WW2 Bomber Command DFC Medal Group of Five – Flt. Lt. (Pilot Officer) J.R. Blott, 5 Group Bomber Command, No. 50 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

A second world war Bomber Command group to 160590 Flight Lieutenant John Richard Blott DFC, who completed 45 operational sorties (covering the Battle of Hamburg, the Battle of Berlin and the disastrous Nuremberg raid) with  No 50 Squadron at RAF Skellingthorpe, Lincolnshire, part of No 5 Group Bomber Command, his additional 15 sorties being flown as the squadron’s gunnery leader with the crew of Flt Lt Michael Beetham (later MRAF Sir Michael Beetham, the RAF’s second longest-serving Chief of the Air Staff).

Distinguished Flying Cross (1944) unnamed as issued
1939-45 Star unnamed as issued 
Air Crew Europe Star unnamed as issued 
WW2 Defence Medal unnamed as issued 
1939-45 War Medal unnamed as issued 

The DFC comes in original fitted box of issue.

Citation for DFC:
 ‘Pilot Officer Blott has completed 20 sorties as mid-upper gunner on his first operational tour against some of the important targets in Germany including five attacks on Berlin. He maintains at all times an efficient and careful watch and opens combat with enemy fighters at the earliest opportunity. The aircraft in which he has flown has been attacked on four occasions by enemy fighters, during two attacks – one on Berlin and one on Leipzig – he has assisted the rear gunner in damaging two enemy fighters. His enthusiasm for battle is high and for his ability and courage he is recommended for the Distinguished Flying Cross.’

The group comes with original Buckingham Palace forwarding letter to Flight Lieutenant John R Blott DFC and four silver boxing medals engraved to J R Blott, Leinster House School dated 1929 to 1935. Copy of the recommendation for the DFC dated 16 December 1943, copy of the London Gazette entry, dated 15 February 1944 and copy of details of sorties carried out from 9 July 1943 to 26 November 1943 leading to the recommendation for the DFC. Copy photographs (one B&W and the other of a colour painting of the crew, which hangs in the Skellingthorpe Community Centre in Lincoln) showing Blott with his second crew (all identified) – the crew of Flt Lt Michael Beetham – taken in May 1944 at RAF Skellingthorpe. Letter from Les Bartlett (Bomb Aimer of Beetham’s crew) confirming John Blott joining the crew and lists the 15 additional operations flown with the Beetham crew.

After completing his operational tour, John Blott remained with 50 Squadron at RAF Skellingthorpe as the Gunnery Leader. When Flight Lieutenant Michael Beetham lost two of his crew members killed on 12 February 1944, including an air gunner (Fred Ball), John Blott volunteered to join the Beetham crew for the remainder of their operational tour. Blott, therefore, flew an additional 15 operational sorties from 19/20 February until 1/2 May 1944. 

The medals are in good condition.

Era: WW2