A MOST INTERESTING AND RARELY SEEN WW2 1944 D.F.M. AWARDED TO AN R.A.F. SPECIAL OPERATOR WHO COMPLETED 36 SORTIES WITH 192 SPECIAL DUTIES SQUADRON OPERATING SPECIALLY MODIFIED WELLINGTON’S, HALIFAX’S AND MOSQUITO’S, TASKED WITH IDENTIFYING AND DISRUPTING GERMAN RADAR PATTERNS AND WAVELENGTHS OVER ENEMY TERRITORY

DISTINGUISHED FLYING MEDAL, GVI, ‘1382720 SGT. R. H. LOCK. R.A.F.’, 1939-45 STAR, WAR MEDAL, IN CASE.

D.F.M. London Gazette 15 February 1945. The original recommendation made on 20 December 1943:

“This N.C.O. has carried out thirty sorties, twenty two of these as a Special Operator, and has performed every one of them with outstanding skill and keenness.

Lock has proved himself to be an untiring worker in the air, and has displayed a remarkable standard of concentration and complete disregard for his personal safety in the face of danger and difficulties, qualities which are essential for this most difficult hand hilly skilled task, which is peculiar to the Squadron, and upon the results obtained depends the whole success or failure of the Unit.

As a Special Operator he has not had a crew of his own and carries out his operations with continually changing crews, but this added disadvantage has in no way distracted from Lock’s efficiency or morale which have always been of the highest order.

V. Willis, Wing Commander, Commanding 192 Squadron”.

Remarks by Air Officer Commanding 100 Group:

“The work of a Special Operator, even when performed in a laboratory, calls for the application of skill and assiduity of a high order. When this work is performed in an aircraft over enemy territory, usually without escort, it calls also for courage and powers of concentration of the highest order. The fact that this Operator has been so successful under these latter conditions speaks well for his valour and disregard of danger in the face of the enemy. I agree he is deserving of the D.F.M.”

Flight Lieutenant Robert Harold Lock, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, was born in 1917 at Bounds Green and was a process engraver by trade before enlisting in 1940. Initially serving as a Wireless Operator-Air Gunner, he went on to train in the highly secretive role of a Special Operator, serving with distinction with 192 Special Duties Squadron between June 1943 and January 1944. Initially serving with the rank of Sergeant, he was Commissioned Pilot Officer (Prob) on 16 October 1943……

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Condition NEF. Sold with digital research including LG’s, DFM recommendation/sorties, 192 Squadron Operational Logs etc.

A most interesting and rarely seen D.F.M. to one of the small numbers of R.A.F. Special Operators.