Canada. A DFC Awarded for a Daring Lancaster Bombing Raid over Kassel, Germany
A First and Second War Wright Father and Son Group, Lance Sergeant Benjamin Franklin Wright, 39th and 13th Infantry Battalions and Flight Lieutenant Frederick Foster Wright, No. 100 Squadron RCAF, DFC. Father: Lance Sergeant Benjamin Franklin Wright: 1914-15 Star (412969 Pte B.F. WRIGHT. 13/CAN:INF:); British War Medal (412969 L. SJT. B.F. WRIGHT. 13-CAN.INF.); and Victory Medal (412969 L. SJT. B.F. WRIGHT. 13-CAN.INF.). Naming is officially impressed. Un-mounted, replacement ribbon on the Star, original ribbons on the BWM and VM, spotting on the reverse of the Star and on the obverse of the VM, contact marks. Son: Flight Lieutenant Frederick Foster Wright: Distinguished Flying Cross, George VI GRI; 1939-1945 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence Medal; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas Clasp; and War Medal 1939-1945. Court-mounted with swing bar pinback, as worn by the veteran, replacement ribbons, plated. Accompanied by an additional un-mounted Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and War Medal 1939-1945; Case for the DFC (marked D.F.C. on the lid, maker marked "ROYAL MINT" on the inside lid, soiled recessed medal bed); RCAF Flight Pass Authorization Card (dated January 10, 1946, addressed to the RCAF Station at Leeming, Yorkshire, from Headquarters, No. 1 Group RAF, inscribed "Authority is given for the above mentioned Officer to be employed as Captain of Lancaster Aircraft on Trooping Flights", signed by the Air Vice Marshal, Air Officer Commanding, No. 1 Group RAF, printed in black and white on photographic paper, gloss finish, 90 mm (w) x 65 mm (h)); Royal Canadian Air Force Pilot's Flying Log Book (entries for 1944, including detailed accounts of all flight times logged and in what aircraft, indicating he was first certified as a pilot for both day and night flight as of September 14, 1944, hardcovered, multiple pages with handwritten entries in red, blue and black inks, 195 mm (w) x 225 mm (h) x 18 mm (d), exhibiting wear on the exterior); RCAF Discharge Certificate (dated April 2, 1946, printed in black ink on a thick white paper stock, 168 mm (w) x 200 mm (h), ripped); Limited Commercial Air Pilots Certificate (hardcovered, with a four-page insert, numbered "C-3347", dated "July 23. 1946" and Department of Transport emboss stamped black and white photograph of Wright, stating that he was qualified to fly a D.H. 82 Tiger Moth, Harvard Mark IV and R-5725 Lancaster Bomber, the inside front and back covers along with the four-page insert printed in black ink on a white paper stock, 105 mm (w) x 160 mm (h), black string-bound); City of Toronto Distinguished Flying Cross Congratulatory Certificate (inscribed " City of Toronto / Flt. Lieut. F.F. Wright. / The Royal Canadian Air Force. / We the Mayor and Members of the Council of the Corporation of the City of Toronto hereby extend to you in name, and on behalf of all our citizens heartiest congratulations and good wishes on your being awarded the decoration of: Distinguished Flying Cross. His Majesty the King has seen fit to confer this distinction on you for meritorious service comprising acts of bravery and self sacrifice in defence of our Empire and for the cause of freedom. We are very proud of you, as we are proud of all our citizens who are fighting throughout the world to uphold and defend the Honour of our King, our Country and out Flag. Your name has been inscribed on the Honour Roll of Heroes of the City of Toronto to stand for all time as an inspiration to others, and as a record of the valour and courage of our sons and daughters who by their acts of heroism and devotion to duty have received special recognition and honour." / TORONTO, ONT. THIS 31st DAY OF OCTOBER. A.D. 1946", signed in handwritten black ink by Mayor Robert Hood Saunders, along with the City Clerk and the City Treasurer/Keeper of the Civic Seal, gold embossed seal of the City of Toronto at the lower left, printed in four-colour inks by Alexander & Cable of Toronto, on a white paper stock, personalized inscriptions in calligraphic red and black inks, 405 mm (w) x 478 mm (h), under glass in a gold-coloured wooden frame, wire on the reverse for wall hanging); a Reproduction Photograph of Wright in Uniform (black and white, semi-gloss finish, illustrating Wright standing in front of a Lancaster Bomber, 137 mm (w) x 186 mm (h)); twelve Royal Canadian Air Force Uniform Buttons (brass, with various maker marks, ranging in size from 22.7 mm to 23.5 mm, intact loops); and one Canada General Service Button (brass, unmarked, 24, intact loops). Near extremely fine.
Footnote: Father: Benjamin Franklin Wright was born on February 22, 1888 in Haliburton County, Ontario. He signed his Attestation Paper as a Private (412969) with the 39th Infantry Battalion, on March 15, 1915 in Lindsay, Ontario, at the age of 27, naming his next-of-kin as his father, Samuel Wright, stating that he had no previous military service, that he was not married, that his religion as Methodist and that his trade was that of Labourer. The Battalion was raised in Southeastern Ontario with mobilization headquarters at Belleville, Ontario under the authority of G.O. 86, July 1, 1915. The Battalion sailed June 24, 1915 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel J.A.V. Preston with 40 officers and 1,003 other ranks. It was absorbed into the 6th Reserve Battalion in England. He was later transferred to the 13th Infantry Battalion "Royal Highlanders of Canada" in the French theatre and promoted to Lance Sergeant, serviving the war. For his First World War service, Lance Sergeant Benjamin Franklin Wright was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He died in 1953. Son: Frederick Foster Wright was from Peterborough, Ontario and enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force on June 23, 1942. His training was done at three locations: at No. 5 Initial Training School at the Ontario Provincial School for the Deaf Belleville, Ontario, graduating on November 5, 1942; at No. 10 Elementary Flying Training School at Pendleton, Ontario, graduating on May 17, 1943; and at No. 2 Service Flying Training School at Uplands, Ontario, graduating on August 11, 1943. Now a qualified pilot, Wright went overseas to England, where he was posted to No. 100 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force at RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire, where he flew Harvard Mark IV and Lancaster Bombers. In a flight in March 1945, Wright was piloting a Lancaster bomber when the aircraft was struck by bombs from above, with incendiaries lodging in both wings and in the fuselage. The crew lobbed the incendiaries out of the back door and the front hatch, some of them having ignited. Wright lost control of the aircraft, going from 20,000 feet to 9,000 feet before regaining control of the Lancaster. J.93453
Acting Flying Officer Frederick Foster Wright, No. 100 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his efforts in saving the crew, the announcement appearing in the Fifth Supplement to the London Gazette 37049 of Friday, April 20, 1945, on Tuesday, April 24, 1945, page 2175 and in AFRO 918/45 of June 1, 1945, his citation stating: "One night in March, 1945, this officer was the pilot and captain of an aircraft detailed to attack Kassel. Shortly after the bombs had been released, the aircraft sustained severe damage. The fuselage, mainplane, tail unit and the mid-upper and rear gun turrets were all affected. The elevators jammed and the aircraft dived out of control. Several thousand feet in height were lost before Flying Officer Wright succeeded in leveling out. With great difficulty he retained control and flew on to reach base where he landed the badly damaged aircraft safely. This officer displayed a high degree of courage and coolness in the face of great damage." He was invested with the award by King George VI on July 13, 1945. An RCAF photo PL-46399 (ex UK-23868 and dated December 27, 1945) is captioned as follows: “Following completion of a tour of operations with a British bomber squadron, F/L Fred Wright, DFC of Peterborough is serving with the Bison Squadron at Leeming, England. The Bison and the Lion Squadrons, both at Leeming, are the only two Canadian bomber squadrons serving with the Occupational Air Force. Wright came overseas in May 1943 as a pilot. One of his gunners shot down an enemy plane on their trip and Wright won the DFC for bringing back his plane when it was badly damaged after an attack.” J/93453 Flight Lieutenant Frederick Foster Wright, Royal Canadian Air Force was "Honourably Released and transferred to the General Section of Reserve, Class "E" " on April 2, 1946, entitled to wear the War Service Badge, number 555583. For his Second World War service, he was awarded the 1939-1945 Star, the France and Germany Star, the Defence Medal, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas Clasp and the War Medal 1939-1945. He was issued a Limited Commercial Air Pilots Certificate by the Department of Transport on July 23, 1946, stating that he was qualified to fly a D.H. 82 Tiger Moth, Harvard Mark IV and R-5725 Lancaster Bomber. Upon his return to Canada, the City of Toronto issued a Congratulatory Certificate in Honour of his Award of the Distinguished Service Cross, presented to him on October 31, 1946 and signed by Mayor Robert Hood Saunders, along with the City Clerk and the City Treasurer/Keeper of the Civic Seal. (C:224)