Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A good Caterpillar Club membership group of three awarded to Flight Sergeant W. A. Boyd, Royal Air Force, who was compelled to take to his parachute in the famous Peenemunde raid of August 1943

1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal 1939-45, together with the recipient’s Caterpillar Club membership badge, gold, with ruby eyes, the reverse officially inscribed, ‘Sgt. W. A. Boyd’, good very fine or better (4) £400-500

William Alexander “Bill” Boyd participated in the famous Peenemunde raid on the night of 17-18 August 1943, flying in Lancaster JA 892 of No. 49 Squadron, which was shot down by night fighters and crashed near Greifswald. Two crew members were killed but the remainder, including Boyd, baled out and were taken P.O.W.

Two accounts of the aircraft’s fate are to be found in Martin Middlebrook’s Peenemunde Raid, one of them, by the Navigator, Flying Officer Philip Duckham, stating:

‘Almost immediately after taking up our new heading, after bombing, we were attacked from the rear. The Rear Gunner was able to give avoiding instructions of about two ‘Turn ports’ before the ‘Go!’ He discharged his guns at about the same time as the enemy fighter discharged his. How successful our shots were, I cannot say. We were hit but, in view of what followed, I do not think the full extent of the damage to the aircraft from this attack. The last words uttered by the Rear Gunner were, “The bastard’s got my sights.” The bastard had also got him!

At almost the same time as the attack from the rear, we were again attacked, this time from the starboard beam. The starboard wing was set alight and, as the flames would reach the petrol tanks in a few seconds, causing the aircraft to explode, the pilot gave the order to abandon aircraft ... ’

Boyd was latterly incarcerated in Stalag 4B at Muhlberg on the Elbe; sold with a commemorative envelope of the First Reunion of the Caterpillar Club 1968.