Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War Halifax navigator’s D.F.C. group of six awarded to Flying Officer W. Downey, 420 (Snowy Owl) Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, who flew in at least 34 operational sorties with the Squadron, and whose crew claimed an enemy aircraft damaged over Kiel, 15 September 1944

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1945’; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence Medal, Canadian issue in silver; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, with Overseas clasp; War Medal 1939-45, Canadian issue in silver, with R.C.A.F. cap badge, several buttons and lapel ephemera, generally good very fine (6) £1,600-£2,000

D.F.C. London Gazette 16 January 1945:

‘Flying Officer Downey, as Navigator in Flying Officer Gallen’s crew, has displayed throughout his tour exceptional qualities of leadership and coolness in action. His ability as navigator is unquestionable and although his sorties included some of the enemy’s most heavily defended areas, Flying Officer Downey, with complete disregard of any opposition, guided his aircraft directly to the target. The success of this crew on their operational tour was due in no small measure to the co-operation, coolness and devotion to duty of this officer.’

Wilfred Downey was born in Toronto, Canada, in August 1915. He was educated at Weston Collegiate and Vocational School, Ontario, and joined the Royal Canadian Air Force as an AC2 in June 1942. After carrying out his initial training in Canada, including at No. 4 A.O.S., London, Ontario, Downey was posted to the UK at the end of 1943.

Having advanced to Pilot Officer, Downey served at No. 24 O.T.U. and No. 1664 Conversion Unit. During this period he was crewed with his eventual pilot Flying Officer R. M. Gallen. Downey was posted as a Navigator for operational flying with 420 (Snowy Owl) Squadron, R.C.A.F. (Halifaxes) at Tholthorpe, Yorkshire, in June 1944. He flew in at least 34 operational sorties with the Squadron, including: Bientque; Bamieres; Foret d’Eauvy; Biennais (2); Coquereux; Caen (2) including 7 July 1944, ‘Concentration of tanks, guns, troops... light & heavy flak, congrat by the Army, Good Show’ (Log Book refers); Thiverny; Wesseling; Ferne de Forestel; Enternois; Foret de Nieppe (2); Bois de Cassan; St. Leu d’Esserent; La Hogue; Fore de Chantilly; La Pallice; Falaise; Melsbroek Aerodrome (Brussels); Kiel (2) including 15 September 1944, ‘Built up area 1x2000 12 Cans 416 inc. 19000ft. Two attacks by enemy fighters. One Me.210 Damaged’ (Ibid); Connantres Marshalling Yards; Foret des Cornouailles; Ile de Cezembre Coastal Battery; Le Havre (2); Castrop Rauxel Oil Plant; Wanne Eickel; Boulogne; Sterkrade; Bergen and Dortmund.

Downey advanced to Flying Officer, and continued to serve with Gallen as part of No. 62 Base Test Flight, October 1944 - June 1945. Downey was invested with his D.F.C. at Buckingham Palace, 13 July 1945, the following month. He was discharged in October 1945.

Sold with the following original documentation: Royal Canadian Air Force Flying Log Book for Aircrew other than Pilot (25 May 1943 - 14 June 1945); Royal Canadian Air Force Sight Log Book (23 June 1943 - 17 February 1944); R.C.A.F. Certificate of Active Service, dated 1 October 1945; R.C.A.F. Service and Pay Book; R.A.F. Identity Card, complete with photograph of recipient in uniform; Royal Air Force School Notebook, fully annotated by recipient as a Pilot Officer, and other ephemera relating to recipient’s Will and family matters.