23rd Sep, 2021 10:00
The Collectors' Auction
Distinguished Flying Medal group, awarded to 1684777 F/Sgt Kenneth Leigh RAF
Distinguished Flying Medal group, awarded to 1684777 F/Sgt Kenneth Leigh RAF, comprising: DFM, War Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, and War Medal. Leigh joined 109 Squadron and settled in No.8 Group, Pathfinder Force. Two black and white photographs of Leigh and 109 Squadron. Letters of research into Leigh including two from The Pathfinder Association. And copies of sorties pages carried out by 109 Squadron.
London Gazette 1/45. " He completed numerous operations against the enemy in Which he invariably displayed the utmost courage, fortitude and devotion to duty." Note: The Aircraft used by this Sqdn were Mosquitoes Mk 1X and IX (no armament, only target indicators. This N.C.O. completed 36 operations and was the first to drop a target indicator, using "OBOE" in the Sqdn when over Berlin. The Sqdn was, along with 105 Sqdn, one of the only two in the R.A.F. to use pure electronics as a bombing device. This meant flying straight and level for some 15 minutes over the target area. A great deal of the work of this unit was of a 'Top Secret' nature.
Ian Tavender’s book “The Distinguished Flying Medal Register for the Second Word War” records the two personnel as having been awarded the DFM when serving with 109 Squadron: Leigh, Kenneth 1684777 Acting Flight Sergeant No. 109 Sqn. LG 7/12/1945, Sorties 32, Flying hours 110: Navigator. Air 2/8772. Flight Sergeant K. Leigh came to the squadron as a spare Navigator and has since teamed up with three different pilots. Notwithstanding these rapid changes, he produced uniformly good results and has become a member of one of our most reliable crews. He has taken part in marking for strategical and tactical targets with equal success. He is a very fine Navigator, full of fight and his 32 sorties make him very worthy of the award of the Distinguished Flying Medal 6th. June 1945.
Remarks by Station Commander
This NCO has proved in his operational career to have outstanding courage, coolness and skill well above the average as a Navigator. I can strongly recommend him for the award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.
Leigh was born in Salford Lancs, in 1922 and his home is at Weaste, Salford. He was educated at Salford Grammar School and was a sheet metal worker in civil life.
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Auction: The Collectors' Auction, 23rd Sep, 2021
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