Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Second War D.F.C. group of six awarded to Flying Officer H. S. Horsfall, 102 (Ceylon) Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, the ‘Bomb Aimer of an outstanding and successful crew’, later Kenya Police

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated 1944, in Royal Mint case of issue; 1939-45 Star; copy Air Crew Europe Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Kenya (I.P. H. S. Horsfall.) surname partially officially corrected on last, with small scratch to obverse, the ACE Star a copy, generally good very fine and better (6) £1,200-£1,600

D.F.C. London Gazette 12 September 1944.
The original Recommendation states: ‘Flying Officer Horsfall, as Air Bomber, has completed an operational tour of 40 sorties comprising 239 hours’ flying which have included a wide variety of targets in Germany and occupied territories as well as sea mining. The complete success of every one of these missions has been in great measure due to his great skill and enthusiasm and he has secured ten aiming point photographs. I consider that his fine record allied to his ever-readiness to take part in operational flying justifies for him the award of the D.F.C.’

Harry Scott Horsfall was born on 12 May 1923 and initially served with 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit operating Halifax aircraft from R.A.F. Riccall in North Yorkshire. Tasked with undertaking basic night circuits and landings in the early morning hours of 13 August 1943, he had a lucky escape when his aircraft ground-looped on landing as the undercarriage collapsed; Halifax R9387 was soon deemed beyond repair.

Transferred to No. 102 (Ceylon) Squadron, No. 4 Group, as Air Bomber, Horsfall was soon in the thick of the action on bombing sorties to Germany. On 27 August 1943 he flew his first operational mission over Nuremberg which held considerable importance as an economic and infrastructure hub. Famed for the ‘Nuremberg Rally’, it also held symbolic importance and was repeatedly singled out by the R.A.F. and U.S.A.A.F. in consequence. This was followed by raids over Berlin, Munich, Hanover, Kassel, and Dusseldorf, the latter housing the Rheinmetal-Borsig arms manufacturing plant, which was extremely important for the German war machine. Further sorties were launched against Mannheim on 19 November 1943 and Stuttgart on 26 November 1943, before Horsfall’s crew focussed their attention upon five ‘gardening’ missions in February and early March 1944.

Transferred to French targets with the bombing of Le Mans on 7 March 1944 and 13 March 1944, followed by an attack on Amiens on 15 March 1944, Horsfall later directed his attention to the city of Laon in the Aisne department of France. Originally home to a grass civil aerodrome, this was developed by the Luftwaffe into a major military airfield which made it a prime target for Allied bombers. Further attacks focussed upon Tergnier, Villeneuve St. George and Aulnoye on 28 April 1944, with Horsfall recording his 40th mission on 24 May 1944; an attack on Colline Beaumont, which at that time was the site of a V-1 rocket ramp. His first tour complete after 239 hours of operational flying, Horsfall was awarded the D.F.C.

Surviving the war, Horsfall determined to lead a new life in French West Africa, and later, as Inspector of Police in Kenya. A brief hand-written letter from the recipient which accompanies the lot adds: ‘unfortunately my Log Book, Photographs &c. were lost in transit when my luggage went astray on my way back from French West Africa after the war.’

Sold with the original Buckingham Palace enclosure named to Flight Lieutenant Harry S. Horsfall, D.F.C.