THE VERY FINE SECOND WAR 1945 DFC, MEDALS AND DOCUMENTS GROUP AWARDED TO A W/O FLIGHT ENGINEER WHO FLEW WITH NO LESS THAN 6 LANCASTER SQUADRONS 1942-45, INCLUDING 84 PATHFINDER’S, TAKING PART IN 51 SORTIES, MANY TO SOME OF THE MOST HEAVILY DEFENDED TARGETS IN GERMANY, INCLUDING 3 IN A ROW TO BERLIN IN 1943, HIS AIRCRAFT BEING HIT ON NUMEROUS OF OCCASIONS, HIS NAVIGATOR BEING WOUNDED AND HIS AIRCRAFT A WRITE OFF AFTER ONE SORTIE. SOLD WITH HIS FATHER RFC/RAF WW1 PAIR

DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, G.VI.R., REVERSE OFFICIALLY DATED ‘1945’, WITH CASE OF ISSUE, 1939-45 STAR; AIR CREW EUROPE STAR, CLASP, FRANCE AND GERMANY; ITALY STAR, DEFENCE AND WAR MEDALS 1939-45, IN NAMED CARD BOX OF ISSUE, WITH UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR AIR ENCLOSURE SLIP AND TICKER TAPE.

BRITISH WAR AND VICTORY 1914-20 ‘46288 CPL H. EMERSON R.A.F’

D.F.C. London Gazette 20 July 1945. The original recommendation, dated 16 March 1945:

"Warrant Officer Emerson has successfully completed a large number of bombing sorties as flight engineer, the majority of which have been against heavily defended targets. This Warrant Officer is at present engaged on his second tour of operations in Bomber Command. Before being posted to 195 squadron he had completed an operational tour in Lancaster aircraft, during which he had taken part in a number of long night bombing raids including three sorties to Berlin, two to Modane, and exceptionally long flight to Friedrichsharen there after landing in North Africa. Since commencing his second operational bombing tour he has continued to display outstanding ability as a flight engineer, and has already participated in a number of day and night raids, including two operations of deep penetration to Dresden and Chemnitz on two consecutive nights. Warrant officer Emerson has set a magnificent example to other less experienced Flight Engineers and his stamina and courage in action have been to a very high order."

Covering remarks from Station Commander:

“Since joining 195 Squadron Warrant Officer Emerson has made an excellent contribution to the work of a first class crew. I strongly support the Squadron Commanders recommendation.”

WARRANT OFFICER (1172804) HERBERT DUDLEY EMERSON, ROYAL AIR FORCE

Herbert Dudley Emerson was born in Doncaster on April 14 1920 and joined the Royal Air Force on 16 July 1940. Initially AC2, Flight Mechanic (Engineer), after training he served with 49 Squadron from 12 July 1941. Advanced to LAC on 31 December 1941, he remained with 49 Squadron (Lancasters) until September 1942, flying one sortie to Wilhelmshaven on 14 September as a Corporal Air Gunner; presumably as extra crew. Recommended for training as a Flight Engineer on 28 October 1942, after training, he joined 207 Squadron (Lancasters) as a Flight Engineer (Fight Sergeant) on 9 March 1943. Over the next two plus years, Emerson would take part in a further 50 operational sorties as a Lancaster Flight Engineer with numerous squadrons. He was advanced to Warrant Officer 1945, by which time he was a highly experienced Flight Engineer, who had taken part in sorties against many of the most highly defended targets in Germany, including three in a row to Berlin with 83 Pathfinder Squadron in November/December 1943. Emerson’s last posting was to 138 Special Duties Squadron in April 1945, his initial sorties against targets in Germany, before taking part in seven sorties; ‘Operation Exodus’ from 10 May 1945, which were ferrying Prisoners of War back from Europe. He was finally released from service on 22 March 1946. Herbert Emerson passed away on June 18, 1985, at age 65. He was buried in Redstone Cemetery, Redhill………………

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Condition NEF an extremely fine and comprehensive group to a highly experienced Lancaster Light Engineer.