An Extremely Rare Second World War D.F.C., Post-War T.D. Group of Seven to Major L.W. Goodman, Royal Artillery (T.A.), Late East Surrey Regiment (T.A.) and Royal Air Force, the Recipient of an Efficiency Medal Named as Squadron Leader, R.A.F., Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated '1942'; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence and War Medals, with M.I.D. Oakleaf; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 'Territorial' (S./Ldr., R.A.F.); Efficiency Decoration, G.VI.R., 'Territorial', with Bar for Second Award, the reverse of the Decoration officially dated '1950' and further engraved, 'Major L.W. Goodman, D.F.C., T.D., R.A.', and the Bar officially dated '1950', good very fine or better and possibly a unique combination of awards, mounted as worn

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An Extremely Rare Second World War D.F.C., Post-War T.D. Group of Seven to Major L.W. Goodman, Royal Artillery (T.A.), Late East Surrey Regiment (T.A.) and Royal Air Force, the Recipient of an Efficiency Medal Named as Squadron Leader, R.A.F., Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated '1942'; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence and War Medals, with M.I.D. Oakleaf; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 'Territorial' (S./Ldr., R.A.F.); Efficiency Decoration, G.VI.R., 'Territorial', with Bar for Second Award, the reverse of the Decoration officially dated '1950' and further engraved, 'Major L.W. Goodman, D.F.C., T.D., R.A.', and the Bar officially dated '1950', good very fine or better and possibly a unique combination of awards, mounted as worn
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Lot Essay

D.F.C. London Gazette 26.10.1943. Recommendation states 'Flight Lieutenant Goodman has completed 32 operational sorties with No. 12 Squadron, against such targets as Hamburg, Cherbourg (3), Wilhelmshaven (2), Brest (2), Hanover, Bremen (2), Kiel (2), Essen (6) and Duisberg (2). At all times he carried out determined attacks and has persisted in his endeavours to obtain photographs. This Officer has at all times shown the keenest enthusiasm and devotion to duty, and has been an inspiration to his Flight and Squadron'.

T.D. and Bar London Gazette 3.11.1947.

Mention in Despatches London Gazette 14.1.1944.

Major Leslie William Goodman, D.F.C., was a pre-War member of the Territorials, having been commissioned into the 5th Battalion, East Surreys as a 2nd Lieutenant in December 1937. His Efficiency Medal (London Gazette 23.5.1947 refers) suggests even earlier service in the Ranks. Possibly having transferred to the Gunners, T.A., prior to the outbreak of hostilities, Goodman at some stage went on to qualify for his 'Wings' and was commissioned into the Royal Air Force.

As Captain of Aircraft, he notched up 32 sorties and 170 hours of operational flying with No. 12 Squadron, No. 1 Group, which unit was operating in Wellingtons out of R.A.F. Binbrook. Almost certainly among these sorties were the first 'Thousand Bomber Raids' on Cologne and Essen, services that led his Station C.O. to endorse his D.F.C. Recommendation, 'A first-class operational Captain [who] has a fine sense of judgement and balance and was always able to make a quick mental appreciation of enemy defences which allowed him to attack from the lowest reasonable height'.

Returning to the Territorial Army at the end of hostilities, Goodman was advanced to Major, R.A. on 1.1.1950, having been gazetted for his Efficiency Medal and T.D. with Bar during the course of 1947.