Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Mosquito Pathfinder D.F.M. group of four awarded to Acting Flight Sergeant Kenneth Leigh, No. 109 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (1684777 Act. F/Sgt., R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; War Medal, good very fine (4)

D.F.M. London Gazette 7 December 1945 (General citation). The following details were released in an Air Ministry Bulletin: ‘completed numerous operations against the enemy, in the course of which he has invariably displayed the utmost fortitude, courage and devotion to duty.’

Flight Sergeant Kenneth Leigh was born at Salford, Lancs., in 1922, and was a sheet metal worker in civilian life. He completed 36 operations and, according to research sold with the group, flew in the first aircraft of the squadron to drop a target indicator, using Oboe, when over Berlin. F/Sgt Leigh was Navigator to his regular pilot F/Lt J. W. Shaw, flying Mk XVI Mosquitoes. Number 109 Squadron converted to Oboe Mosquitoes in December 1942 as one of the original units of the Path Finder Force. The squadron, along with No. 105 Squadron, was one of only two in the R.A.F. to use pure electronics as a bombing device. It is impossible to measure the contribution the Oboe Mosquitoes of a mere two squadrons made to the winning of the war, but certain it is that a handful of crews contributed greatly and out of proportion to their numbers. They made possible accurate and effective bombing and, as had been forecast, with amazingly low losses. Sold with a portrait photograph of the recipient, copies from the Squadron Operations Book and copies from F/Lt Shaw’s Log Book.