Simon Glancey has submitted the following:
F/O Dunn was the Navigator on de Havilland Mosquito XX KB266 XD-F of 139 (Jamaica) Squadron, which was lost on a Pathfinder mission to Hamburg. The Mosquito crashed at 00.20 at Grossenhain, about 15 miles ENE of Bremerhaven, Germany, with the loss of both crew.
Royal Air Force Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War: 1944; W.R. Chorley; 1997; Midland Counties Publications; ISBN 0 904597 91 1
Tony Hibberd has offered the following:
Mosquito KB266 XD-F had departed Upwood at 2235 for Ops Hamburg
F/O Dunn's D.F.M. was awarded for his first tour of operations on Lancasters with 97 Squadron. It was gazetted on August 13th 1943, and the Morpeth Herald of Friday August 20th 1943 reported the award:
"Local Flier Receives D.F.M.
The King has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the Distinguished Flying Medal to Flight Sergt. James Dunn, 98 Squadron in recognition of gallantry and devotion to duty in the execution of air operations. Born in 1917 in Morpeth, Flight Sergeant Dunn was a student engineer when he enlisted in 1940. His home is at Ashington. He has completed a very successful tour of operational duties and has taken part in many raids on the Ruhr and Berlin, while his other targets include Milan and Spezia. This airman’s skill and accuracy is of a high order and has materially contributed to the success attained by his crew, states the official notification."
His D.F.C. was gazetted on April 10th 1945, with effect from July 26th 1944. The Newcastle Evening Chronicle of 12/08/1945 reported the award:
"Twice Decorated Ashingtonian
For courage and coolness in the face of fierce opposition when obtaining many fine photographs of target areas, F.O. James Dunn, D.F.M., son of Mrs. M. A. Dunn, 93, Ninth Row, Ashington, was awardee the D.F.C. before his recent death on active service.
Born in 1917 in Ashington, he was educated at Hirst East School, the Ashington Mining School and Rutherford College, Newcastle.
Before volunteering for the R.A.F. he was an electrician at Ashington Colliery. He was awarded the D.F.M. in August, 1943."
James Dunn is remembered in Ashington on A17.43
