{"product_id":"royal-air-force-kia-1941-shot-down-by-bf109-attacking-lutzow-norway-ww2-medals","title":"Royal Air Force KIA 1941 Shot Down by BF109 Attacking Lützow Norway WW2 Medals","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eSecond World War Medal Group – Sergeant Bert Kirkham, 22 Sqn. Royal Air Force – Shot Down by a BF 109 While Attacking the German Heavy Cruiser Lützow off the Coast of Norway, June 1941\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e1939-45 Star – \u003ci\u003eunnamed as issued\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eAtlantic Star – \u003ci\u003eunnamed as issued\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eWar Medal – \u003ci\u003eunnamed as issued\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eWith box of issue, slip, photograph, and some family related bits including a Women’s Royal Voluntary Service Medal to a Mrs Kirkham.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eSergeant Bert Kirkham\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e, \u003cb\u003e950127\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003cb\u003eRoyal Air Force Volunteer Reserve\u003c\/b\u003e, was born in \u003cb\u003eDecember 1920\u003c\/b\u003e at \u003cb\u003eNewcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire\u003c\/b\u003e, the son of \u003cb\u003eReginald and Jennie Kirkham\u003c\/b\u003e. At the time of the \u003cb\u003e1939 Register\u003c\/b\u003e, he was residing with his family in Newcastle-under-Lyme and employed as a \u003cb\u003eTax Officer with the Inland Revenue\u003c\/b\u003e, a respectable civil service position for a young man of just \u003cb\u003e18 years of age\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eFollowing the outbreak of the Second World War, Kirkham enlisted into the \u003cb\u003eRoyal Air Force\u003c\/b\u003e, joining between \u003cb\u003eSeptember 1939 and August 1940\u003c\/b\u003e, and was posted to \u003cb\u003eNo. 22 Squadron\u003c\/b\u003e, part of \u003cb\u003eCoastal Command\u003c\/b\u003e. The squadron had only recently transitioned onto the \u003cb\u003eBristol Beaufort\u003c\/b\u003e, a twin-engine torpedo bomber, and was heavily engaged in \u003cb\u003eanti-shipping strikes over the North Sea and Norwegian waters\u003c\/b\u003e, targeting German naval forces and supply routes.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eKirkham was serving as a \u003cb\u003eSergeant (Aircrew)\u003c\/b\u003e aboard \u003cb\u003eBristol Beaufort Mk I, W6521 (OA-R)\u003c\/b\u003e when, on the night of \u003cb\u003e12\/13 June 1941\u003c\/b\u003e, he took part in a major and now well-documented strike against the German heavy cruiser \u003cb\u003eLützow\u003c\/b\u003e, which had been located off the Norwegian coast. Aircraft from \u003cb\u003eNo. 22 Squadron\u003c\/b\u003e, operating from \u003cb\u003eRAF Wick\u003c\/b\u003e, joined a larger force tasked with locating and attacking the vessel and its escort.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eDuring the operation, one aircraft from \u003cb\u003eNo. 42 Squadron\u003c\/b\u003e successfully struck \u003cb\u003eLützow\u003c\/b\u003e with a torpedo, crippling the vessel. However, the attacking force came under heavy opposition. Kirkham’s aircraft, \u003cb\u003eW6521\u003c\/b\u003e, is recorded as having been \u003cb\u003eshot down by a Messerschmitt Bf 109 off the Norwegian coast near Stavanger\u003c\/b\u003e, with the loss of all four crew members:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" type=\"disc\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eSquadron Leader Edward Culverwell\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003ePilot Officer Alastair William Robson\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eSergeant Bert Kirkham\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eSergeant Ernest Shackleton\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eAll were killed in action, Kirkham being just \u003cb\u003e20 years old\u003c\/b\u003e at the time of his death on \u003cb\u003e13 June 1941\u003c\/b\u003e. With no known grave, he is commemorated on the \u003cb\u003eRunnymede Memorial, Panel 46\u003c\/b\u003e, among those airmen lost without trace.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eKirkham’s sacrifice came during one of the early and dangerous \u003cb\u003eCoastal Command torpedo operations\u003c\/b\u003e, a role characterised by \u003cb\u003elow-level attacks against heavily defended naval targets\u003c\/b\u003e, often with extremely high casualty rates. The attack on \u003cb\u003eLützow\u003c\/b\u003e itself was a significant action, temporarily removing a major German warship from service, though at considerable cost to the attacking crews.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eHis entitlement to the \u003cb\u003e1939–45 Star, Atlantic Star, and War Medal 1939–1945\u003c\/b\u003e, issued posthumously to his family in the named transmission box addressed to \u003cb\u003eR. Kirkham Esq., 47 Underdale Road, Shrewsbury\u003c\/b\u003e, reflects his operational service with Coastal Command and his ultimate sacrifice.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eThe group is further enhanced by the inclusion of a \u003cb\u003econtemporary photograph of Kirkham in uniform\u003c\/b\u003e, offering a rare and personal connection to the airman, as well as original issue paperwork. Also present is a \u003cb\u003eWomen’s Royal Voluntary Service Medal belonging to “Mrs Kirkham”\u003c\/b\u003e, almost certainly a family member, and additional paperwork relating to a \u003cb\u003eFirst World War soldier of the same family\u003c\/b\u003e, though these are ancillary to the principal RAF casualty group.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eA highly evocative and complete Second World War Coastal Command casualty group, directly connected to the famous attack on the German cruiser \u003ci\u003eLützow\u003c\/i\u003e, and to a young RAF airman who gave his life in one of the most hazardous roles of the war.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003ePLEASE NOTE: All research will be sent to the buyer via email. I am unable to provide printed copies, as I do not have access to a printer.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eAJMS Medals\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AJMS Medals","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54436353999194,"sku":null,"price":475.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0958\/9850\/1466\/files\/20260421_172757.png?v=1784231742","url":"https:\/\/ajms-medals.com\/products\/royal-air-force-kia-1941-shot-down-by-bf109-attacking-lutzow-norway-ww2-medals","provider":"AJMS Medals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}