bentley priory - Spink

THE BENTLEY PRIORY BATTLE OF BRITAIN TRUST APPEAL CHARITY AUCTION
Flight Lieutenant E. Preston
D.F.M. London Gazette 11.6.1943 1057466 Flight Sergeant
Ewart Preston 97 Squadron.
The Recommendation, dated 15.4.1943, states: ‘This
N.C.O. has taken part as a Wireless Operator/ Air Gunner in
many successful attacks on the most heavily defended
German towns and on Italian and other objectives. On one
occasion, he also attacked Brest in daylight. Flight Sergeant
Preston’s coolness and courage have been an inspiration to
all.’
A.F.M. London Gazette 1.1.1944 105466 Flight Sergeant
Ewart Preston, D.F.M., No. 29 O.T.U.
The Recommendation states: ‘This airman is an instructor in
the Conversion Flight and has worked hard and set an
example of outstanding devotion to duty at all times, and his
keenness and enthusiasm are most praiseworthy. He is a
Wireless Operator/ Air Gunner Instructor of first class ability
who has been engaged on this work for over a year. Much of
his flying has been spent instructing in circuits and landings
and, for certain periods, he has been intensively employed on
this important work. It is considered that this airman is most
worthy of an award of the Air Force Medal for the
contribution he has made in the training of new crews to
continue the war effort.’
Flight Lieutenant Ewart Preston, D.F.M., A.F.M., was
born in Nelson, Lancashire, 26.9.1915, and enlisted in the
Royal Air Force in 1940. Posted to No. 97 (Straits
Settlements) Squadron (Manchesters), Waddington,
15.10.1941, he converted to Lancasters with them when the
Squadron moved to RAF Coningsby, and took part in 38
operational sorties with the Squadron including the attack on
the Tirpitz and other German warships in Trondheim Fjord,
28.4.1942, when the force of 31 Halifaxes and 12 Lancasters
each had to singly enter the narrow fjord, and once they had
negotiated the gun emplacements, had to drop to 200 feet
before releasing their cargo of specially adapted mines. Five
aircraft were lost in the raid (The Bomber Command War
Diaries refer). He also participated in the first ‘Thousand
Bomber Raid’ on Cologne, 31.5.1942; in the second on
Essen, 2.6.1942; and in the third on Bremen 25.6.1942.
Having completed his tour of 38 operations, 12.10.1942,
and been promoted Flight Sergeant, Preston served for the
remainder of the War as an Instructor with No. 29 O.T.U.
Commissioned Pilot Officer, 14.8.1943, after the Second
War he served in two operational tours in Malaya (1949-51
and 1955-57), during which he flew on anti-terrorist sorties
(Lincolns) and on Army supply drops (Valettas). Promoted
Flying Officer, 10.10.1949, and Flight Lieutenant, 8.5.1953,
Preston retired, 14.5.1963, and died in September 1992.
PROVENANCE:
Tavender Collection, Spink, April 2006
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