Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War campaign group of three awarded to Wellington wireless operator, Flight Sergeant, later Flying Officer, P. G. Lloyd, 195 Squadron, Royal Air Force, who flew in at least 22 operational sorties with the Squadron, including being ‘coned’ over Dortmund and attacked by a jet fighter over Kiel

1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; War Medal 1939-45, good very fine (3) £100-150

Peter G. Lloyd was born in Johnstown, near Wrexham, and educated at Ruabon Grammar School. He joined the ‘R.A.F. as an 18 year old in November 1942 and was mobilised in March 1943, assigned as a Wireless Operator and Air Gunner.’ (newspaper cutting refers)

Lloyd carried out his initial training at No. 4 R.S., Madley and No. 10 A.G.S., Barrow. After serving at No. 11 O.T.U., Westcott, June - August 1944, he was posted to 1651 Conversion Unit with whom he converted to Stirlings. Lloyd was posted for operational flying to 195 Squadron (Lancasters), Wratting Common, in December 1944. He flew in at least 22 operational sorties with the Squadron, including: Oberhausen; Hamm; Duisberg (2), including 22 January 1945, when ‘Coned’; Cologne; Vohwinkel (2); Castrop Rauxel; Ludwigshafen; Saarbrucken; Erkenschwick; Wanne Eickel; Dortmund (3), including 3 February 1945, when ‘attacked by fighters’ (Log Book refers); Hohenbudberg; Datteln; Kiel, 13 April 1945, when ‘attacked by Jet Fighter’ (Ibid); Heligoland; Bremen and Badoldesloe.

Lloyd described his tour of operations thus:

‘Most of our missions were to the Ruhr Valley - hitting the marshalling yards and factories. We called it Happy Valley and we usually carried a 4,000lb blockbuster bomb and 14 five hundred pounders. We’d form up over Oxfordshire and fly in formation to places like Kiel, Heligoland and Bremen. We were part of a 1,000 bomber raid on Dortmund in March 1945.

There were a fair number of daylight raids. I remember one to Ludwigshafen. We were promised reasonable cloud cover for most of the way, but over the target it was completely clear and I’d say every aircraft collected some souvenir shrapnel that day.

We’d been three times to Dortmund when we got ‘coned’. That was the nearest we came to buying it. Our pilot saved our bacon.’ (newspaper cutting refers).

Lloyd flew in Operation Manna in May 1945, and having advanced to Flying Officer was discharged from the R.A.F. in 1947.

Sold with Royal Air Force Navigator’s, Air Bomber’s and Air Gunner’s Flying Log Book (24 September 1943 - 11 August 1945), and newspaper cutting featuring an article on the recipient, including images of him, from the Wrexham Evening Leader, dated 7 May 2002.