A 1941 Distinguished Service Order (DSO) and 1940 Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) group of six presented to RAF squadron leader WS "Kip" Herring is expected to lead Spink's Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria auction on July 25 in London.
 Herring travelled 600 miles over the most heavily defended areas of Germany with holes in his wings and fuselage, and just one working engine |
The group, which also features the 1939-1945 Star, Air Crew Europe Star and Defence and War Medals, will sell with a £6,000-8,000 ($9,187-12,250) estimate.
Kip Herring was the squadron leader of an attack on Berlin in 1941, when his aircraft was held in a cone of 50 searchlights above the city for four minutes, during which it was peppered with anti-aircraft guns, creating more than 30 holes in its wings and fuselage.
Nonetheless, Herring attempted the return journey of 600 miles across the most heavily defended parts of Germany, unarmed and with only one functioning engine at a height of 5,000 feet.
He returned safely and went on to carry out over 80 operational sorties. Sadly, Herring was killed while serving as second pilot in the General Sikorski air crash disaster in 1943 - a controversial event that is still under investigation today.
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