A Second World War Lancaster and Dakota pilot's D.F.C. group seven awarded to Flight...

A Second World War Lancaster and Dakota pilot’s D.F.C. group seven awarded to Flight Lieutenant G. T. Stone, 460 (R.A.A.F.) Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, whose 2nd operational sortie was graced with his Station Commander - Group Captain Hughie Edwards, V.C., D.S.O., D.F.C - as the pilot to show him the ropes. Stone went on to fly in at least 31 operational sorties with the squadron prior to flying Dakotas with Transport Command Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1945’; 1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Australia Service Medal, last three officially engraved ‘G. T. Stone 418021’, and later issues, with replacement Return from Active Service Badge, reverse numbered ‘131495’, generally very fine or better (lot) £2,000-£2,600 --- D.F.C. London Gazette 27 March 1945: ‘Flying Officer Stone has completed numerous operations against the enemy in the course of which he has invariably displayed the utmost fortitude, courage and devotion to duty.’ George Thomas Stone was born in Albury, New South Wales, Australia in September 1920. He initially served as a Private with the 59th Battalion, 115th Infantry Brigade, Australian Militia prior to being discharged as ‘Medically Unfit’, 5 April 1940. Stone was employed as a Bank Clerk with the National Bank in Melbourne prior to joining the Royal Australian Air Force Reserve in October 1941. He was mobilised as a L.A.C. in April 1942, and carried out initial training including as a Sergeant (Pilot) at No. 6 E.F.T.S., Mallala, in March 1943. Stone embarked at Brisbane for the UK under the Empire Air Training Scheme, 20 April 1943. After carrying out further training at Nos. 15 and 18 (P) A.F.U.’s, Stone was posted to No. 27 O.T.U., Lichfield in January 1944. Further postings included to No. 1667 C.U. and No. 1 Lancaster Finishing School, Hemswell, before being posted for operational flying with 460 (R.A.A.F.) Squadron (Lancasters) at Binbrook in June 1944. Whilst ‘bedding in’ with his new squadron he flew as 2nd Pilot on his first two operational sorties - the second being with the Station Commander as his pilot, one Group Captain Hughie Edwards, V.C., D.S.O., D.F.C. The latter, despite his senior position, continued to participate on operational sorties and on this occasion flew with Stone to Les Hayons, 24 June 1944. Stone flew in at least 31 operational sorties with the Squadron, June - November 1944, including: Rheims; Les Hayons; Sanderville; Gelsenkirchen; Courtrai; Coquereaux; Bois de Jardin; Stuttgart (2); Foret de Nieppe; Auchel; Douai; Brunswick; Volkel; Stettin (2); Russelheim; Kiel; Raimbert; Gilze-Rijen; Westkapelle; Saarbrucken; Emmerisn; Fort Frederik-Hendrik (2); Duisberg (2); Kattegat; Essen and Dusseldorf. Stone had advanced to Flying Officer in June 1944, and having completed his tour he was posted to 238 Squadron (Dakotas), Transport Command at Merryfield in January 1945. Stone transferred to No. 1315 Flight (Dakotas) at Merryfield the following month. He was posted to No. 45 Group, Douval, Canada in March 1945, before returning to Australia when posted to No. 630 Group, Archerfield, Queensland the following month. Stone was posted on attachment with No. 1315 Flight to Manus Island, Papua New Guinea, 22 August 1945. He returned to Archerfield in September 1945. Stone advanced to Flight Lieutenant the following month, and was discharged in May 1946. Sold with the following original documentation: Australian Military Forces, Citizen Forces, Certificate of Discharge, dated 4 April 1940; Royal Australian Air Force Officer’s Certificate of Service; Letter of congratulation from on the occasion of recipient’s award of the D.F.C. from Air Officer Commanding, R.A.A.F., dated 28 March 1945; Royal Australian Air Force Statement of Account, dated 7 May 1946; photographic image of recipient and his crew; correspondence between recipient and the Department of Defence (Air Force Officer) in 1992, regarding the later issued campaign medals; card box of issue for later issued medals, this flattened, with label ‘Air Force Medals Section (Queanbeyan Annex), Department of Defence, Canberra ACT 2600’; a photocopy of recipient’s R.A.A.F. Flying Log Book (29 September 1942 - 7 May 1946); and other copied research.