Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A well-documented Second War 1944 Halifax pilot’s D.F.C. group of six awarded to Flight Lieutenant H. Brawn, Royal Canadian Air Force, who flew in at least 35 operational sorties with 429 (Bison) Squadron, the first of which being to attack the gun emplacements at Merville on D Day, 6 June 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, mounted as worn, generally very fine (6) £1,600-£2,000

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

‘This officer has completed a large number of operational sorties during which he has taken part in attacks on a wide variety of targets in Germany and France including such heavily defended targets as Stuttgart, Hamburg, and the Ruhr. Throughout his tour he has always shown exceptional skill and fortitude in pressing home his attacks, often under the greatest opposition. He is an inspiring leader and captain of aircraft who has encouraged and trained his crew so that they have invariably carried out their duties satisfactorily. It is considered that this officer’s fine operational record, offensive spirit and devotion to duty fully merit the award of the D.F.C.’

Harry Brawn enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in March 1941, and after carrying out initial pilot training in Canada he was posted overseas to No. 2 Flying Instructors School, Montrose. Having carried out the course Brawn was posted as an Instructor to No. 15 (P) A.F.U., Kirmington, Lincolnshire in June 1942. He advanced to Pilot Officer and moved with the unit to Ramsbury.

Brawn advanced to Flying Officer before being posted to 82 O.T.U., Ossington in March 1944. He converted to Halifax aircraft at No. 1664 H.C.U., Dishforth, and was posted for operational flying with 429 (Bison) Squadron at Leeming in June 1944. Brawn flew in at least 35 operational sorties with the squadron, with his first of the war being 5/6 June 1944 ‘ “D” Day Ops to Merville Francais. Gun Emplacements’ (Log Book refers)

Other operational sorties included: Conde sur Noireau, Rail and Road Junctions, 6 June 1944; Versailles; Boulogne (2); Sautrecourt; Oisement en Bois (2); Gorenfos; Siracourt; Ardouval; Acquet; Caen; Wesseling; St. Nazaire; Stuttgart; Hamburg; Coeqercours; L’Hey; Foret de Nieppe; Bois D’Amont; St. Ew D’Esserent; Kiel (2); Brest; Marquis; Emden; Le Havre; Oslo (2); Sterkrade, 27 September 1944, ‘Oil Plant 10/10 Cloud. Raid a Shambles & Most Amusing. Motor Failure’ (Ibid); Cap Gris Nez; Dortmund and Wanne Eickel, 12 October 1944, ‘Oil Plant. Predicted H/F [Heavy Flak], holed lost s.i. [starboard inner engine]’ (Ibid).

Having advanced to Flight Lieutenant, Brawn returned to Canada in September 1945 and was discharged in October of the same year.

Sold with the following original related items and documents: Royal Canadian Air Force Pilot’s Flying Log Book (21 August 1941 - 13 September 1945) spine damaged; R.C.A.F. Operational Wings, with named Certificate, dated 1 February 1945; Certificate of Service; Letter of congratulation on the occasion of the award of the D.F.C. to recipient addressed to ‘Mr and Mrs F. Brawn, 151 Wellington Avenue, Victoria, British Columbia’, from the Minister of National Defence for Air, dated 25 January 1945; R.C.A.F. cloth wings, and two cloth ‘Canada’ shoulder titles; a piece of metal labelled ‘German Flak 1944’; R.C.A.F. lapel ephemera; a number of annotated photographs of recipient in uniform, and over 500 pages of letters sent home by recipient between 1941-1944, covering his military career from flight training in Canada, service as a flight instructor in England, and finally operations with interesting comments throughout, including frustration on assignment as flight instructor on arrival in England in late 1942 and later comments about operations in 1944.