'The great feat of airmanship performed by Squadron Leader Mussells is amply endorsed by a comm...

'The great feat of airmanship performed by Squadron Leader Mussells is amply endorsed by a comment made by Sir Roy Dobson of A. V. Roe & Company Limited. When he saw photographs of the Lancaster and reported on the damage, he remarked, 'How the machine got home at all is entirely beyond us here … '

The recommendation for an immediate D.S.O. to Squadron Leader C. H. Mussells, No. 405 (R.C.A.F) Squadron, refers.

The outstanding Path Finder Force pilot's D.S.O., D.F.C. and Korean War O.B.E. group of thirteen awarded to Brigadier-General C. H. Mussells, Royal Canadian Air Force

Having already won a D.F.C. for his gallant work in No. 405 (R.C.A.F.) Squadron - the only Canadian unit to serve in the Path Finder Force - he added an immediate D.S.O. to his accolades following a spectacular encounter with a rocket-powered Me. 163 over Leipzig on the night of 10-11 April 1945: the enemy fighter blew away his Lancaster's rear turret and starboard rudder

The stricken bomber rapidly fell 4,000 feet, Mussells having to exert all his strength to lash back the flying column with a length of rope to keep the nose of the aircraft up. He then undertook one of the most epic flights in the annals of Bomber Command history - minus his rear gunner and with his mid-upper gunner severely wounded

On reaching the U.K. - and rapidly losing altitude - he ordered his crew to bale out. He subsequently carried out a 'masterly landing' without flaps - although 'the tail would not go down and the aircraft did four very big bounces before finally coming to a rest'

Distinguished Service Order, G.VI.R., silver-gilt and enamel, the reverse of the suspension bar officially dated '1945'; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.), Military Division, Officer's 2nd type breast badge, silver-gilt; Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated '1945'; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star, clasp, France and Germany; Defence Medal 1939-45, silver; Canadian Voluntary Service Medal 1939-45, with overseas clasp; War Medal 1939-45, silver; Korea 1950-53, silver (19523 Mussells C.H.), officially inscribed; U.N. Korea 1950-54 (19523 Mussells, C.H.), officially inscribed; Coronation 1953; Canadian Confederation Medal 1967; Canadian Forces Decoration, G.VI.R., 2nd issue, the reverse of the suspension bar officially inscribed, 'W./C. C. H. Mussells', mounted court-style as worn, the reverse centre of the D.S.O. removed for mounting purposes, otherwise generally very fine or better (13)

To be sold with the recipient's Path Finder Force (P.F.F.) badge and Canadian 'Operational Wings', together with a silver medal of the Mission for Assistance to the Allied Armies, the reverse inscribed 'Group Captain C. H. Mussells, R.C.A.F., Paris, le 8 Mai 1967'

D.S.O. London Gazette 17 July 1945. The original recommendation states;

'On 10 April 1945, this officer was pilot of an aircraft detailed to make a daylight attack against Leipzig. Whilst orbiting the target to complete a second run the aircraft was attacked by an enemy fighter. The rear turret and the starboard rudder were completely shot away, the port rudder shattered and both elevators damaged to such an extent that they offered no control surface. The Mid-upper Gunner was severely wounded in the combat.

The aircraft lost speed suddenly and, almost completely out of control, dived some 4,000 feet. Squadron Leader Mussells attempting to pull out of the dive found the trimming controls completely useless, but with considerable difficulty - and with his full strength - eventually pulled out and the control column then had to be lashed by rope to keep the nose of the aircraft up. The aircraft could only turn to port but by using the ailerons could be eased to starboard, the constant tendency to turn to port still persisted.

By his sound judgment and skilful airmanship, Squadron Mussells regained partial control of his aircraft, and set course for base. For the first hour of the return journey he flew at 13,000 feet, crossed the Belgian coast at 10,000 feet and eventually crossed the English coast at 5,000 feet, when he instructed his crew, with the exception of the wounded Mid-upper Gunner, to bale out. He then carried out a masterly landing at Woodbridge without flaps, and with the control column still lashed back. On landing the tail would not go down and the aircraft did four very big bounces before finally coming to a rest.

The great feat of airmanship performed by Squadron Leader Mussells is amply endorsed by a comment made by Sir Roy Dobson of A.V. Roe & Company Limited. When he saw photographs of the Lancaster and reported on the damage, he remarked, 'How the machine got home at all is entirely beyond us here.'

Squadron Leader Mussells showed complete disregard for his personal safety and a high sense of duty in bringing the aircraft back to this country, so that his crew, except the wounded gunner, could bale out in home territory, and further in attempting a most hazardous landing which was the only practical means, if successful, of enabling his wounded crew member to receive adequate medical assistance.

This officer's perseverance in the face of great odds, together with his exceptional skill and resources, has set an inspiring example, and I strongly recommend him for the immediate award of the Distinguished Service Order.'

O.B.E. London Gazette 5 June 1952. The original recommendation states:

'Wing Commander Mussells has commanded No. 426 (Transport) Squadron, R.C.A.F., on duty with the United nations forces on the Korean airlift since the commencement of the operation on 19 July 1950. Throughout these operations Wing Commander Mussells' exceptional leadership has been reflected in the excellent achievements of the unit. His organisational ability, devotion to duty, enthusiasm and example, has given him a well co-ordinated and effective unit which has surpassed in all respects the commitments assigned to it.

For his outstanding efforts in support of the United Nations' policies, it is most strongly recommended that Wing Commander Mussells be an Additional Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.).'

D.F.C. London Gazette 17 June 1945. The original recommendation states:

'Squadron Leader Mussells has completed attacks on heavily defended enemy targets such as Kiel, Dortmund and many others. At all times he has displayed a fine fighting spirit and has proved himself an officer of outstanding ability, whose cool determination, cheerfulness and devotion to duty have been an inspiration to his squadron.'

Campbell Haliburton Mussells was born in Montreal on 20 June 1920 and was educated at Westmount High School and McGill University.

Enlisting in the Royal Canadian Air Force in December 1939, he was commissioned Pilot Officer in January 1940 on being selected for pilot training. Three years later, and having served as an instructor at Trenton, he was embarked for the U.K. where he attended the Empire Central Flying School.

He appears to have commenced his operational career in No. 426 (R.C.A.F.) Squadron in September 1944, in which capacity he participated in sorties to Frankfurt and Kiel. But he subsequently transferred to No. 405 (R.C.A.F.) Squadron, a Path Finder Force (P.F.F.) unit operating in Lancasters out of Gransden Lodge in Bedfordshire.

Path Finder Force

A busy tour of operations ensued, Mussells and his crew being detailed to a succession of heavily-defenced targets in Germany in the period leading up to April 1945.

Their targets included Cologne and Hamburg - both cities on three separate occasions - in addition to Dusseldorf, Essen, Frankfurt; so, too, the Urft Dam in early December 1944 and, in February 1945, the first...