Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Sergeant (Flight Engineer) J. L. Fallows, 189 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who was killed in action when his Lancaster was shot down by flak whilst on bombing sortie over Rositz Oil refinery during Operation Thunderclap, the Dresden raid, on 14-15 February 1945

1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; War Medal 1939-45, with named Air Council enclosure, in card box of issue, addressed to ‘J. Fallows, Esq., 232 Turncroft Lane, Stockport, Cheshire.’, extremely fine (3) £140-£180

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to Second World War Royal Air Force Casualties.

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James Levi Fallows served during the Second World War as a Flight Engineer initially with 50 Squadron from September 1944, before transferring to 189 Squadron, flying Lancasters, in January 1945- with his crew took part in 16 operational sorties including attacks on such targets as Kharlsruhe (The Durlacher machine plant), Wilhelmshaven, Bremen (The AG Weser Shipyards), Politz, Brux, and Royon. The Royon raid was a particularly tragic one- the Germans had given the people of Royon a chance to leave the city which was under siege by the free French army. On 10 December 1944 an American air force officer suggested to the French that Royon should be ‘softened up’. The French assured the Americans that there were no civilians in the town and those who may be there were collaborators. Bomber Command was ordered to attack the garrison dropping 1576 tons of high explosives including 285 4000lb blockbuster bombs. 90% of the town was destroyed and between 500 to 800 civilians killed. Bomber Command was exonerated but the recriminations continued for many years after the war. One French General committed suicide.

Between 13-15 February 1945 bomber command carried out the mighty raid on Dresden under the code name Operation Thunderclap. Fallows and his crew flew both the main Dresden raid on the night of 13-14 February, and the following night were detailed to attack the oil refineries at Rositz, near Leipzig. Fallows was killed in action when Lancaster RA517, piloted by Flying Officer A. C. Strachan, was shot down during the latter raid, on 14-15 March 1945. The aircraft came down 5 kilometres west of Wittenberg, close to the remains of another four engined bomber. All the crew were killed.

Fallows is buried in Berlin War Cemetery, Germany. His medals were sent to his father, James Fallows.

Sold with copied research.