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Lot Essay
Sold with the recipient's original Flying Log Books (3), covering the period December 1943 to November 1956; Path Finder Force Badge and related letter from Air Vice-Marshal Bennett (dated 27.4.1944); and a number of letters of reference, including one from Field Marshal Montgomery, with signed photograph (dated 14.7.1945):
'Flying Officer George Dutch Stewart (178640), R.A.F., is a member of the crew of my personal aircraft, and is travelling on duty on my behalf. Please ensure that he is given every facility to carry out his missions. B.L. Montgomery, Field Marshal, Commander-in-Chief, 21 Army Group'.
D.F.C. London Gazette 27.3.1945.
Flight Lieutenant George Dutch "Lofty" Stewart, D.F.C., enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve just prior to the outbreak of hostilities and was employed on various ground duties until 1943, when, as a Sergeant, he volunteered for the Path Finder Force. Joining No. 405 (R.C.A.F.) Squadron as a Flight Engineer in December 1943, he went on to complete two tours on Halifaxes and Lancasters, the vast majority of his targets being heavily defended German ones, not least seven trips to Berlin. And as is confirmed by his Flying Log Book, one or two of his 50-odd operational sorties had to be completed on three engines.
Having been gazetted for his well-deserved D.F.C. in March 1945, Stewart was assigned to a V.I.P. Dakota Flight in Transport Command, a posting that resulted in some memorable encounters, Sholto Douglas, and Montgomery, of course, among them. Then in June 1948 he was attached to the Royal Pakistan Air Force as Flight Engineer to Governor-General Jinnah and, following his death, to his successor, Sir Nasi Mouddin. Returning to the U.K. in late 1949, Stewart embarked on a long and successful career within the R.A.F.'s Engineering and Traffic Control Branches, finally retiring as a Flight Lieutenant in 1963. He died in May 1987, having risen to be Assistant Manager of Scottish Airlines at Prestwick Airport.
'Flying Officer George Dutch Stewart (178640), R.A.F., is a member of the crew of my personal aircraft, and is travelling on duty on my behalf. Please ensure that he is given every facility to carry out his missions. B.L. Montgomery, Field Marshal, Commander-in-Chief, 21 Army Group'.
D.F.C. London Gazette 27.3.1945.
Flight Lieutenant George Dutch "Lofty" Stewart, D.F.C., enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve just prior to the outbreak of hostilities and was employed on various ground duties until 1943, when, as a Sergeant, he volunteered for the Path Finder Force. Joining No. 405 (R.C.A.F.) Squadron as a Flight Engineer in December 1943, he went on to complete two tours on Halifaxes and Lancasters, the vast majority of his targets being heavily defended German ones, not least seven trips to Berlin. And as is confirmed by his Flying Log Book, one or two of his 50-odd operational sorties had to be completed on three engines.
Having been gazetted for his well-deserved D.F.C. in March 1945, Stewart was assigned to a V.I.P. Dakota Flight in Transport Command, a posting that resulted in some memorable encounters, Sholto Douglas, and Montgomery, of course, among them. Then in June 1948 he was attached to the Royal Pakistan Air Force as Flight Engineer to Governor-General Jinnah and, following his death, to his successor, Sir Nasi Mouddin. Returning to the U.K. in late 1949, Stewart embarked on a long and successful career within the R.A.F.'s Engineering and Traffic Control Branches, finally retiring as a Flight Lieutenant in 1963. He died in May 1987, having risen to be Assistant Manager of Scottish Airlines at Prestwick Airport.