Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Second World War D.F.C., D.F.M. group of seven awarded to Flight Lieutenant R.A.Kemp, No's 166 and 142 Squadron, Royal Air Force

DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated '1945' and additionally named; DISTINGUISHED FLYING MEDAL, G.VI.R. (1430138 FI.Sgt., R.A.F.); 1939-45 STAR; AIR CREW EUROPE STAR, clasp, France and Germany; DEFENCE AND WAR MEDALS; GENERAL SERVICE 1918-62, 1 clasp, Arabian Peninsula (Flt. Lt., R.A.F.) the group mounted as worn and sold with original congratulatory Postagram signed by A.T. (Bomber) Harris, Buckingham Palace letter, and M.O.D. letter of thanks on leaving the R.A.F. in May 1965, light contact marks, otherwise very fine or better (7)

D.F.M. (Immediate), London Gazette, 21 January 1944: 1430138 Flight Sergeant Robert Alastair Kemp, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 166 Squadron. 'One night in December, 1943, this airman was the navigator of an aircraft detailed to attack Leipzig. Whilst over the target area, the aircraft was repeatedly hit by bullets from an enemy fighter. One member of the crew was killed and another seriously wounded. The bomber caught fire. In spite of the fumes, Flight Sergeant Kemp coolly and skilfully guided his pilot to the target and released the bombs. This airman, who has participated in a large number of sorties, has invariably displayed courage and determination of a high order.'

The Squadron Operations Record Book provides further details of the raid on the night of 3/4 December: 'This crew had a very eventful sortie. At the last turning point before the target they were attacked by an ME.1 10, whose fire killed the rear gunner, holed the petrol tanks in the port wing and set them on fire. Crew were about to abandon aircraft when they were again attacked. In the evasive action which was necessary the fires were put out, but the Mid-Upper turret was hit and severely damaged, the gunner being slightly wounded and his guns being put out of action. Owing to the fires being put out the crew decided to continue and try and make this country, dropping their bombs on Dessau. Soon after bombing they were again attacked by an ME.1 10, but successfully evaded the attack, suffering no further damage. They finally crossed the English coast in the Portsmouth area and landed their badly damaged aircraft at Tangmere. As expected, the rear gunner was found to be dead but the Mid-Upper gunner was not so severely wounded as had been feared.'

D.F.C., London Gazette, 25 September, 1945: No. 142 Squadron, Path Finder Force (No. 8 Group). A non-immediate award on completion of 61 operational sorties, the last 35 of which Kemp was Navigator of Mosquitoes of 142 Squadron which had been reformed as part of the Light Night Striking Force of No. 8 (P.F.F.) Group. These Mosquitoes took part in many successful raids, suffering relatively few losses due to their speed and height. Kemp flew no less than 14 sorties against Berlin including that on 21/22 March 1945, the largest ever carried out by Mosquitoes against Berlin.