F/L David Islwyn Evans, DFC, 50 Sqn

[dfuller52]

In following up on this survivor of the crash of Hampden AE436, I see that, in addition to a Mention in Dispatches from early 1943, he also received a DFC in Aug 1943 while with 50 Sqn. Can anyone tell me why he transferred to 50 Sqn from 144 Sqn and what the citation for the DFC says?

thanks

[namrondooh]

David, Can I confirm you have checked the LG & Flight Magazine for any citation before I embark on a mission? Thank you.

But first

Hugh, Do you have Evans citation for his 1943 D.F.C. please? Thank you.

Norman

[HughAHalliday]

I do not have a citation; none seems to have appeared in Air Ministry Bulletins .... BUT

I looked at the London Gazette which announced his DFC - no citation there ... BUT

It listed DFMs to two airmen in No.50 Squadron (Albert Stewart Cooper and Victor Allenby Davis) - no citations there ... BUT

Ian Tavender's book has citations for both Cooper and Davis and both these citations he found at Kew in Air 2/8974.

I believe that if you consult Air 2/8974 you will find a citation - even a detailed recommendation - for Evans' award.

[dfuller52]

Nice bit of sleuthing, Hugh, thanks very much. Now my only challenge is getting a look at those files, from here in Toronto. Is the only option for that to order them at a price from the NA website?

[HughAHalliday]

To my knowledge these files have not yet been digitized so are not available on-line. Nor would I advise ordering the whole file which might be a big one and still lack what you seek. Folk like you and I must either hire researchers or rely on the kindness of strangers (or at least the strange folk we meet on this Forum).

[namrondooh]

Thanks Hugh.

David, I've sent you an email about thoughts on Kew. Maybe Ian Tavender still has a copy of the file or can give you the answer?

Norman

[paulmcmillan]

Ian Tavender died a few years ago...

[dfuller52]

I have just received my pro forma reply from the NA telling me I am out of luck on getting an estimate for this one - it will need to be researched. Is anyone heading for Kew in the near future that might have time to look him up? His s/n was 108570.