Box for sweetheart brooch : Flight Lieutenant J Epstein, RAAF

Place Oceania: Australia
Accession Number REL/07759.002
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Heraldry
Physical description Cotton sateen, Plywood, Velveteen
Maker Whitakers Jewellers
Place made Australia: New South Wales
Date made c 1939-1945
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
Description

Rectangular box for an enamelled RAAF sweetheart brooch. The box has a blue mock snakeskin finish. Stamped on the lining under the hinged lid is 'Whitakers THE JEWELLERS Diamond & Watch Specialtists 198 HUNTER ST. NEWCASTLE & VINCENT ST. CESSNOCK'. The base is lined with blue velveteen.

History / Summary

Associated with the service of 423687 Flight Lieutenant Julius Epstein, born 25 December 1920 in Redfern, NSW. Epstein enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force on 18 July 1942. He trained in Australia and Canada before arriving in the United Kingdom in July 1943 where he served with Royal Air Force Squadrons 90 and 7. As part of Bomber Command and the Pathfinder Force Epstein flew Lancaster and Stirling aircraft in over 60 operations against some of the most heavily defended targets in Europe. In addition to heavy ground defences, his aircraft also fought off enemy fighters on six separate occasions. In 1944 Epstein was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the following year received a bar to the award for his continued ‘undiminished skill and courage’.