THE SUPERB POSTHUMOUS 'MALTA 1941' D.F.M. AWARDED TO A MARYLAND I AIR-GUNNER WHO IN TANDEM TO HIS PILOT, WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGING OR DESTROYED AT LEAST ‘ THREE ITALIAN FLYING BOATS AND, IN ONE MACHINE GUN ATTACK ON AN ENEMY AERODROME, DESTROYED ONE ENEMY AIRCRAFT AND DAMAGED SEVERAL OTHERS.' HE DIED OF WOUNDS ON THE RETURN FROM HIS 45TH OPERATIONAL SORTIE

DISTINGUISHED FLYING MEDAL, G.VI.R. ‘550958. SGT. C. CLARK. R.A.F.’

D.F.M. London Gazette 16 September 1941, the original citation states:

'Sergeants Clark and Mutimer have displayed a high standard of ability throughout the 40 operational missions in which they have participated as wireless operator-air gunner and air observer respectively. Sergeant Clark showed great keenness to engage the enemy, using his guns with damaging effect, while Sergeant Mutimer always willingly co-operated with his pilot when the opportunity for offensive action occurred. They have damaged or destroyed three Italian flying boats and, in one machine gun attack on an enemy aerodrome, destroyed one enemy aircraft and damaged several others.'

Sergeant Campbell Clark joined 69 Squadron on Malta as a Wireless Operator and Air Gunner on 14 March 1941, taking part in his first mission on 19 March 1941; a patrol of the Sicilian Straits with Pilot Officer Wylde. Equipped with Glenn Martin Maryland I’s, the squadron had just 7 of this type on 31 March 1941, to which was added a Hurricane in April and a 2nd Hurricane in May. However over the following few months, the squadron usually had only 5 or 6 serviceable Maryland’s and at the end of August it had just 1! The Maryland I was a twin engined light bomber, mainly used for reconnaissance by the British, however it had good speed, manoeuvrability and was heavily armed, having a fuselage turret and four wing mounted guns. The armament made it good for ground attack duties and it could hold its own in combat, indeed one pilot, the famed Wing Commander Adrian Warbuton DSOx2, DFCx3, even became an Ace on the type (Clark flew with him once):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Maryland

During March and April, Clark took part in 10 sorties, flying with 7 different pilots but in May, he joined the crew of Pilot Officer Drew with whom he would fly with for the majority of his time with 69. Taking part in 9 soties in May, mainly patrols of Sicily, Tunis and Tripoli, on 25 May they ‘descended to 50 ft and machinegunned a flying boat’ in Lampedusa harbour………….

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At the time of his death, Sergeant Clark had taken part in 45 operational sorties with 69 Squadron.

Condition NEF, complete with its original ribbon pin. Sold together with an original Central Chancery invitation to Buckingham Palace and copied research, including copies of his original recommendation and all his sorties extracted from the 69 Squadron Operational Record Book (digital).

A particularly fine and scarce ‘Malta’ Squadron to an air gunner who had considerable success with his guns.