Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An outstanding D.F.M. awarded to Flight-Sergeant V. H. Clare, 77 Squadron, Royal Air Force, for gallantry when shot down over Germany and for successfully evading capture

Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (1605068 Sgt. V. H. Clare, R.A.F.) nearly extremely fine £800-1000

D.F.M. London Gazette 19 December 1944. The recommendation states: ‘Flight Sergeant Clare was on the strength of 77 Squadron until April, 1944, when he was reported missing with Sqn. Ldr. Bond’s Crew. Up to and including this date, he had completed 12 operational sorties. The target on 22nd April, 1944, was Laon which was successfully bombed but, on the homeward route, the aircraft was attacked by an unidentified enemy aircraft, causing fire to spread throughout the fuselage of the Halifax and the Captain gave the order to abandon by parachute. At this stage, Sergeant Clare made great effort to put out the fire with an extinguisher but with little result owing to the fierceness and widespread hold of the flames. He displayed great fortitude in his endeavour to control the flames to such an extent that he did not leave the aircraft until it was only at a height of about 2,000 feet. By this time, he witnessed the departure from the aircraft of all other members of the crew with the exception of the pilot who was unable to do so as his parachute was on fire and he said he would try and crash-land. Flight Sergeant Clare, upon falling in enemy occupied territory, showed equal tenacity in his evasion of capture and ultimate return to this country on 6th October, 1944. This Flight Engineer has displayed great courage and determination in the performance of his duties at all times and it is strongly recommended that he be granted the immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.’

Flight Sergeant Clare served as Flight Engineer on 12 sorties with 77 Squadron, totalling 69.09 hours. Targets included Kassel, 22.10.1943, Dusseldorf, 3.11.1943, Frankfurt, 25.11.1943, Leipzig, 3.12.1943, Berlin, 28.1.1944 and 15.2.1944, Leipzig, 19.2.1944, Meulam, 2.3.1944, Vaires, 29.3.1944, Lille, 9.4.1944 and lastly Laon, 22.4.1944. Based on official reports: 5 minutes after leaving Laon, the aircraft was hit by incendiary bullets from nose to tail, two engines were also hit. The Air Bomber, Wireless Operator and Upper Gunner were all wounded in the attack. With the aircraft badly on fire the crew abandoned the aircraft with the exception of Clare and the pilot. After trying unsuccessfully to control the flames Clare finally baled out and the pilot attempted to land but the aircraft crashed and exploded. The official report of his subsequent landing and evasion states: ‘Landed safely at 23.35 hrs. on the 22.4.1944, hid chute and harness, walked to nearest village where two men took me to a hayloft to hide in and sleep. Next morning made my own way South and at 13.30 hrs 4 young men picked me up and one a Mr Leopold Petit hid me until the morning of the 27th in his house ... also obtaining for me civilian clothes, identification card from Mr Rene Charmardin who I impersonated, also another chap Mr Georges Fortier came all the way from there to Switzerland in the hope of joining the R.A.F. We travelled by road for two days and the night of the 28th caught a train from Montereau to Besancon ... We stayed at his friends place until mid-afternoon on the 2.5.1944 during these days I met an English speaking girl who acted as interpreter .... This girl bought tickets for a village bus to take us approx. 16 kilo South of where we were staying, here we had to wait for a man to pick us up in a cafe, he was take us across the frontier, he did this without us meeting any of the guards. The first village we came across in Switzerland was La-Brevine ...’

Flight Sergeant Victor Henry Clare D.F.M., the son of Mr and Mrs Edward Ernest Clare of Acton, Middlesex, died on 8th June 1945, aged 20 years. He was buried at Fulford Cemetery, Yorkshire. Sold with a quantity of copied research material including extracts from 77 Squadron Operations Record Book.