WW2 D.F.M. and Mentioned in Despatches Group of Seven with Quantity of Original Documents & Photos – Flight Sergeant Harry Reid, Royal Air Force

A second world war DFM group to 1064111 Warrant Officer Harry Reid, Royal Air Force. 

George VI Distinguished Flying Medal named to 1064111. F/Sgt. H. Reid. R.A.F. 
1939-45 Star unnamed as issued 
Air Crew Europe Star unnamed as issued 
Africa Star (Clasp – North Africa 1942-43) 
Burma Star unnamed as issued 
WW2 Defence Medal unnamed as issued 
War Medal 1939-45 (with MID oak leaf emblem) unnamed as issued 

London Gazette:
DFM – 18th June 1943
Mentioned In Despatches – 2nd June 1943

The official recommendation (TNA reference Air2/8960) records:

1064111 Flight Sergeant Harry Reid, 159 Squadron
“Flight Sergeant Reed has been a great asset to this squadron as a Flight Gunnery Leader. His courage, coolness and efficiency, together with his keenness for operations and his painstaking work on the ground has set an outstanding example to the Air Gunners in the Squadron. 

F/Sgt Reid has flown on thirty seven operations in this Squadron. 

1st Tour:  10 Trips.    10.25 hours

2nd Tour: 37 Trips.  301.15 hours”

Remarks of Group Commander:
“On completing 301hrs in his present operational tour, the award of the DFM is strongly recommended. Sgt Reid has set an excellent example to all Air Gunners in his Squadron, which example and his hard work as Flight Gunnery Leader has contributed in no small measure to the high state of efficiency of the air gunners in his Squadron.”

Remarks of Air Officer Commanding Bengal Command:
“Concur with remarks of Squadron and Group Commanders and strongly recommend award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.”

Remarks of Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief:
“ Recommended for the award of the DFM.”

Harry Reid was born in Leeds, Yorkshire, on 6th of April 1915. Before the outbreak of war Harry had learned to fly, he was a member of the Royal Aero Club and held a private pilots licence issued to him in March 1938. His family owned and managed a wholesale bakery business and Harry was a director of the company. He joined the Royal Air Force in December 1940 and, despite his ability to fly, he ended up being trained as an air gunner. 

After training in Canada he was posted to 410 RCAF Night Fighter Squadron on 2nd August 1941. 410 Sqn flew the 2 seater Defiant Night Fighter, the gunner being in a turret behind the pilot manning the only guns in the aircraft. In theory, turret-armed fighters were thought better interceptors, as the pilot could manoeuvre the aircraft to approach an enemy bomber from below or from the side. Reid spent 10 months with 410 Sqn and completed 11 operational sorties – mainly scrambles to intercept hostile aircraft – before the Sqn converted to the Beaufighter in April 1942. Air gunners then became redundant on the squadron. Reid was transferred to 159 squadron in Egypt on 2nd June 1942, where he flew as a rear gunner in Liberator bombers. He completed a further 38 operational sorties with this squadron in North Africa and Burma. On 19th July 1942, during a daylight raid on enemy shipping at Benghazi his aircraft was attacked by an ME109, he returned fire. On 24th August 1942, whilst attacking enemy ship and in Tobruk Harbour, his aircraft was attacked by a JU88, Reid returned fire. 

Following the Japanese actions in the Far East, 159 squadron were transferred to India, arriving on 16th September 1942. Their first bombing sortie was to Mingaladon Aerodrome, Rangoon, on 17th November 1942. On 25th November 1942, while again bombing Mingaladon Aerodrome, Reid’s aircraft was attacked by three or four night fighters. Reid claimed one destroyed (later confirmed) and one damaged. Reid’s aircraft was hit by cannon fire and he fired 3,000 rounds from his rear turret during the action. The enemy fighters that attacked Reid’s aircraft were KE1 43 – Oscars. The one he shot down was piloted by Flight Sergeant Yoshito Yasuda, who was badly burned and managed to parachute out of his burning aircraft, he returned to base next day. The fighter damaged by Reid was piloted by Flight Leader Yasuhiko Kuroe. On landing Kuroe found eight hits on his aircraft. Both Japanese pilots were “Aces”. Reid’s tour continued with attacks on “He Ho” aerodrome 26th of December 1942, Toungoo aerodrome 29th December and 20th January 1943, “He Ho” aerodrome 23rd January, Rangoon Docks 2nd February, three more attacks on Aerodromes and a Jap camp at Prome on 8th of March 1943. 

This completed his operation flying and he joined number one Air Gunnery school on 26th July 1943 for the Air Gunnery Instructor’s course. His last flight recorded in his log book was in a the Liberator on 23rd of January 1944.

He was awarded the DFM in London Gazette 18th June 1943 and was Mentioned in Despatches on 2nd June 1943 (possibly for the Japanese Night Fighters). 

Reid was discharged from the RAF 14th February 1946 and returned to the family business. His Second World war log book appears to be a contemporary duplicate, written whilst in India in an Air Forces in India log book, the original probably lost or damaged.

The group comes with: 

• Original Air Forces in India Observers and Air Gunners Flying Log Book (A contemporary written replacement, his original being lost or damaged)
• Original MiD certificate in envelope addressed to him
• Original medal entitlement slip
• Original authorisation for wearing ribbons of: 39/45 Star, Air Crew Europe Star, Africa Star & clasp and Burma Star. It states he completed qualifying period for 39/45 Star on 3/10/41.
• Original letter from Central Chancery for investiture at Bucking Palace on 26 June 1945.
• Original photo album with photos of himself, fellow RAF members and places he visited in Egypt and Burma
• Original portrait photos of Reid in uniform
• Original Royal Air Force Service and Release book.
• Original named box of issue for DFM
• An original “Journal of the Air Forces” – India Command Edition
• Copy of email correspondence between an English and Japanese researcher. The Japanese researcher checked Sqn records and found the pilot Reid had shot down managed to bail out and the plane he damaged managed to land. He also identified both pilots – both Japanese “Aces”.
• Original booklet of Burmese Phrases.
• 2 x Civil pilots licences to Reid
• 1 x British Empire Aviator’s Certificate to Reid dated 1938
• Original Civil Pilot’s Log Book covering 1938 to 1950
• 3 x old passports to Reid
• Original 159 Sqn Christmas Dinner Menu 1943
• Original 159 Sqn Sgts Mess Christmas Dinner Menu 1942
• Copy of original citation for DFM
• London Gazette details for DFM and MiD

Regiment: Royal Air Force

Era: WW2