WW2 Distinguished Flying Medal (Immediate Award) Group with Log Book & Documents – Sgt. (Air Gunner) L.R. Wright, No.156 (Pathfinder) Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

A superb second world war DFM group to 1388495 Sergeant (Air Gunner) Leslie Robert Wright, No. 156 Squadron. R.A.F.V.R.

George VI Distinguished Flying Medal named to 1388495 Sgt. L.R. Wright. R.A.F.
1939-45 Star unnamed as issued
Air Crew Europe Star (Clasp – France and Germany) unnamed as issued
1939-45 War Medal unnamed as issued

Also appears to be entitled to a Defence medal but this is how they came in from the family.

London Gazette: 1st October 1943
DFM (Immediate Award)
  ‘One night in August, 1943, Sergeant Wright was the mid-upper gunner of an aircraft which attacked Berlin. At the commencement of the attack the bomber was hit by anti-aircraft fire which wounded the navigator and seriously injured Sergeant Wright. Immediately afterwards the aircraft was attacked by an enemy fighter. Despite his wounds, Sergeant Wright returned the fire and with one long burst drove the attacker away. This airman displayed skill and cool determination whilst his conduct during the remainder of the flight was exemplary.’

The group comes with his Flying Log Book, box of issue for WW2 medals, Path Finders Force badge award certificate, RAF Service and Release Book, fuel ration book, National Identity Registration cards for Sgt Wright, his wife and his son, Warrant Officer cloth rank badge, Pensions Appeal Tribunal Assessment giving details of his medical history and various other letters, documents and inviations. 

Wright joined the Reserve on 18/4/41. Eight months later he enlisted in the regular R.A.F. On 13/11/42 he was posted to Canada for aircrew training and after completing his training he was posted to 156 Sqdn (Path Finders) as a Mid Upper Air Gunner flying in Lancasters. 

On the 27/9/43 Wright flew his first operational sortie to Hamburg. During his second raid to Nurnberg on 10/8/43 they were attacked by a Messeschmitt 109 and 110. On the 17/8/43 they raided Peenemunde, the home of German missile development. On the 22/8/43 he took part in a raid on Leverkusen and the aircraft received flak hits to the port wing. 

His 5th operational sortie was on the 23/8/43. He was involved in a raid to Berlin where the Rear Gunner was killed while Wright and the Navigator were both seriously wounded by flak. Despite Wright receiving a serious wound to his left leg, which was later amputated, he continued to man his guns and when the aircraft was attacked by a Junkers 88 he kept firing, damaging the enemy aircraft and driving it away. He was awarded an immediate DFM along with the Pilot, Navigator and Wireless Air Gunner.

Upon their return he was admitted to hospital with his left foot almost completely severed, except for a 2 inch area at the back of his leg. The surgeons tried to save his foot but unfortunately they couldn’t and on 13/9/43 made the decision to amputate. 

Initially it was though and stated in the medical reports that he would be unable to return to operational flying duties. However, he was determined to do so and following the fitting of an artificial leg he was assessed and returned to 156 Sqdn. He completed a further 20 operational sorties starting on 2/11/44. 

On his 17th sortie to Politz on the 8/2/45 his log book states either he or the aircraft were the master Bomber and it reports ‘Large explosions on target’. 

His medical records also mention a gun shot wound to his right foot but it is unclear when this occurred. 

A fantastic immediate award DFM group.

Regiment: 156 Squadron, Royal Air Force

Era: WW2