About the product

Aircrew Casualty Group 149 Sqn 1942

Aircrew Europe Star, 1939-45 Star, War Medal, Flt Sgt F.D. Jago, 149 Squadron RAFVR Shot Down 5th May 1942, shot down by Lt Gustav Knock 7/NJG4 who they also shot down and killed in the exchange.

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SKU: J6266 Category:
Origin: United Kingdom
Extremely Fine

Description

Aircrew Europe Star, 1939-45 Star, 1939-45 War Medal, all unworn in wax paper packets with unused ribbons, in addressed box of issue, Flt Sgt F.D. Jago, 149 Squadron RAFVR Shot Down 5th May 1942

 

Attributed via the original intact Air Ministry card box of issue addressed to “Miss P. Jago, 8 Church Terrace, The Cross Roads, Hurstpierpoint, Sussex.”

 

On Tuesday 5th May 1942, Sitling I N6124 was ordered on an operation to bomb Stuttgart, the aircraft was flown by Pilot Officer Arnold Foster Cheetham, with a total crew of 7, of which Jago was the Front Air Gunner, along with Flt Sgt J.A. Shaw, who both would have contributed to taking down Lt Gustav Knoch.

 

They took off from Lakenheath for the operation but the aircraft was reported to have crashed at 04:00 hrs at Agincourt, North East of Laon.

 

Unfortunately for them Laon was the stage for a German Night Fighter Base, and the 121 Aircraft Raid destined for Stuttgart was intercepted by the deadly Luftwaffe.

 

Lt Gustav Knoch, from 7/NJG4, was a former Zerstorer Pilot with 1 victory to his name was in the skies that night and claimed the victory for their Stirling, however the crew are understood to have exchanged fire and managed to shoot down Knoch who was killed in the crash.

 

Francis Derek Jago was only 27 at the time, being matched as the oldest crew Member with the Pilot. He was born on 8th August 1914 and first enlisted with the Royal Air Force on 13th December 1938.

 

After serving at various Officer Training Units, he first joined 150 Squadron on 19th December 1940.
He had only joined 149 Squadron officially on 8th April 1942, and had gone missing less than one month later, possibly on his first mission.

 

With copy service papers, various research, well collated in a folder and high definition photos of his gravestone from the CWGC.