405 Sqd ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE.
DFC (London Gazette) 13.10.1944The DFC is officially dated 1944 and the bar 1945 & is privately and superbly named with matching, original & contemporary chisel seriffed capital engraving,F/Lt E. O'CONNOR 
VERY RARE OFFICIALLY IMPRESSED SERVICE MEDALS. As this R.A.F. (VR) officer served with the R.C.A.F. his 1939-45 Star & Aircrew Europe Star, Defence & War Medals were clearly all issued by the Canadian Government and as such they are,"OFFICIALLY IMPRESSED & AS ISSUED" We have seen this situation before but it's highly uncommon.(Note)**Impressed by the official medal naming machine in sans-serif capitals: 'F/LT. E. O'CONNOR D.F.C. R.A.F.'This is exactly the same naming style as seen on the post war G.S.M. & also on the slightly later Korea medal.
[D.F.C. RECOMMENDATION]This Officer is a very capable and determined Captain. Most of the sorties in which he has participated have been against heavily defended enemy targets. On many occasions he and his crew have been in great personal danger, having been attacked by enemy fighters and shot up by enemy anti-aircraft fire, but by skilful handling of his aircraft and superb leadership, this Officer has brought his aircraft and crew back safely to friendly territory. The fine example set by this Officer is worthy of high praise.'
D.F.C. Second Award Bar (London Gazette)16.1.1945
[DFC (BAR) RECOMMENDATION]'Flight Lieutenant O'Connor is a highly efficient Pilot and Captain of a crew which has now completed two tours of operations. The targets attacked by this Officer include such heavily-defended German cities as Berlin, Kiel and Stuttgart. Throughout his long and varied operational career, this Officer has evinced a keenness for offensive action against the enemy, which has made him stand out amongst his comrades. He is of a quiet, reserved nature, but possesses daring and initiative which are his most outstanding qualities. Undoubtedly, this Officer has done much by his own personal example of devotion to duty, to keep the morale of Aircrew at a high standard.' (Note: O'Connor was originally put forward for the award of the Distinguished Service Order, however this recommendation was down graded to an award of the bar to the D.F.C. instead).
[BIOGRAPHY]
Flight Lieutenant Edward O'Connor, D.F.C. Was born in 1923 at Kendall, Westmoreland, England. His mother being the only registered parent, her name was Margaret Heap Haslingden. Edward was educated at Senior Boys School, Kendal. After joining the RAF as an airman & serving in the ranks he was Commissioned 1943. He then served as a Pilot with 405 (Vancouver) Squadron R.C.A.F on Halifaxes and Lancasters, at RAF Gransden Lodge in Bedfordshire, as part of 8 Group Path Finder Force from August 1943. He flew in at least 56 operational sorties with a total of 268.57 hours while on the squadron over two operational tours.
[TARGETS INCLUDED] Nuremburg; Munchen Gladbach; Mannheim (2); Hanover (2); Kassel (2); Cannes; Leverkusen; Berlin (3); Stuttgart; Frankfurt (2); Essen; Montzen; Montdidier; Mantes Gassicourt; Boulogne; Mont Couple; Le Mans; Rennes (2); Dunkerque; Toures; Cambrai; Lens; Renescure; Oisemont-Neuvelle-au-Bois (3); Metz; Caen; Paris; Russelheim (2); Stettin (2); Bremen; Kiel (2); Calais; Saarbrucken; Dortmund and Duisburg. He was commissioned Flying Officer on 3rd October 1944.