WW2 1939-1945, Air Crew Europe Stars and BWM attributed to P...

Hammer

£750

WW2 1939-1945, Air Crew Europe Stars and BWM attributed to Pilot Officer George Edward Hopson, extremely fine and better. He was killed in action as a navigator on a Lancaster with No 207 Sqn on a raid to Essen on 26th May 1943 and is buried in Uden War Cemetery. He was shot down by night fighter Bf 110 G-4 flown by Manfred Meurer of 3/NJG 1.
Sold with original Air Ministry box of transmission (address label missing), Air Council condolence transmittal slip named to Pilot Officer G.E. Hopson, memorial scroll named Pilot Officer G.E. Hopson Royal Air Force, Buckingham Palace sympathy letter, RAF observer/air gunner's log book, 3 photos in uniform, 5 early photos of his grave (including German grave markers) and 2 more modern photos, RAF photo ID Card, various photos, 5 1943/44 letters from the Red Cross and Air Ministry confirming his death, copied research concerning the shooting down of which 2 of the crew survived.
He qualified as a air observer/navigator 19/4/42, posted to 207 Sqn at Bottesford flying Lancasters 1/7/42, 1st Op to Gironde 23/11/42, further Ops to Berlin (4), Duisberg, Lorient, Milan etc. Their plane does not seem to have been the most reliable with various comments on Ops, starboard outer on fire, port outer u/s, heating u/s etc, hit by flak on St Nazaire raid 22/3/43, killed on 18th Op. (See photo) (½B)