The Second World War Bomber Command D.F.C. group of five to Flying Officer Robert William Marshal,

The Second World War Bomber Command D.F.C. group of five to Flying Officer Robert William Marshal, R.A.F.: Distinguished Flying Cross, George VI, officially dated 1945 to the reverse of the lower arm, in Royal Mint case of issue with transmission slip; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star with France and Germany bar; Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45; the last four mounted for wearing on a screw-back bar, all very fine or better, [5]; together with the recipient's R.A.F. service and release book and a small quantity of other ephemera.

D.F.C. London Gazette 06/11/1945

The recipient was born in Liverpool in 1923. He enlisted in the R.A.F. in March 1942 and was commissioned in July 1944. At the time of his D.F.C. recommendation on the 23rd of May 1945 he had completed 41 operational sorties over Germany and occupied France. The recommendation cites his operations "against many heavily defended targets as Flight Engineer and second pilot." and continues "His technical knowledge is outstanding, his practical ability to effect repairs and his keen operational spirit has contributed largely to his crew's record..." it further credits "his cheerful willingness to fly on any operation with any crew".

After the War Robert Marshall became a police detective, and he was the lead investigator in the case of Rolling Stones founder-member Bryan Jones, who was found dead in his swimming pool on the 3rd July 1969. The death was deemed accidental, but for much of the remainder of his life, Marshall was importuned by music fans wishing to interview him in the pursuit of conspiracy theories. Some correspondence on this subject is included with the lot.