Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Sergeant (Navigator) J. Saffrey, 166 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who was killed in action when his Lancaster was shot down and crashed at Obermeiser, whilst on a bombing raid to Kassel, on 22-23 October 1943

1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal 1939-45, with named Air Council enclosure and medal tickets, in card box of issue, addressed to ‘Mrs. M. B. Saffrey, 56 Broadway, Mill Hill, London. N.W.7.’, 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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John Saffrey served during the Second World War as a Navigator with 166 Squadron. He commenced operational duties with the Squadron on 27 July 1943 when he flew in a Wellington, attacking Hamburg as part of Operation Gomorrah. He then flew on a further 11 sorties, including two more times on Operation Gomorrah, and mining operations off Lorient, the Frisian Islands, St Nazaire, and Brittany. A further bombing sortie was flown against La Portal Gun Battery emplacements.

166 Squadron switched from Wellingtons to Lancasters in September 1943, and Saffrey underwent Heavy Bomber conversion during early October. He was killed in action in his first operational sortie in a Lancaster when Lancaster ED366, piloted by Sergeant K. Hurst, was shot down near Obermeiser, south east of Warberg, whilst on a bombing raid to Kassel, on 22-23 October 1943. All the crew were killed except for the pilot, Hurst, who was taken Prisoner of War.

The Bomber Command War Diaries by Martin Middlebrook states:
‘Although the German decoy may have drawn off part of the bomber force the main raid was exceptionally accurate and concentrated. The result was the most devastating attack on a German city since the firestorm raid on Hamburg in July and the results at Kassal would not be exceeded again until well into 1944. The fires were so concentrated that there was a firestorm though not as extensive as the Hamburg one.’

Saffrey is buried in Hanover War Cemetery, Germany. His medals were sent to his widow, Marjorie Barrie Saffrey.

Sold with copied research.