A WWII ‘Bomber Command’ DFM Group of 4 awarded to Flight Sergeant Dennis Axtell, 51 Squadron, No. 4 Group, Royal Air Force, a ‘fearless and skillful’ Wireless Operator who completed 38 bombing sorties and nearly 260 hours over targets in France, Germany and Italy, prior to his being shot down and killed in action over France by a German night-fighter on the 17th of April 1943, comprising: Distinguished Flying Medal, GVIR (626794.. F/Sgt. D. Axtell. R.A.F.), Air Crew Europe Star, 1939-45 Star, War Medal, 1939-45; the first officially impressed, the remainder unnamed as issued, group loose. Group lightly toned, extremely fine. (4) DFM London Gazette 20.04.1943 Flight Sergeant Dennis Axtell was born in June 1920 at Epsom, Surrey, and having moved to live in St Helens, Isle of Wight, he later served with 51 Squadron, RAF, during WWII, based in Snaith between October 1942 and April 1945. Reaching the rank of Flight Sergeant, he was killed in action on the 17th of April 1943, during a raid intended to disable to Skoda Automobile Works based in Pilsen. Leaving Snaith, the Handley Page Halifax Mk. II was attacked and shot down by a German night fighter (Hptm Hans-Karl Hamp) at 04:36am, and according to a witness, the aircraft came down in flames, and broke into three sections in the areas of Eppeville and St. Sulpice on the Somme. Almost the entire crew was killed, including F/Sgt Axtell (Wireless Operator) excepting the sole survivor - one WO W R Keirnan, who though wounded managed to open a parachute, and was subsequently taken POW. Flight Sergeant Axtell was awarded the DFM posthumously later that month, having been originally recommended for this award on the 22nd of February 1943, and his recommendation reads: “Flight Sergeant Axtell has carried out 34 bombing sorties and 4 convoy escort patrols and is on his second tour of operations. He has always shown consistent keenness and his work as Wireless Operator has contributed largely to the successful operations carried out by the aircraft in which he has flown. Flight Sergeant Axtell’s strong sense of duty and determination has inspired a high standard of morale in the crew in which he is Wireless Operator. Throughout both his tours of operations he has displayed unusual initiative and his resourcefulness and skill has proved a big asset to the completion of many successful sorties. His cheerful courage, unselfishness, and sacrifice well deserve recognition by the award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.” Sold with copy casualty certificate, London Gazette mentions, and some biographical research, showing his having married one Agnes Axtell (née Smyth), from Belfast, in December 1941. F/Sgt Dennis Axtell was buried in Maucourt Cemetery, France, and is commemorated on the St Helens Church Memorial, Isle of Wight.
A WWII ‘Bomber Command’ DFM Group of 4 awarded to Flight Sergeant Dennis Axtell, 51 Squadron, No. 4 Group, Royal Air Force, a ‘fearless and skillful’ Wireless Operator who completed 38 bombing sorties and nearly 260 hours over targets in France, Germany and Italy, prior to his being shot down and killed in action over France by a German night-fighter on the 17th of April 1943, comprising: Distinguished Flying Medal, GVIR (626794.. F/Sgt. D. Axtell. R.A.F.), Air Crew Europe Star, 1939-45 Star, War Medal, 1939-45; the first officially impressed, the remainder unnamed as issued, group loose. Group lightly toned, extremely fine. (4) DFM London Gazette 20.04.1943 Flight Sergeant Dennis Axtell was born in June 1920 at Epsom, Surrey, and having moved to live in St Helens, Isle of Wight, he later served with 51 Squadron, RAF, during WWII, based in Snaith between October 1942 and April 1945. Reaching the rank of Flight Sergeant, he was killed in action on the 17th of April 1943, during a raid intended to disable to Skoda Automobile Works based in Pilsen. Leaving Snaith, the Handley Page Halifax Mk. II was attacked and shot down by a German night fighter (Hptm Hans-Karl Hamp) at 04:36am, and according to a witness, the aircraft came down in flames, and broke into three sections in the areas of Eppeville and St. Sulpice on the Somme. Almost the entire crew was killed, including F/Sgt Axtell (Wireless Operator) excepting the sole survivor - one WO W R Keirnan, who though wounded managed to open a parachute, and was subsequently taken POW. Flight Sergeant Axtell was awarded the DFM posthumously later that month, having been originally recommended for this award on the 22nd of February 1943, and his recommendation reads: “Flight Sergeant Axtell has carried out 34 bombing sorties and 4 convoy escort patrols and is on his second tour of operations. He has always shown consistent keenness and his work as Wireless Operator has contributed largely to the successful operations carried out by the aircraft in which he has flown. Flight Sergeant Axtell’s strong sense of duty and determination has inspired a high standard of morale in the crew in which he is Wireless Operator. Throughout both his tours of operations he has displayed unusual initiative and his resourcefulness and skill has proved a big asset to the completion of many successful sorties. His cheerful courage, unselfishness, and sacrifice well deserve recognition by the award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.” Sold with copy casualty certificate, London Gazette mentions, and some biographical research, showing his having married one Agnes Axtell (née Smyth), from Belfast, in December 1941. F/Sgt Dennis Axtell was buried in Maucourt Cemetery, France, and is commemorated on the St Helens Church Memorial, Isle of Wight.
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