Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Flight Sergeant (Wireless Operator / Air Gunner) S. J. Lytle, 44 Squadron, Royal Air Force, who was killed in action when his Hampden was shot down by heavy flak on a bombing sortie to Hamm, on 8-9 July 1941

1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal 1939-45, with named Air Council enclosure and medal ticket, in card box of issue, addressed to ‘J. S. Lytle, Esq., The Square, Coalisland, Co. Tyrone, N.I.’, the address label on the box of issue somewhat defaced but still legible, the medals extremely fine (3) £300-£400

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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Provenance: Squadron Leader David Haller Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, March 2014.

Samuel John Lytle served during the Second World War as a Wireless Operator / Air Gunner with 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron from March 1941, then operating in Hampdens out of R.A.F. Waddington and commanded by Wing Commander R. A. B. “Babe” Learoyd, V.C. Between May and July 1941 his crew flew 10 sorties including Cologne four times, and bombing the German battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau and the U-Boat Pens at Lorient.

Lytle was killed in action when Hampden AD840, piloted by Sergeant A. W. Wilson, was shot down after being hit by very heavy flak over the target area whilst on a bombing raid, led by Learoyd himself, on the Marshalling yards at Hamm, on 8-9 July 1941. All the crew were lost.

Lytle is buried alongside his crew in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany. His medals were sent to his father, John S. Lytle.

Sold with copied research, including a newspaper cutting containing a photographic image of the recipient.