RAF Flt. Sgt. Pathfinder Tunic and Cap. DFM + Operation Manna

A very nice Flight Sergeant Air Gunners Tunic and Cap acquired directly from the granddaughter of 1796202 Flight Sergeant George Edward Armstrong DFM.

Also awarded a Caterpillar Pin and Pathfinder Badge, Sergeant Armstrong served as a mid upper gunner with 7 Squadron Pathfinders on Lancasters from 27.09.43 until 22.04.44. Then, after a break, he returned to the Squadron and operations from October 1944 to May 1945 completing 1 tour and commencing a second. He was Gazetted for his DFM (page 5946) on the 7^th December 1945

Operational Sorties include :- Brunswick, Bochum, Hanover, 4 Berlin raids in late 43 and early 44 and Magdeburg. Then late 44 Walcheron x2, Wan Eickel, Koblenz x2, Leuna, Zeitz, Politz, Dresden, Pforzheim, Mainz, Manheim, Chemnitz, Heide,Hamburg, Essen, Dortmund, Wuppertal, Hanau, Rheine, Heligoland, Bremen, Wangerooge and Operation Manna, dropping food supplies to starving Dutch population.

As well as surviving a mid air collision with another Lancaster early in his career, he also survived a bail out on the night of 20^th December 1943 after his aircraft was attacked twice by a Night fighter while acting as Pathfinder during a raid to Frankfurt. The aircraft returned to the UK with a full bomb load which they were unable to jettison and when over the English coast his Pilot, F/O Field order the crew to bail out. Field remained with the aircraft to ensure it cleared the town of Halesworth in Suffolk, taking to his parachute at only 800’. The grateful residents of Halesworth erected a memorial to the crew which still survives today. The crew list, including Sgt Armstrong’s name, appears at the bottom of the memorial.

The Tunic is in very good condition and clearly dated 1942. All insignia is original to the Tunic which is missing one Flight Sergeants’ Crown. There is no damage other than one pin head size moth nip to the right of his 39-45 medal bar and of note is the outline of where his Pathfinder wings once sat below the medal bar. The Cap has a black plastic economy Cap badge and buttons and although rather dirty now, it too is without damage.

Included in the listing is a letter of Provenance signed by Sgt. Armstrong’s granddaughter and confirming both Tunic and Cap belonged to her grandfather. The Pathfinder wings and Caterpillar pin are missing.