Air Crew Europe Star Casualty 207 Sqn. Shot Down By German Ace Günther Radusch

A well researched Aircrew Europe Star group comprising the Air Crew Europe Star, 1939-1945 Star and 1939 -1945 War Medal issued to Sergeant Stanley Spencer 1310508 RAF Volunter Reserve. Killed in action 17th August 1942 on Lancaster R5509 ‘EM-G’.  He was 28 years old.

The medals are in mint condition with the card box of issue addressed to Mrs M Spencer. The original medal packets are included and the named Air Council enclosure.

The memorial scroll (with original envelope) and letter of condolence from the King is also present as well the original telegram informing Mrs Spencer that her husband was missing, the followup letter and advice to relatives of missing personnel. There is also remarkable collection of correspondence between Mrs Spencer, the Personal Services department, the C/O of RAF Bottesford and relatives of other crew members of the aircraft.

All of the original paperwork is stored in polyester wallets and contained in a storage box and everything is contained in an acid free archival quality storage box.

Spencer was a wireless operator and air gunner on 207 Squadron Lancaster R5509 ‘EM-G’ (a photo of which has been retrieved from the IWM website). The plane took off with six others at around 21:00 on 16th August 1942 on a mine laying mission to an area of the Baltic sea code named “Willow”.  On their return to Boddesford over Sonderborg, Kiel Bay at 02:42  R5509 was shot down by German pilot Günther Radusch commander of II Nachtjagdgeschwader 3 , 16 minutes later at 02:56 Radusch shot down a second Lancaster from 207 Squadron R5616 ‘EM-J’. There were no survivors from Spencer’s plane which has never been found.  Sergeant Jack Read survived from the second plane and spent the rest of the war as PoW. The other four planes that took off from Bottesford returned safely.  Radusch in his log book claimed the planes as Halifaxes but there’s no doubt that the 2 planes he shot down that night were the Lancasters from 207 Squadron confirmed by the capture of Jack Read and the fact there were no other planes in the area on the night of 16/17 August and no Halifax losses anywhere that night.

Günther Radusch was the 6th highest scoring night fighter ace with 65 total victories, 64 at night 57 of which were 4 engine bombers. The Lancasters of 207 Squadron were his 7th and 8th victories.  Radusch was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves presented to him by Hitler at the Berghof. He died in 1988 aged 75.

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All coins, medals and other items I sell are genuine unless I have explicitly described them as otherwise and I guarantee this forever. If I sell you something as genuine that later turns out to be a forgery I will take the item back and refund you in full including all postage costs.