Distinguished Flying Cross GVIR reverse engraved 1944; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star clasp France & Germany; Africa Star clasp North Africa 1942-43; Defence Medal; War Medal 1939-45 - unnamed as awarded.
Frank Edmondson was born in Lunesdale, Lancashire on 4 October 1920. He served with the RAFVR in WWII as an Air Gunner and, once grounded towards the end of the war, was commissioned as a Flying Officer. He was lucky to survive at least four separate attacks by enemy fighters. The first of those close encounters occurred during 46 sorties as a Rear Gunner in Wellingtons of No. 37 Squadron in North Africa - most of them to Tobruk or in support of the El Alamein operations - followed by a second tour as a Mid-Upper Gunner in Lancasters of No. 166 Squadron, in which he completed 25 further sorties against targets in the heart of the Reich and elsewhere
His D.F.C. was awarded in the London Gazette of 19 September 1944, the original recommendation states:
'As a Mid-Upper Gunner this non-commissioned officer has taken part in 67 sorties against the enemy, being now on his second tour, on targets ranging from the Middle East and Occupied Territory to the most heavily defended targets in the Reich. He is skilled as a gunner and his vigilant watch, maintained through so many hours over enemy territory, has enabled his crew to reach the target, attack it, and return safely to base.
His cheerfulness and example have greatly contributed to the morale of the gunners and his coolness and unquestioned courage have in no small measure contributed the success of his crew. For his determination and fine offensive spirit, he is recommended for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.'
Frank Edmondson volunteered for aircrew duties in October 1940 and was called-up in March 1941 to attend a Wireless Operator's course. Shortly afterwards, however, he transferred to an Air Gunner's course, in which discipline he qualified in September 1941 after several training flights in Whitleys.
Having then attended an O.T.U. at R.A.F Wellesbourne and also served in Ferry Command, he was posted in July 1942 to No. 37 Squadron, a Wellington unit in the Middle East. Thus commenced a busy tour of operations as a Rear Gunner in which he completed 46 operational sorties, largely comprising raids on Tobruk and a few months later attacks on enemy tanks and motor transport during the El Alamein offensive in October 1942.
As evidenced by the entries in his Flying Log Book, not a few of these outings were of an eventful nature, a case in point being his very first sortie, in which his aircraft was attacked by a Ju88 and Edmondson returned fire. Just five days later, in a strike against Tobruk on 9 July 1942, his pilot had to undertake a forced landing in the desert, owing to the weather and a shortage of fuel, and it was not until 11 July that the crew were located and rescued.
Over the coming weeks and months, Edmondson made regular references to the Tobruk's searchlights and 'extremely accurate' A.A. fire, in addition to noting two further close encounters with Ju88s.
Tobruk and El Alamein missions aside, he and his crew were detailed to attack enemy airfields in the vicinity of Fuka, in addition to a brace of strikes against targets in Rhodes, and his final sortie was against enemy armour west of Derna. Tour-expired by mid-November 1942, Edmondson was rested with an appointment as a gunnery instructor.
But he returned to an operational footing as a Warrant Officer in February 1944 when he joined No. 166 Squadron, a Lancaster unit at R.A.F. Kirmington, this time as a Mid-Upper Gunner.
His first two sorties - to Berlin on the 15th and Leipzig on the 19th - ended with his aircraft landing at alternative airfields. And, up until June 1944, Edmondson's Operational career continued apace, with regular visits to targets of the heavily defended kind, with Cologne, Essen and Stuttgart among them. So, too, Dusseldorf, on the night of 22 April, when his Lancaster was attacked by a Fw190. In the period marking the end of his second tour, he and his crew were delegated to half-a-dozen targets in France. Finally rested at the end of June - the same month in which he was recommended for the D.F.C. - Edmondson converted to ground duties in October and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer.
A modest man who did not appear to boast of his exploits or experiences, he provided a hand-written account which read thus:
" I volunteered as Air Gunner in October 1940 and after medical etc. I weas detailed to report to RAF Padgate for aircrew selection board, Air Crew medical etc. After being accepted I was duly sent home and was recalled on 23.3.1941, I was told to report to Blackpool on a Wireless operator course. I had absolutely no interest in the course as I wanted straight AG. I did not finish the course and was posted to R & D unit still in Blackpool. We were given a list of jobs to remuster to and the first on the list was straight Air Gunner for which I immediately applied. I was then posted to RAF Shilten which was a satellite of Wick and had not been opened long. At that time it was occupied by a Polish Spitfire Squadron. After a couple of months I duly received my posting to Gunnery School in early August of 41. As you will see by my log book there is an accurate recording of my flying career.
I did an extended tour in the Middle East and had one or two hairy experiences as you will see. On arrival back in this country I was posted to RAF Whitchurch, Shropshire No.81 O.T.U. Whitley's and then after a few months instructing I went on a couple of weeks course at RAF Binbrook. After the course I joined a first .... crew and training with them through conversion unit etc., and a spell in the Lancaster Pool at Hemswell we were posted to 166 Kirmington. As these lads had 30 trips to do I volunteered to do the tour with them. However my flight commander said I could do 20 and then have a rest and finish the last 5. But after a bit of haggling I did the first 25 with them, missed three and did the last 2. I missed the one trip I so much wanted to go on it was the day light raid on the submarine pens at St Nazaire but Sqdr Leader Court would not let me.
After leaving 166 I went to 1667 Com.Unit. Eventually a lot of us were made redundant and I remustered to M.T. Driving until my demob. After demob I did not go back to my original trade as a pork butcher. I went into the building trade for about 20 off years and am now General Maintenance man at the Lancaster Abbatoir for the pas t 14 years. Just at present I am recovering from a coronary heart attack but am pleased to say after expert care am doing fine. F Edmondson."
He died in Lancaster in 1997.
Medals are in good condition unless otherwise indicated. Sold with some research and with Observer & Air Gunner's Log Book, RAF Flying Clothing Card, RAF Service & Release Book, a hand-written summary of Edmondson's career, a photograph of him in uniform and 2 cloth badges
