Lot 56
Mosquito, Night Fighter, Navigator’s Distinguished Flying Medal Group of 5 awarded to Flight Sergeant Sidney John Radford
Military Medals, Decorations and Orders On Land, at Sea, in the Air | E114
Auction: 7 September 2023 at 10:00 BST
Description
A Mosquito, Night Fighter, Navigator’s Distinguished Flying Medal Group of 5 awarded to Flight Sergeant Sidney John Radford, “A” Flight 157 Squadron, who, as an Airborne Interception Operator, assisted his Pilot W/O Taylor in shooting down two German Night Fighters on attacks to the Ruhr and Hanu, claiming destroyed one Me110 and 1 JU88, comprising Distinguished Flying Medal, GVIR, (1319188. F/Sgt. S. J. Radford. R.A.F.), 1939‑45 Star, France & Germany Star, 1939‑45 Defence Medal, 1939-45 War Medal, all unnamed as issued, lightly toned, extremely fine (5)
D.F.M. The London Gazette 26th of October 1945
The Distinguished Flying Medal – Flight Sergeants
1319188 Sidney John Radford, R.A.F.V.R., 157 Sqn.
Radford Sidney John 1319188 Flight Sergeant No 157 Sqn.
Sorties 29, Flying Hours 115.20 Navigator/Radio
Flight Sergeant Radford has completed 29 long‑range bomber support sorties during which he has, as Navigator/Radio to Warrant Officer Taylor, assisted in the destruction of two enemy aircraft. This N.C.O. has always displayed the greatest enthusiasm for operational flying. The success obtained can be attributed to his intelligent use of A.I. and his close cooperation with his pilot in planning of flights and his serious study of this type of operation had been a great example to other N.C.O.s. I consider that Flight Sergeant Radford fully merits the award of the D.F.M.’ ‑ Dated 13th May 1945
W/O Taylor
F/Sgt Radford
Intruder Personal Combat Report
Night 18/19 March 1945
“A” Flight No.157 Squadron
Mosquito XXX
0435Hrs.
5014/0905
Hazy with low cloud
1 Ju88 destroyed
General Report
One Mosquito XXX of 157 Squadron, Pilot W/O Taylor, Navigator F/Sgt Radford, was airborne Swannington at 0242Hrs. on 19th March 1945 on High Level Intruder Patrol in the target area in support of Bomber Command attack on Hanau.
157/K reached the Hanau area at 0425Hrs. and almost immediately obtained an A.I. contact which resulted in combat.
W/O Taylor Reports
We were airborne Swannington in Mosquito XXX at 0242 Hrs. on the 19th of March 1945 and reached patrol which was the target area (Hanau) at 02.45 Hrs. My Navigator immediately told me he had an A.I. contact head on a nd crossing slightly starboard to port. He then said “Hard port 160degs” which we did and the contact was held at 5,000 ft and doing quite violent evasive action. The contact was followed through tow rough orbits to port and a visual obtained at 15000ft by the light of the prang. I closed to 600ft and definitely identified as a Ju88 and then fired a one second burst which resulted in strikes on fuselage and starboard wing. The enemy aircraft dived steeply to port and I followed visually and gave him a 2 second burst at 30 degs deflection; which caused an explosion in the port engine and wing root. He then went straight down, and somewhere on the way down broke into two pieces and crashed in position 5014/0905 and burnt quite nicely for a long time. We left patrol at 0535Hrs and reached base at 0728 Hrs. and landed at 0731 Hrs.
I claim 1 Ju88 destroyed.
Ammunition expended 152 rounds
Sold with copy Air/50/66/125 Combat Reports, original box for DFM and King’s Letter, Original Box for Medals, Air Ministry Bestowal/Award Slip, packets and “Ticker Tapes”, original photograph of Sidney Radford in uniform with Air Crew U/T White Flash, green Identity Disk, Sergeant Stripes and Navigator Brevet. Also F/Sgt Radford’s original Air Observers Note Book.
