• North American B-25 Mitchell

Date of death:

March 18th, 2000 (South Africa)

Service number:

40124

Nationality:

South African

1933: Junior Cadet Captain

Lewis Lynn from Witbank, Transvaal had initially attended the South African Training Ship (SATS) "General Botha" from 1932 - 1933. Thereafter he joined the RAF, and by 1944 was operating with No 320 (Netherlands) Squadron, RAF, flying B25 Mitchell twin-engined bombers who were then detailed to bomb the V1 launching platforms in Northern France, known as Operation Crossbow.

He was a pilot officer at the start of the war and was immediately at the spear point of hostilities. In Bomber
Command he took part in 120 sorties over Europe, an astonishing feat. Astonishing in that a man could survive such dangers for so long. The comparison would be with a member of the U-boat service surviving several years on operations in the Atlantic Ocean. At War’s end Alan was a wing-commander loaded down with decorations- DSO (and bar), DFC (and bar), AFC (Dutch) and other awards. After the war a town in England sought leave from the Air Ministry to name the streets of a new suburb after leading RAF heroes and asked for a list of men deserving this form of remembrance. Alan’s name was on the list supplied and Lynn Street came into existence. The RAF had many heroes and Alan must have been high on their roll of honour. On one mission he was leading he was told that an American war correspondent was to travel with him in his aircraft. To Alan’s surprise the correspondent turned out to be Ernest Hemingway. An official publication has a photograph of Hemingway and Alan standing beside the aircraft kitted out for the journey. Hemingway is described as "an incongruous sight with his large frame squeezed into RAF battle dress, flying gear, and helmet. His steel-rimmed spectacles and shaggy beard did not detract from the overall impression of something a little out of the ordinary." Murderous flak greeted them on the road but Alan and Hemingway returned safely to form a wonderful and lasting friendship. After the War he was successful in business and towards the end of his life he had an urge to return to South Africa albeit on an extended annual vacation basis.

For this purpose he and his wife Graziella bought a holiday home in Plettenberg Bay in 1997 and here they enjoyed several long vacations together. It was at that home that he died on March 18th 2000. Few South African men could have had such a distinguished war time record and very few men anywhere could have been more modest than Alan in hiding his achievements.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Acting Wing Commander

Unit:

No. 107 Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

June 26th, 1942

Citation:
"This offlcer led almost every raid carried out by his squadron recently. These include low-level attacks on the enemy's shipping, docks, marshaling yards and other important targets. In August, 1941, he led a formation in an attack on a large convoy and sank a 5,000-ton ship. He has proved himself to be an inspiring leader in the air, while on the ground, his initiative and energy have been instrumental in raising the squadron to a high pitch of operational efficiency."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Acting Wing Commander

Unit:

No. 320 (Dutch) Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

February 11th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Acting Wing Commander

Awarded on:

July 14th, 1944

Citation:
"Wing Commander Lynn has completed a large number of day and night sories during which he has successfully attacked a wide range of strongly defended targets. He has maintained a high standard of operational flying and his genius for leadership has been outstnading. His achievements have won great praise."

Second DSO awarded as a bar for on the ribbon of the first DSO.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Wing-Commander

Unit:

No. 320 (Dutch) Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

November 16th, 1944

• - General Botha Old Boys' Association
  - Third Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 35609 published on the 23 June 1942
  - Fifth Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36374 published on the 8 February 1944
  - Fifth Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36609 published on the 11 July 1944
  - Third Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 37001 published on the 23 March 1945
  - Flight Global - Archive
  - The Dutch Medals Page
  - The Journal and Poetry of Ross Dix-Peek