Orders, Decorations and Medals

A superb D.S.O., D.F.C. and Bar group of eight awarded to Group Captain Robert McFarlane, Nos. 83, 9 and 50 Squadrons, Royal Air Force, a pilot on Hampdens and Manchesters, three times mentioned in despatches and decorated for the attack on the German warships “Scharnhorst”, “Gneisenau” and “Prinz Eugen” during their Channel dash in February 1942

Distinguished Service Order, G.VI.R., the reverse of the lower suspension officially dated ‘1944’; Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated ‘1942’, with Second Award Bar, the reverse officially dated ‘1942’; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence and War Medals, M.I.D.; Coronation 1953; Air Efficiency Award, G.VI.R. (A/Wg. Cdr., R.A.F.V.R.) the group mounted as worn, together with the recipient’s two original Pilot’s Flying Log Books for the period June 1939 to May 1959, three original M.I.D. Certificates, a quantity of Aeronautical maps, and an album containing various good wartime photographs and congratulatory telegrams and letters, the first with enamel chips to one arm and both wreaths, light contact marks, otherwise very fine (8)

D.S.O. London Gazette 7 January 1944. ‘Acting Wing Commander Robert McFarlane, D.F.C., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 50 Squadron. This officer has commanded the squadron since July, 1943, and shown exceptional powers of leadership. He has done much to raise the standard of operational efficiency to a high level which has been accomplished by the emulation of his own example. Wing Commander McFarlane is now serving in his second tour of operational duty and has taken part in attacks on most of the enemy’s heavily defended objectives. His sterling services are worthy of high praise.’

D.F.C. London Gazette January 1942. ‘Pilot Officer, No. 83 Squadron. When returning from a mine-laying sortie in the Oslo area Pilot Officer McFarlane bombed a small ship and set it on fire; then he returned and sprayed the deck with machine gun fire. His courage and determination have had a marked influence on his comrades.’

Bar to D.F.C. London Gazette 10 April 1942. ‘For skill, courage and determination during the attack on the German warships Scharnhorst, Gneisenau, and Prinz Eugen at sea on February 12, 1942. Pilot Officer, D.F.C., No. 83 Squadron. On 12th February, 1942, this officer was the captain of an aircraft which participated in an attack on the German warships at sea. When approaching the battleships at an altitude of 500 feet, his aircraft was attacked by two enemy fighters whose pilots made three separate attacks. The hydraulic system was rendered unserviceable and the bomb doors could not be opened. Unaware of the damage sustained, Pilot Officer McFarlane skilfully evaded his attackers and made his run over the battleships. His aircraft was thereupon subjected to a fierce barrage and sustained further damage. The port and starboard rudders were pierced in innumerable places and large gaps were torn in the fuselage by shell-fire. Meanwhile, the elevator cables had been damaged and were only holding by two strands of wire. Nevertheless, Pilot Officer McFarlane flew the aircraft back to this country and finally made a safe landing. Throughout, this officer showed great skill, courage and determination.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 1 January 1943, 2 June 1943, and 14 January 1944.

Robert McFarlane was born in Glasgow on 12 July 1914 and was educated at Uddingston Grammar School and later at the West of Scotland Commercial College. Before enlisting he was organist and choirmaster of Buchanan Street Congregational Church at Coatbridge. A pre-war member of the Volunteer Reserve, McFarlane was called up on the outbreak of war, rising from the rank of Sergeant Pilot to that of Acting Wing Commander, having been commissioned in November 1941. He joined No. 83 Squadron, flying Hampdens from Scampton, in March 1941, participating in nine operations before taking his 1st Pilot’s Course during May and June when he rejoined his squadron. Converting to Manchesters at the end of the year, McFarlane completed a further 23 operations with 83 Squadron, including the attack on the German battleships in February 1942, in which his rear gunner was seriously wounded and afterwards died. For this action he received a well deserved bar to the D.F.C. that he had earlier won for his attack on a ship in Oslo Fjord.

Leaving No. 83 Squadron in mid-March 1942, McFarlane spent the remainder of the year with No. 83 Conversion Flight and No. 1654 Conversion Unit, mostly non-operational but taking part in one more operation, on 13 September, when he flew his Lancaster in a raid on Bremen. Between April and July 1943, he served with No. 9 Squadron at Bardney, flying on eight more Lancaster raids against targets in Germany. McFarlane was given command of No. 50 Squadron in July 1943, and, although his duties kept him for the most part grounded, he managed to lead his squadron on four night raids into Germany. The award of his D.S.O. in January 1944 coincided with the end of his operational flying but by no means kept him out of the air, as his Log Books testify. In the post-war years, McFarlane logged a great number of hours flying Meteors, Canberras and Vampires, and saw service with Bomber Command in South East Asia, the Mediterranean, and with S.H.A.P.E. Promoted to Group Captain on 1 July 1956, he was Station Commander in Germany at R.A.F. Wahn and subsequently R.A.F. Gütersloh. Group Captain McFarlane retired from the Royal Air Force on 30 June 1962.