An outstanding Mosquito Observers DFM group to Flying Officer Hood 125 Squadron

GVI Distinguished Flying Medal, correctly engraved 1378083. F/SGT. W. G. Hood. R.A.F.

1939/45 Star

Africa Star with North Africa 1942-43 bar

Aircrew Europe Star with France and Germany bar.

Italy Star

War medal with MID

The DFM in case of issue. The 1939/45 Star and Africa Star swing mounted as worn. The last three swing mounted as worn.

Condition GVF

Sold with recipients second issue logbook (first entry 22^nd September 1944), 3 photographs of Hood, a group photograph of 255 Squadron , Buckingham place slip for the DFM and a Newspaper clipping detailing Hood and his Pilot, Flying Officer O’Sullivan shooting down their 4^th Aircraft.

The group is direct from the recipient’s son and is offered for sale for the first time here.

 Walter George Hood was born in Balham, Surrey in 1909. In 1939 he was living in Mitcham, Surrey and working in Home Furnishing Sales. Walter’s son said the following about his entry into the Royal Air Force;

‘The one thing I'd add as a matter of minor interest is that my father was born in 1909, so when enlisting he was about 32. He wanted to serve as air crew rather than be ground based so lied about his age, knocking three years off as he thought there was an age limit of 30 - I really don't know if that limit was fact or supposition. Anyway, he lived that lie until 1975 (even my mother did not know) and only came clean when, with money a bit tight, he'd already missed out on claiming the first few months of his old age pension.’

 After training with 54 OTU, Walter was posted to 255 Squadron where he formed a very successful partnership with along with his Pilot, Flying Officer Kevin Thomas Anthony O’Sullivan. Hood’s role was Navigator, Radio Operator and Observer during the partnership.

 255 which operated Bristol Beaufighters, was posted the Middle East in late 1942, flying over North Africa. On the 13^th April 1943 over Sardinia they damaged a HE.III, which Hood has record as ‘Destroyed’ in his logbook, but this isn’t confirmed.

While with 225 they did have three confirmed victories, a HE.III on the 11^th of May 1943, and two JU.88’s on the 27^th of May 1943.

The official reports for the actions are as follows;

 Night of 11-12 May 1943: ‘Patrolled under Brownie and Donald East of Bizerte at 10,000 ft. until 2345 hours. Under Donald, put onto a bogey travelling west taking evasive action. Fleeting contact well out to starboard at maximum range, lost immediately. Hard turn to starboard given by control onto 260 degrees. Contact obtained again well to starboard. At 170 m.p.h. I.A.S. contact closed in rapidly closing to 3,000 ft. Closing to 120 yards, the enemy aircraft was identified as a He. 111 by silhouette and position of exhausts. At approximately 0010 hours when near Bizerte, fire was opened at 100-120 yards range with a one second burst with cannon only, strikes being seen on the fuselage. For three seconds, there was inaccurate return fire from a mid-upper position. This ceased when a second deflection burst from the Beaufighter hit the port engine which exploded, debris flying past the Beaufighter. A third one second burst at same range caused an explosion in the fuselage. The enemy aircraft went to starboard giving off flames and a great amount of smoke, finally hitting the ground and exploding. No one was seen to bale out. The Beaufighter orbited for a time and then returned to base. Claim: One He. 111 destroyed.’

Night of 27-28 May 1943: ‘Patrolled at 10,000 ft. near Bizerte. Over to Spongebag who reported 10 bogeys to N.E. coming towards Bizerte. No height given. Spongebag brought the Beaufighter in behind, losing height to 8,000 ft. Contact obtained at 8,000 range to port and a little above. Closed very rapidly to 3,000 and identified a Ju. 88 by silhouette against light sky in west. Closed to 80-100 yards. Now 15-20 miles N.E. of Bizerte at approximately 2110 hours, an attempt was made to open fire, but it was not until the firing button had been manipulated in various positions for 15-20 seconds that a one second burst was given with all guns. The starboard engine of the enemy aircraft immediately burst into flames. As the Ju. 88 broke away to port, the rear gunner opened fire without damaging the Beaufighter. Visual was lost but contact held. The enemy aircraft was taking violent evasive action, but the Beaufighter was brought in to 1500 and visual regained. A little flame and a large amount of grey smoke could be seen coming from the starboard engine. The enemy aircraft was doing tight turns and had lost height to 6,000 ft. A full deflection one second burst was given at 60 yards range. The port engine exploded and strikes were seen along the fuselage. The aircraft went down vertically into the sea and disappeared. No member of crew was seen to bale out. Navigator Radio found he had another contact at 4,000 range above and well to starboard. Closed to 2,000 and identified a Ju. 88 by silhouette against the light western sky. At range of 100 yards dead astern and slightly below, a two second burst was given with all guns. The starboard engine exploded and strikes were seen along the fuselage. The enemy aircraft dived vertically into the sea. Two more explosions were seen in the engines as the aircraft went down. Spongebag had nothing more so the Beaufighter patrolled N.W.-S.E. just off Cap Bizerte. Claim: two J.U. 88s destroyed.’

 A second tour of Op’s for two men followed, being posted to 125 Squadron which operated Mosquito’s. On the 22^nd of May 1944, they shot down a JU.188 over the south coast after pursuing it for 40 miles.

 On the 15^th of August 1944, the award of the Distinguished Flying Medal to Hood was announced in the London Gazette. The citation;

'As Observer Flight Sergeant Hood has participated in a large-number of sorties and has assisted in the destruction of 4 enemy aircraft. He is a highly skilled and devoted member of aircraft crew and has proved a great asset-to the squadron’.

O’Sullivan was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross at the same time, his citation is as follows;

‘Flight Lieutenant O'Sullivan has undertaken very many sorties and has displayed a high standard of skill and keenness throughout. He is a most determined fighter and has destroyed 5 enemy aircraft 4 of them at night’.

On the 25^th of September 1944, during the Battle of Arnhem, they flow a sortie from ‘Brussels to Arnhem’

Their final flight was on the 17^th of September 1945. Hood had completed 1371-30 hours of combat flying. He was Mentioned in Despatches in January 1946 and promoted to Flying Officers.

Walter passed away in 1986.