Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second World War Mosquito night fighter pilot’s D.F.C., Belgian Croix de Guerre, group of six awarded to Warrant Officer D. Taylor, 157 Squadron, Royal Air Force, who intercepted and destroyed two enemy aircraft whilst on high level intruder operations over Germany

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1945’, and additionally engraved ‘1265920 D. Taylor.’; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Belgium, Kingdom, Croix de Guerre, L.III.R., bronze, with bronze palm, mounted for wear, generally good very fine or better (6) £2,600-£3,000

D.F.C. London Gazette 6 November 1945. The original recommendation states:

‘Warrant Officer Taylor has completed a number of long range sorties which have included attacks on such targets as Cologne, Mannheim and Frankfurt. During this time he has destroyed two enemy aircraft. He has completed many sorties in difficult circumstances and has set a fine example to other pilots.’

Belgium, Croix de Guerre avec Palmes London Gazette 27 June 1947:

‘In recognition of valuable services rendered in connection with the liberation of Belgium.’

The Belgian citation states:

‘For the courage and bravery he has shown in glorious battles that brought the liberation of Belgium.’

Denis Taylor born in November 1921 in Norden, Rochdale. He studied Civil Engineering prior to the War, and joined the Royal Air Force in September 1940. Taylor carried training in Canada, after which he was posted as a pilot to ‘A’ Flight, 157 Squadron (Mosquitos) at Swannington as part of No. 100 Group. The Squadron being a night fighter unit tasked with intruder patrols over Germany. Taylor was crewed with Flight Sergeant S. J. Radford as his navigator, and they flew in at least 29 operational sorties together, and destroyed two enemy aircraft.

The first success was a Me.110 on 17-18 December 1944 (see photograph included in the lot); the combat report gives the following:

‘One Mosquito of 157 Squadron, Pilot W/O Taylor, Navigator F/Sgt Radford, was airborne Swannington 04.00 Hrs. on the 18 December 1944 on High Level Support Patrol W. Ruhr. Patrol was reached at 05.49 Hrs. at 06.50 Hrs., 13,000 ft. 5 miles west of Duisburg a contact was obtained 8 miles away and 30 degrees above crossing port to starboard. Target was chased for 5 minutes on 230(M) when a visual was obtained at 1,500ft. It was identified as a ME110 with long range tanks and a blue “RESIN” light on the starboard. Pilot distinguished small twin fins and rudder and square-out wing tips which was confirmed by the navigator using night glasses at a range of 600ft. Pilot closed to 300ft. astern and slightly to port and gave a 2-second burst. The fuselage blew up at the port wing root; flames came back over the tail and debris and oil covered the Mosquito’s windscreen. The enemy aircraft went down in a dive slightly to port and a few seconds later, viz, 07.00hrs, a bright flash was reflected on low scattered cloud covering the ground approximately position 5114N 0635E (N.W. Neuss).’

The pair also intercepted and destroyed a Ju.88 on 18-19 March 1945:

‘One Mosquito of 157 Squadron, Pilot W/O Taylor, Navigator, F/S Radford, was airborne Swannington at 0242 hrs. on 19th March, 1945 on High Level Intruder Patrol in the target area in support of Bomber Command attach on Hanau.

157/K reached the Hanau area at 0425 hrs and almost immediately obtained an A.I. contact which resulted in combat.

W/O Taylor Reports:

“We were airborne Swannington at 0242 hrs on the 19th March, 1945 and reached patrol which was the target area (Hanau) at 0425 hrs. My Navigator immediately told me he had an A.I. contact head on and crossing slightly starboard to port. He then said “Hard port 160 degs” which we did and the contact was held at 5000 ft and doing quite violent evasive action. The contact was followed through two rough orbits to port and a visual obtained at 1500 ft by the light of the prang. I closed to 600 ft and definitely identified as a Ju. 88 and then fired a one second burst which resulted in strikes on fuselage and starboard wing. The enemy aircraft dived steeply to port and I followed visually and gave him a 2 second burst at 30 degs deflection; which caused an explosion in the port engine and wing root. He then went straight down, and somewhere on the way down broke into two pieces and crashed in position 5014/0905 and burnt quite nicely for a long time. We left patrol at 0535 hrs and reached base at 0728 hrs and landed at 0731 hrs. I claim 1 Ju. 88 destroyed.’ (Combat Report for 18/19 March 1945 refers)

The successful pair received recognition when Taylor was awarded the D.F.C. and Radford the D.F.M. (which has recently appeared for sale on the open market). Taylor was discharged as Warrant Officer in May 1946, and returned to his studies after recuperating from illness.

Sold with the following original related items and documents: Bestowal Document for Croix de Guerre; Campaign Medal card box of issue, addressed to ‘D. Taylor Esq., Room 9. York Private Brompton Hospital, London S.W.3.’, with enclosure slip; Cap Badge; Royal Air Force Service and Release Book; typed copy of Combat Report for 18-19 March 1945; several photographs, including one of recipient in uniform, one showing the destruction of a Me.110 - officially annotated ‘18-12-44 W/O Taylor, Me.110’ and glazed and framed group photograph of 157 Squadron; letter addressed to recipient whilst in Brompton Hospital informing him that specific medication has been requested on his behalf by Lt. General J. H. Doolittle and is being sent for his benefit from America, dated 8 June 1948; a short typed 157 Squadron History, compiled by Flight Lieutenant J. R. V. Smythe, covering the period from 15 December 1941 to 16 August 1945, and published by the Intelligence Section, R.A.F. Station Swannington; with other ephemera.