PERRY, John Clifford, Sergeant (1177568, Royal Air Force) - No.40 Squadron - Distinguished Flying Medal - awarded as per London Gazette dated 22 January 1943. Born in Rugby in 1913 and enlisted at Cardington Recruitment Centre in August 1940. Following aircrew training with a number of units, he passed out of No. 15 O.T.U. at Harwell in June 1942 arriving at No.40 ‘Abingdon’s Own Squadron in Shallufa at the end of that month. As Perry’s log book entries testify, his ensuing tour of operations was particularly eventful not least his introduction to Tobruk, which heavily defended target he visited on at least 11 occasions during July and each August (July 13. ‘War operations (Tobruk). Force landed in desert,’ On 10 August 1942, he was seconded for duties in Malta, often flying in support of Liberator operations over Sardinia and Sicily but by September he was back on regular trips to Tobruk, once again experiencing a number of close shaves (September 8, ‘Shipping Tobruk Harbour. Intense flak opposition. One down in flames’ and September 16, ‘Shipping and Jetties Tobruk; returned on one engine for 2 hours’. It wasn’t until early October that he was withdrawn from operations, by which stage he had completed in excess of 30 sorties. On leaving No.40 Squadron in October 1942, Perry embarked on a number of training roles, seeing service in South Africa and the United Kingdom. Commissioned 8 April 1944 (174807). Retired as Flight Lieutenant, 4 December 1958. Public Record Office Air 2/9612 has citation drafted when he had flown 28 sorties (200 operational hours).

This captain of aircraft has always evinced the highest desire to participate in operations. In August 1942 he took part in a special mission and achieved success despite many difficulties. In September 1942 he participated in an important double operation against concentrations of enemy transport and tanks in the battle area. Again in the same month, when attacking enemy shipping in Tobruk harbour, he persisted in his duties despite intense opposition from the defences. Sergeant Perry has at all times shown devotion to duty of the highest order and his example to the rest of the squadron has been an inspiration.

NOTE: On 29 July 1996 the auction house of Sotheby’s sold the medals and log books of F/L John Clifford Perry (DFM, 1939-45 Star, Africa Star, Defence Medal and War Medal). The auction catalogue gave the following; the source appears to have been the original recommendation in the PRO:

Although this NCO only joined No.40 Squadron at the end of June, he has proved himself to be one of the keenest Sergeant Pilots in the squadron and has on every possible occasion evinced the strongest desire to operate. He had no previous experience of operational work before arriving at this command but has now complete 28 operational sorties comprising 200 operational hours, of which the last eight sorties have been carried out as Captain of aircraft.

His work has been very successful and he was one of those pilots specially chosen to proceed on detachment to Malta during August to carry out joint operations with a Liberator squadron, Four operations were carried out in as many days and although on one of these Sergeant Perry found his target extremely difficult to locate, owing to bad weather conditions, he searched for over an hour and a half before he found it. He was also one of those pilots engaged on operations on the night of 2 September when the squadron undertook a highly important double operation against concentrations of enemy transport and tanks in the battle area. Again on the night of 8/9 September, when detailed to attack shipping at Tobruk harbour, his attack was pressed home to the utmost despite intense opposition from anti-aircraft fire.

This NCO has at all times shown devotion to duty of the highest order and his example to the rest of the squadron has been a source of inspiration to his brother pilots.

The catalogue then goes on, obviously referring to material found in the log books:

Flight Lieutenant John Clifford Perry, DFM, was born in Rugby in 1913 and enlisted at Cardington Recruiting Centre in August 1940. Following aircrew training with a number of units, he passed out of No.15 OTU at Harwell in June 1942, arriving at No.40 “Abington’s Own” Squadron in Shallufa at the end of that month. As Perry’s log book entries testify, his ensuing tour of operations was particularly eventful, not least his introduction to Tobruk, which heavily defended target he visited on at least 11 occasions during July and early August (July 13, “War operations, Tobruk; Force landed in the desert”).

On 10 August 1942, he was seconded for duties in Malta, often flying in support of Liberator operations over Sardinia and Sicily, but by September he was back on regular trips to Tobruk, once again experiencing a number of close shaves (September 8: “Shipping Tobruk Harbour; intense flak opposition. One down in flames”, and September 16, “Shipping and Jetties Tobruk. Returned on one engine for two hours”). It wasn’t until early October that he was withdrawn from operations, at which stage he had completed in excess of 30 sorties.

On leaving No.40 Squadron in October 1942, Perry embarked on a number of training roles, seeing service in South Africa and the United Kingdom. He remained a regular officer after the war, finally leaving with the rank of Flight Lieutenant in December 1940.


SAUNDERS, Ernest John, P/O (108139, RAFVR) - No. 40 Squadron - Distinguished Flying Cross - awarded as per London Gazette dated 22 January 1943. Born at Chicklewood, London, 1918. Educated at Whitgift Middle School, Croyden. Enlisted 1940 (924532), trained in Canada, (attended No.5 AOS and No.3 BGS). Commissioned 30 August 1941. Citation in AMB 9037.

As navigator, this officer has participated in numerous operational sorties with much success. In the face of heavy opposition he has displayed exceptional coolness and daring. He has always pressed home his bombing attacks to the utmost, with efficiency and precision and has been responsible for obtaining a number of very successful photographs of target areas.


SAUNDERS, Ernest John, A/S/L, DFC (108139, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve) - No.692 Squadron - Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross - awarded as per London Gazette dated 14 November 1944.

Since the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross, Squadron leader Saunders has completed a large number of sorties. He has a fine operational record of attacks on major heavily defended targets. The success of these operations have been largely due to the high degree of skill and navigational ability of this officer together with his determination to locate and bomb accurately all his targets. As squadron navigation officer he has set a splendid example in the air and on the ground which has been a source of inspiration to all crews.

SAUNDERS, Ernest John, A/S/L, DFC (108139, Royal Air Force) - No.128 Squadron - Distinguished Service Order - awarded as per London Gazette dated 27 February 1945. The following was a text used in connection with two DSO awards, a second Bar to DFC, a Bar to DFC, ten DFCs and one DFM. Same text published in Flight, 29 March 1945. The other DSO recipient was S/L R.G. St.C. Wadsworth.

These members of aircraft crews have completed very many sorties against enemy targets. In January 1945, they were detailed for an operation which necessitated releasing heavy bombs from low level at the openings to various tunnels on the enemy's railway system leading to the Western front. The mission called for a high degree of skill. The good results obtained reflects the greatest credit on the efforts of the above personnel who throughout a dangerous and difficult sortie displayed exceptional ability, great determination and devotion to duty.

Public Record Office Air 2/9044 has recommendation drafted 7 January 1945 when he had flown 106 sorties (981 hours) of which nine sorties (34 hours) has been since his previous award:

This officer was navigator of a Mosquito aircraft of 128 Squadron detailed to place a 4,000-pound bomb up the mouth of an important railway tunnel south of Coblenz on the morning of 1st January 1945. This operation required great determination, skill and the utmost precision. By his skillful navigation this attack was carried out most successfully. Squadron Leader Saunders ha completed 106 operations against enemy targets, the majority of which were heavily defended and including 15 against Berlin. By his cheerfulness, courage and devotion to duty he has been a fine example to the squadron.

On 8 January 1945, G/C O.R. Donaldson added his remarks:

This officer has consistently shown the utmost disregard for his own personal comfort and safety. The encouragement and counsel that he has given to other crews and his cheerful and diligent performance of his duties at all times are deserving of high praise. Recommended for the award of the Distinguished Service Order.