Orders, Decorations and Medals

An important night-fighter D.F.C., D.F.M., Battle of Britain group of six awarded to the Radar Operator ‘Ace’ Warrant Officer W. N. Addison, Royal Air Force, No. 85 Squadron
Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated 1943 and additionally engraved (622668 W/O, 85 Sqadn. R.A.F.); Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (622688 A.C.1, R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star, clasp, Battle of Britain; Air Crew Europe Star, clasp, France and Germany; Defence and War Medals, these last four privately named (W/O, R.A.F.) the medals have been lacquered, otherwise good very fine (6)

D.F.M. London Gazette 15 July, 1941, Aircraftman 1st class, No. 85 Squadron, “This airman has displayed excellent skill and has taken part in the destruction of three enemy aircraft at night.”
D.F.C. London Gazette 19 February, 1943, Warrant Officer, No. 85 Squadron, “This airman is an observer of high merit. Since being awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal he has participated in the destruction of 3 enemy aircraft at night. His fine example and unflagging devotion have been worthy of high praise.”
William Nathan Addison joined No. 23 Squadron on 14 August, 1940, at Wittering, and served with it during the Battle of Britain as Air Gunner. The Squadron operated as a night-fighter unit and was equipped with Bristol Blenheim 1f’s. In early 1941 he was posted to No. 85 Squadron, another night-fighter squadron, then commanded by Squadron Leader Peter Townsend D.F.C. Based at Debden and subsequently at Hunson, he entered what was to be a long and highly successful partnership with the Canadian pilot, Flight Lieutenant Gordon Raphael. Their first success came on the night of the 10th May, 1941, when in their American Douglas Havoc1, they destroyed a Heinkel 111. This was the night of the great raid on London during which 100,000 incendiary bombs were dropped, destroying the Chamber of the House of Commons, and damaging many other famous buildings. Three nights later they shot down another HE 111 and probably a second, and on 23rd June destroyed a JU 88. This last engagement was not without incident as the rear-gunner of the JU 88 managed to get in a burst of tracer fire at their Havoc, Addison being scorched on the thigh by a bullet which passed between his legs! With 3 kills now confirmed, Raphael received a bar to his Battle of Britain D.F.C., and Addison the D.F.M. On 13th July they destroyed a HE 111 and on the 16th September got a JU 88 which they sent crashing into the sea off Clacton. Throughout the Autumn of 1942 and Spring of 1943, Addison and Raphael flew together on many night interceptor patrols but without any further kills. In May 1942, Addison was promoted to Warrant Officer and Raphael took over command of the squadron. He was probably not the most popular of commanding officers because, being a non-smoker and also teetotal, he objected to his pilots drinking and smoking, as he felt it impaired their reflexes. On the 31st July they damaged a JU 88 and in early August addison attended a course for conversion to Mosquitoes with which the squadron was now being equipped. On the 17th January, 1943, flying a Mosquito 11F, this successful partnership claimed their last kill, driving a Ju 88 down, in flames, into the sea off Bradwell Bay. Addison was awarded a well merited D.F.C. and, on the 12th February flew his last operational patrol. Squadron Leader Raphael left 85 Squadron at this time having been awarded the D.S.O. and with 7 confirmed kills to his credit. All but one of these kills were made when flying with his regular tean-mate, William Addison.
Sold with detailed Combat Reports for all of the above kills taken from Air Ministry records, a full resumé of Addison’s combat missions, and other research.