RAF Casualty Group Lancaster Gunner 166 Sqdn with Paperwork Letters and Photos

1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, War Medal and Defence Medal awarded posthumously to 928795 Flight Sergeant Victor Tarbard of 166 squadron. Tarbard was the mid upper gunner on Lancaster ND626 which was lost without trace on the night of 26/27 October 1944 on a mine laying mission to Heligoland. Tarbard is commemorated on panel 222 on the Runnymede memorial.

The medals come with the Air Ministry box, addressed to his father with comp note and entitlement slip and the condolence letter from Buckingham Palace.  These have been kept together along with a large file of paperwork that includes the telegram informing the family that he is missing, the follow up letter from the base commander at Kirmington and various correspondence from the Air Ministry, details of his effects including a letter asking how his family would like his bicycle to be disposed of (there’s a consignment note for it being sent to them by train, including a a description of the condition of the bike).

Also included is Tarbard’s birth certificate, what appears to be his last letter home dated 20th October 1944. Other paperwork includes a 3 page information sheet for families attending the opening of the Runnymede memorial and 2 post cards and correspondence from the family members of the crew of Lancaster ND626. Perhaps the most interesting of these are letters from the father of the plane’s pilot, James Burton (RCAF) from Canada detailing his work in finding out what happened to the plane. He sent to Tarbard’s family accounts from pilots of other planes on the mission about the fate of the aircraft (most likely shot down by flak over Heligoland) along with photographs of Tarbard and other crew members including him with Burton in front of a Wellington that 166 Squadron operated in 1943.

I’ve pictured some of what I consider the most interesting pieces of paperwork but there’s far too much to include it all. The medals and paperwork come stored in a box file and wallets.

The Small Print:

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