RAF 148 sqdn based Brindis Italy (searching for info on)

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Hi F-For Freddy
I contacted a former member of 148 Squadron who indeed flew SOE missions from North Africa and into Yugoslavia. He photocopied his logbook for me ( some pages ) and was awarded the DFM. Later he went to a Second tour on Mosquitoes with 128 Squadron. I will check more details for you, but please could you send me your e-mail, for private contacts?
Glad
Adriano Baumgartner

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Hi F-Freddy,

I am back with more data about the pilot I mentioned: Here they are, including the DFM award. I contacted him a long time ago, but apparently he died, because I tried to comunicate further and got no reply. So...hope this will help you with more data for your research.
I will look for more details of his operations over Yugoslavia on the photocopied documents I told he sent me. More later...
Adriano Baumgartner (from Brazil )

8th July – 4th August 1942

No.1655 Convertion Unit, Burn, Yorks.

4th August – 12th Sept. 1942

No.1445 Flight, Lyneham, Wilts.

14th Sept. – 8th October 1942

No.759 Squadron. Aqur, Palestine

8th October – X

Special Operations Flight, Fayid.

X - 4th December 1942

KILO 40 ( LG 237 )

4th December 1942 –

1st January 1943

No.108 Squadron / KILO 40 ( LG 237 )

1st Jan. – 18th February 1943

SOE Flight, Shandur.

18th Feb – 18th March 1943.

No.148 Squadron, Shandur



Flight Lieutenant Stanley James Pearce, DFM

PEARCE, Stanley James. RAF 1194740, Flight Sergeant, No. 148 Squadron
L.G. 18/01/1944. Pilot. Air2/9153. As per London Gazette of 14thJanuary 1944.

Flight Sergeant Pearce has now successfully completed 27 operations with this Squadron, totaling over 300 operational hours and during this tour he has at all times shown the highest degree of courage and determination. All of his flights have been of a long and exhausting nature and have often been carried out at extreme range under the most appalling conditions. On the night of 20th/21st June 1943, the shortest in the year, he was detailed to carry out an operation of vital importance, which had been attempted and had failed on several previous occasions. On arrival in the target area, which was over 1,100 miles away, he found continuous cloud down to the ground and very little chance of a break, with visibility nil. Realizing, however, the importance of the operation, he remained in the area for 2 and half hours, returning repeatedly to a land-mark and resetting course to check his position but, every time, he entered cloud immediately over the area. Eventually, he was so certain of his position that, in spite of surrounding mountains and the difficult nature of the ground, he broke cloud at 2 or 300 feet over the signals and carried out a highly successful drop. On every run, he went into cloud and additional cloud was forming below him but, in spite of this, he persisted with great coolness and daring and completed his final run, just as dawn was breaking. He flew for 5 hours in broad daylight over enemy territory on the return journey and eventually reached base after 14 hours and half in the air. Flight Sergeant Pearce has on all his operations shown a similar skill and persistence and his resourcefulness and never failing enthusiasm have been an example and inspiration to all his comrades. I strongly recommend him for the award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.