orders, decorations, campaign medals and militaria - Spink

orders, deCoratioNs, CampaigN medaLs aNd miLitaria
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A Second War 1943 Lancaster Air Bomber’s D.F.M. Group of Four to Flight
Sergeant G.H. Wood, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Who Took Part in
Operation Hydra, the Raid on Peenemunde, 17.8.1943, And Bombed Berlin
On No Fewer Than Seven Occasions
a) Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (1575276. F/Sgt. G.H. Wood. R.A.F.)
b) Air Crew Europe Star
c) Defence and War Medals, light contact marks, nearly very fine or better (4)
£1,600-2,000
D.F.M. London Gazette 15.2.1944 1575276 Flight Sergeant Guy Huitson Wood, Royal Air
Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 626 Squadron
The Recommendation, dated 11.12.1943, states: ‘Flight Sergeant Wood is an Air Bomber who
has completed thirty successful sorties, including seven visits to Berlin. On June 25th 1943
during an attack on Gelsenkirchen, the aircraft was severely damaged by anti-aircraft fire over
the target area and the port outer engine set on fire. In spite of this a second bombing run was
made although the aircraft was still engaged by searchlights and anti-aircraft fire. By his skill,
determination, and high degree of courage during this and many other sorties this N.C.O. had
contributed in a large measure to the successful conclusion of many attacks against heavily
defended enemy targets. I strongly recommend the award of the Distinguished Flying Medal to
this N.C.O.’
Remarks by Station Commander: ‘The skill of this air bomber in guiding his captain accurately
over the centre of any target and his courage in any adversity has been a source of inspiration
to his crew. I strongly recommend that the presence of mind and gallantry displayed by Flight
Sergeant Wood deserve recognition by the award of the D.F.M.’
1575276 Flight Sergeant Guy Huitson Wood, D.F.M., served during the Second World
War as a Lancaster Air Bomber in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve; his first operational
sortie was a raid over Lille, 13.4.1943, and he followed that up at the end of May with a raid
over Wuppertal; subsequent targets over the next five months included Dusseldorf (2);
Bochum; Krefeld; Gelsenkirchen, 25.6.1943; Cologne; Turin; Hamburg (4); Peenemunde-
Operation Hydra, 17.8.1943; Leverkausen; Berlin (3); Munchen Gladbach; Hannover (3);
Kassel; Frankfurt; and Leipzig; transferred to the newly-formed No.626 Squadron (Lancasters),
Wickenby, on their formation, 7.11.1943, and took part in the Squadron’s first operational
mission, a raid on Modane, 10.11.1043, before completing his tour with four more raids on
Berlin by the end of month.
WWW.spiNK.Com