Orders, Decorations and Medals

Three: Sergeant F. J. Richards, No. 115 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal 1939-45; together with named condolence slip; card box of issue addressed to father in Wickham, Hampshire; and R.A.F. Observer’s and Air Gunner’s Flying Log Book, covering period 15 January 1943 - 2 August 1943, extremely fine (3) £200-250

Sergeant (Air Gunner) F. J. Richards was killed in action on 2 August 1943 when his Lancaster failed to return from a bombing mission over Hamburg. He is buried at Becklingen War Cemetery, Germany.

The following operations are amongst those recorded in his log book: 12.5.1943 - Duisburg bombing; 13.5.1943 - Bochun bombing; 23.5.1943 - Dortmond bombing; 25.5.1943 - Dusseldorf bombing; 27.5.1943 - Essen bombing; 29.5.1943 - Wupperthal bombing; 12.6.1943 - Bochum bombing (Bags of fighter chop); 22.6.1943 - Mulhiem bombing; 25.6.1943 - Gelsenckirchen (Attacked by F.W.190- holed by flak); 28 June 1943 - Cologne bombing (flak off Dutch coast); 13.9.1943 - Aachen bombing (Rear Gunner J.F. Bowden was hit by flak); 27 July 1943 - Hamburg bombing (Made history - over 2,000 tons); 29.7.1943 - Hamburg bombing (heaviest raid of the war); 2.8.1943 - Missing on air operations against Hamburg.