A good Second War Pathfinder's 1944 D.F.M. group of seven awarded to Halifax and Lancaster...

A good Second War Pathfinder’s 1944 D.F.M. group of seven awarded to Halifax and Lancaster wireless operator, Warrant Officer F. J. Tudor, Royal Air Force, who flew in at least 48 operational sorties, mostly with 35 Squadron, including to Berlin and back on 8 occasions. Tudor was shot down by 2 night-fighters on the way back from a raid on Dortmund, 22/23 May 1944. His Lancaster exploded at 16,000 feet, with Tudor waking up mid parachute descent with blood streaming down his face. Suffering from a fractured cheek, he then shattered his left ankle on impact with a tree. Tudor was taken prisoner of war, and later was forced to take part in the ‘Long March’, with the advance of the Russian forces in April 1945. A detailed post-war recorded interview with the recipient is held by the Imperial War Museum Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (1063420 F/Sgt. F. J. Tudor. R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, 1 clasp, Air Crew Europe; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, Stars privately and somewhat crudely named ‘1063420 W/O F. J. Tudor 35 SQ.’, with Path Finder Force Badge, generally very fine or better (6) £1,600-£2,000 --- D.F.M. London Gazette 15 February 1944: ‘This N.C.O. has been on many operations as Wireless Operator in a crew engaged in a most vital role. The targets have been in some of the enemy's most heavily defended areas. At all times, this N.C.O. has demonstrated his skill and reliability as a Wireless Operator with great coolness in spite of very heavy opposition. His devotion to duty and enthusiasm to operate against the enemy are worthy of the highest praise and set a fine example to other aircrew in the squadron. In recognition of a fine record of service, this N.C.O. is recommended for the non-immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.’ Frank Joseph Tudor was the youngest son of Mr and Mrs L. Tudor of 21 Harding Avenue, Bidston, Wirral, and was born in Birkenhead in June 1922. He enlisted in the Royal Air Force in October 1940, and carried out initial training as a wireless operator/air gunner at No. 2 Signals School, R.A.F. Yatesbury and No. 1 A.G.S., Pembury. Tudor advanced to Sergeant and was posted to 13 O.T.U., Bicester, where he was crewed up with Daniel Everett as his pilot in Blenheims. They then transferred together to 24 O.T.U., Honeybourne in Autumn 1942. Having flown in Whitleys at the latter unit, they were posted to 10 O.T.U., St. Eval, flying the same aircraft whilst on attachment to Coastal Command. Tudor was engaged in anti-submarine patrols over the Bay of Biscay, and with Everett unsuccessfully attacked a German U-boat, 21 December 1942. They flew 6 operational sorties with the unit prior to returning to Bomber Command and converting to Halifaxes. Tudor was posted with his crew for operational flying to 158 Squadron (Halifaxes), Lissett, 19 April 1943. He flew in 5 operational sorties with the Squadron, including: Stettin; Bochum; Dortmund; Dusseldorf and Essen. Tudor’s crew were chosen for the new Pathfinder Force, and posted to 35 Squadron (Halifaxes and later Lancasters), Gravely in June 1943. Tudor flew in 37 operational sorties with the Squadron, including: Le Creusot; Krefeld; Mullheim (2); Elberfield; Cologne (2); Hamburg; Remscheid; Nuremburg; Turin; Berlin (8), including 23 August 1943 when attacked by 2 night-fighters; Munchen Gladbach; Mont Buchon; Mondane Pass; Mannheim; Cannes; Mannerheim (2); Stuttgart; Frankfurt (2); Stettin; Magdeburg; Heligoland; Rouen; Boulogne and Dortmund. Tudor was shot down on his 48th operational sortie, to Dortmund, 22/23 May 1944. Flying Lancaster III ND762 TL-E, with Flying Officer E. Holmes as the pilot, they: ‘T/o 2247 Graveley. Homebound, and flying at 16,000 feet, when picked up by a night-fighter. The brief engagement that followed was ended at 0129 when the Lancaster exploded, throwing out the three survivors, the debris from the bomber falling between Middelbeers (Noord-Brabant) and Vessem, 14km W from the centre of Eindhoven where those who died were buried on 26 May in Woensel General Cemetery. W/O Tudor, whose D.F.M. had been Gazetted on 15 February 1944, was treated at Oirschott for concussion and a broken leg....’ (Royal Air Force Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War 1944, by W. R. Chorley refers) The details of the above raid to Dortmund, and being shot down, are discussed at length by the recipient his post-war recorded interview held by the Imperial War Museum. Tudor recalls maps flying passed his face at the point of the aircraft being hit; waking up mid parachute descent with blood streaming down his face; and shattering his left ankle on impact with a tree. Tudor waited for approximately half an hour watching his aircraft burn in the distance, before starting to hobble towards a farmhouse. He eventually found one occupied by a Dutch family, and collapsed over the threshold. They were unable to help him due to his injuries, and he agreed with them that he should be handed over to the Germans for treatment. Tudor was taken to the Luftwaffe Hospital in Amsterdam, where his wounds, including a fractured cheek, were attended to. From there he proceeded to Dulag Luft, Frankfurt, where he was interrogated for 3-4 weeks. Tudor was moved to a Transit Camp, before returning to Frankfurt for more interrogation. He was subsequently sent to Stalag Luft VII, Bankau, a new prisoner of war camp on the Polish border. With the advance of the Russians, the prisoners interned at Bankau were force marched to Stalag III-A, Luckenwalde. The Russian advance continued, and the German guards left the camp to be liberated by the Russians. Tudor, with 3 other R.A.F. aircrew, set off for the American lines near the River Elbe. Having arrived they were transported to Brussels, and from there flown back to the UK in May 1945. Warrant Officer Tudor rejoined the R.A.F. in 1947, and signed on to serve for three years - however, he was forced to leave the service earlier due to continual nightmares about being shot down. A memorial to the crew of Tudor’s Lancaster was unveiled by Flight Lieutenant Holmes in Vessem in 2018. Sold with named invitation to Investiture Ceremony for the D.F.M. at Buckingham Palace, dated 10 October 1945; and newspaper cutting re recipient’s wedding. The Imperial War Museum holds a post-war recorded interview with the recipient, in which he recounts his service career in detail.