Sold by Order of a Direct Descendant The outstanding Second World War night fighter operations...

Sold by Order of a Direct Descendant

The outstanding Second World War night fighter operations D.F.C. and Bar group of six awarded to Squadron Leader A. J. Glegg, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Having cut his teeth in Blenheims of No. 600 (County of London) at the time of the Battle of Britain, he converted to Beaufighters and teamed-up as Radar Operator to Flying Officer A. D. McN. 'Archie' Boyd, thereby establishing one of the most successful - and enduring - night fighter partnerships of the war

Having destroyed five enemy aircraft over the U.K. in the period May 1941 to March 1942, the intrepid duo carried out a second tour of duty when Boyd took command of No. 219 Squadron in the Mediterranean: five more enemy aircraft rapidly fell to their guns in the summer of 1943, one of them being closed to a range of 50 yards

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., with Second Award Bar, the reverse of the Cross officially dated '1942' and the reverse of the Bar '1944'; 1939-45 Star, clasp, Battle of Britain; Air Crew Europe Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, these four named 'Boots-style' 'S./Ldr. A. J. Glegg'; Air Efficiency Award, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Flt. Lt. A. J. Glegg, R.A.F.V.R.), this with minor official correction and privately engraved '1931-45' after 'R.A.F.V.R.', mounted as worn, contact marks, generally very fine or better (6)





D.F.C. London Gazette 9 January 1942. The joint citation states:

'Squadron Leader Boyd and Flight Lieutenant Glegg- have flown together in numerous night operational sorties. Squadron Leader Boyd is a skilful and determined pilot and he has destroyed three enemy aircraft. Flight Lieutenant Glegg, by his great skill as an observer, has largely assisted his pilot in the successes achieved. Both these officers have shown exceptional keenness and devotion to duty.'

Bar to D.F.C. London Gazette 7 April 1944. The original recommendation states:

'This officer, since the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross in December 1941, has been responsible for the destruction of a further seven enemy aircraft. He held the position of Navigator Radio Leader during his first tour in No. 600 Squadron and now, on his second tour in No. 219 Squadron, where he flies with his Commanding Officer, Wing Commander Boyd, D.F.C.

He holds the outstanding record of never having failed to bring an operational contact to the visual and subsequent destruction of the enemy aircraft.

His continued hard work in the Squadron in the training of new Navigators Radio, which has been accomplished with his very considerable experience (he held the post of 'Training Radio' at headquarters, Fighter Command, whilst on rest between operational tours, from September 1942 to march 1943) has done much to maintain a high standard of A.I. operating, while his personal example has been a source of inspiration to the remainder of the aircrew in No. 219 Squadron.

I strongly recommend this officer for the award of a Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross.'

Alexander Joseph Glegg was born in London in 1908 and joined the Auxiliary Air Force (A.A.F.) as an Aircrafthand in No. 601 - a.k.a. 'Millionaires' - Squadron in 1931. Over the next two or three years he gained air experience in Harts, flying with a notable cast of pilots, among them Roger Bushell, the mastermind behind 'The Great Escape'. But under pressure with his studies to become a Chartered Surveyor, he had to reduce his commitments in the A.A.F.

Called-up on the outbreak of hostilities in September 1939, he was re-mustered as an Airman u/t Gunner and began training in the Squadron's Blenheims. By the time of his return from a related course at Jurby in early 1940, No. 601 was re-equipping with Hurricanes and he was posted to No. 23 Squadron at Wittering, with whom he operated in Blenheims in June 1940.

No. 600 Squadron: five down - D.F.C.

Commissioned Pilot Officer in the following month, he was next posted to No. 600 (County of London) Squadron at Redhill, from whence he flew two sorties in late September 1940, night patrols over the Tonbridge and Pevensey sectors. His pilot during these sorties was Flying Officer A. D. McN. 'Archie' Boyd, with whom Glegg now teamed-up on a regular basis, thereby commencing one of the most successful - and enduring - night fighting partnerships of the war.

The Squadron having re-equipped with Beaufighters and moved to Predannack in the west country, Boyd and Glegg opened-up their account near Honiton, north-east of Exeter, on the night of 16-17 May 1941, when they destroyed a Ju. 88. A brace of He. IIIs met a similar fate in combats fought north-west of St. Ives on the night of 10-11 October and near Portreath on the night of 2-3 December, 'kills' obtained at 'extremely low altitudes'.

Boyd and Glegg were awarded D.F.C.s but, for good measure, took out another He. 111 south of Colerne on the night of 25-26 January 1942, and a Heinkel 115 float plane south-east of Lizard Point in the first week of March. The latter victory was achieved in unusual circumstances, as described in Hans Onderwater's Gentlemen in Blue:

'One of the other tasks to be carried out by the aircrew of the Squadron was to escort V.I.P. aircraft en route to the Middle East, as far as the Beaufighter's endurance. Returning from such a sortie on 7 March, while they were preparing to land, Boyd and Glegg saw the navigation lights of an aircraft. Control, however, insisted that no other aircraft was around. The pilot opened his throttles and climbed to investigate the matter. They saw a He. 115 float plane at cliff-top level, frantically firing cartridges into the air. Boyd and Glegg did not need much time to realise that this was their prey. They shot down the He. 115 and it crashed in the sea off Lizard Point, adding to their growing number of victims. It was not until they landed again that the 600 crew was told that the Germans must have been lost and were signalling that they were coming in for a landing, believing they were over France.'

Tour-expired, Boyd and Glegg were rested.

219 Squadron: five more - Bar to D.F.C.

In March 1943, Boyd was given command of No. 219 Squadron, with the task of preparing it for an unknown destination overseas. After re-equipping with the latest night fighter version of the Beaufighter - and with a new Air Intercept (A.I) Radar - the Squadron made ready for its departure overseas. With Boyd and Glegg leading, 18 aircraft departed Cornwall for Gibraltar at the end of May 1943, leaving at five-minute intervals on the long flight across the Bay of Biscay. Their eventual destination proved to be Bone in Algeria, from whence, in late June, No. 219 went into action.

The Squadron's account was convincingly opened-up by Boyd and Glegg on the 1 July 1943, when they downed a brace of Ju. 88s. Another Ju. 88 met a similar fate on the night of 25-26 August, north-west of Bizerta. Their combat report takes up the story:

' … Under the direction of the N/R [Glegg] the pilot reduced range during a chase of approximately eight minutes, following target doing considerable evasive action; weaves to port and starboard and dives. Height was reduced to 6,000 feet and range to 2,500 feet, when a visual on a Ju. 88 was obtained and the four exhausts were seen. Pilot closed to 900 feet and opened fire from below and astern, giving a 4-5 second burst. Many H.E. were seen to strike inboard of the engines and the pilot closed to 50 yards and the E/A slowly started to glow on fire to port of the fighter and dived into the sea where three bright flashes were seen.'

Following the advance into Italy, No. 219 covered the landings at Salerno and provided an aircraft at constant readiness to intercept German intruders attacking the rear...