MBE and WW2 Night Fighter’s DFC Medal Group of Eight – Wing Commander James Alan Wright, Royal Air Force

An MBE and second world war Night Fighter’s DFC medal group awarded to Wing Commander (late Sergeant Pilot) James Alan Wright, Royal Air Force, who flew in Beaufighters,  Havocs and Mosquitos with 604 Squadron and accounted for two enemy aircraft, the last despite being wounded and having to bale out when his ‘aircraft started to blow up’. He flew with 256 Squadron, tasked with the night defence of Malta, prior to being posted to 169 (Bomber Support) Squadron in October 1944. Wright flew in 31 operational sorties with the latter, including as part of Bomber Command’s last raid of the war, 2nd May 1945, when he dropped napalm bombs on Jagel airfield prior to the main raid on Kiel. 

Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) (Military Division) unnamed as issued 
Distinguished Flying Cross reverse officially dated ‘1945’ 
1939-45 Star unnamed as issued 
Air Crew Europe Star unnamed as issued 
WW2 Defence Medal unnamed as issued 
War Medal 1939-45 unnamed as issued 
General Service Medal (Clasp – Palestine 1945-48) named to Sqn. Ldr. J. A. Wright D.F.C. R.A.F. 
1953 Elizabeth II Coronation Medal unnamed as issued 

D.F.C. London Gazette, 26th October 1945
The citation is as follows:
  ‘S/L. J. A. Wright commenced operations in March, 1941, with No. 604 Night Fighter Squadron. On his second sortie he destroyed a Ju.88. In May, 1941, attacked a He.111, during this combat he was injured and his aircraft damaged. Despite this, he pressed home his attack until the enemy aircraft was destroyed. He then commenced to fly home with one engine stopped and on fire and had almost reached base when the aircraft started to blow up, he and his navigator baling out safely from a low altitude. In all he completed 43 defensive night fighter patrols.

 In September, 1943, he went to Malta with 256 Squadron and carried out 13 Fighter and Convoy patrols.

 He started Bomber Support operations with 100 Group in October, 1944, and completed 31 offensive sorties.

 His keenness to operate has always been of the highest order throughout every phase of his career. With the introduction of any new operation, including low level attacks on aerodromes, his infectious keenness, coupled with his skill and judgement, has had a very marked effect on all crews.

 I strongly recommend that he be awarded the D.F.C.’

Remarks by Station Commander:

 ‘S/L. Wright has been a flight commander in No. 169 (B.S.) Squadron since 20th December, 1944. He has proved a most capable and conscientious aide to his squadron commander and has at times set the finest example of keenness and offensive spirit to the members of his flight and Squadron. He stands out amongst his fellows for his devotion to duty.’

M.B.E. London Gazette, 10th June 1954

James Alan Wright was born in early 1920. During the Second World War, he served in the Royal Airforce as a Pilot, initially serving on 604 Squadron, which operated Beaufighters as nightfighters. Wright joined the Squadron, based at Middle Wallop, in March 1941. 

On his second sortie on 12th March 1941, he got a confirmed kill, shooting down a Ju.88. On 7th May 1941, he shot down a He.111 off Portland. During the dogfight, Wright’s Aircraft suffered significant damage.

The Squadron Orb stated;
 ‘7.5.41 10 patrols were carried out by the Squadron. S/Ldr Cunningham D.S.O., D.F.C. engaged and destroyed a He.III near Yeovil. F/O Joll detected an e/a but was unable to engage as e/a took violent evasive action. Sgt. Wright detected and engaged an e/a but was himself attacked and slightly wounded. However, his attack on the e/a was successful, but when trying to return to base his port engine burst into flames so he and his operator descended by parachute and were uninjured other than slight wounds to the pilot. Their a/c was completely destroyed by impact and fire.’

While with 604, he flew a total of 43 sorties on Beaufighters, Havocs and Mosquitos, serving alongside John ‘Cat’s Eyes’ Cunningham. Wright left the 604 in August 1943, having risen to the rank of Flight Lieutenant. 

Posted to 256 Squadron the following month, which was based out of Luqa, Malta. The Squadron was tasked with helping to defend Malta at night; Wright would fly 13 sorites with the Squadron, operating Mosquitoes.

On his return to England, he was promoted to acting Squadron Leader and given a rest away from operational flying. He resumed Ops with 169 Squadron flying a further 31 sorites. The Squadrons’ main role was to fly patrols at night over Germany while bombing raids took place. Interestingly they also attacked German Airfields at night, catching enemy aircraft on the ground. 

His last Op of the war was on 2nd May 1945, when Bomber Command attacked Jagel airfield. Wright dropped Napalm on the airfields around Kiel.  

Wright survived the war and remained in the Royal Airforce, serving in Palestine. Promoted to Wing Commander in 1959, he retired in 1966 having been awarded the MBE in 1954.

Regiment: Royal Air Force

Era: WW2