Beschreibung:

A good Second War ‘Lancaster Air Bomber’s’ D.F.M. group of five awarded to Sergeant E. A. Roberts, 61 and 617 Squadrons, Royal Force, who flew in at least 34 operational sorties with his first squadron, including the First Thousand Bomber Raid to Cologne, 30 May 1942, before transferring to The ‘Dambusters’. A Tallboy specialist, Roberts flew in a number of sorties with 617 Squadron, including the successful attacks on the railway viaducts at Bielefeld and Arnsberg, the Nienbrug railway bridge and the sinking of the German pocket battleship Lützow. The attack on the battleship was filmed and is held by the Imperial War Museum Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (1109139. Sgt. E. A. Roberts. R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star, 1 copy clasp, France and Germany; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted for wear, generally very fine or better (5) £3000-3400 Footnote D.F.M. London Gazette 18 May 1943: ‘This N.C.O. has completed 34 sorties [29 successful] involving over 200 hours on operations. His efforts as an Air Bomber have been characterised by the greatest determination to press home the attack. He secured three photographs of actual aiming points as well as many others of the target area. The targets include Berlin, Hamburg, Essen and Bremen as well as many important Italian objectives. Throughout these operations, many of which have been done in the face of heavy opposition, he has always shown splendid courage and devotion to duty and he is strongly recommended for the award of the D.F.M.’ Edward Arnold Roberts was born in Holywell, North Wales, in December 1908. He initially served during the Second War as an Aircraftman Second Class with the Royal Air Force. Roberts carried out his initial training as a Wireless Operator at No. 2 Signals School, Yatesbury, from February 1941. He qualified as an Air Gunner in October 1941, having completed the course at No. 1 A.G.S., Pembrey. Roberts continued his training at No. 14 O.T.U., before being posted for operational flying as a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner to 61 Squadron (Lancasters), Syerston, in May 1942. He flew in 34 operational sorties with the Squadron, the majority as Air Bomber, including: Cologne (4), including 30 May 1942 - the First Thousand Bomber Raid; St. Nazaire (2); Bremen (2); Wismar (2); Osnabruck; Kiel; Genoa (3), including 22 October 1942 and 6 November 1942, when he took a photograph of the Aiming Point on both sorties; Milan (2), including 15 February 1943, when he took a photograph of the Aiming Point; Stettin; Turin (3), including 8 December 1942, when he took a photograph of the Aiming Point; Duisburg; Munich; Essen (3); Berlin (2); Dusseldorf; Hamburg (2); Wilhelmshaven, and Nurenburg (2), including 8 March 1943, when he took a photograph of the Aiming Point. After a brief return to No. 1 A.G.S., Roberts was posted as an Air Bomber Instructor to No. 82 O.T.U., Ossington, in July 1943. He was subsequently posted in the same capacity to No. 28 O.T.U., Castle Donington, before being posted to No. 5 Lancaster Finishing School, Syerston, in January 1945. It was whilst at the latter that he was crewed with Flight Lieutenant D. Rawes, and he was posted with his pilot to 617 Squadron (Lancasters), Woodhall Spa, in February 1945. 617 Squadron - The ‘Dambusters’ Roberts flew in 10 operational sorties with 617 Squadron. These included the attacks on Bielefeld railway viaduct, the aborted attack on 13 March and the successful attack on 14 March 1945. During the latter raid Squadron Leader C. C. Calder of 617 Squadron dropped the first of the 22,000lb Grand Slam bombs - the biggest high explosive bombs developed by any country during the war. It, in conjunction with the Tallboys carried by the rest of the squadron, wrecked the viaduct: ‘So great was the sudden loss of weight, the aircraft had risen some 500 feet in height. Calder could do nothing about this but he quickly regained his senses and turning, picked out the bomb as it fell towards the target. Beca