Orders, Decorations & Medals - Aust. Groups

Lot 3195    SESSION 13 (2.30PM THURSDAY 25TH MARCH)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Aust. Groups

Estimate $750
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $1,400

GROUP OF FIVE: 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star, - clasp - France and Germany; Defence Medal 1939-45; War Medal 1939-45; Australia Service Medal 1939-45. First two medals unnamed, 428012 M.L.Merry. on last three medals. All named medals impressed. Swing mounted, contact marks, otherwise good very fine.

Maxwell Locke Merry, cabinet maker, age 29, born at Launceston, Tas; Enl.14Aug1942 at No.6 Recruiting Centre, RAAF, Hobart, Tas, with previous service in 12th/50th Cadets; to LAC 10Oct1942; to Sgt (T) and then WOff AG 29Apr1943; awarded Air Gunner badge 29Apr1943; Emb.25May1943; various training units; to Temp F/Sgt 29Oct1943; to 463Sqdn 28Feb1944; Disch.01Jul1944 to a Commission; to Pilot Officer 02Jul1944; completed 32 sorties with 463 Bomber Sqdn; to 27OTU 31Jul1944; to Flying Officer 02Jan1945; RTA and Disem.17Oct1945 at Melbourne; Disch.06Dec1945 as Flying Officer.

463 Squadron, RAAF was formed in England on 25 November 1943 and was equipped with Avro Lancaster heavy bombers. It was part of 5 Group of RAF Bomber Command. The first commanding officer was Wing Commander Rollo Kingsford-Smith, the nephew of Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith. During its term of operations it flew 2,525 sorties over Europe and sustained the highest loss rate of any Australian bomber squadron. It was disbanded on 25 September 1945.

With research including copy of Service File.