Lt. Cdr. (A) Richard Lovelace Bigg-Wither DSC & Bar, important medal group and comprehensive archive

The medal group comprising the Distinguished Service Cross (London 1948 assay, inscribed ‘LT. CDR. R.L. BIGG-WITHER R.N. 1945’ with bar, The 1939-1945 Star, The Atlantic Star, The Africa Star, The Burma Star with Pacific bar, The Defence Medal, and The 1939-1945 War Medal (these inscribed ‘R.L.B-W.’), also the Japan 1946-1952 Occupation Forces Medal (inscribed ‘R.L. BIGG-WITHER. DSC RN’) and a Soviet 40^th Anniversary for Victory in the Great War Medal,
With corresponding group of dress miniatures (not including Soviet medal)

DSC & Bar paper citations,
First dated 19^th January 1945 ‘…for great gallantry and coolness shown in four attacks against the German battleship TIRPITZ and other targets in the same area during the last week of August 1944…’
Second dated 20^th September 1945 ‘…for determination and eagerness that have been an inspiration and example to others, in air attacks on targets in Japan…’

Two of his RAF Pilot’s Flying Log Books,

First dated circa October 1939 to July 1945,
This with extensive important entries including:
Initial training and manoeuvres, operations in North Africa,
Important action throughout summer 1944 – predominantly flying Corsair -
July 17^th 1944, ‘TIRPITZ OPERATION ‘MASCOT’ … TOP COVER FOR BARRACUDA 8^TH & 9^TH WINGS. 20 HELLCATS, 12 FIREFLIES, 6 CORSAIRS STRAFING TARGET OBSCURED BY SMOKE SCREEN ONLY ONE POSSIBLE HIT SCORED. DUBBER MISSING. BAKER. FAULKNER & MATTHOLIE LOST AND MAKING FOR NORWEGIAN COAST.’
August 22-29^th – ‘GOODWOOD’ ATTEMPTED (NBG) – ‘GOODWOOD’ TIRPITZ HIT – ‘GOODWOOD’ CONTINUED
December 23^rd 1944, Spitfire VIII, ‘ANTI-SANPAN STRIKE … OPERATION ‘BIGG OVER BURMA’ SHUFTI HUNTERS BAY 50M … NO SANPANS SEEN SHOT UP ONE RIVER BOAT CAMOUFLAGED NEAR RIVER BANK ALSO A LANDING STAGE. ALMOST ENGAGED JAP TRIP WIRE’
May 4-21^st 1945, Corsair, ‘FLEET COVER BOMBARDMENT… KAMIKAZE I… ISHIGHAKI LANDED INDOMITABLE… TEA WITH GAMMY… C.A.P. 10000… JAMIKAZE II… TALLYHO MYRT 26000 HELLCATS GET THERE FIRST!... RETURN SYDNEY VIA MANUS 10 DAYS LEAVE!’
July 7-30^th 1945, Corsair, ‘BLAZE BOMB TRIALS… STRIKE NIIGATA AIRFIELD… HANGARS HIT. 3 FLAMERS 10 DAMAGED. 3 RAILWAY ENGINES FIXED +1… STRIKE xCHOSHI A/Fs TOKYO PLAIN… ESCORT AVENGERS STRIKE SHIPPING IN INLAND SEA. STRAFE SUDA & TACOMA… JAP ESCORT CARRIER HIT AND SINKING… SEAPLANES STRAFED 8 DAMAGED. LANDPLANES STRAFED POSSIBLE DUMMIES… STRIKE MAIZURU LEADS RECCE FROM TOTTORI TO TSURUGA WAN. STRAFE… ONE LARGE SHIP – CRUISER? HIT 4 TIMES. 1 DESTROYER HIT LATER REPORTED SUNK 2 AC HIT BY FLAK S.LT MORTON HIT IN FUEL TANK BY HEAVY A.A. OVER SENDAI MADE COAST & DITCHED 10 MILES OUT. RESCUED BY YANK SUB. S/L ANDERSON KILLED’

Second dated circa August 1945 to November 1955,
This with the critically important entry,
August 9^th 1945, ‘STRAFE MASUDA, YOKKAICHI MATSHUSHIMAL A/F COMC SHIPPING… SECOND ATOM BOMB DROPPED ON NAGASAKI… E/A FLAMERS ON GROUND 17 DAMAGED, S/LT ANDERSON… RAN OUT OF FUEL, HIT DOUNDOWN AND SANK IMMEDIATELY. PILOT LOST…
HAMMY GRAY SHOT DOWN SINKING DESTROYER ‘AMAKUSA’ AWARDED VC.’
This entry relates to Robert Hampton ‘Hammy’ Gray VC, whom was under Bigg-Wither’s command in 1841 Squadron and awarded the Victoria Cross for the above action.

1841 Squadron Diary dated from circa March 1^st 1944 (1841 Formation) to July 1945
This including extensive notes on operations, as well as two pages detailing Christmas Eve to Boxing Day 1944, newspaper cuttings (i.e. relating to Tirpitz), and photographs
The Squadron was officially established in the US at the US Naval Air Station Brunswick, Maine, as a single-seat fighter squadron. It was commanded by Bigg-Wither.

Two 1841 Squadron Night Order Books

1841 Squadron scrap book,
Humorous, poignant and with extensive detail on the Squadron and its members,
The typewritten title page starting,
‘In the Blackest Days of the War, when, as has oft been said it did not seem that Great Britain could stand alone, our war leaders looked for ideas to step up home morale and to strike fear into the hearts of the all powerful enemy.
Two suggestions were put forward: one, the formation of the Commandos, was given priority and the raids started: the other suggestion was shelves and not put into operation until the 1^st March, 1944.
THEN, unable to withstand the clamour of public demand, 1841 Squadron was formed…’
Then with scrap and typewritten notes and pictures, including Bigg-Wither and Hammy Gray V.C.

Photographs, contained over an album and loose,
including one depicting multiple parachutists with an aircraft about to crash and trailing a plume of smoke, further including hits on ships, German Third Reich soldiers, one inscribed verso ‘Rescuing men from sinking ship… Greece may 41’, others titled ‘SUICIDE ATTACK ON FORMIDABLE 9 MAY 45’, multiple aerial shots including those of Japan titled ‘CONFIDENTIAL’, multiple shots of personnel and further interesting wartime photographs

Large collection of letters from during and just after the war,
Including poignant letters relating to wartime activity,
‘…Oct 30^th 44
Dear Cdr Bigg Wither,
At long last there is something like definite news of Ronnie.
I was fortunate enough to hear a German broadcast from Bremen yesterday morning giving the names and addresses of some of the prisoners in their hands. Among them Ronnie was mentioned…
Sincerely yours Mr & Mrs… Dubber’ – Ronald Dubber was held at Stalag Luft III (of Great Escape fame – months before he was captured)
‘…8^th August
…but I would dearly like some sort of appreciation of Gray – what sort of bloke was he. And any other memories you may have – for instance, what it looked, felt and sounded like, to fly on a strike over Japan…’
‘28^th June 43
My dear Big,
Just a very hasty note to tell you that the most scintillating thing has happened…
Never a dull moment,
Gammy’ – Lieut. Comm (A) M. Godson R.N.
And another from ‘Gammy’ – 2.2.43 – ‘…I expect by now that you have heard the ghastly news about Tim and might like to know how it happened. He was coming ni to land at night… when it suddenly caught alight at about 400ft…’
‘Oct 28 1944
Dear Biggy:
Too bad we didn’t manage that party…’ – Lt. Cdr. W.G. Rice
’27.7.44
Dear Mr. Bigg Wither,
Thank god for your most welcome letter which I received this morning. You have no idea what a load was taken off when I read that there was a possibility of my boy being alive and safe. …’
’23.11.44
Dear Biggie,
Herewith, as promised, der Buchen Identity. Sorry to have been such a long time in sending it but am now giving it to a fast a/c (not a Corsair!) coming your way. …
Re the photos, I heard you appeared with full pomp & fanfare in the ‘Baghdad Times’ – the B.W. met the King …
Yours, Bols’
Multiple from Bigg-Wither’s father, and other related family letters

Robert Hampton Gray V.C. interest - a love letter dated 6^th January 1944 to the Victoria Cross recipient Lieut. R.H. Gray,

1841 Naval Air Squadron – ‘SQUADRON STANDING ORDERS’

Collection of wartime publications, including copies of Flight Deck, multiple US Bureau of Aeronautics publications, CONFIDENTIAL – Air Op Memo – Action off Okinawa, 6^th July 1945, SECRET – METEOR I & III Provisional Pilot’s Notes, CONFIDENTIAL UNITED STATES PCIFIC FLEET AND PACIFIC OCEAN AREAS WEEKLY INTELLIGENCE, 2^nd July 1945, and further

Small collection of equipment, insignia and documentation, including Bigg-Wither’s flying goggles, an Emergency Signalling Mirror, R.A.F. Emergency Flying Ration Mk. III, Magazine Film Type A-6 – PROPERT OF THE U.S. GOVERMNET, Naval Pay and Identity Book, Bigg-Wither’s passport, stripes, a lighter, cap badges and patches, buttons

Further related documents, loose and in folders, including ‘DAD NAVY’, ‘FLEET AIR ARM LETTERS’, ‘FLEET AIR ARM NEWSPAPER ARTICLES’, HAMMY GRAY’,
Also,
‘TOP SECRET
HMS FORMIDABLE
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS FOR THE PERIOD 8-10^TH AUG 1945

Further items are included within this comprehensive and poignant archive.