have damaged one enemy aircraft: ‘Fired 3 bursts c & m/g. 1 Me.109F possibly hit, smoke stream from fuselage. Camera confirmation. 200 yds full beam.’ He had flown on a total of 17 operational sweeps and convoy patrols by the end of November when he was posted to No. 1 P.R.U. at Benson, for two months. Returning briefly to 72 Squadron in February 1942, but not engaged in flying, he was posted to No. 116 Squadron, where he was flying Lysanders and Ansons on A.A. and S.L.C. Calibration Flights until the end of October 1943. Refresher courses and further training and air tests on Spitfires, Hurricanes and Typhoons engaged him until the beginning of July 1944 when finally he was once again posted to an operational squadron - No. 247 Squadron based at St Croix. On Typhoons he excelled himself as a pilot, earning the nickname from his fellow pilots of ‘Crusher’ Croft. During June the squadron flew 410 sorties in support of the invasion fighting and throughout July and August the squadron was engaged in continuous Armed Reconnaissance and Rocket Projectile attack sorties against tanks, gun emplacements, troop concentrations and transport convoys in the area of the Falaise Gap, an historic period for the rocket firing Typhoons. The squadron was officially engaged on V.C.P. (Visual Control Post) flying in co-operation with the advancing Army formations which directed the strike aircraft on ‘cab-rank’ duty on to specific ground targets. The loss of pilots was heavy, the Typhoons being highly vulnerable to ground fire in their low level attacks and almost every page of ‘Crusher’ Croft’s Log Book records the loss of yet another of his comrades. On September 17 the wing attacked concentrated flak positions at Arnhem prior to operation ‘Market Garden’, 64 machines taking part with no losses, and on this day it is recorded in the squadron’s Operations Record Book that W/O Croft and two others were recommended for commissioning. On the following two days the weather was too bad to allow much flying as the Airborne invasio