Seven: An important Path Finder Group to Squadron Leader N.H...

Hammer

£34,000

Seven: An important Path Finder Group to Squadron Leader N.H. Scrivener who took part in the Peenemunde Raid. DSO George VI issue, first type (dated 1944). Distinguished Flying Cross (reverse of lower arm engraved 1943). 1939-45 Star, Air Crew Europe Star, Defence, War, Air Efficiency Award, George V1 first type, (Act Sqn Ldr, RAF VR) extremely fine, with extensive research material, including Certificate awarding Acting Squadron Leader N.H. Scrivener DFC his Path Finder Force badge (18th December 1943), his cloth embroidered Observer wing badge, photos of recipient, letters directing Scrivener to Buckingham Palace investitures for DFC (17th June 1943) and DSO (27th February 1946); Air Navigator's Certificate 2nd Class (26th January 1942), various letters and Telegrams congratulating him on his awards, from civilian and RAF colleagues (14th January 1944 re DSO from Air Chief Marshall Harding), news cuttings of various raids over Italy; Photocopy of London Gazette (12th March 1943) announcing the DFC; A photocopy of Recommendation for a Non Immediate award "Flight Lieutenant N.H. Scrivener performed his first operational tour as Navigator in Wellington aircraft in the early days of Bomber Command offensive. He made many attacks on enemy industrial targets, two on Berlin and several on the invasion ports of 1940. On his second operational tour he has already taken part in raids on Italy, Essen and Berlin. He was also the Navigator of an aircraft which made a successful day light attack on Milan in October 1942..." the original report signed Guy Gibson; Photocopy of London Gazette 25th January 1944 p.481 announcing the DSO award "Squadron Leader Scrivener is a Navigator of high merit. He has taken part in a very large number of sorties, involving attacks on targets in the Ruhr, Berlin, Hamburg and many others equally important to the enemy's war effort. Throughout the operations he has displayed outstanding determination and the successes obtained are an excellent tribute to his great skill. His loyal and devoted service has been worthy of the highest praise"; photocopy of DSO recommendation; together with his Flying Log Book (Air Observer) covering the period January 1940 to 3rd August 1945 and Signed By Wing Commander Guy Gibson (4 times), Flt/Lt David Shannon, Flt/Sgt Burpee (all to be Dam Buster Pilots) and W/Cdr John Searby (one or two pages missing). An information paperback publication "The Great Raids-Peenemunde 17th August 1943" by Air Commander J Searby DSO, DFC, RAF (Rtd) giving a full account of the raid and a corresponding audio cassette narrated by Air Commander Searby are also included. £20,000-30,000

Historical Note:
The Peenemunde Raid was an attack on the V Weapons factory during the night of the 17th-18th August 1943. The targets were the Research & Development Works, the Production Factories and the Camp and Settlement. A "spoof attack" on Berlin by Mosquito fighters diverted the German attention away from the real target area. 600 bombers took part in the Peenemunde Raid but it was Searby's Lancaster (with Scrivener as Navigator) which took control of the Bomber Command attack and stayed with it. Searby's mention of Scrivener in the publication states "Norman Scrivener, small of stature and with more than a hundred heavy bomber sorties behind him had been my Navigator for some time: his role tonight was a vital one for he had to get the aircraft to the target alone and ahead of all the others with precisely 5 minutes in hand. We would need this to complete our survey of the aiming points before the real show started". After the Path Finders had marked the area of attack with yellow and green flares the bombers followed in. Searby's Lancaster had to orbit several times to ensure that targets were being hit. As it became increasingly difficult to determine the various features once bombing commenced, the leading Lancaster had to fly lower and as Searby remarked "to my horror the gunners informed me that they had seen large four thousand pound bombs falling past our aircraft: this was most alarming but was to be expected since many bombers were flying well above the height at which at we were orbiting....The possibility of our being walloped by a passing 'block buster' was more frightening than anything the enemy could do". Forty four-engined bombers and one Mosquito failed to return with the loss of more than 280 Officers and NCOs.