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Fish, Leonard

Service number:
940472 (NCO)/130934 (Officer)
Nationality:
British

Biography

In October 1940 Leonard Fish was posted to No. 77 Squadron as a Rear Gunner, later becoming a Wireless Operator. Operating with Whitley aircraft, the Squadron carried out raids on such targets as Bremen, Hanover, Kiel, Hamburg, Dusseldorf and Berlin.
In January 1942, Fish commenced his second tour of duty with No. 138 (Special Duties) Squadron.
The Squadron's main duties were to support S.O.E. agents in Europe, and for more than three and a half years the Squadron ranged Europe from Norway in the north to Yugoslavia in the south and at times far into Poland.
Fish remained with No. 138 Squadron until January 1944, latterly becoming the unit's Signals Officer. In all he had flown on over 30 clandestine operations.He remained in the R.A.F. after the War but returned to ground duties in 1954. Flight Lieutenant Fish retired in 1970.

He was also awarded the GENERAL SERVICE 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, E.II.R

Promotions:
Sergeant
Flight Sergeant
June 25th, 1942: Pilot Officer (probation/emergency)
December 25th, 1942: Flying Officer (probation/war sub)
June 25th, 1944: Flight Lieutenant (war sub)
March 3th, 1947: Flying Officer (extended service for four years)
September 16th, 1945: Flight Lieutenant (war sub)
March 16th, 1947: Flight Lieutenant
March 3th, 1947: periode of service on the active list extended to eight years
April 29th, 1952: Flight Lieutenant (permanent and transferred to the Aircraft Control Branch)
March 3th, 1970: rertirement

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Sergeant
Unit:
No. 77 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:
November 21st, 1941
Recommendation:
"This N.C.O., who has completed his thirty trips, was consistently good, and never had a W.T. failure. His exceptionally cheerful disposition and his keenness and reliability was a very good influence on the crews of which he was a member, and upon the Squadron as a whole. I strongly recommend that the high example of efficiency that he maintained throughout the whole of his operational trips, often in very difficult weather conditions, be recognised by the award of the Distinguished Flying Medal."
Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Acting Flight Lieutenant
Unit:
No. 138 (Special Duties) Squadron, RAF Special Duties Service, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:
February 11th, 1944
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
Citation:
"'Flight Lieutenant Fish has now completed a very large number of operational sorties as a Wireless Operator. Since he was awarded the D.F.M., Flight Lieutenant Fish has completed a further 29 operations and throughout he has displayed courage and devotion to duty of a high order. In his capacity as Signals Leader, Flight Lieutenant Fish sets a magnificent example to other Wireless Operators of the Squadron and his unbounded enthusiasm for operations against the enemy at every opportunity has an extremely good effect on the morale of all who work with him."
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)

With "NORTH AFRICA 1942-43" clasp.
Africa Star

Sources

  • - Third Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 35353 published on the 18 November 1941
    - Second Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 35759 published on the 23 October 1942
    - Second Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 35927 published on the 2 March 1943
    - Fifth Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36374 published on the 8 February 1944
    - Third Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36607 published on the 11 July 1944
    - Second Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 37936 published on the 18 April 1947
    - Second Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 37936 published on the 18 April 1947
    - Second Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 37958 published on the 16 May 1947
    - Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 38593 published on the 26 April 1949
    - Second Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 39663 published on the 3 October 1952
    - Dix Noonan Webb

Photo