A fine Second World War 'Dieppe Raid - Operation Jubilee' D.F.C., and Second Award Bar...

A fine Second World War ‘Dieppe Raid - Operation Jubilee’ D.F.C., and Second Award Bar group of six awarded to Hurricane and Mosquito pilot, Wing Commander H. E. ‘Tap’ Tappin, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who was the consummate pilot - whether it be during instruction or combat. A long-term employee of Marshalls of Cambridge, Tappin taught the Second World War fighter Ace ‘Johnnie’ Johnson to fly, before entering the fray himself later in the war.

Tappin’s ‘sole ambition is to seek out and completely destroy the Hun, in the air, on the land and on the sea.’ He achieved the latter mainly with 3, 534 and 157 Squadrons, by accounting for at least 3 enemy aircraft destroyed, 1 damaged, and causing multiple incidents of heavy damage to enemy shipping, trains and motor-transport accrued over the Bay of Biscay, the Balkans and Italy

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1942’, with Second Award Bar, reverse officially dated ‘1944’, mounted on investiture pin, in Royal Mint case of issue; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star, 1 clasp, Atlantic; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; Air Efficiency Award, G.VI.R., 1st issue, with Second Award Bar (Act. Flt. Lt. H. E. Tappin. R.A.F.V.R.) last with separate named card boxes of issue for medal and second award bar, also with named card box of issue for campaign awards, addressed to ‘S/L. H. E. Tappin, 12 Loane Road, Sholing, Southampton’, with enclosure slip, toned, extremely fine (lot) (6) £4,000-£5,000

---

D.F.C. London Gazette 22 September 1942:

‘Flight Lieutenant Tappin who was appointed flight commander in April, 1942, has participated in a number of hazardous operations. He led his squadron in the first sortie during the combined operations at Dieppe on 19th August, 1942, and although his aircraft was severely damaged, he returned to base safely. Flight Lieutenant Tappin led the squadron in a further three sorties during these operations and despite the fierce enemy opposition he pressed home his attacks. He has displayed courage and devotion to duty of a high standard.’

The original recommendation states:

‘This Officer has been a Flight Commander since April 1942. He has played a prominent part in a number of hazardous operations in which his Squadron as taken part, including the attack on the German battleships; in this operation he brought a severely damaged aircraft back to base.

He has carried out a number of night ‘Intruder’ operations in the course of which he damaged a JU 88 and shot up a train.

During the operations over Dieppe, and in the first Sortie, he again brought his badly damaged aircraft back to base. In spite of this he led his Flight on three further Sorties, in the course of which he pressed home his attacks in the face of fierce opposition. The outstanding example of courage and devotion to duty set by F/Lt. Tappin and S/Ldr. Berry, his Squadron Commander, who was killed in this action, was an inspiration to the whole Squadron and is worthy of the highest praise.’

D.F.C. Second Award Bar London Gazette 14 April 1944:

‘Since being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross this officer had flown on many more operational sorties, during which he has destroyed one six engine B.V.222 enemy flying boat and two enemy aircraft. On one occasion, when flying on patrol, Squadron Leader Tappin intercepted and destroyed a Heinkel 177. In the consequent air combat his aircraft was hit by fire from an enemy fighter and damaged. Nevertheless he pressed home another attack on a Junkers 88 which was lost in cloud cover. At all times this officer has shown a magnificent fighting spirit and grim determination achieving his successes by careful planning and execution of every sortie.’

The original recommendation states:

‘Squadron Leader H. E. Tappin D.F.C. was posted to 157 Squadron in January, 1943 and promoted to rank of Acting Squadron Leader on 10th August, 1943, and took over the command of ‘B’ Flight.

He has since show exceptional qualities of leadership and great initiative as a Flight Commander. He has carried out 67 offensive sorties involving 230 hours flying and includes 10 Ranger, 8 Intruder and 6 Mahmoud Patrols. During a Ranger Patrol he chased and destroyed a Focke Wulfe 190 and after the combat it was found, on landing, that his throttle control levers had been twisted forward, such was is keenness. He also damaged 4 locomotives. Whilst on a Night Fighter Patrol over the Inner Artillery Zone of London he obtained a visual of a Focke Wulfe at 20,000 feet, saw it drop its bomb and flick over in a half roll and dive out. Squadron Leader Tappin followed this aicraft in his Mosquito at an air speed of about 500 miles per hour, and finished up still chasing it at only 4,000 feet over London. However, he was illuminated by Seachlights and lost visual contact over Kent.

Since the Squadron has been at Predannack he has flown on 22 Instep Patrols and destroyed 1 Heinkel 177 in which combat his aircraft sustained hits on starboard wing and propeller. In spite of this he pressed home another attack on a Junkers 88 which was lost in clound cover, no claim being made.

On February 8th, 1944, he carried out a successful night Ranger Patrol to Biscarosse, destroying a B.U. 222 over its base.

He also showed marked determination when every effort was being made to rescue Flying Officer Huckin and Flight Sergeant Graham who were adrift in the Bay for 5 days. Once he went out in extremely bad weather and with poor visibility located them, which contributed largely to the early rescue of this crew.

At all times this Officer displays a magnificent aggressive spirit and a most grim determination, his sole ambition is to seek out and completely destroy the Hun, in the air, on the land and on the sea. Squadron Leader Tappin is strongly recommended to receive the award of a Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Remarks by Station Commander:

‘I very strongly support this recommendation. S/Ldr. Tappin is quite outstanding in his keenness and determination in operations, achieving his successes, not by good fortune, but by careful planning and execution of every sortie. His unfailing courage and urgent enthusiasm are of the greatest value to those who work with him, and besides ensuring his own victories, have by example, urged others to similar efforts.’

Herbert Edward Tappin was born in Southampton, Hampshire in June 1918. He was educated at Itchen Grammar School, and learned to fly at Air Service Training Ltd, Hamble. Tappin joined the Royal Force Volunteer Reserve in 1937, and continued at No. 3 E. & R.F.T. Hamble. He completed the Instructor Course at No. 26 E. & RF.T.S. in December 1938, and remained there until his posting to No. 22 E.F.T.S., Cambridge in September 1939. Tappin had been apprenticed to Marshalls’ Flying School Ltd and served as a flying instructor at Cambridge until April 1941. During that time he taught countless budding R.A.F. pilots to fly - amongst that number being one ‘Johnnie’ Johnson (later Air Vice Marshal, C.B., C.B.E., D.S.O. and 2 Bars, D.F.C. and Bar, and flying ‘Ace’), who later recorded the following in his autobiography Wing Leader:

‘Early in December some thirty of us were called together and told that on the following day we were to march to Marshall’s [sic] airfield, on the outskirts of Cambridge, where we would resume our flying training on Tiger Moths. Before the war Marshall’s had been a civilian flying school and, under contract to the Air Ministry, had trained a number of locally recruited V.R.s. ...