WW2 Distinguished Flying Cross Medal Group with Log Books – Flight Lieutenant George Highton, 192 (Special) Squadron, Royal Air Force

A second world war DFC medal group of five with accompanying log books awarded to Flight Lieutenant George Highton, 192 (Special) Squadron, Royal Air Force who undertook a tour of 35 ½ Special Duties sorties between 22nd September 1943 and 8th April 1944 where he was involved in tracking, identifying and blocking German radar and radio signals off of the coasts of Europe in assistance to Allied bombing raids.

GVI Distinguished Flying Cross reverse dated 1944
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 

The medals are in good condition and the DFC comes in Royal Mint fitted case of issue. 

London Gazette:
15th September 1944 (DFC)

The group comes with:

Royal Canadian Air Force Pilot’s Flying Log Book to Pilot Officer G. Highton covering the period from 10th August 1942 until April 1944

Royal Air Force Pilot’s Flying Log Book to Pilot Officer G. Highton covering the period from 19th May 1944 until 31st July 1946

Forwarding letter for D.F.C. named to Flight Lieutenant George Highton, D.F.C.

Card box for medals, the address removed, with the forwarding slip, and wax packets.

Portrait photograph of the recipient wearing his ribbon bar

Copy of Air Ministry Pamphlet No. 196 – Ground/Air Emergency Code for Use in Air/Land Rescue Search.

Series of 7 reproduced photographs in which Highton is identified, including one at Reims, France shortly after the German surrender where he is seen in the background looking at General Eisenhower and Marshall of the Royal Air Force Arthur Tedder.

George Highton began his training in Canada in August 1942 on Stearman aircraft and the subsequently DH82C aircraft at 32 Elementary Flight Training School, Bowden, Alta. On 30th September 1942 he began training on Oxford aircraft where he trained on dealing with engine failures and other equipment failures at 36 Service Flying Training School concluding this training on 21st January 1943.

Highton then transferred to the UK where he began training at Elementary Flight Training School, Kingstown, Carlisle on 28th April 1943 and began training on instrument flying which he concluded on 21st June 1943. He then spent a week on a Beam Approach Training Course at Church Lawford from 14th June – 18th June being classified as average, and being noted as very keen after a slow start. He then spent the rest of June 1943 training at No. 18 Advanced Flying Unit. 

In August 1943 he began training on Wellington III at No. 26 Operational Training Unit remaining there until 9th September 1943.

Highton received his first operational posting to 192 (Special) Squadron on 22nd September 1943 where he would fly missions to identify German radar patterns and wavelengths and to provide countermeasures during bombing raids. He would participate in 35 and a half (one sortie over the Channel) such sorties up until the completion of his first tour on 8th April 1944, the majority of these being along the Dutch coast and in the Bay of Biscay as well as on occasions near Norway and in the north of France, completing a total of 210 hours and 40 minutes of operational hours during the period. During his time with 192 Squadron he was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on 14th December 1943. 

Another part of 192 Squadron’s role was to provide aircraft ahead of the primary wave to circle the target and block enemy radar and radio. 

Highton would be awarded his Distinguished Flying Cross in the London Gazette of 15th September 1944 shortly after the end of his tour.

He would go on to spend a period as an instructor at 19 Operational Training Unit at R.A.F. Kinloss remaining there until 5th November 1944.

Subsequently he served at Bomber Command Headquarters where he would act as a courier for messages and people, flying them between Bomber Command HQ and Supreme Headquarters Allied Forces Europe, including the famed BBC War Reporter Richard Dimblebey on 5th March 1945, Air Vice Marshall Whitley on 10th March 1945. He would remain in this role until he left the Royal Air Force shortly after his last flight on 31st July 1946, having received his final promotion to Flight Lieutenant on 16th November 1945.

Regiment: Royal Air Force

Era: WW2