HughAHalliday
18th January 2022, 16:08
DE WILDE, Henry Roger, F/O, DFC (72818) – No. 2 Air Raid Reporting Liaison Section – No. 14 Group – Military Cross – awarded as per London Gazette dated 1 January 1941. AIR 2/6075 has recommendation for a DSO dated 25 May 1940. Signed by Group Captain, Commanding, No. 14 Group, R.A.F. on 25th of May, 1940 and recommended on 20th May 1940. DFC dated from 2 November 1918 (No.201 Squadron).
This officer commanded No. 2 A.R.R.L.S. during the period 10th to the 20th May, 1940. Largely as a result of his personal initiative and hard work this Unit continued to furnish No. 14 Group and the Wings with timely and accurate information of enemy aircraft movements including those relayed by the Belgian Observer System. No. 2 A.R.R.L.S. plots were throughout the period the main source of our information, and action taken on them resulted in numerous successful interceptions, and on several occasions saved our aircraft from being caught on the ground.
During the later part of the period, Flying Officer de Wilde went forward into Belgium in an attempt to establish Advanced Intelligence Sections of No. 2 A.R.R.L.S., but the rapid advance of the enemy rendered this impracticable.
After the evacuation of No. 2 A.R.R.L.S., Flying Officer de Wilde was attempting to drive through a French town on his way to the port on the 21st May, 1940, when two German tanks appeared shooting in all directions. No organized resistance was being offered, so Flying Officer de Wilde found a French anti-tank gun and crew and made them get into action, with the result that both tanks were set on fire, completely destroyed, and the traffic freed to proceed.
This officer commanded No. 2 A.R.R.L.S. during the period 10th to the 20th May, 1940. Largely as a result of his personal initiative and hard work this Unit continued to furnish No. 14 Group and the Wings with timely and accurate information of enemy aircraft movements including those relayed by the Belgian Observer System. No. 2 A.R.R.L.S. plots were throughout the period the main source of our information, and action taken on them resulted in numerous successful interceptions, and on several occasions saved our aircraft from being caught on the ground.
During the later part of the period, Flying Officer de Wilde went forward into Belgium in an attempt to establish Advanced Intelligence Sections of No. 2 A.R.R.L.S., but the rapid advance of the enemy rendered this impracticable.
After the evacuation of No. 2 A.R.R.L.S., Flying Officer de Wilde was attempting to drive through a French town on his way to the port on the 21st May, 1940, when two German tanks appeared shooting in all directions. No organized resistance was being offered, so Flying Officer de Wilde found a French anti-tank gun and crew and made them get into action, with the result that both tanks were set on fire, completely destroyed, and the traffic freed to proceed.