Beschreibung:

Introduction Bomber Command’s offensive will probably be best remembered for such epic achievements as the “Dambuster” raid in May 1943, or, for that matter, the horrifying “firestorms” it caused at Hamburg just two months later and the equivalent devastation inflicted on Dresden in February 1945. But no less notable was the gallant - but costly - strike made against the enemy’s rocket research establishment at Peenemünde on the night of 17-18 August 1943, when, for the first time, such a large force - nearly 600 aircraft - was concentrated on such a small target: at its head, with the hair-raising task of ensuring no less than three separate aiming points were accurately marked, was “Master Bomber” Group Captain John Searby, D.F.C., who Guy Gibson had earlier described as being a man blessed with ‘truly exceptional’ courage and powers of leadership. Nor did Searby fail to deliver, his skilful assessment of the unfolding drama and his cool-headed radio commentary gaining the desired effect, his force bombing with such accuracy that a vital delay to the V-2 rocket programme was achieved in a single stroke - “it was just as though he was in the room talking to you - absolutely fantastic”, later commented one pilot. But it was not just Searby’s calming influence that was so noticeable to fellow aircrew, for he remained over the moonlit target area for 45 minutes, a period that witnessed him seeing a number of our own 4000lb. bombs spinning earthwards within a few feet of his Lancaster, and making seven separate runs over the inferno below, latterly while witnessing enemy night fighters extract a cruel price for the audacity of the raid - around 40 of our aircraft were brought down with a resultant loss of more than 280 aircrew, while Searby was fortunate to survive an attack on his own Lancaster by an Me. 110. In the event, the operation was a complete success, and established for good the role of “Master Bomber” within the P.F.F. Just seven days later, for what one historian would afterwards describe as ‘one of the greatest acts of individual bravery of the War’, the King approved the award of Searby’s immediate D.S.O. Later still, Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Arthur T. Harris, G.C.B., O.B.E., A.F.C., concluded: ‘Air Commodore John Searby, D.S.O., D.F.C., served under my command during the war with outstanding distinction and determination - as his hard won decorations go to show. As “Master Bomber” he controlled the entire attack on the enemy’s rocket and flying bomb experimental station at Peenemünde and did it so successfully and thoroughly that the effect postponed the rocket and flying bomb attacks on this country for a considerable and vital period ... That was but one of his many outstanding exploits during the war and this country owes much to him and his ilk.’ The Property of Mrs. D. C. Searby The highly important Second World War D.S.O., D.F.C. group of eight awarded to Air Commodore J. H. Searby, “Master of Ceremonies” on the occasion of the famous Peenemünde raid in August 1943: the success of the operation proved decisively the value of “Master Bomber” tactics and caused a vital delay to the V-2 rocket programme Distinguished Service Order, G.VI.R. 1st issue, silver-gilt and enamels, the reverse of the suspension bar officially dated ‘1943’; Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated ‘1943’; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star, clasp, Atlantic; Defence and War Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1945-48 (Act. Gp. Cpt., R.A.F.); Coronation 1953, mounted as worn, contact wear, generally very fine or better (8) £30,000-40,000 Footnote D.S.O. London Gazette 7 September 1943. The original recommendation for an immediate award states: ‘On the night of 17-18 August 1943, when a heavy and extremely concentrated bombing attack was conducted against the Radio Research Laboratories at Peenemünde, Group Captain Searby, who had twice carried out similar tasks, was orde