A Good 1944 Special Operations Distinguished Flying Cross group, serving in 138 and 161 Squadrons.

Description A Good 1944 Special Operations Distinguished Flying Cross group, serving in 138 and 161 Squadrons. Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated ‘1944′ (In box of issue); 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star, France and Germany bar; 1939-45 War Medal (Silver Canadian issue) Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, with overseas clasp (The last four swing mounted as worn) R.C.A Flying log book. NOTE: Sorry we cannot accept payment by PayPal for this item, We can accept payment by Credit / Debit Card, Bank Transfer or Cheque. 1585812 James Bird Thomson (152641) We believe he was born on 26th December 1922, and died in October 1979, in Chichester West Sussex, but more research needed. D.F.C. – London gazette 14th November 1944. whilst serving in 138 squadron. The same gazette as his Pilot G A Kidd, who also received the D.F.C. Served from 26th February 1943 in No 1 C.N.S., qualified as Navigator 9th July 1943. No 4 A.F.U. from 8th September 1943, No 10 O.T.U from 19th December 1943, 1664 C.U. from 20th March 1944; 431 Squadron from 10th April 1944; the the following notes taken from squadron records: Joined 138 Squadron 15th April 1944. Navigator on the following operations. 29-4-1944, France; 30.4.1944, France; 03.5.1944, France; 05.5.1944, France, Perry 7; 06.05.1944, Norway; 08.5.1944 France; 09.5.1944 France; 15.5.1944, France; 27.5.1944, France; 28.5.1944, France; 01.6.1944, France; 02.6.1944 France; 05.6.1944, D-Day Diversion ops; 06.6.1944, D-Day; 21.6.1944, France; 22.6.1944, France; 24.6.1944, France; 27.6.1944, France, John 71; 29.6.1944, France; 03.7.1944, France, Poraplvie; 05.7.1944, France, Tom 73; 09.7.1944, France, Scientist; 11.7.1944, France; 15.7.1944, France; 17.7.1944, France; 18.7.1944, France; 20.7.1944, France; 22.7.1944, France; 30.7.1944, France; 04.8.1944, France; 06.8.1944, France; 08.8.1944, belgium; 09.8.1944, France; 11.8.1944, France; During the critical window of April to September 1944, No. 138 Squadron RAF was not participating in the standard strategic bombing of German cities. Instead, they were the silent partners of the European underground, operating out of the “Secret Airfield” at RAF Tempsford. As the senior Special Duties squadron, their mission was the lifeblood of the Special Operations Executive (SOE): delivering agents, arms, and hope to occupied territories under the cover of the “Moon Periods.” In the months leading up to D-Day, No. 138 was under immense pressure to “set Europe ablaze.” The squadron, flying specialized Handley Page Halifaxes, operated at the limit of their endurance. Operation Jedburgh: The squadron began dropping three-man “Jedburgh” teams—consisting of an officer, a radio operator, and a local liaison—behind enemy lines to coordinate the French Resistance. The Arming of the Maquis: In April and May alone, the squadron dropped hundreds of “Type C” containers filled with Sten guns, ammunition, and plastic explosives. The Moon Schedule: Operations were dictated by the lunar cycle. During the “Full Moon” periods, crews flew hazardous low-level missions, navigating by the silver glint of rivers and railway lines to find tiny, torch-lit Drop Zones (DZs). D-Day Diversion and D-Day Operations 5/6th June 1944: A primary mission that night was Operation Titanic IV. Several of 138’s aircraft flew toward the Marigny area, south of the actual landing zones, to drop hundreds of “Rupert” dolls—burlap dummy paratroopers equipped with explosive charges to simulate the sounds of gunfire. Combined with the dropping of “Window” (chaff) to spoof German radar, this ruse successfully convinced German commanders that a major airborne landing was occurring inland, causing them to hold back vital armored reserves like the 12th SS Panzer Division. Simultaneously, the squadron continued its core mission: dropping SOE agents and massive amounts of supplies to the French Resistance. These drops triggered pre-arranged sabotage plans—like Plan Vert (railways) and Plan Tortue (roads)—which paralyzed German logistics as the sun rose on D-Day. For the crews of 138, the “Longest Day” began in total darkness, flying at “hedge-hopping” altitudes to jumpstart the liberation of Europe from within. Once the Allies hit the beaches on June 6, the demand for No. 138’s services became insatiable. The French Resistance transitioned from localized sabotage to open guerrilla warfare. The squadron’s sorties during this period were characterized by extreme bravery and technical skill. Pilots often flew at altitudes as low as 400 to 500 feet to ensure that canisters didn’t drift away from the Resistance fighters. This brought them directly into the sights of mobile German light flak. Despite the heavy losses, the squadron’s success ensured that German reinforcements moving toward Normandy were constantly harassed, delayed, and demoralized. Joined 161 Squadron, 25 August 1944. 25.8.1944, France, Freelance; 27.8.1944, France, John 71; 31.8.1944, France, Bob 201; 01.9.1944, Germany, via Holland; On the very day Paris was liberated, the mission profile for 161 began to shift. Previously, every landing in France was a high-stakes gamble with the Gestapo. Suddenly, “A” Flight—the famous Westland Lysander and Lockheed Hudson pilots—found themselves landing in fields that were transitioning from “occupied” to “liberated” within hours. During these final days of August, the squadron was heavily involved in “pick-up” operations. These weren’t just for delivering agents; they were for bringing back high-value personnel, wounded SOE officers, and political leaders needed in the newly freed capital. The Lysander, with its fixed landing gear and remarkable short-takeoff-and-landing (STOL) capabilities, was the workhorse here, often landing on strips of grass illuminated by nothing more than three flashlights in a “L” shape. The “Great Swan” and C-Flight (August 28–30) As the Allied armies began the “Great Swan”—the rapid dash across Northern France toward Belgium—No. 161’s “C” Flight, operating heavy Stirlings and Halifaxes, focused on the “Ratweek” aftermath. This was a coordinated effort to paralyze German retreat routes. Between August 28 and August 30, the squadron conducted multiple supply drops to the Maquis in the Ardennes and Eastern France. The goal was to arm the resistance to harass the retreating Wehrmacht, ensuring that the “beaten” enemy didn’t have a moment’s peace to regroup. By the turn of the month, the “French Phase” of the war was rapidly closing for No. 161. On September 1 and 2, the squadron’s focus pivoted sharply toward the Low Countries (Belgium and the Netherlands) and Scandinavia. The fast-moving front created a “navigational nightmare.” Pilots often flew toward coordinates that had been behind enemy lines when they took off, only to find Allied tanks rolling through the area by the time they arrived. This required intense coordination with SOE “intelligence circuits” to ensure that supplies weren’t dropped directly onto the heads of advancing British paratroopers.   S.H.A.E.F. Com San, from 18th December 1944 Last entry in Logbook 31st July 1946 Condition – NEF NOTE: Sorry we cannot accept payment by PayPal for this item, We can accept payment by Credit / Debit Card, Bank Transfer or Cheque.