WW2 ACE Medal Group of 5 to Air Gunner Jones KIA Over Berlin

A 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Africa Star; Defence and 1939-45 War Medal all in box of issue and posthumously awarded to Sergeant (Air Gunner) I. M. Jones, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who was killed in an air raid over Berlin on 15 February 1944
151640 Sergeant Inigo Malcom Jones was born in 1924, the son of William and Mary Jane Jones of Barry, Glamorgan. Enlisting with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve he joined 1678 Conversion Flight, transferring from there to No. 115 Squadron on 12 December 1943. Flying either a Mid Upper Gunner or Rear Gunner in a Lancaster bomber Jones took part in 9 operations between December 1943 and January 1944, his first being over Frankfurt on 20th December and followed by three over Berlin between 23rd December 1943 and the 1st January 1944. That same month he was also part of the first major raids over the cities of Brunswick and Madgeburg.

In all Jones took part in 7 raids over Berlin with the second to last on 30th January 1944 notable for its intense fighter opposition. His final raid on 15th February 1944 was the largest force to be sent to any target comprising 561 Lancaster’s, 314 Halifax’s and 16 Mosquito’s, 891 aircraft in all. And the first time more than 500 Lancaster’s and 300 Halifax’s had be despatched. This day the force flew via Denmark to draw German fighters away from the bombing point, but this was not totally successful. It was cloudy for most of the raid they managed to drop bombs on Berlin’s most important war industries including the Seimensstadt area.
A.LL651 was shot down with the loss of all but one of the crew. Sergeant Jones is remembered with honour at the Berlin 1939-45 War Cemetery.
That day 26 Lancaster’s and 17 Halifax’s were lost in the raid.
Sergeant Jones’s medals and photo’s come with an original Air Gunners wing, 115 Squadron enamelled Badge and three original pictures of the recipient and his family along with email to and from a relative of the recipient identifying him in the pictures as well as copied research including Operations record book, Commonwealth War Graves details and casualty list etc.
A sad but historic group to a young gunner who flew the battle of Berlin.
All medals are in excellent unmounted condition.

Code: 28900