A Second War ‘Bomber Command’ D.F.M. group of four awarded to Flying Officer W. H. Widger, Royal Air Force, who flew 28 operational sorties as Navigator Bomber with 103 Squadron and at least a further 3 operational sorties as Bomb Aimer with No 1 Group Special Duties Flight, before being killed during the raid on Mailly-le-Camp on 4 May 1944

Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (1339439 Sgt W. H. Widger. R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal 1939-45, mounted for wear, nearly extremely fine (4) £1,400-£1,800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Peter and Dee Helmore.

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D.F.M. London Gazette 13 July 1943.
The original Recommendation, dated 21 May 1943, states: ‘Sergeant Widger was posted to No. 103 Squadron on 7 February 1943, and since that date has completed 25 operational sorties, most of which have been against the more heavily defended German targets. His fearless determination to press home each attack with accuracy and vigour in spite of the heaviest defences has been largely responsible for the many successes he and his crew have achieved. His cheerfulness and excellent offensive spirit, together with his fine record of service, deserve high praise, and I recommend him for the non-immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.’

William Henry Widger was born in Dawlish, Devon in 1922. A Boiler-Maker’s Apprentice by occupation he enlisted in the Royal Air Force 21 July 1941. Having completed his training and promoted to Sergeant he was posted to 103 Squadron R.A.F. Elsham Woods. Flying Lancasters, his first operational sortie with this unit was a raid on Lorient on 16 February 1943; further operational sorties over the next three and a half months included Wilhelmshaven, Bremen, Nuremberg, Cologne, St. Nazaire (twice), Berlin (three times), Hamburg, Stuttgart, Essen (four times), Duisburg (five times), Keil, Spezia, Stettin, Dortmund, Bochum, Dusseldorf, and Wuppertal. For his services as Navigator Bomber on these 28 operational sorties he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal.

Granted an Emergency Commission as a Pilot Officer in the General Duties Branch, R.A.F. Volunteer Reserve on 26 September 1943, Widger was posted to 101 Squadron on 23 March 1944. Promoted to Flying Officer he was posted to No 12 Base 18 April 1944 and formed No 1 Group Special Duties Flight, R.A.F. Binbrook, acting as No 1 Group target marking force. As Bomb Aimer he successfully completed sorties on Maintenon and Lyons before taking part in the fateful raid on Mailly-le-Camp on 4 May 1944, during which his aircraft crashed near the village of St Remy-Sous-Barbuise, with the loss of the entire crew. He is buried alongside his crew in the collective grave No 2-4 of St Remy-Sous-Barbuise Churchyard, Aube, France.

Sold with copied Operational Records giving details of the recipient’s operational sorties, photographic images of the recipient and of his grave, together with considerable other research and a copy of the book ‘Battle Under the Moon – The Documented Account of Mailly-le-Camp 1944’ by Jack Currie.