Squadron Leader Tony Iveson DFC (deceased) *Signature Value : £45
| Tony Iveson fought in the Battle of Britain with RAF Fighter Command, as a Sergeant pilot, joining 616 Squadron at Kenley flying Spitfires on 2 September 1940. On the 16th of September, he was forced to ditch into the sea after running out of fuel following a pursuit of a Ju88 bomber. His Spitfire L1036 ditched 20 miles off Cromer in Norfolk, and he was picked up by an MTB. He joined No.92 Sqn the following month. Commissioned in 1942, Tony undertook his second tour transferring to RAF Bomber Command, where he was selected to join the famous 617 Squadron, flying Lancasters. He took part in most of 617 Squadrons high precision operations, including all three sorties against the German battleship Tirpitz, and went on to become one of the most respected pilots in the squadron. He died on 5th November 2013.
Some of Tony Iveson's operational sorties with No.617 Squadron:
5-8-44 Submarine pens-Brest 12,000LB Tallboy 6-8-44 Submarine pens-Keroman 12,000LB Tallboy 7-8-44 Submarine pens-Lorient-Sqaudron scrubbed the operation 8-8-44 Submarine pens-La pallice-12,000LB Tallboy 24-8-44 E-boat pens -Ijmuiden-12,000LB Tallboy 27-8-44 Shipping-Brest- 12 x 1000LB 11-9-44 Tirpitz-Alten Fiord 12,000LB Tallboy plus Johnny Walker Mines 23-9-44 Aqueduct, Dortmund Ems Canal-12,000LB Tallboy 3-10-44 Westkapelle Sea Wall- Squadron abandoned sortie 7-10-44 Rhine Barrage, North of Basle-12,000LB Tallboy 28-10-44 Tirpitz-12,000LB Tallboy 12-11-44 Tirpitz-12,000LB Tallboy 8-12-44 Urft Dam-12,000LB Tallboy 11-12-44 Urft dam - 12,000LB Tallboy 15-12-44 Submarine pens- Ijmuiden-12,000LB Tallboy 21-12-44 Politz-12,000LB Tallboy 12-1-45 Submarine pens-Bergen-12,000LB Tallboy
Citation for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross, gazetted 16th March 1945.
This officer has completed numerous sorties on his second tour of operational duty, including three attacks against the battleship Tirpitz. In January, 1945, he was detailed to attack the U-boat pens at Bergen. Whilst over the target his aircraft was attacked by two fighters. The first burst of machine-gun fire from the enemy aircraft struck the tailplane, rudder and elevator. The port inner engine was set on fire and the rear turret was put out of action. After the fighters broke off their attack Squadron Leader Ivesons aircraft came under heavy fire from the antiaircraft batteries. It was almost impossible to maintain level flight. Squadron Leader Iveson instructed another member of the crew to lash the control column in such a way as to ease the strain. Under these most trying conditions, Squadron Leader Iveson flew clear of the fire zone and afterwards reached a home based airfield where he landed his seriously damaged aircraft safely. By his great skill, courage and determination, this officer was undoubtedly responsible for the safe return of the aircraft.
|