To:
1678404.Sgt H.G.FOSTER, 76 Squadron.
[MONCHENGLADBACH....."Almost a Raid Too Far"]
After completing 19 sorties with 76 Squadron, Harry Foster's 20th bombing run to Germany was to end in near disaster.
"This is a classic Bomber Command story of great courage and sheer brute force determination to survive against all the odds while badly shot up and wounded in the pitch black skies over Germany" This crew's story of incredible heroism is also fully detailed in the fine book "BOMBER COMMAND" by leading historian MAX HASTINGS.
HALIFAX MkV. DK195 MP-P
30-31st August 1943. RAF Holme-on-Spalding Moore.
T/o 00:05 am.
This aircraft, with its crew of seven, was on a bombing sortie to RHEYDT near MONCHENGLADBACH on the River Rhine when just ten minutes after leaving the target it was suddenly bounced and seriously shot up twice during two attacks by JU88 & ME110 Luftwaffe night fighters.
One of the enemy aircraft, the JU88, was confirmed destroyed by return fire from the Halifax and was seen on fire in a near vertical decent while silhouetted against the night sky and the burning target. Through taking violent evasive action the pilot shook off the other ME110 fighter which had initially opened fire in a head-on attack.
Sgt Harry Foster, the Navigator was seriously wounded during the attack. He was blinded in his left eye and sustained other serious injuries to a leg. The Pilot, Flt/Sgt C.Kirkham, was also badly injured by a bullet which struck him in the upper right buttock and the wireless operator also sustained an injury to his leg. The Bomb Aimer Sgt A.B. Ward left his position in the nose, positioned himself at the controls and flew the aircraft for some time while Flt/Sgt Kirkham attended to his wounds before returning to his cockpit.
[THE PILOT'S D.F.M. CITATION]
Flt/Sgt Kirkham's DFM citation fully describes the situation.
During this entire time, Sgt Foster refused to leave his plotting desk and continued to give navigational instructions to Flt/Sgt Kirkham.
For his great courage, outstanding bravery and selfless devotion to duty, Sgt Harry Foster was awarded an Immediate DFM with similar Immediate awards being made to Flt/Sgt Kirkham & Sgt Ward.
All details were published in the London Gazette of 15th October 1943.
The aircraft was set on fire inside and outside and sustained extensive & very serious internal damage which destroyed the intercom system. The belly and lower fuselage were also badly holed with the hydraulic system also being so seriously damaged that the bomb bay doors would not close.
Flt/Sgt Kirkham put the aircraft into a steep dive and successfully extinguished the exterior fire. The starboard inner engine was destroyed with the propellor having to be feathered.
It was after this devastating attack during a flight lasting five hours & fifteen minutes, that with great skill & bravery, and while both being in a badly wounded state, that the pilot and navigator managed to nurse and steer their badly crippled bomber back to the UK on its three remaining engines. On approaching the English coast it was discovered that due to the hydraulic damage the undercarriage would not lower. The pilot warned the crew that they would be making a crash landing which was successfully achieved on the grass and clear of the runway at Bradwell Bay airfield in Essex at 05:20hrs on 31st August 1943.
Both Sgt Foster & Flt/Sgt Kirkham were detained in hospital.
This is a truly outstanding DFM and one of the finest Immediate awards you could wish to add to your collection.
Mr Foster died recently and his superb DFM is brand new to the market and has never been previously offered. COMES WITH THE NEWLY ISSUED BOMBER COMMAND CLASP & OFFICIALLY NAMED BOX WITH ISSUE DOCUMENT.
PER ARDVA AD ASTRA
(Lest We Forget The Cost Of Our Freedom)
[RAF SCHOOL OF ADMINISTRATION & ACCOUNTANCY]
In late 1944/1945 Harry Foster received a commission as a Flying Officer and despite the loss of his left eye he continued to serve as an accountancy officer. He is shown here on the training course (wearing his DFM ribbon) seated in the front row second in from the right.
SOLD