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At about this time, as well, two very surprised members of No. 105 Squadron, Flight Lieutenant Parry and Pilot Officer Robson, were told to report for an operational sortie - in lounge suits. Pilot and navigator were even more amazed when they saw their aircraft. The R.A.F. roundels had vanished, and it no longer carried any numbering or lettering. Crew and aircraft were as incognito as the R.A.F. could make them. Their object: to run the gauntlet of enemy fighters and deliver a diplomatic bag to the British Embassy in Stockholm. Parry and Robson reached Stockholm just a few minutes before a German Ju. 52 arrived with a load of Goebbels’ propaganda staff. That night the R.A.F. officers enjoyed the wonderful food and the street lighting of the neutral capital. Then, after their night off from rations and the blackout, they flew home with inward Foreign Office despatches and changed back into uniform.’ Mosquito - The Wooden Wonder, by Edward Bishop refers. A particularly fine Second World War D.F.C. and Bar group of five awarded to Squadron Leader V. G. “Robby” Robson, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, a long served Navigator in Blenheims and Mosquitos and a veteran of over 70 operational sorties, among them the famous daylight low-level strike on Gestapo H.Q. Oslo in September 1942; so, too, in the same year, equally memorable outings to Sweden on a top secret mission and the famous daylight strike on the Phillips Radio Works at Eindhoven - a fine operational record enhanced by no less than 10 trips to Berlin, including the first attempted daylight raid on the “Big City” when his aircraft was shot up by 109s: his pilot, “George” Parry compared him to a homing pigeon, ‘for no matter how bad the weather, he always pinpointed exactly’ Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., with Second Award Bar, the reverse of the Cross officially dated ‘1942’ and the Bar ‘1943’; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted as worn, contact marks, generally very fine (5) £4000-5000 Footnote D.F.C. London Gazette 22 September 1942. The original recommendation states: ‘On 25 August 1942, Pilot Officer Robson was the navigator of an aircraft detailed to attack Knapsack (Cologne) power station in daylight. The weather conditions at the time were almost clear sky, good visibility though some ground haze. The whole operation was carried out at low-level and demanded the highest standard of navigation and precise map reading. In spite of ground haze and the accumulation of insects on the windscreen, Pilot Officer Robson navigated the aircraft exactly as planned with the result that the attack was delivered with great success at a precise time. Pilot Officer Robson carried out 35 operational sorties during his first tour of operations. In this, his second tour, he has completed 10 sorties in clear weather by day, all involving deep penetration into enemy territory and good navigation. At all times he has displayed great keenness and initiative.’ Bar to D.F.C. London Gazette 9 February 1943. The original recommendation states: ‘In September 1942 this officer participated as navigator of the leading aircraft in the successful attack on Gestapo Headquarters in Oslo. This operation, which demanded most accurate navigation, careful planning and map reading was accomplished with skill and resource by Flying Officer Robson. After bombing the target, he directed his pilot through a successful evasion action when the aircraft was attacked by three enemy fighters. This officer had displayed a high order of gallantry and devotion to duty.’ Victor George “Robby” Robson was born in Derby in 1912, where he attended St. James’s Church School and excelled at sports - he played football for the Derby Boys and won the Derbyshire 100 yards sprint championship. After leaving school he was employed at British Celanese Ltd. but, on the eve of hostilities, he enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. First operational tour - Blenheims