Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry

A Second War ‘Bomber Command’ D.F.M. group of five awarded to Flight Lieutenant A. W. Barker, Royal Air Force, who completed 59 operational sorties against some of the most heavily defended German targets, with both 207 Squadron and as a ‘Special Operator’ with 223 SquadronDistinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (751135 Sgt. A. W. Barker. R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star, 1 clasp, France and Germany; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, good very fine (5) £1,800-£2,200---D.F.M. London Gazette 4 August 1942.The original Recommendation, dated 28 May 1942, states: ‘Sergeant Barker has completed 16 Sorties as a second Wireless Operator/ Air Gunner, and 19 Sorties as a first Wireless Operator/ Air Gunner. At all times this N.C.O. has shown outstanding enthusiasm and keenness for operational flying, and the efficient manner in which he has carried out his duties has contributed largely to the success of a number of sorties in which he has taken part. Sergeant Barker has always set a splendid example to the other Wireless Operators/ Air Gunners in the Squadron.’Alfred William Barker served during the Second World War in the Royal Air Force, commencing his training at No. 1 E.W.S., Cranwell, on 31 August 1940. He was posted to 207 Squadron at R.A.F. Waddington on 5 April 1941, and, flying Manchesters, undertook his first operational sortie, a raid on Kiel, on 26 April, during which they dropped one 4,000lb bomb. Further operational targets that year included Hamburg (twice), Lorient, Mannheim, the Krupps works at Essen, Emden, Hannover, Dusseldorf (twice), Cologne, Rostock, Stettin, Cologne, Aachen, and a mission to the ‘Big City’, Berlin. He started 1942 with three trips to Brest, including the Scharnhorst and Gneiseneau raid on 6 January 1942, and followed this up with sorties to Wilhelmshaven, Hamburg, Munster, Kiel (the Gneiseneau raid on 25 February 1942), and the Krupps works at Essen. His 35th and final operational sortie with 207 Squadron was a Gardening operation in the Gulf of Danzig on 2 May 1942. For his services during his tour he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal.Posted to 25 O.T.U. at R.A.F. Finningley in June 1942, Barker carried out one operational sortie whilst there- a trip to Essen on 16 September, when his Wellington was attacked by an Me110, setting the aircraft on fire and wounding the Rear Gunner. After postings to 81, 82, and 12 O.T.U., during which he was commissioned Pilot Officer on 3 October 1943, and was promoted Flying Officer on 3 April 1944, Barker received his next operational posting in September 1944, when he joined 223 Squadron, based at R.A.F. Oulton. Flying Liberators, he completed a further tour of 23 operational sorties as a ‘Special Operator’, his final mission being to Kassel on 20 March 1945. Promoted Flight Lieutenant on 3 October 1945, he retired in 1946.Sold together with the recipient’s original Observer’s and Air Gunner’s Flying Log Book, covering the period 31 August 1940 to 20 March 1945; various postcard photographs of the recipient and his crew; and a large quantity of copied research, including extracts from 207 Squadron’s Operations Record Book.------For more information, additional images and to bid on this lot please go to the auctioneers website, www.dnw.co.uk