THE FINE WW2 PILOT'S IMMEDIATE D.F.M. AWARDED TO FLIGHT SERGEANT R.A.F. WHO WAS DECORATED FOR HIS GALLANTRY DURING A TOUR OF OPERATIONS IN HALIFAXES OF 102 (CEYLON) SQUADRON IN 1943. BETWEEN JULY AND AUGUST 1943, HE TOOK PART IN ‘OPERATION HYDRA’, THE FIRST RAID BY THE R.A.F. ON THE GERMAN V-WEAPON SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH CENTRE AT PEENEMUNDE AND ‘OPERATION GOMORRAH’ THE HAMBURG ‘FIRESTORM' RAIDS. ASIDE, DURING A RAID ON ESSEN, HE TWICE LOST CONSCIOUSNESS DURING THE BOMBING RUN AND HAD TO BE BROUGHT AROUND BY THE FLIGHT ENGINEER. HE HAD AT LEAST TWO CLOSE ENCOUNTERS WITH ENEMY NIGHT FIGHTERS AND RETURNED TO BASE IN FLAK DAMAGED AIRCRAFT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. HE TOOK PART IN 33 OPERATION SORTIES DURING 1943

DISTINGUISHED FLYING MEDAL, G.VI.R. ‘1063992 F./SGT. B. R. MOSS, R.A.F.’

D.F.M. London Gazette 2 November 1943, the original recommendation for an Immediate Award states:

'Flight Sergeant Moss has completed 33 operational sorties. On numerous occasions his aircraft has been damaged quite severely by enemy action, but he has never failed to bring his aircraft back safely. His determination to press home the attack is outstanding and on 27 July 1943, whilst attacking Essen, his oxygen supply failed at a great height. He carried on with his sortie, however, with the result that he lost consciousness twice during his bombing run.

All Flight Sergeant Moss's sorties, many of them against strongly defended targets, have been marked by the same coolness and determination and his excellent captaincy has proved him to be a very valuable member of the Bomber Force. In view of the above, I strongly recommend Flight Sergeant Moss for the immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.

Remakes by Station Commander:

I cannot speak too highly of this NCO’s operational record. Behind a smiling and consistently cheerful exterior he hides great courage and determination. He has proved an excellent captain and is largely responsible for his crew’s successes. I consider that this NCO’s magnificent record fully justifies the immediate award of the D.F.M.”

Bryan Rigg Moss commenced his operational career as a pilot in Coastal Command in January 1943, when he flew half a dozen anti-U-boat patrols, in one of which he engaged two blockade runners. But his subsequent award of the D.F.M. stemmed from his gallant services as a pilot in No. 102 (Ceylon) Squadron, a Halifax unit based…………………………

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Sold with:

1) An original signed postagram from 'Bomber' Harris, congratulating the recipient on his award of the D.F.M., dated 19 October 1943
2) Air Ministry Gazette notification, detailing recommendation
3) A wartime newspaper cutting with report and photograph of his Buckingham Palace investiture.

Condition GVF. With a quantity of copied research, including Gazettes, D.F.M. Recommendation, which includes details of all sorties to that point and copy 102 Squadron Operational Logs.

A fine Immediate D.F.M. NCO pilot’s who saw a great deal of action.