King George's 1942 Visit
On June 25th, 1942 King George VI and the Queen visited Mildenhall they were there to talk to the men who had taken part in the 1,000 bomber raid. Which included airmen from the Moose squadron. In the first photo the King is shown with then P/O Jost, later to be S/L Bert Jost, P/O Harry Thompson and P/O Raine.
It is reported that their Majesties were "agreeably surprised that the squadron contained so many R.C.A.F personnel.
S/L Jost was lost on June 25th, 1943 aboard JD147.
P/O Harry Thompson was lost on September 3rd, 1942 while on an operation aboard Wellington X3711
King George's 2nd Visit
The King and Queen along with Princess Elizabeth again paid a visit to 419 squadron on August 11, 1944.
King George presented the Distinguished Flying Medal to P/O Fraser. The DFM is presented for an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty while flying in operations against the enemy It is awarded to non-commissioned officers. P/O Fraser was a sergeant when he was selected to be awarded the medal.
King George VI along with Queen Elizabeth and Princess Elizabeth at the Investiture Ceremony presented DFC awards and DFM awards to members of 419 squadron.
Invested were:
W/C Pleasance DFC First Bar
S/L Stewart DFC
F/L Peck DFC
F/L Scade DFC
P/O Mc Gill DFC
W/O Bourassa DFC
Lt. Hartshorn DFC
P/O N C Fraser DFM
A point of interest was the decoration of Lt. Joseph Hartshorn USAAF, personally by the King.
It may have been the only time an American was directly decorated with a DFC by the King.
With our Thanks to K. Wand for her help in the research.
