Air Crew Europe Star Air/Efficiency Award Group to Bomber Command Pilot Flt Lt

Air Crew Europe Star and Air Efficiency award group awarded to Flight Lieutenant William Bain with his copied service record and extracts from the Operations Record Book detailing some of the missions he flew including during the Battle of France in 1940 and providing air support during the Dunkirk evacuation.

The medal group comprises of the 1939-1945 Star, Air Crew Europe Star*, Africa Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and the Air Efficiency Award and a set of miniatures. The Air Efficiency Award is correctly named to W/O W. Bain (740599) R.A.F.V.R.. The original supporting paperwork with this group comprises of the transmittal slip, Air Ministry box addressed to F/L W. Bain, the letter that accompanied his Air Efficiency Award and  a letter from the Air Ministry in reply to Flt Lt Bain advising that at the time he qualified of the Air Efficiency Award he held the rank of Warrant Officer. There is also a copy of Bain’s death certificate used to apply for his service record, his copied service record and extracts from the operations record books of the squadrons he flew with.

William Bain was born in Perth on 17th December 1916. He enlisted in the RAF Volunteer Reserve at Perth 31 August 1937. He logged  a number of training periods over the following 2 years and on the  25th September 1939 he went to 11 Flying Training School. From there he went to the 13 Operational Training unit and after a week at 101 Squadron he was with 21 Squadron at Bodney in Norfolk on the 278th May. 21 Squadron was a light bomber squadron operating Blenheim IVs. While with 21 Squadron Bain qualified for the 1939 – 1945 and Air Crew Europe Stars. All of is missions with 21 Squadron were flown in daylight in Blenheim IV  .

His first operational flight was on the 31/5/1940 flying in the  Blenheim IV L.8758 along with 9 other aircraft to attack 3 bridged East of Nieuwpoort in Belgium on the western edge of the Dunkirk perimeter. His next operational flight was on 3rd June 1940 in the Blenheim IV L.8737  with 5 other aircraft to attack the German battery east of Gravelines harassing the evacuation from Dunkirk. Each section was also to maintain an offensive patrol over the area and attacker batteries seen firing. the operations record book records “Aircraft searched through the thick smoke pall from Dunkirk and dropped bombs on reported position of known battery. Results not observed”.

He flew 6 further missions with 21 Squadron in June 1940 all tasked with attacking German troop and or tank concentrations and columns. In September 1940 he was transferred to 45 Squadron (also operating Blenheims) in Africa. 45 Squadron in later 1940 was providing ground support for the East Africa Campaign for example he flew a mission in Blenheim L.1534 to bomb Agorat railway station on 9th November 1940. His service record indicates a transfer on 1st May 1941 to “(A) HQ RAF M.E HURRICANE HS” and then on 14th June 1941 to HQ. M.E. I am unsure exactly what function he served during that time (or why the mustering and special qualifications sections of his service record have been redacted.

After this period at HQ his record has him being admitted to 2nd General Hospital on 12th August. Chronology breaks down somewhat at this point. the next entry is for “102 MS” on June 21st and then 50 55 Squadron on the 30th August. The entry is then repeated for admission to the 2nd General Hospital on the 12th August. I suspect the second entry is an error in date and should be a date after 24th September. He flew with 55 Squadron which was based at Sidi Barrani in Egypt carrying out missions against enemy shipping. On 24th September 1941 Bain was piloting Blenheim IV Z6371 when on landing at Bagush Waterloo landing strip he hit a tent. the 3 occupants of the tent were injured as was Bain and his air gunner Sergeant Elsmore. His observer Sergeant Hepburn (RNZAF) was killed and the aircraft written off.

His injuries appear to have been extensive as he was not operational again until 1943. His service record records him as discharged on 16th May 1943 and then commissioned as a probationary Flight Officer on the 17th May and he is stationed at No. 70 OTU in the Middle East. He transferred to 178 Squadron on Christmas Day 1943 where flew a number of mine laying “gardening” missions as the co pilot in B24 Liberator aircraft. He remained with 178 Squadron in North Africa and then Italy until February 1945. He then has 2 months at 10th Radio School before finally transferring to Air Sea Rescue on 19th April 1945.

His commission and promotions from Pilot Officer onwards  are recorded in the London Gazette:

To be Pit: Offs. on prob. (emergency): —Wt. Offs. 740599 William BAIN (156315).
Confirmation and promotion.Pit. Offs. (prob.) confmd. in appts. -and to be Fig. Offs. (war subs.)17th May 1943, W. BAIN (156315). 17th Nov. .1943
Fig. Off. to Fit. Lt. (war subs.): —W. BAIN (156315). i7th May 1945

William Bain passed away in Shelton Hospital on 1th November 1995 aged 78.

*This Air Crew Europe Star is genuine but there are a great many copies sold as such. Fortunately there are guides online showing how to spot fakes and I have include a high resolution image so you can check for yourself. Don’t get caught out by fakes of this medal.

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