Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War campaign group of four awarded to Lancaster and Dakota navigator, Flight Lieutenant E. A. F. Hall, Royal Air Force, who flew in at least 23 operational sorties with 550 and 166 Squadrons, and was wounded in the neck when his Lancaster was attacked by a Ju88 whilst returning from a raid on Stettin, 29 September 1944

1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals, good very fine (4) £140-£180

E. A. F. Hall served with the Royal Air Force during the Second War. He carried out initial training as a navigator at Air Observers Advanced Navigation No. 1 A.N.S. Rivers, Manitoba, Canada. Hall returned to the UK, and carried out further training at No. 30 O.T.U., Hixon from September 1943. Subsequent postings included to No. 1656 Conversion Unit at Lindholme, and at Lancaster Finishing School, R.A.F. Hemswell.

Hall was posted as a Flying Officer and navigator for operational flying with 550 Squadron (Lancasters) at North Killingholme in May 1944. The Squadron was employed as part of the strategic air offensive against German industry, and he flew in operational sorties with the 550 Squadron: Duisberg; Dortmund and to Aachen twice. After another conversion course, Hall was posted to 166 Squadron (Lancasters) at Kirmington in June 1944. He flew in 19 operational sorties with the Squadron, including: Dijon; Revigny; Sannerville; Scholven-Buer; Wizernes; Kiel; Stuttgart (2); Cahagnes (2); Le Havre; Troosy-St-Maximin; Pauillac (2); Paris; Bordeaux; Le Culot and Stettin (2).

Hall was wounded during his last sortie to Stettin, 29 September 1944. The Lancaster, piloted by Flying Officer Miller, was attacked on the return journey:

‘The Rear Gunner... sighted a JU88 at 100-150 yds on the fine port quarter slightly down boring in to the attack. He immediately ordered a corkscrew to port and opened fire simultaneously with the enemy aircraft. Due to faulty intercoms however only two members of the crew heard the faint voice of the Rear Gunner, the pilot failing to hear the instruction. The first burst from the E/A wounded the Rear Gunner (Sgt Scott) in the leg, the Navigator [Flying Officer Hall] in the neck and damaged the rear turret and fuselage of the Lancaster. by this time the Rear Gunner had managed to make his voice heard over the intercom and the Lancaster went into a corkscrew to port, the E/A firing another burst before breaking away on the starboard beam down. The second burst damaged the Lancaster’s starboard mainplane and flaps. Throughout the attack the MU/Gunner was unable to fire due to the GFI being in operation. Hits observed on E/A which is claimed as damaged.’ (Combat report refers)

After a period of recuperation, Hall advanced to Flight Lieutenant and was posted to No. 109 (T) O.T.U. at Crosby-on-Eden, in July 1945. He transferred to Transport Command, and was posted as a navigator to 243 Squadron (Dakotas) in Camden, New South Wales, Australia in November 1945.

Sold with recipient’s Royal Canadian Air Force Flying Log Book for Aircrew other than Pilot (30 September 1942 - 27 February 1946) and R.C.A.F. Sight Log Book (28 July 1942 - 21 October 1943).