"Mentioned in dispatches"

[jmp]

Thanks Steve,

His name was Robert Hortop Phillips and served with the RAF including the  Pathfinder force at one stage.
Best wishes
Jackie

[OldBraggs]

Here is a start, if I have time I will look up his DFC citations when I can.

25 July 1941
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
GENERAL DUTIES BRANCH.
The undermentioned are granted commissions for the duration of  hostilities: -
As Flying Officers on Probation.
Leading Aircraftsman
1377713 Robert Hortop PHILLIPS (100093).

29 Dec. 1942
Distinguished Flying Cross.
Flying Officer Robert Hortop PHILLIPS (100093)
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 15 Squadron.

Air Ministry, 14th January, 1944.
The KING has been graciously pleased to give orders for the publication of
the names of the following personnel who have been mentioned in despatches
by Air Officers Commanding-in-Chief:-
Flight Lieutenant
R. H. PHILLIPS, D.F.C. (100093) R.A.F.V.R.

14 Nov. 1944
Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross.
Flight Lieutenants.
Robert Horton PHILLIPS, D.F.C. (100093),
R.A.F.V.R., 571 Sqn.

13 March 1945
Distinguished Service Order
Flight Lieutenant Roberts Hortop PHILLIPS, D.F.C. (100093), R.A.F.V.R., 7 Sqn.
This officer is an outstanding captain who has completed more than ninety operational missions. One night in January, 1945, he piloted an aircraft in an attack against Munich. The operation called for a high degree of skill and resolution. In spite of considerable fire which was directed at his aircraft, Flight Lieutenant Phillips made two runs over the target to ensure accuracy. His fearlessness, skill and devotion were well illustrated on this notable sortie.


Steve

[jmp]

Oh Brilliant Steve,

You are a complete star!!!!!.

You may probably have guessed but he was in fact my father and whilst my mother has the medals we have never had any real knowledge of what he was given them for.  My Mum being well into her 80's now gets a little confused at times so I get different answers each time.  My Dad unfortunately passed away in the early 1980's well before I was interested in this game.

Many many many thanks again.

Jackie.

P.s. How did you find them?

[OldBraggs]

I know my way around the Gazettes etc.

p.s. You might be shocked at how valuable those medals are, take good care of them and put them on your insurance for about £4000 (I'm not joking)

Steve

[jmp]

Ooh Thanks Steve for the warning - I certainly hadn't realised that!!!

I would be really grateful, if and when you get the time, and can find anything else re the DFC but your help anyway has been fantastic.

Thank you very much
Best wishes
Jackie

[annsa]

Hi,

Try the general queries message board at:

www.rafcommands.com

Hugh Halliday, one of the researchers that use that board has a lot of information with regards to awards and is also compiling information with regard to DSOs. He would no doubt be interested to hear from you, especially if you have biographical info on your relative and possibly photographs. All the researcghers that use that board are very helpful and I'm sure that you will get the information you are looking for.

Regards,

Ann

[casalguidi]

Hi Ann

He would no doubt be interested to hear from you, especially if you have biographical info on your relative and possibly photographs

Perhaps he would like to come and join in the discussion on this thread as continued discussion might be of interest to others on here who have already participated in the thread

Casalguidi

[behindthefrogs]

If you can find out who actually made the dispatches there is a chance that if it was an officer of some note the actual dispatches may have been preserved or even published.

[annsa]

Hi,

I can try to direct Hugh this way, but he tends to lurk on the RAF Commands site, however, I can post any reply here if needed.
As far as Mention in Dispatches documentation goes, recommendations for awards are in the Air Ministry files (should be in AIR2) which are held at the National Archives at Kew. I have gond through some of them for Hugh and others , however, the best chance of info is from the RAF Commands site first as there are a lot of good researchers that use that site who may well have any recommendations on file and also have other useful background information.
I'm not likely to get to Kew in the near future otherwise I would be happy to go and look, but as I've already said, someone may already have all the info necessary to hand.

Best of luck,

Ann