Aircrew europe grouping
Hi i would like to show my recent medal purchase and tell the story of how the man who flew never lived to receive them.Its a tribute for the ultimate sacrifice of this man 20 years old and the crew who he flew with like so many other aircrew who paid the ultimate sacrifice.Without the events and names mentioned these would just be another grouping of medals and the name of the airmen would be forgotten just like many groupings over the years.I see these items as much more than money they are literally items from people who will be braver than me and when i hold them i hold them with thought respect and honour.It is a shame that people dont keep hold of their loved ones medals perhaps they just want to forget.They are sold for many reasons or thrown away these medals were on ebay verylocal to me.I contacted the guy so i could go around and have a look to make sure they were genuine as with aircrew europe its a minefield.I got round they looked 100% and he told me he was given them when he was a young lad collecting militaria which he gave up many years ago and these just sat in a draw.I did the cheeky thing of asking if he wanted to cut out ebay and to be fair he said no but i thought id ask.Later when i got home my wife said you have just been to look at some medals a lump in the throat was followed by o yes just looking how do you know.Well its a small world it was only my Wifes freinds husbands best mate if that makes sense! im quite easy to describe apparently burly with a shaven head! well ive been around countless elderly peoples homes that have called my ads over the years and i hope i have never scared them lol.Anyway the auction ended the next evening and in the mean time i did a bit of research as the guy only knew them a a box of medals.To be completely gobsmacked takes a lot for me when i looked into the circumstances of the medals being addressed to Flight/sgt Clive Telfers mother.The date date was 19th November 1943 Halifax HX181 ZA-K from 10 squadron was detailed to bomb a target in Leverkusen.The crew Flight/ sgt Holdsworth (Pilot),Sgt Steel (Flight engineer),Sgt Telfer (Navigator/R.A.F.V.R),Sgt Oudinot (Air bomber/R.A.F.V.R),Sgt Downs (Wireless air gunner/R.A.F.V.R),Flight/sgt Harper (Air gunner/RAAF),Sgt Smith (Air gunner/R.A.F.V.R). took off at 16.22 from R.a.f Melbourne Yorkshire.As far as im aware up to now more research needed the target was bombed succesfully but many returning aircraft from the raid encountered terrible fog when they got to England.The aircraft i think because of the fog diverted to land at R.a.f Tangmere (famous for its role in the battle of Britain).The Halifax along with all crew crashed at 21.35 into a servicing hanger while attempting to land.No crew survived despite the efforts of personnel at Tangmere.As a result of the crash on the hangar 6 Typhoons,3 Spitfires and 2 Lysanders were destroyed.Flight sergeant Clive Telfer was buried in Morden cemetry Surrey and i plan to visit his grave and pay my respects in the summer.
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