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Three: Aircraftman First Class E. W. Lyon, 107 Squadron, Royal Air Force, whose Blenheim IV...
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1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal 1939-45, all unnamed as issued in named card box of issue addressed to his father K. C. Lyons, Esq., c/o Police Station, Brierley Hill, Staffs, with named ticker-tape entitlement slip (546679 A.C.1. LYON) and named Air Council enclosure slip (Aircraftman First Class E. W. Lyon), extremely fine (3) £400-£500
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Ernest William Lyon was born in April 1920 at Walsall, Staffordshire. On the outbreak of WW2, he was already serving, being posted to R.A.F. base Wattisham with 110 Squadron (Blenheim), however, on 4 September 1939, he was attached to 107 Squadron (Blenheim) who were also at Wattisham. The first air strike of the war was planned against German naval targets at Wilhelmshaven on 4 September 1939, which consisted of 15 Blenheim IVs from 107, 110 and 139 Squadrons (5 each). However, the weather was bad with low cloud from 300 to 17,000 feet, which then forced a low altitude attack necessitating the bombs to be fitted with 11-second delay actions to enable the planes to be clear of the target prior to detonation. Due to the bad weather 139 Squadron failed to find the target but the remaining two squadrons did.
The attack went in in the late afternoon with 110 Squadron leading the initial strike. The Admiral Scheer (pocket battleship) was selected as the target and the first aircraft scored two bomb hits on her (which failed to penetrate or detonate) and the second aircraft scored two near misses all before the Germans could react. The remaining seven planes flew into a storm of AA fire from the Admiral Scheer, Hipper (heavy cruiser), Emden (light cruiser) and shore batteries. Four of 107s Blenheims and one of 110s were shot down over the target. However, sources vary in that either the Blenheim from 110 Squadron flown by Flying Officer H. L. Emden or the Blenheim flown by 107 Squadron P.O. H. B. Lightoller (E. W. Lyon, wireless operator) crashed into the training ship Emden killing 11 and wounding several more of the crew. The sole survivor of 107 Squadron returned to England with its bomb load intact as it failed to find the target. The Germans gave the fallen full military honours when they were buried.
Ernest W. Lyon is buried in the Sage War Cemetery, Oldenberg, Germany. The full records are held at Kew under AIR 81/1, including the German reports.
Sold with copies of newspaper articles, casualty list and various research notes.
1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal 1939-45, all unnamed as issued in named card box of issue addressed to his father K. C. Lyons, Esq., c/o Police Station, Brierley Hill, Staffs, with named ticker-tape entitlement slip (546679 A.C.1. LYON) and named Air Council enclosure slip (Aircraftman First Class E. W. Lyon), extremely fine (3) £400-£500
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Ernest William Lyon was born in April 1920 at Walsall, Staffordshire. On the outbreak of WW2, he was already serving, being posted to R.A.F. base Wattisham with 110 Squadron (Blenheim), however, on 4 September 1939, he was attached to 107 Squadron (Blenheim) who were also at Wattisham. The first air strike of the war was planned against German naval targets at Wilhelmshaven on 4 September 1939, which consisted of 15 Blenheim IVs from 107, 110 and 139 Squadrons (5 each). However, the weather was bad with low cloud from 300 to 17,000 feet, which then forced a low altitude attack necessitating the bombs to be fitted with 11-second delay actions to enable the planes to be clear of the target prior to detonation. Due to the bad weather 139 Squadron failed to find the target but the remaining two squadrons did.
The attack went in in the late afternoon with 110 Squadron leading the initial strike. The Admiral Scheer (pocket battleship) was selected as the target and the first aircraft scored two bomb hits on her (which failed to penetrate or detonate) and the second aircraft scored two near misses all before the Germans could react. The remaining seven planes flew into a storm of AA fire from the Admiral Scheer, Hipper (heavy cruiser), Emden (light cruiser) and shore batteries. Four of 107s Blenheims and one of 110s were shot down over the target. However, sources vary in that either the Blenheim from 110 Squadron flown by Flying Officer H. L. Emden or the Blenheim flown by 107 Squadron P.O. H. B. Lightoller (E. W. Lyon, wireless operator) crashed into the training ship Emden killing 11 and wounding several more of the crew. The sole survivor of 107 Squadron returned to England with its bomb load intact as it failed to find the target. The Germans gave the fallen full military honours when they were buried.
Ernest W. Lyon is buried in the Sage War Cemetery, Oldenberg, Germany. The full records are held at Kew under AIR 81/1, including the German reports.
Sold with copies of newspaper articles, casualty list and various research notes.
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