HughAHalliday
9th April 2022, 20:25
Flight Lieutenant Alfred Arthur MORLEY, 902708, DFC, DFM – No.357 Squadron – Distinguished Flying Cross awarded as per London Gazette dated 5 March 1945. No published citation; recommendation found in Spink auction catalogue, estimated value at 1,200 pounds (medals sold with log book). Transcribed by Huguette Mondo Oates. The recommendation states:
“Flight Lieutenant Morley has carried a very large number of operational hours and has completed 80 sorties. He is on his third tour of operations having carried out two tours in the U.K. with Bomber Command before volunteering for operations in this theatre. He has carried out 24 S.D. sorties with this Squadron during the past six months and, as Flight Engineer Leader, has been responsible for the training of new crews in long range flying. Flight Lieutenant Morley has personally carried out three sorties to Malaya of between 18-and-21 hours’ duration, and many other sorties to Burma, French Indo China and Siam. He has shown great keenness and leadership at all times and has been largely responsible for the great success the Squadron has achieved on long range operations.”
Flight Lieutenant Alfred Arthur Morley, D.F.C., D.F.M., served with 161 Squadron; composed of five Whitleys and two Wellingtons, 161 Squadron specialized in “pick ups” from enemy occupied Europe and shared Tempsford Airfield, Bedfordshire with 138 Squadron, these were the only Squadrons in England almost entirely devoted to ‘Special Operations’ (The Special Operations Executive, 1940-46 by M.R.D. Foot refers); took part in twenty such sorties, August 1942-May 1943 (AIR 2/8964/6407); was similarly engaged in Asia, January-June 1945, serving as Flight Engineer Leader, 357 Squadron (Liberators); during the latter period, Morley took part in twenty-four special sorties, assisting in various successful “pick up” and parachute supply operations; he possibly assisted in modifying the Liberators, whose far too visible exhausts were renowned for endangering night operations; transferred to R.A.F. Reserve of Officers, 1951; Log Book entries include: “9.10.42. Operational Duties to Gibraltar; 12.10.42. Operational duties to Tempsford; 30.3.43, Fighter interception; 13.4.43. Operations as ordered (F); 13.5.43. Operations A/C Damaged Flak; 24.5.43. Hurn to Maison Blanche; 29.5.43. Maison Blanche to Bone; 6.6.43 . Cairo to Castel Benito; 28.4.44. Operations as ordered (Norway); posted to 357 Squadron (Jessore)/India (S.E.A.C.); 18.1.45. Santa Cruz to Jessore; 29.1.45. Operations as ordered Burma; 1.6.45. Operations Siam (P.U.); 15.6.45. Base to Chine Bay (Ceylon); July 1946/Posted to the King’s Flight Benson.” (Many of the entries state “Operations as ordered”, indicating their secret nature).
“Flight Lieutenant Morley has carried a very large number of operational hours and has completed 80 sorties. He is on his third tour of operations having carried out two tours in the U.K. with Bomber Command before volunteering for operations in this theatre. He has carried out 24 S.D. sorties with this Squadron during the past six months and, as Flight Engineer Leader, has been responsible for the training of new crews in long range flying. Flight Lieutenant Morley has personally carried out three sorties to Malaya of between 18-and-21 hours’ duration, and many other sorties to Burma, French Indo China and Siam. He has shown great keenness and leadership at all times and has been largely responsible for the great success the Squadron has achieved on long range operations.”
Flight Lieutenant Alfred Arthur Morley, D.F.C., D.F.M., served with 161 Squadron; composed of five Whitleys and two Wellingtons, 161 Squadron specialized in “pick ups” from enemy occupied Europe and shared Tempsford Airfield, Bedfordshire with 138 Squadron, these were the only Squadrons in England almost entirely devoted to ‘Special Operations’ (The Special Operations Executive, 1940-46 by M.R.D. Foot refers); took part in twenty such sorties, August 1942-May 1943 (AIR 2/8964/6407); was similarly engaged in Asia, January-June 1945, serving as Flight Engineer Leader, 357 Squadron (Liberators); during the latter period, Morley took part in twenty-four special sorties, assisting in various successful “pick up” and parachute supply operations; he possibly assisted in modifying the Liberators, whose far too visible exhausts were renowned for endangering night operations; transferred to R.A.F. Reserve of Officers, 1951; Log Book entries include: “9.10.42. Operational Duties to Gibraltar; 12.10.42. Operational duties to Tempsford; 30.3.43, Fighter interception; 13.4.43. Operations as ordered (F); 13.5.43. Operations A/C Damaged Flak; 24.5.43. Hurn to Maison Blanche; 29.5.43. Maison Blanche to Bone; 6.6.43 . Cairo to Castel Benito; 28.4.44. Operations as ordered (Norway); posted to 357 Squadron (Jessore)/India (S.E.A.C.); 18.1.45. Santa Cruz to Jessore; 29.1.45. Operations as ordered Burma; 1.6.45. Operations Siam (P.U.); 15.6.45. Base to Chine Bay (Ceylon); July 1946/Posted to the King’s Flight Benson.” (Many of the entries state “Operations as ordered”, indicating their secret nature).