Beschreibung:

A 1940 D.F.C. group of eight awarded to Squadron Leader P. Duggan-Smith, No. 18 Squadron, Royal Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated 1940; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Africa Star, clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Burma Star, clasp, Pacific; Defence & War Medals; New Zealand War Service Medal, together with his four Pilot’s Flying Log Books for the period January 1938 to October 1974, and an album containing a most comprehensive collection of documents, letters and photographs covering his very long career, the medals sometime plated, nearly very fine (8) £1200-1500 Footnote D.F.C. London Gazette 23 July 1940: ‘For gallantry and devotion to duty in the execution of air operations.’ The original recommendation states: ‘This officer has, since October, 1939, been employed in a Squadron engaged in operations against the enemy. Whilst on a day reconnaissance over territory occupied by the enemy, despite intense opposition from ground defences, he descended to a very low altitude to carry out his task. Although his aircraft was extensively damaged he succeeded in returning with information which proved to be of great value to General Headquarters. The determination and disregard for personal danger shown by this officer can only be described as exemplary.’ On 10 May 1940, two Blenheims of 18 Squadron took off from their airfield in France. Flown by Pilot Officers G. F. Harding and P. Duggan-Smith, they were ordered to make a recce of the vital bridges over the Maas and Meuse Rivers, and of the Venlo area. Pilot Officer Harding did not return. Pilot Officer Duggan-Smith nearly met a similar fate. Making a low level recce over the same area, he met intense light AA fire and was then attacked by a Me-110. However, he managed to evade by flying right down on the deck although the Blenheim was hit and damaged by cannon and machine-gun fire. On 17 May he was detailed to bomb enemy armoured columns on the St Quentin-Peronne Road. He found two enemy tanks in a small village and after circling to enable refugees to get clear, dropped his bombs in a shallow dive. They were observed to hit within ten yards of the target which was obliterated and he returned to Goyencourt aerodrome. These operations were typical of those carried out by 18 Squadron with the B.E.F. during this critical period in France, and they were rewarded with four D.F.C’s and two D.F.M’s to their pilots and aircrews. On 20 May the Squadron returned to England and, after a period with 13 O.T.U., Duggan-Smith went to Canada in December 1940 to attend the R.A.F. School of Navigation. In April 1941, Duggan-Smith was posted to No. 82 Squadron at Lossiemouth, and on 18 May he was one of eight Blenheims detailed to attack shipping in the harbour at St Nazaire, where he attacked a 1200 ton cargo passenger boat and a direct hit was thought to have been made. However, his machine was hit by flak wounding Duggan-Smith in the foot, and the observer Sgt Llewellyn in the face and body. Despite this they made a successful return flight and a crash landing at Portreath, some six hours after take off. In July 1941, Duggan-Smith was posted to HQ R.A.F. Middle East, and to No. 113 Squadron, Far East Command, at the end of the year. His subsequent wartime postings included 232 Wing, Western Desert, as Squadron Leader (Operations); No. 454 Squadron, R.A.A.F., Iraq, as Squadron Leader (Flying); No. 1 Ferry Pool; 229 Group, India Command; and No. 40 Squadron, R.N.Z.A.F., with whom he ended the war. In March 1951 he began flying with the Royal Canadian Air Force, and in 1955 he became a pilot for Wheeler Airlines and subsequently Chief Pilot for the International Harvester Company in Hamilton, Ontario. In August 1963, he went to New Zealand where he continued flying until 1974.