A World War II DFC medal group awarded to Squadron Leader Ronald Ernest Hewlett, Air Observer and Navigator, undertaking bombing raids and special operations with No.10 OTU and No. 161 squadrons.

London Gazette 9 July 1943: 'This Officer has carried out a total of 40 operational sorties, 24 of these sorties were bombing operations carried out during his first tour. Since joining this unit (No.161 Squadron, Tempsford) Pilot Officer Hewlett has carried out 16 sorties of special nature, demanding a high standard of low level navigation at night. He has shown great determination and keenness'

Ronald Ernest Hewlett was born in October 1917 and joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in 1939. He joined No.78 Squadron based at RAF Dishforth and RAF Linton-on-Ouse in North Yorkshire and quickly started operational sorties from November 1940. By the end of December 1940, he had already completed nine sorties, including Hamburg, Dusseldorf, Lorient, and Mannheim. 1941 saw further sorties to Rotterdam, Hamburg, and Kiel in Whitley V bombers. In April 1941, he moved to No. 35 Squadron at Linton-on-Ouse, now flying Halifax bombers. Here sorties included Kiel, Hannover, Cologne and Duisburg.

After his first tour, Hewlett was posted back to No.10 OTU, but the squadron was called for operations in Cologne and Essen on the 30th May and 1st June 1942; these were part of the 1000 Bomber Raids.

In September 1942, Hewlett was posted to No.161 Squadron at RAF Tempsford. This highly secretive squadron undertook special operations for the Special Operations Executive (SOE) and Secret Intelligence Service (SIS). The primary role was to drop and collect agents and equipment in occupied territories. Hewlett acted as navigator in the squadron's Whitley V bombers. His first operation was with Flight Lieutenant Marriott in 26/27th September 1942. From March to June 1943 he undertook twenty operations before returning to No.10 OTU Squadron in July. He was recommended for the DFC by Wing Commander Lewis Hodges on 19th May 1943.

From May 1944 Hewlett was posted to no. 47 Air School Queenstown, South Africa, as an instructor, where he remained until August 1945. He returned to the UK, joining Transport Command No.1381, now flying Dakotas. With No.238 Squadron, he participated in the Berlin Airlift from July 1948 to March 1949. His final entry in his log book is 22nd October 1951, as a navigator in a Mosquito. He had completed 2243 hours of daytime flying and 782 hours by night. He retired from the service as a Squadron Leader in October 1972.

The medal group comprises a Distinguished Flying Cross (dated 1943 on the reverse), 1939 - 1945 Star, Air Crew Europe Star, Defence Medal, War Medal, General Service Medal with Arabian? Peninsula clasp, General Service Medal with Borneo clasp, and Air Efficiency Award.

The lot also includes three Flying Log Books, a copy of the recommendation for a DFC, and a folder with a biography of Squadron Leader R.E. Hewlett, D.F.C. (130728)