A FINE SECOND WAR ‘1943’ D.F.M. GROUP OF FIVE AWARDED TO LANCASTER AIR GUNNER WHO BECAME A MEMBER OF THE GOLDFISH CLUB IN CONSEQUENCE OF HIS LANCASTER HAVING DITCHED ON THE RETURN FROM A RAID ON ENEMY SHIPING IN LA SPEZIA HARBOUR, 13 APRIL 1943. HE RALLIED HIS CREW, WHO WERE STRANDED IN THEIR DINGY FOR 63 HOURS BEFORE BEING SPOTTED BY A WHITLEY AND RETURNED HOME BY MOTOR LAUNCH

HE FLEW IN AT LEAST 30 OPERATIONAL SORTIES WITH 61 SQUADRON, PRIOR TO FLYING IN AT LEAST A FURTHER 34 WITH 35 (MADRAS PRESIDENCY) SQUADRON AS PART OF PATHFINDER FORCE. HE WAS HEAVILY ENGAGED WITH THE SQUADRON DURING D-DAY OPERATIONS AND TOOK PART IN THE EARLY MORNING RAID ON LONGUES COASTAL BATTERY, 6 JUNE 1944.

DISTINGUISHED FLYING MEDAL, G.VI.R. ‘618899. SGT. S. A. WHITE. R.A.F.’, 1939-45 STAR; AIR CREW EUROPE STAR, CLASP, FRANCE AND GERMANY; DEFENCE AND WAR MEDALS 1939-45.

D.F.M. London Gazette 16 November 1943. Details included in a R.A.F. Press Release state:

‘Sergeant White has completed a large number of attacks against major targets in Germany and Italy. At all times, he displayed a fine fighting spirit and great devotion to duty. On one occasion when returning from a raid on Spezia, his aircraft was forced down into the sea. During the three days and two nights the crew were in their dingy, Sergeant White’s cheerful and confident spirit did much to maintain the high morale of the crew. An excellent Air Gunner, always calm and collected, this airman’s vigilance has often enabled his Captain to avoid enemy night fighters.’

Stanley Arthur White served during the Second War with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. He carried out his initial training as an Air Gunner at No. 2 A.G.S., Dalcross, from November 1942. White was posted to No. 1660 Conversion Unit at Swinderby in January 1943, before being posted for operational flying with 61 Squadron (Lancasters) at Syerston the following month. He flew in at least 30 operational sorties with the Squadron, including: Gardening - Frisian Islands; Gardening - Laeso Island; Essen (4); Nuremburg (2); Duisburg (2); Frankfurt; La Spezia 13 April 1943 ‘Ditched Dinghy 250 miles S.W. of Scilly Islands. 3 days 2 nights 63 hours’ (Log Book refers); Dortmund; Pilsen; Dusseldorf; Wuppertal (2); Krefeld; Mülheim; Gelsenkirchen (2); Cologne (3); Turin; Mannheim; Milan (2); Leverkusen and Berlin……

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Medals sold with the following documentation:

1) Royal Air Force Flying Log Book for Navigators Air Bombers Air Gunners Flight Engineers (21 November 1942 - 18 August 1944) some of records filled in in pencil, all not signed off or stamped, possibly a replacement
2) letter to recipient from The Goldfish Club regarding a replacement membership card due to loss of wallet, dated 2 January 1945.

Condition GVF. Mounted for display, with Goldfish Club lapel badge. With a quantity of copy research, including extracts from 61 Squadron operational Logs, recommendation, report of crash etc.