Orders, Decorations and Medals

An evocative set of original Flying Log Books appertaining to Squadron Leader E. Richardson, D.F.C., Royal Air Force, whose early operational career spanned the Fall of France through to numerous cross-Channel sweeps in 1941, via the Battle of Britain, in which latter conflict he piloted Hurricanes in Douglas Bader’s 242 Squadron - and claimed a brace of “kills”

The first example covering the period July 1935 to July 1936, namely early flying experience in Wapitis of No. 31 Squadron out in India; the second the period September 1936 to December 1941, including operational flying in Hurricanes of No. 1 and No. 242 Squadrons in France and during the Battle of Britain, and in No. 258 in cross-Channel offensive sweeps from July 1941, and in Spitfires of No. 92 Squadron from October of the same year - and including seven Bader signatures as Squadron C.O.; and the third the period December 1941 to March 1947, the last seven pages of entries added in November 1945, following the temporary loss of this log book (endorsement refers); together with three old photographs of an official nature, bearing reverse copyright stamps, two of them with handwritten captions in Richardson’s hand, the whole pertinent to No. 242 Squadron; and an old typed wartime statement of services (Lot) £1800-2200

Eric Richardson was born in Scarborough in December 1912 and was educated at the local High School for Boys. Entering the Royal Air Force as an Apprentice in January 1929, he qualified as a Fitter before being selected for pilot training, initially gaining experience as a passenger in Wapitis of No. 31 Squadron in India. Returning home to A.S.T. Brough in September 1936, he was posted to No. 4 F.T.S. at Abu Sueir, Egypt that December and, on gaining his “Wings”, to No. 94 (B.) Squadron at Shaibah in Iraq in July 1937.

Having then returned home in early 1939, Richardson attended No. 1 A.A.C.U. at R.A.F. Squires Gate, in which capacity he was detached for Army Co-operation flights out of Abbeville, France in early 1940. Then in early June, having converted to Hurricanes, he served briefly in No. 1 Squadron before joining another Advanced Air Striking Force unit, No. 242 Squadron, at Chateaudun. Several offensive patrols ensued, primarily over the Nantes sector, until, on the 18th, the Squadron was withdrawn to the U.K. - Richardson flew back with no maps, ran out of fuel and landed on a beach near Minehead.

Two days later, 242’s exhausted, demoralised and battle-scarred pilots flew in to Coltishall to meet their new C.O., Acting Squadron Leader Douglas Bader. The latter’s forceful character was soon felt by all and he quickly dismissed any doubts about his tin-legged flying capabilities, putting on a spectacular 30 minute session of low-level aerobatics right over the airfield. Red tape, too, was swiftly brushed aside, mounds of paperwork quickly finding its way into the waste-paper basket, and an annoying desk-bound Officer (Equipment) at Fighter Command H.Q. received a memorable Bader-broadside. Far more noteworthy, however, was Bader’s related message to Group:

‘242 Squadron now operational as regards pilots but non-operational repeat non-operational as regards equipment.’

He had barely been with 242 a week. Quite what Richardson and his fellow pilots made of this extraordinary display remains a matter for debate. Certainly they were not amused by their new C.O’s thoughtless jab at the lack of proper shoes, ties and shirts being worn by them - he was quickly informed that most of their clothes had been left in France. But his immediate apology was better received, especially when he sent them all off to a tailor in Norwich at the Air Ministry’s expense.

There can be no doubt, however, that not all of 242’s pilots were willingly fitting into Bader’s required mould, dogmatic leader that he was. When Richardson and fellow pilots were taken up to lead a formation in dummy attacks, he would bark at them ‘like an exuberant mastiff’ if they made any errors. It must have been a difficult experience, most of them having seen far more action than their C.O., but failure to fit in with his future plans meant almost certain transfer. In fact Bader had just such transfers in mind when he first interviewed each pilot on his arrival, but clearly Richardson was a favoured candidate.

In early July, following a successful meeting with Dowding regarding equipment supply, Bader signalled Group:

‘242 Squadron now fully operational.’

And at this point Richardson’s relevant Flying Log Book records the first of numerous convoy patrols, and indeed his first “kill”, a Ju. 88 brought down in the sea off Lowestoft on the first day of August; so, too, a Ju. 88 on the last day of the month, his Flying Log Book noting that it broke its back on hitting the water and sank in a few seconds, and a confirmed Do. 17 on 9 September. Indeed 242 remained actively employed out of Coltishall - and later Duxford - until the Battle’s end, Richardson noting that he had never seen so many vapour trails while visiting the latter airfield on a daily basis in October.

In January 1941, shortly before Bader’s departure from 242, the Squadron flew its first cross-Channel offensive sortie, escorting a bomber strike on a target in France, Richardson observing that he ‘didn’t see any Jerries but plenty of A.A. fire. One machine holed in wing’. Commissioned in the following month, he remained actively employed on convoy patrols, Whitney Straight assuming command on the loss of Squadron Leader Treacy in mid-April 1941 - in fact losses climbed steadily over the summer, as 242 commenced flying “Circuses” on a more regular basis out of North Weald, but in a sweep on 17 June, Richardson added a brace of 109s damaged to his tally.

In July 1941, he transferred to 258 Squadron at Martlesham Heath in the rank of Flight Lieutenant, and flew around 60 convoy patrols over the next few weeks. He was recommended for the D.F.C. (London Gazette 9 September 1941):

‘This officer has been engaged in operations against the enemy for over a year and has destroyed two and damaged two hostile aircraft. He participated in evacuation patrols in France in June 1940, and, later on, fought in the Battle of Britain. Since February 1941, Flight Lieutenant Richardson has taken part in 11 bomber escorts and four Channel sweeps. He has displayed devotion to duty and has set an excellent example throughout.’

Then in October 1941 he was posted to 92 Squadron, a Spitfire unit operating out of Gravesend, and completed a brace of “Circuses” in the same month, in addition to numerous dusk patrols before he was finally “rested” in mid-December with an appointment in No. 53 Operational Training Unit (O.T.U.) at Llandow. Having then served in a similar capacity in No. 56 O.T.U. at Sutton Bridge from February to October 1942, he was posted to Northern Ireland as a Liaison Officer to the U.S.A.A.F., and was afterwards attached to the 8th U.S.A.A.F. H.Q. Indeed Richardson remained employed on similar ground duties until the War’s end - having attended the R.A.F. Staff College in early 1944, he joined Transport Command, served in North-West Europe at assorted “staging posts” and gained appointment as an Acting Squadron Leader.

Post-war, he qualified as an Intelligence Officer, served in the Middle East and was advanced to the substantive rank of Squadron Leader in January 1949. He was placed on the Retired List in October 1958 and died in September 1973.