The fine and scarce Conspicuous Gallantry Medal recipients Navigator’s, Air Bomber’s and Air Gunner’s Royal Air Force Flying Log Book and extensive related ephemera to Wireless Operator and Air Gunner F. Tomkins, 180 Squadron, Royal Air Force who would fly 29 ½ operations on Mitchells over occupied Europe during late 1944 and early 1945. He would be awarded an immediate Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Flying) for his actions on 3rd December 1944 when during an attack on the road junction at Straelen his aircraft was hit by flak, wounding both the Pilot and Navigator, believing the aircraft on fire, instructions were given to abandon it, with his co-Gunner parachuting out. However, Tomkins’ parachute was caught and he ended up remaining in the plane and assisting the Pilot and Navigator to a wheels down landing on a friendly airfield dodging various parked aircraft and obstructions and plowing towards the sick quarters at 150mph before somehow broadsiding the aircraft to a stop safely. His commanding officer later remarking ‘Tomkins is a first class lad absolutely modest about the whole thing, claiming that his part was only ‘manual labour’’. 1 of only 110 recipients of the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Flying) during the Second World War.
Navigator’s, Air Bomber’s and Air Gunner’s Royal Air Force Flying Log Book to F. Tomkins, Wireless Operator (Air Crew).
Together with:
Lid of Medal forwarding box addressed to ‘F. Tomkins Esq, Broome Inn, Newnham Bridge, Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire
Royal Air Force Service and Release Book
Royal Air Force Airman’s Pay Book
Royal Air Force Flying Clothing Card
Two Air Gunner brevets.
Royal Air Force Wireless Operator Trade Badge, Second World War period.
Photograph of Tomlins in Royal Air Force uniform wearing his Air Gunner’s brevet.
Second World War Silk Escape Map of Europe
Newspaper ‘The Balkan News’ dated 12th November 1918 giving details of the armistice.
Leave pass dated 4th August 1942
Leave Pass dated 12th August 1942
Leave Pass dated 19th August 1942
Leave Pass dated 27th August 1942
Two target photographs dated 3rd April 1943
Sick report dated 15th November 1944 announcing Tomkins’ unfit for flying for three days.
‘Wing Review’ Nees Summary – Monday 4th December 1944 detailing amongst other things Tomkins’ effort in landing his plane
Letter dated 8th December 1944 signed by Basil Embry, Headquarters No.2. Group, Royal Air Force informing Tomkins that he had been awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal and thanking him for the ‘very fine show’ he put up and giving his congratulations on a really first class effort.
‘Wing Review’ News Summary – Sunday 10th December 1944 announcing an immediate Conspicuous Gallantry Medal being awarded to Tomkins.
Copy of Group routine orders dated 14th December 1944 announcing Tomkins’ award of the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal.
Newspaper article dated Tuesday 19th December 1944 – ‘Gunner from Midlands Got Plane Home after his pilot was wounded. C.G.M. award.’
2nd Tactical Air Force Christmas Card 1944
1944 Diary with a picture of Tomkins partner on the inside, a few basic entries.
Letter dated 2nd January 1945 from the father of Leslie Iddon a fellow member of Tomkins’ crew who was in hospital
Note dated 13th June 1945 stating Tomkins was in charge of car parking arrangements for the visit of H.M. the King on 13th June 1945.
Second World War period group photograph of aircrew, Tomkins being identified along with many others on the reverse
Identification Card for Mechanical Transport Drivers of the Royal Air Force dated 1st January 1946
Two tickets from Buckingham Palace for an investiture on 12th March 1946
Heavy Goods Vehicle Test Certificate dated 25th May 1946
Certificate of passing of test of competence to drive dated 29th May 1946
Letter dated 20th August 1948 returning Tomkins log book to him
A letter from a friend, possibly a member of his crew extolling the virtues of Canada and encouraging Tomkins to emigrate.
British Visitor’s Passport dated 14th July 1961
National Savings Certificate Holder’s Card dated 19th April 1962
Letter from the Gallantry Medallist’s League dated 30th September 2002 to Tomkins’ widow expressing condolences on the death of her husband
Copy of an article dated May 2012 from the magazine ‘Dispersals’ – 2nd T.A.F. Medium Bombers Association Newsletter.
Quantity of ephemera relating to Tomkins’ parents, his father having seen Great War service and who was the licensee of the Broom Inn, Broombridge, Worcester prior to the Second World War.
Quantity of Tomkins family photographs, all of civilian life.
Fred Tomkins began his flying career as an Air Gunner on Anson aircraft in 27th June 1943. In September 1943 he would transfer to Bicester where he would train with D Flight, 13th Operational Training Unit, he would train with B Flight from 22nd September 1943 until 6th November 1943 and then C Flight from 25th November 1943 until 22nd December 1943.
He would then transfer to Finmere with C Flight, 13th Operational Training Unit and would serve there from 29th January 1944 until 7th February 1944 flying in Boston IIIAs, he would then have a prolonged break from flying returning to the training unit on 30th June 1944 and then training in Mitchell’s until 17th July 1944.
On 23rd July 1944 he would transfer to 2 Group Support Unit ant Swanton Morley to complete his training before joining 180 Squadron at Dunsfold with whom he would fly from 6th August 1944.
Flying Mitchell’s in a close air support role he would undertake the following operations:
6th August 1944 – Ammunition Dump – Livarot, France. Aborted due to cloud after two runs on the target.
7th August 1944. – Ammunition Dump – Livarot, France. Heavy flak noted.
9th August 1944 – Ammunition Dump – West of La Feuille, intense and accurate heavy flak leading to the loss of two other aircraft
11th August 1944 – Troops north of Falaise.
12th August 1944 – Ammunition dump – North of Marseille, moderate heavy flak.
12th August 1944 (night) - Bridge over the River Orne, south west of Falaise, coned by a searchlight and experienced moderate inaccurate
13th August 1944 – Troops near St. Pierre, France – moderate heavy flak
15th August 1944 – Troops north of Falaise, recalled due to heavy smoke
17th August 1944 – Petrol Dump near La Mailleray, France
18th August 1944 (night) – Harassing troops near Pont Autheu – diverted Foulsham on the way home.
26th August 1944 – Troops near Rouen – accurate heavy flak
28th August 1944 – Troops near Duclair – moderate inaccurate heavy flak.
9th September 1944 – Troops and gun positions southeast of Boulogne
5th October 1944 – Strong points south east of Arnhem – no flak
6th October 1944 – Petrol and Oil Dump at Ameersfoort – no flak
7th October 1944 – Strong points at Aardenburg, Germany – aborted due to 10/10 cloud cover
21st October 1944 – River Bridges over the Maas at Neidel – no flak
28th October 1944 – Bridge over River Maas at Venlo – moderate heavy flak
28th October 1944 – Bridge over River Ijssel at Deventer – heavy intense accurate flak
3rd November 1944 – Rail and Road Bridge at Venlo – aborted due to 10/10 cloud cover
4th November 1944 – Rail and Road Bridge at Venlo – lost formation, bombed German target, moderate heavy flak
8th November 1944 – Rail Bridge at Roermond – abortive due to 10/10 cloud cover
25th November 1944 – Marshalling yards at Rheydt – aborted
26th November 1944 – Marshalling yards at Rheydt – moderate inaccurate heavy flak
26th November 1944 – Rail Bridge at Zwolle – moderate inaccurate heavy flak
3rd December 1944 – Road Junction at Straelen, hit by flak and set on fire, Gunner bailed out, went forward and helped pilot fly aircraft, pilot and navigator wounded, awarded C.G.M.
The Wing Review of 4th December 1944 noting:
‘Gunner brings his aircraft back – F/Sgt Freddie Tomkins mid-upper gunner in ‘A’ Squadrons ‘V’ safely landed his aircraft away from base after both the pilot F/O Iddon and the navigator W/O Allan had been wounded. After bombing yesterday’s target the a/c received a direct hit. It appeared at first that the machine was on fire and crew thought they would have to abandon, later F/Sgt Tomkins, acting on instructions from the wounded pilot and navigator made a wheels-down landing on the grass, having dodged obstructing aircraft when at zero feet. Full story is expected to appear in the Daily papers.’
An article in a local newspaper on 19th December 1944 relates:
Gunner From Midlands Got Plane Home – After his pilot was wounded – C.G.M. Award:
‘Flt.Sgt Fred Tomkins, a 22 year old mid upper gunner, whose home is at Broom Inn, Tenbury Wells has been awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, which apart from the V.C. is one of the highest awards a non-commissioned officer can receive.
It was at a medium-bomber airfield in Belgium that I met ‘Freddie’ Tomkins. He told me a few things about himself such as that he had been in the R.A.F. three years, that he was a transport clerk, and that he had done 26 operational flights in the past 18 months.
Then he mentioned that he was going home for Christmas – and that it was ‘survivors leave’ and I persuaded him to tell me the story of his flight, which brought a message to him from the Air Officer Commanding the Group, saying ‘Your courage and determination on this occasion was up by the very highest standard of the R.A.F. – good show.
Full of Smoke:
It happened a few days ago, when the Mitchells were attacking a target near Venlo, in close support of the ground forces. Just after bombing we received a direct hit from heavy flak. The starboard engine caught fire and both the pilot and navigator were wounded, he said:
‘The aircraft was full of smoke and the pilot ordered us to bale out. I was about to jump when my harness got caught up, si I suggested that the other gunner should go first. He jumped but by this time the soke had cleared a bit and things looked more hopeful, so I got in touch with the pilot, and we thought that between us we might be able to keep the machine going.
‘I sat down beside him, and taking his directions, I started to fly home. With one hand I held the stick, and with the other my microphone, the strap had broken and I had to keep talking to try to prevent the pilot losing consciousness. The navigator although wounded, stood up behind us and have us bearings to the nearest airfield. It was a bit tricky, but the other fellows stuck to it wonderfully. All I had to do was obey instructions.’
Broadside in Mud:
We got to an aerodrome but the engine began to pack up, so we had to try to come in quickly but approaching the runway at zero feet, we found it was the wrong one and was packed with aircraft.
Still acting on my pilots instructions, I made a sharp turn and we came down on the grass, still trying to dodge various obstructions, and found ourselves dashing towards sick quarters at 150mph . I saw people running in all directions, but eventually we pulled up broadside in the mud.
When I spoke to his commanding officer I got this tribute:
‘Tomkins is a first class lad absolutely modest about the whole thing, claiming that his part was only ‘manual labour’’
The parents of Tomkins’ pilot would write to him on 2nd January 1945:
‘Dear Freddie,
Please excuse me addressing you as ‘Freddie’ but that is how my son always referred to you in his conversations with us, and it was not until Mrs Iddon and I saw him in hospital on Saturday last that we became aware of your surname. Had I known it before I should have written you ‘ere this.
However, here goes, and my main object in writing you is to thank you on behalf, of Mrs Iddon and myself, also Mrs Iddon Junr. (Leslie’s wife), for the part you played together with your navigator and pilot in the successful effort to get back to friendly territory following upon your aircraft being hit. We were more than delighted to hear that you escaped being wounded or injured, but particularly sorry to hear that your co-Gunner (the other ‘Leslie’ Wolff) did not return with you, and it is our sincere wish and hope that he is sage, unwounded and uninjured, although perhaps a prisoner of war. God grant that our wish and hope may be granted.
As I have said above, Mrs Iddon and I visited the R.A.F. Hospital, Wroughton, Swindon, Wiltshire, on Saturday last, and found both Leslie and John (Allan) quite chirpy and cheerful, bemoaning their lot that they should be hors-de-combat for the present. John I am glad to say is getting up now and taking leg exercises (with a Masseuse in attendance) and is looking forward to full recovery in the near future. As regards Leslie, while his wounds are responding to treatment very well and it is hoped they will soon be totally healed, it seems likely that he will be some little time longer than John in leaving hospital, as he is to have a stone removed from his kidney. Leslie is quite cheery about it all and the fact that he is to have this further operation is worrying him very little if at all, for all he is looking forward to is getting back to 180 as quickly as he can and crewing up if possible with John and yourself again.
Well, Freddie, I will close, and in congratulating you upon your award of the C.G.M. (flying), I do trust you will keep returning and have ‘happy landings’ always, and although the wish is perhaps a forlorn one, let us hope that the other Leslie (Wolff) turns up in due course safe and sound, not a prisoner, and none the worse.
Sincerely yours , J. Iddon.’
After his survivor’s leave, Tomkins would return to duty with 180 Squadron on 14th January 1945, his subsequent operations being:
14th January 1945 – Road and Rail Bridge at Zaltbommel, heavy accurate flak, two runs on target, No.3 shot down
29th January 1945 – Marshalling yards at Grevendroich – aborted due to cloud.
6th February 1945 – Fuel dumps at Emmerich – heavy, accurate flak, suffered hits
8th February 1945 – Troop concentrations at Kranenburg, Germany – no flak
10th February 1945 – Rail and road junction at Xanten, Germany – heavy accurate flak.
This would end his operational flying, with his only other log book entry being a flight as a passenger in a Dakota on 4th March 1945, this being back to R.A.F. Northolt.
From the tickets included with the group it would appear Tomkins received his Conspicuous Gallantry Medal at Buckingham Palace on 12th March 1946.
1 of 110 Conspicuous Gallantry Medals (Flying) awarded during the Second World War.