Gallery 6

This section is devoted to medals won by members of 97 Squadron and an explanation of the various campaign medals that were awarded for service with 97 Squadron during the Second World War.

(Above) This group of medals was awarded to Ewart Preston from Morecambe in Lancashire, who joined the RAF in 1940, aged 25, as an AC2 and served for 17 years before leaving the service, as a Flight Lieutenant, in 1957. The medals in the group are (from left) Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM), Air Force Medal (AFM), 1939-1945 Star, Air Crew Europe Star, Defence Medal, 1939-1945 War Medal, General Service Medal (with Malaya clasp). See Medal Qualification section below for an explanation of the criteria for the award of these medals. Also, see Gallery 8 for a photo of Ewart Preston DFM AFM.

(Above) These are the medals awarded to Flight Lieutenant Ron Swetman who completed a remarkable 61 operations as a Flight Engineer with 97 Squadron in a continuous period of operational service between October 1942 and November 1943. As you can see, the group are similar to those awarded to Ewart Preston, but differ in that Swetman has the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) (extreme left) rather than the AFM , which Preston won.

This photo is of the display of Ron Swetman's medals at the RAAF Museum at Bullcreek in Perth, Western Australia. See Gallery 8 for a photo of Ron Swetman DFC DFM.

(Above) This medal group was won by Squadron Leader Leslie Henson, who began his operational service with 97 Squadron before moving to 635 Squadron. The medals are (from left) - the Distinguished Flying Cross (with a bar denoting a second award), the 1939-1945 Star, Aircrew Europe Star (with France & Germany clasp, denoting that Sqn Ldr Henson also qualified for the France and Germany Star), Defence Medal, 1939-1945 War Medal. The gilt eagle attached to the Aircrew Europe Star is the Pathfinder Force Badge, which was worn beneath the recipient's medal ribbons on the flap of the left breast pocket.

See also Gallery 8 for a photo of Sqn Ldr Henson.

(Above) These are the medals awarded to Robert Manvell who completed 30 operations as a Flight Engineer with 97 Squadron between June 1942 and January 1943. At the conclusion of this tour of operations Sgt Manvell was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal (shown second from left). The recommendation for this award reads:

"‘This airman has participated very successfully in numerous operational sorties. His targets have included Essen and other strongly defended industrial centres in the Ruhr. He also took part in raids on Berlin and Italy and with good effect. In daylight, he has attacked Milan, Le Creusot and Danzig. His skill and courage have been an example to all."

After leaving 97 Squadron, Robert Manvell was commissioned and he returned to operational flying with No. 156 Squadron in June 1943. A trip to Stuttgart in March 1944 raised his operational sorties to the 50-mark - and 307 hours of operational flying - and he was recommended for the D.F.C. The recommendation for this award reads:

"Flight Lieutenant Manvell is the Squadron Flight Engineer Leader and has a fine operational record. He has completed 51 operational sorties, 21 of which have been with the Path Finder Force, against the most heavily defended targets in Germany. Apart from his duties as Engineer Leader, which he has carried out with zeal and efficiency, he has shown outstanding keenness to fly on operations on every possible occasion. His enthusiasm to undertake operational work has been an inspiration and, in particular, an example to the Flight Engineers entrusted to his care. His ability for training and instructing Flight Engineers, and his high sense of devotion to duty and his work on this squadron make him very worthy of the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross."

The DFC is on the extreme left in the photo above. The other medals (from left after the DFM are) The 1939-1945 Star, The Aircrew Europe Star, The Defence Medal and the 1939-1945 War Medal.


Sadly, on the night of 23/24 June 1944, Robert Manvell was killed in action in a marker operation for a flying-bomb site at Coubronne. His aircraft crashed at Zuytpeene, four kilometres from Cassel, only one member of crew surviving to be taken P.O.W., the remainder being buried in the local churchyard.

(Below) is a photo of ex-Warrant Officer Joe Cope, taken at the 97 Squadron Association reunion in 2005. Joe won the Belgian Croix de Geurre (with Palm) for his service with 97 Squadron. You can just see the medal on the extreme right of his row of medals. Protocol is that foreign awards (if approved by the Sovereign) are worn after British medals. In addition to his Second World War campaign medals, Joe is wearing (secend from right) the Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, which he was awarded during his post-war career as a Police Inspector in Humberside and Lincolshire.

Medal Qualification

The 1939-1945 Star

This star was awarded for service in the Second World War between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945. RAF personnel had to participate in operations against the enemy providing that twommonths service had been completed in an operational unit. Non-aircrew personnel had to complete 6 months service in an area of operational army command. This star was also awarded to personnel whose service period was terminated by their death or disability due to service. The award of a gallantry medal or mention in despatches or also produced the award of this campaign star, regardless of service duration.

The example shown above has a Battle of Britain clasp attached to the medal, which was awarded to fighter aircraft crews who took part in the Battle of Britain (10 July to 31 October 1940).

The Aircrew Europe Star

This star was awarded for operational flying from the UK over Europe, between the period 3 September 1939 to 5 June 1944. RAF aircrew had to complete two months service for this medal. However, this two months had to come after the service which entitled the person to the 1939-1945 Star. This star was also awarded to personnel whose service period was terminated by their death or disability due to service. The award of a gallantry medal or mention in despatches or also produced the award of this campaign star, regardless of service duration.

The France and Germany Star

This medal was awarded for service in France, Belgium, Holland or Germany in the period between 6 June 1944 and 8 May 1945. RAF aircrew had to take part in an operation sortie over Europe between 6 June 1944 and 8 May 1945. RAF aircrew who flew operations over Europe, starting from Mediterranean bases, did not qualify for the France & Germany star but the Italy Star.

RAF aircrew who had qualified for the Aircrew Europe Star, and also qualified for this star, did not receive the additional star but instead wore a clasp "France and Germany" on their Aircrew Europe Star.

The Defence Medal

This medal's qualification requirements are numerous and varied but for RAF personnel can be summarised as, service in the in non-operational areas subjected to air attack or closely threatened, providing such service lasted at least three years.

The 1939-1945 War Medal

This medal was awarded to all full-time personnel of the armed forces who completed at least 28 days service (operational or non-operational)The recipient was awarded this medal if their service period was terminated by their death, disability due to service or capture as a prisoner-of-war and their service qualified them for one of the stars. Also if the recipient had received one of the stars for a service period of less than 28 days, they were also awarded the War Medal.

The British version of this medal is made from cupro-nickel, whilst the Canadian War Medal is silver. The medal was issued un-named, with the exception of those issued to Australian and South African personnel, which were officially named.

Australian War Service Medal 1939-45

This medal was awarded to Australian service (and civilian) personnel who served in operational areas. RAAF personnel serving with 97 Squadron qualified for this medal in addition to the British campaign stars and medal shown above.

Canadian Volunteer War Service Medal 1939-45

The Canadian Volunteer Service Medal was granted to persons of any rank in the Naval, Military or Air Forces of Canada who voluntarily served on active service and honourably completed eighteen months (540 days) total voluntary service from September 3, 1939 to March 1, 1947.

A silver bar (with a maple leaf at its centre) was awarded for 60 days service outside Canada. Canadian personnel serving with 97 Squadron qualified for this bar. A silver maple leaf emblem is worn on the medal ribbon.