Orders, Decorations & Medals - British Groups

Lot 3955    Session 13 (2.30pm Thursday)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - British Groups

Estimate $4,500
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $5,000

GROUP OF FIVE: Distinguished Flying Cross; 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; Defence Medal 1939-45; War Medal 1939-45. 1945 engraved on back of first medal, remaining medals unnamed. Court mounted. Fine - extremely fine.

Thomas Cawthorne Shiel, P.O. 189783 RAFVR 37 Sqn. Particulars of Meritorious Service for which Recommendation was made: 'Warrant Officer Shiel was posted to this Unit on the 6th July 1944, and has completed 39 operational sorties against targets in Austria, Czecho-Slovakia, Rumania, Northern Italy, Yugo-Slavia and Hungary. Many important oil targets have been attacked including Pardubice, two attacks on the Romana-Americana Oil Refinery at Ploesti, one against the Xenia Oil Refinery at Ploesti and two against the Bucharest Prahova Refineries. On the night of the 23rd/24th July 1944, Warrant Officer Shiel was briefed to attack the Prahova Oil Refineries at Bucharest. On the way to the target no fewer than six sightings of enemy night fighters were made, which necessitated evasive action in two cases. In spite of this, Warrant Officer Shiel arrived at the target on time and, on breaking cloud, located the target and bombed successfully. On the night of the 21st/22nd July 1944, Warrant Officer Shiel took off to attack the Pardubice Oil Refineries. The route to the target necessitated passing twice through the Vienna night fighter belt and two sightings of enemy aircraft were made, and on each occasion excellent crew co-operation saved the aircraft from damage and possible destruction. On arrival at the target area no target markers were seen and Warrant Officer Shiel spent fifteen minutes trying to locate the target under scattered flares. During this period an ME.110 was sighted and evasive action had to be taken. Eventually Red Target markers were dropped by the Target Marking Force and Warrant Officer Shiel bombed the main concentration. The most successful result of good crew co-operation was on the night of the 21st November 1944, during an attack on the Szombathely Marshalling Yards. One of the Target Marking aircraft having been shot down by night fighters, the bombing aircraft were forced to locate the target for themselves and it was soon evident that there was considerable night fighter activity in the area, no fewer than five aircraft were seen to be shot down. Warrant Officer Shiel, however, remained in the target area and eventually bombed as accurately as he could under the very poor conditions of illumination and visibility. On leaving the target, the rear gunner reported a JU.88 closing in from the port quarter and gave Warrant Officer Shiel the order to corkscrew starboard in order to keep the enemy aircraft silhouetted in the flares. Warrant Officer Shiel commenced his corkscrew and on the second attack the rear gunner and wireless operator reported seeing tracer passing through the JU.88. The enemy aircraft then dived steeply away and an aircraft was seen to crash on the ground some seconds later. Warrant officer Shiel was credited with this aircraft as 'Probably Destroyed'. Warrant Officer Shiel has, by his leadership built up an excellent crew and throughout his tour has shown undiminished keeness to operate and outstanding devotion to duty and I recommend he be rewarded by the non-immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Cross'. Dated and signed 3rd January 1945, Wing Commander H.A.Langton Commanding No.37 Squadron R.A.F. Together with Royal Canadian Air Force Pilots Flying Log Book 28Nov1941-11Dec1945; folder containing photographs; letter from Buckingham Palace to Flying Officer Thomas C.Shiel DFC; leave card; Graduation Menu 15Jan1942; RAF Service and Release Book; bombing raid aerial photographs; RAF Rules and Regulations and membership card; a note stating that a relative or friend will be broadcasting a message to him on the BBC 7Apr1943; case for DFC.