Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second World War Path Finder’s D.F.M. group of four awarded posthumously to Flight Sergeant Geoffrey Woodcock, 7 Squadron, Royal Air Force, an Air Gunner who was killed when his Lancaster bomber was shot down by enemy night fighters whilst on a raid against Hannover in September 1943

Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (1138811 F/Sgt. G. Woodcock, R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal, these last three in card box of issue addressed to his father together with named condolence slip, 12 photographs, various official correspondence, and his father’s Great War pair (031321 A. Sjt. F. Woodcock, A.O.C.), extremely fine (6) £1400-1600

D.F.M. London Gazette 10 December 1943. A recommendation for this award has not been traced.

Flight Sergeant Geoffrey Woodcock was the air gunner on Lancaster bomber No. JA849 which on the night of 27/28 September 1943 took off from its base at R.A.F. Oakington for a raid on Hannover. While on route to the target the aircraft was attacked by an enemy night fighter and the aircraft exploded in mid air killing six of the seven crew members. The seventh crew member Pilot Officer J. Kanelakos (Air Gunner) became a prisoner of war after being blown clear by the explosion. The crew members who were killed are buried in the Rheinburg War Cemetery.