Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The mounted group of seven miniature dress medals attributed to Flight Lieutenant R. W. Powell, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who flew 116 operational sorties, the majority as a Mosquito Navigator with 109 Squadron, the original ‘Oboe’ Squadron of Path Finder Force

Distinguished Service Order, G.VI.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R.; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; France, Republic, Croix de Guerre, reverse blank, mounted as worn; together with the recipient’s Pathfinder Force Badge (the retaining pin on this re-soldered), very fine and better (7) £240-£280

D.S.O. London Gazette 26 October 1945.
The original Recommendation, dated 19 May 1945, states: ‘Flight Lieutenant Ronald William Powell arrived in the Squadron having already done a fine operational tour on Wellingtons and Lancasters during which time he had attacked targets ranging from Essen, Berlin, Copenhagen and Pilsen to Spezia in Italy. He has since flown on a further 87 sorties on Mosquitos as navigator and as operator of Oboe.
During his tours here his attacks have included the pre-invasion targets, flying bomb sites and storage depots, tactical targets in support of the Allied armies, and a vast number of strategical attacks against German oil and industrial centres. He has cheerfully volunteered to take part in any difficult operation and was at all times ready and eager to fly.
Flight Lieutenant Powell's uncanny navigational accuracy and complete grasp of the difficult manipulation of Oboe equipment has ensured the greatest possible number of successful sorties. He has placed his vast fund of knowledge at the disposal of new crews and has so striven to impart his knowledge that recent arrivals have the more quickly absorbed the niceties of our methods of operating under the prevailing difficult conditions of extreme height and extreme range.
Further, Flight Lieutenant Powell has set the Squadron a magnificent example by his imperturbability under concentrated enemy anti-aircraft fire, by his readiness to be of help, by his cheerfulness and by the leading part he has taken in organising Squadron sports and activities. I strongly recommend him for the award of the Distinguished Service Order.
Covering remarks by the Station Commander: Flight Lieutenant Powell has achieved exceptional skill in his work and has utilised it with unshakeable determination. He has been a driving force in his Squadron and is considered a worthy recipient of the Distinguished Service Order.
Covering remarks by the Air Officer Commanding: Strongly Recommended.’

D.F.C. London Gazette 16 February 1945.
The original Recommendation, dated 22 November 1944, states: ‘This navigator has now completed two operational tours with Bomber Command. His first tour of 29 sorties was carried out on heavy bombers and the list of targets he attacked include all the heaviest defended targets of Germany and the then occupied countries. Flight Lieutenant Powell’s second tour has been as a target marker on Mosquito aircraft and his record to date is one of which any man would have reason to be justly proud. His keenness for operational flying and his ability to ignore severe and persistent ground defences while carrying on with his job has been displayed on many occasions. He is most deserving of the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Covering remarks by the Station Commander: This officer has completed many sorties over some of the most heavily defended targets in Germany. He has displayed courage and ability of a very high order, and is recommended for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross. Covering remarks by the Air Officer Commanding: Strongly Recommended.’

Sold with extensive research, including a photocopy of a lengthy letter written by the recipient in 1996; copied Squadron operational records for the period 12 April 1944 to 25 April 1945; a copy of the book Beam Bombers: The Secret War of No. 109 Squadron, by Michael Cumming, containing a group photograph with the recipient; and other research.