FS Spencer Sidney Dawes

FS Spencer Sidney Dawes, R/67521, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality : Canadian, KIA 1 April 1942, Aged 25

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C X9939 BU-E
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C Z8842 BU-?

Named on the following Memorial : RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL Panel 103

Son of Stanley Sydney Dawes OBE and Katherine Ellen Dawes of Bournemouth, England

Prior to the war, Spencer moved to Canada to work and then at the outbreak of War joined the RCAF and came to 214 Squadron

Source : Simon Dawes (relative of FS Dawes) and CWGC

Date record last updated : 29 December 2009

Sgt George Cedric Daniel

Sgt George Cedric Daniel, 618264, Air Gunner, Royal Air Force, KIA 13 March 1941

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C N2746 BU-M

Buried in GRONINGEN (ESSERVELD) GENERAL CEMETERY. Reference : Plot RP. Row Class 2. Coll. grave 25.

Source : Stevin Oudshoorn. See Stevin's website for further information on all aircraft lost over the Netherlands. www.basher82.nl and CWGC

Date record last updated : 9 October 2010

WO George Alexander Davie

WO George Alexander Davie, 1005717, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, KIA 11 April 1943, Aged 21

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I BK612 BU-Z

Named on the following Memorial : RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL Panel 134.

Son of George and Margaret J. Davie, of Langside, Glasgow.

Source : Cheryl Garner, Great Niece of Thomas Frank Richardson and CWGC.

Date record last updated : 30 January 2011

Fg/Off John Henry Clarence Davie

Fg/Off John Henry Clarence Davie, 405678, Royal Australian Air Force, Nationality : Australian, KIA 26 July 1943, Aged 25

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark III BK686 BU-C

Buried in REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY. Reference : 6. C. 11.

Son of Mary Ann Davie; husband of Joan Davie, of Ashgrove, Queensland, Australia.

Source : CWGC and Ian Hunt and Geoff Swallow (Australian Researcher)

Date record last updated : 14 February 2010

Sqn/Ldr Bevis Denton 'Bob' Davies AFC

SERVICE CAREER OF SQUADRON LEADER BEVIS DENTON "BOB" DAVIES AFC

Service No 128846

Bob Davies was born in Gravesend, Kent on 11 July 1920. He enlisted in the Territorial Army in 1938 shortly after Prime Minister Chamberlain's return from Munich after his meeting with Adolf Hitler with the message "peace in our time". From the outbreak of war in September 1939 Bob served with No 313 Company, Royal Engineers (TA Searchlights) on sites in central Kent and on the mud cliffs several miles east of Sheerness on the Isle of Sheppey.

He transferred to the Royal Air Force - 17 July 1941
No 1 Aircrew Reception Centre, Regents Park. London - 17 July 1940 to 28 July 1941
No 8 Initial Training Wing, Newquay, Cornwall - 29 July 1941 to 30 September 1941
No 3 Elementary Flying Training School, Watchfield, Berks - 30 September 1941 to 20 November 1941 (DH82A Tiger Moth)
Air Crew Holding Unit, Heaton Park, Manchester - 10 December 1941 to 4 January 1942
BY SEA TO CANADA
No 3 Aircrew Holding Unit, Monckton, New Brunswick - 19 to 21January 1942
BY TRAIN TO USA UNDER THE ARNOLD SCHEME TO TRAIN RAF PILOTS
Ground Training Unit, Turner Field, Georgia - 21 January 1942 to 22 February 1942
Primary Flying Training, Carlstrom Field, Albany, Florida - 23 February 1942 to 29 April 1942 (Boeing Stearman PT17A)
Basic Flying Training, Gunter Field, Montgomery, Alabama - 30 April 1942 to 2 July 1942 (BT13A)
Advanced Flying Training, Craig Field, Selma, Alabama - 3 July 1942 to 6 September 1942 (AT6A Harvard)
AWARDED WINGS - 5.September 1942 (Class of 42H)
RETURNED TO CANADA
No 1 Aircrew Holding Unit, Toronto - 8 to 18 September 1942
RETURNED TO USA
Flying Instructors Course, Maxwell Field, Montgomery, Alabama - 20 September to 24 October 1942 (BT13A)
Army Air Force Basic Flying School, Shaw Field, Sumter, South Carolina (Instructing American Aviation Cadets) (BT13A) - 26 October 1942 to 24 June 1943
RETURNED CANADA
No 31 PD Holding Unit, Monckton, New Brunswick - 12 July 1943 to 2 August 1943
REURNED TO ENGLAND BY SEA VIA NEW YORK
No 1 Personnel Reception Centre, Harrogate, Yorks - 11 August 1943 to 5 September 1943
Aircrew Officers School, Sidmouth, Devon - 6 to 28 September 1943
No 6 Pilot Advanced Flying Unit, Little Rissington, Glos - 29 October 1942 to 24 October 1943 (Twin Conversion Unit) (Airspeed Oxford)
No 6 Pilot Advanced Flying Unit, Windrush, Glos - 25 October to 30 November 1943 (satellite airfield of Little Rissington)
Beam Approach Training Flight, Docking, Norfolk (no flying) - 30 November 1943 to 20 December 1943
Returned to Windrush, Glos (Airspeed Oxford) - 21 December 1943 to 17 January 1944
Was Operational Commander A Flight as recorded in P/O Bill Fosketts log - 06 December 1944
Aircrew Disciplinary School, Sheffield - 18 January 1944 to 8 February 1944
Returned to Windrush (Airspeed Oxford) - 9 February 1944 to 6 March 1944
No 19 Operational Training Unit Kinloss - 7 March 1944 to 17 May 1944 (Armstrong Whitworth Whitley)
Air Training School (escape/evasion training) Ancaster Malbis, Yorks - 25 May to 9 June 1944
1658 Heavy Conversion Unit, Ricall, Yorks - 10 June 1944 to 25 July 1944 (Handley Page Halifax Mk II)
578 Sqn Burn, Selby, Yorks No 4 Group Bomber Command - 25 July 1955 to 2 October 1944 Flew 18 day and night operations (Handley Page Halifax Mk III)
171 Sqn North Creke RCM Sqn 100 Group - 3 to 23 October 1944 (newly formed Sqn, did not fly as aircraft had not been delivered)
O\C "A" Flight No 214 (FMS) Sqn. Oulton, Norfolk. 100 Group RCM Bomber Command - 23 November 1944 to 8 August 1945 Flew 12 night ops but did not finish tour because of advent of VE Day (Fortress B17F & G)
No 17 Aircrew Holding Unit, Snaith, Yorks - 19 August 1945 to 8 September 1945
B24 Liberator Ground School, Bourn, Cambs - 9 to 30 September 1945
102(?) Sqn Bassingbourne, Cambs. Transport Command - 1 to 23 October 1945
51527 Beam Approach Training Flight, Prestwick, Scotland - 24 to 31 October 1945
102(?) Sqn Bassingbourne Transport Command (trooping to Karachi) (Liberator B24) - 1 November 1945 to 27 February 1946
53(?) Sqn, Upwood, Hunts. Transport Command - 28 February to 25 June 1946 (trooping to Karachi)
Conversion Unit, Waterbeach, Cambs Transport Command - 26 June 1946 to 19 September 1946 (Avro York C1)
242 Sqn Oakington, Cambs Transport Command, (trooping to Singapore) (Avro York C1) - 20 September 1946 to 22 November 1947
40 Sqn Abingdon Berks (Transport Command) (Avro York) - 23 November 1947 to 15 June 1949

Bob was court-martialled at Abingdon for allowing his York aircraft to collide with another York over Karachi at 1500ft.He was found guilty and given a reprimand. The other pilot, Flt Sgt Heald was also found guilty and was dismissed from the RAF. During this period Bob operated from Wunsdorf in the Berlin Airlift flying 330 round trips carrying mainly coal and dehydrated potatoes.

HQ Home Command White Waltham Berks - 20 June 1949 to 7 October 1951
Operational Conversion Unit, Dishforth, Yorks - 8 October 1951 to December 1951
2nd Tactical Air Force Communications Sqn. - 28 January 1951 to 8 January 1955

Personal pilot to Commander-in-Chief Air Marshall Sir Robert Foster (Devon, Anson, and Proctor) (Vickers Valetta C2 VIP) Bückeburg and (from 1 December 1954) Widenrath
(Valetta C2 VIP Devon and Vampire)

Transport Command Examining Unit, Dishforth, Yorks - 24 January 1955 to 24 June 1957 (Visiting Units in Cyprus, Fayad (Egypt), Aden and Singapore and the Queen's Flight at RAF Benson examining the proficiency of pilots, navigators, wireless operators and flight engineers)
No 1 Initial Officers Training School, Kirton-in-Lindsay, Lincs - 26 June 1957 to 21 July 1957 (Chipmunk and Anson)
No 1 Initial Officers Training School, South Cerney, Glos - 21 July 1957 to 24 March 1960
Air Ministry, Department of Personnel (P4C) - 2 April 1960 to 4 July 1963

4 July 1963 Retirement (aged 43) with the rank of Squadron Leader in the General Duties Branch
(with a gratuity of £2200 and a pension of £805 which was not index linked for ten years)

S/Ldr Bob Davies (I believe the aircraft behind Bob is coded K)

AIRCRAFT FLOWN

De Havilland Tiger Moth	130hp de Havilland Gipsy Major
Airspeed Oxford	370 hp Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah X
Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mk V	1010hp Rolls-Royce Merlin X
Handley Page Halifax Mk 11	1280hp Rolls-Royce Merlin XX
Handley Page Halifax Mk III	1800hp Bristol Hercules 100
Boeing Fortress Mk 11 (B17F)	1200hp Wright Cyclone GR-1820-97
Boeing Fortress Mk III (B17 G)	1200hp Wright Cyclone GR-1820-97
Taylorcraft Auster	130 Lycoming 0-290-3
Avro Lancaster Mk 1	1640 Rolls-Royce Merlin XXIV
Consolidated Liberator (B24)	Pratt & Witney Twin Wasp R-1820-43
Avro York C1	1620hp Rolls-Royce Merlin XXI
Percival Proctor Mk IV	219hp De Havilland Gipsy Queen II
Avro Anson	350hp Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah
De Havilland Devon C1	240hp De Havilland Gipsy Queen 70
De Havilland Chipmunk	145hp De Havilland Gipsy Major 8
Vickers Valetta C2 (VIP)	1975hp Bristol Hercules 230
Hunting Percival Pembroke C1	550hp Alvis Leonides 127
Vickers Viking KF	1690 Bristol Hercules 634
De Havilland Vampire FB5	3350 thrust De Havilland Goblin
De Havilland Vampire T11	3500 thrust De Havilland Goblin 35
Voltee BT13A	450hp Pratt & Witney Wasp R-985-1
Boeing Stearman PT17	220hp Continental R-650-5
North American AT6A (Harvard)	600hp Pratt & Witney Wasp R-1340-49

S/Ldr O/C Bob Davies and crew 'A' Flight

Left to Right on Tail Sgt R Tither (Wireless Op), Sgt. S Brown (Rear Gunner), Sgt. C Haywood (Top Gunner), Sgt T A Phillips (Port Side Gunner), Sgt C A Lewis (Starboard side Gunner) Standing Left to Right Sgt. R E Burn RCAF (Nav.) , W.O. G S Adamson (German Speaking Wireless Operator)

Also see CREWS & LOSSES for FORTRESS HB 815 BU-J at RAF OULTON on 3-4 MARCH 1945 where BOB DAVIES witnessed the incident

Address given by SQUADRON LEADER GODFREY W MOFFATT at Bob's Funeral

`Bob' Davies was born on 11th July 1920 at Gravesend where his father was a Trinity House river pilot. His father had served in the Royal Navy commanding a destroyer in World War One and a flotilla of mine sweepers in World War2. He was awarded the DSC.
Bob was actually christened `Bevis Denton' However, from a very young age Bevis Denton Davies knew his own mind and assumed the Christian name of Bob, which stuck.
He was educated at Gravesend Grammar School, `matriculated' and gained a place at the College of Aero and Auto Engineering in Sidney Street, Chelsea. Whilst there he joined a Royal Engineer TA Searchlight Battery and then in 1940 volunteered for aircrew training, Offered pilot training he accepted happily.
His flying training started in September 1941 on the Tiger Moth'. He was selected to complete his training in the United States, and travelled there by sea.
Bob was awarded his wings and commissioned on 5th September 1942. It was at this stage of his flying career that his exceptional flying skills were first recognised and he was, in today's jargon, "creamed off" to become a Qualified Flying Instructor: so after collecting his officer's uniform, he moved to California, and, then South Carolina where he spent the next 8 months, up to the summer of 1943, honing his QFI flying skills.
He returned to the UK in summer 1943. It was a frustrating time as he had to go through the whole British retraining process not joining his Squadron until July 1944.
Bob and his crew then completed 18 day and night operations on the Squadron over a period of very heavy losses for all of the RAF bomber fleet Bob was a great believer in `luck', and over this period he had his fair share:- in September 1944 a bomb dropped by a Lancaster flying above them fell through his aircraft just aft of the top gunner's position. Apart from the tail gunner losing his oxygen supply, the aircraft continued to behave normally. They set course for home, but as they approached, although losing height, they decided to try to make base - they were, after all, going on leave the next day!. Weather, in the end, forced a landing at Old Buckenham south of Norwich.
A man of independent spirit he did not have too much respect for `rules', demonstrated in an earlier episode when an unauthorised long weekend led to some days of reflection in the `bad boys' detention centre at Shedfield. He was also admonished for inadvertently wrecking his COs nearly new `runabout' aircraft.
None of this though was considered particularly important as Bob was promoted to acting Squadron Leader and posted as A flight Commander to 214 Squadron flying from Oulton. Bob's luck continued to hold. Returning on three engines from one countermeasure operation, he was given priority to land and the aircraft ahead was instructed to `go round again'. Unfortunately, this aircraft was shot down by a German night fighter intruder. A short time later, the intruder returned and shot up the de-briefing room just as Bob and one of his crew were leaving, somehow missing them. Bob remained on 214 Sqn until the end of the war, completing some 12 operations, including the Dresden raid, before VE day stopped all operational flying. He was recommended for a DFC by his Sqn and Stn Cdr, but it was refused at Group level for reasons unknown.
After the war, Bob wanted to remain flying and was offered a post as a Flight Lieutenant flying the B24 `Liberator' on a four year extension to his engagement. In September 1945 Bob was posted to the B24 Ground school and in October, joined No 102 Squadron engaged mainly in trooping flights to Karachi. Unsurprisingly it was Bob who flew the last operational Liberator sortie.
In 1946, Bob converted to the Avro `York' and joined No. 242 Squadron at Oakington flying lengthy trooping flights to Singapore. It was on this route in 1947 that he collected his Court Martial. On one trip flying down the Gulf, he caught up with another of the Squadron aircraft, and indulged a little unauthorised formation flying - which might have passed unnoticed had they not been involved in a slight collision. Both aircraft landed safely but disciplinary procedures were inevitable. Bob returned home under close arrest, and was fortunate to receive only a reprimand and loss of his B/VIP flying category from the Court Martial. He was grounded for a period working in squadron ops and then only allowed to fly freighting sorties. But In the summer of 1948, the Berlin Airlift changed everything and in some 10 months he flew 330 sorties, an average of 1 a day.
After his outstanding efforts on the airlift, he was posted to White Waltham, as the personal pilot to the CinC Home Command - Air Marshall Sir Robert Foster, flying the De Havilland `Dove/Devon'. Bob and his navigator were exceptional aviators - a necessity in the VIP role. Their skills were highly regarded by the Air Marshal despite some unusual but successful bad weather approach techniques and when he was promoted to Air Chief Marshal and posted to RAF Germany, Bob and his Navigator went with him.
Bob was to fly some famous politicians/world leaders including the German leaders, Conrad Adenauer and Willi Brandt, who always rewarded him with a case of Rhine wine. During this period he was awarded his AFC recommended by his ACM, but in his usual stubborn way insisted that if he was to be decorated, then so should his Master Navigator who was duly awarded the AFM.
In early 1955, Bob returned to the UK to join the Transport Command Examining Unit, where he qualified to examine pilots all over the world.
In 1958, he was posted to his first real ground job as a Flight Commander at the Officers Initial Training School. At this time he met Eunice and they were married in 1961. His final posting was to the Personal Department of the Air Ministry in Theobalds Road, which he stuck until the summer of 1963, when he was able to retire at age 43
Apart from flying, Bob had two other great passions in his life: one was his beloved Bull Terriers, of which he had nine consecutively over 45 years; the other was cars, particularly owning and driving large American cars. Apart from a very brief sojourn in the insurance industry, the next few years all involved driving and chauffeuring using his own and others cars until finally he became a chauffeur with the Bahrain Embassy, for whom he worked for 13 years until his final retirement in 1990 at age 70.
In retirement, Bob did a lot for Squadron Associations, in particular that of No 214 Squadron. He served on the committee from the beginning,
Bob's final years were trying; his rapidly failing eyesight meant he had to give up the pleasure of owning and driving his special cars. As his eyesight continued to deteriorate he could no longer read, and had to rely on `talking books'. Bob bore all of this with stoicism and fortitude, his dry sense of humour always to the fore.
I have briefly covered the life and deeds of a friend and fellow airman but what of the man that we and others knew; those that flew with him and entrusted their lives to him and to his decision making.
Bob was an exceptional pilot - one of the top 10% - and more importantly, a thinking but risk taking pilot - he was also lucky and brave!! He was a man of his time - taking life in his 2 hands and embracing it - this led at times to mistakes and heartache but he never lost the twinkle in his blue eyes. He had no respect for self important, self serving authority - but he nevertheless rose above some difficult times to become a highly respected senior officer in his Service.
In an RAF career spanning some 23 years, of which nearly 20 had been in the cockpit, Bob flew 30 wartime operations and 330 flights on the Berlin Airlift; in a total of 23 different aircraft types and 7315 flying hours.
He still felt that he - a survivor - had a responsibility to those who didn't finish the course and he completed a great act of pilgrimage, identifying and recording the graves of all those airmen who had died flying on our 214 Squadron. Bob to the end was a truly lucky man.

SOURCE & RESEARCH: Eunice Davies (Widow of S/Ldr Davies) and Mel Morris (friend of S/Ldr Davies)

Plt/Off William Davies

Plt/Off William Davies, 109519, Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 31 May 1942, Aged 31

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling (model unknown) W7534 BU-E

Buried in REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY. Reference : Coll. grave 19. E. 7-14.

Son of Walter and Jessie Davies, of Edinburgh; husband of Ethel Marjorie Davies, of Edinburgh.

Plt/Off William Davies served with 214 at Stradishall.

Source : Emrys Jones and CWGC

Date record last updated : 14 June 2009

Sgt William James Davies

Sgt William James Davies, 1266757, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 17 September 1942, Aged 34

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I R9350 BU-T

Buried in HEVERLEE WAR CEMETERY. Reference : 2. J. 4.

Son of James William and Henrietta Davies; husband of Beatrice Davies, of Ladywell, London.

Sgt Davies joined the RAF in 1940 His father was a member of the London Metropolitan PoliceForce and a native of Llangwm.

He is the brother of L.A.C. Herbert Davies who died of Typhoid Fever in 1943.

Source : Nick Davies (grandson) and CWGC and Nightjar Newsletter Spring 2004 and Chorley and Owen Vaughan (researcher)

Date record last updated : 30 July 2011

FS Ronald William Davison

Ron with his parents

Ron marrying Marjorie

FS Ronald William Davison, 1204001, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 13 October 1942, Aged 22

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I BK599 BU-R

Born in West Bromwich, England

Buried in KIEL WAR CEMETERY. Reference : Coll. grave 1. C. 4-7.

Son of James Henry and Annie Elizabeth Davison; husband of Marjorie Davison, of Blackpool, Lancashire.

Ron was born in 1920. He married Marjorie in Spring 1942 in Blackpool, Lancashire.

Source : CWGC and Chorley and Chris Capewell (relative of Ron Davison)

Date record last updated : 4 July 2010

Sgt Ronald Dempsay

FS Ronald Dempsay, R/69265, Air Observer, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality : Canadian, KIA 13 October 1942

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I BK599 BU-R

Buried in KIEL WAR CEMETERY. Reference : Coll. grave 1. C. 4-7.

Source : CWGC and Chorley and Chris Capewell (relative of Ron Davison)

Date record last updated : 27 February 2010

Plt/Off Derek Gordon de Garis

Plt/Off Derek Gordon de Garis , Pilot, 138197, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve , Nationality : United Kingdom. KIA 03 February 1943 Age 21.

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling R9197 BU-V

He is buried at AMERSFOORT (OUD LEUSDEN) GENERAL CEMETERY. Plot 13. Row 5. Grave 85.

Son of George Edwin and Lilian Ada de Garis, of Castel, Guernsey, Channel Islands

Source : CWGC and http://home.hetnet.nl/~olgaenron/214%20squadron.htm

Record last updated : 13 July 2009

Plt/Off Harry Dent

Plt/Off Harry Dent, 109483, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 31 May 1942, Aged 23

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling (model unknown) W7534 BU-E

Buried in REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY. Reference : Coll. grave 19. E. 7-14.

Son of Maurice Arthur and Harriet Dent, of Marylebone, London.

Harry left school at 16 and worked in a stockbroker's office in the City. He disliked the job and joined British International Pictures as a trainee at Elstree Studios.

When war started in 1939 he could have remained in a reserved occupation but instead volunteered for the Royal Air Force the day after war was declared. He wanted to be a fighter pilot but was rejected on medical grounds because he had flat feet. Obviously discouraged but eager to serve, he volunteered for the Army and was commissioned into the KOSB (King's Own Scottish Borderers) an infantry regiment that marched at 160 paces to the minute (Army No. 156431). In 1941 he applied for transfer to the RAF for pilot training. He was accepted and after training was posted as a bomber pilot instead of the fighter pilot that he had always wanted to be.

It is uncertain whether Operation Millenium was Harry's first mission. SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling (model unknown) W7534 BU-E for further details.

Plt/Off Harry Dent served with 214 at Stradishall.

Bottom Inscription
Darling Harry, We knew you were Mortal

Source : Emrys Jones, and immediate family members of Harry's and CWGC

Date record last updated : 27 July 2010

Flt/Lt David Rutherford Dickson

Flt/Lt David Rutherford Dickson, Navigator, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality : Canadian

Born 15 November 1919

Born in Montreal

Husband of Rosaleen Dickson

A King Scout, he cycled through England and Scotland in his teens, staying at Youth Hostels, and visiting relatives. He became a student in accounts with Price Waterhouse & Co. in Montreal, studied accounting at McGill University in Montreal, and qualified in 1939 for the Intermediate Certificate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Province of Quebec and joined the firm of Price Waterhouse in Montreal. Throughout this time, David continued his interest in cycling. At a youth hostel in Northfield, Massachusetts, while bicycling in New England in 1939, he met Rosaleen Diana Leslie, a university student on holiday, who later became his wife.

In February, 1941, at the age of 21, David enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force, qualified as an Air Observer (navigation, bombing and gunnery), taught Astro-Navigation with the Commonwealth Air Training Plan, and was posted as Navigator to the RAF Ferry Command, taking aircraft across the ocean for use in Britain.

On October 28, 1942, in Westmount, Quebec, he and Rosaleen were married. David was then posted to England where he completed a tour of operations with the RAF as a Navigator with 214 (FMS) Bomber Squadron, attaining the rank of Flight Lieutenant. After the war David obtained a Bachelor of Commerce degree at Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario. After graduation, David worked four years as an income tax assessor with the Federal Government in Ottawa.

In 1953 he moved his family to Shawville, Quebec, incorporated Pontiac Printshop Ltd., and published the weekly newspaper, THE EQUITY (founded in 1883), now owned and operated by his eldest son, Ross. In 1982, he bought Custom Printers of Renfrew Ltd, in Renfrew, Ontario, now owned and operated by his youngest son, Andrew.

David Dickson served as chairman of the Pontiac Community Hospital, founded the Pontiac County Social Planning Council, chaired the Pontiac County Ground Observers Corps, built a 16 foot Petrel sailboat, raised horses, and always maintained an insatiable curiosity about the origins of humanity on this planet. During his sixties, he took on the task, with his wife, of editing "Avenging in the Shadows," a book published in England about RAF squadron 214 in which he had served, and then co-authored "The Dickson and Leslie Family Histories," published by Custom Printers of Renfrew Ltd., Box 415 Renfrew, Ontario K7V 4A6, the research for which required considerable travel in Nova Scotia and Scotland.

He retired in 1984 and died in 1992.

Source : Rosaleen Dickson (wife of David Rutherford Dickson) http://www.flora.org/rosaleen

Date record last updated : 5 May 2008

Sgt Bud Dickinson

Sgt Bud Dickinson, Rear Gunner, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality : American

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark III BK659 (20 April 1943) BU-N
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark III EH699 BU-X

From Mass, USA. Served with 214 from 28 February 1943 to 29 July 1943. The crew were based at Chedburgh, Suffolk flying Stirlings.

See Stories and Tall Tales ("N" for nuts section) for a story written by F/Lt Wallace about one of the crews Ops over Germany when their Stirling was shot up by another Stirling injuring the pilot Geoff Shattock.

He later transferred to the USAAF in June 1943 and finished his tour of operations at 214 Squadron wearing an American uniform.

Source : Dave Wallace, son of Flt/Lt A. Wallace

Date record last updated : 30 April 2011

Plt/Off Sydney Stephen Dimond

Plt/Off Sydney Stephen Dimond, 112742, Observer, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 31 May 1942, Aged 32

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling (model unknown) W7534 BU-E

Named on the following Memorial : Roll of Honour, Metropolitan Police, New Scotland Yard

Born 27 November 1911

Born in Dartford, Kent

Buried in REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY. Reference : Coll. grave 19. E. 7-14.

Son of Stephen Edward John Dimond and Phoebe Dimond

Attended Dartford Grammar School Kent.
Trained as a solicitors clerk before joining Metropolitan Police 26 September 1932, warrant number 122436, serving at City Road Police Station London.
Joined RAF Pilot Officer and during observer training at Winnipeg Air Observer School Canada won the Starratt Memorial Navigational Watch for highest marks achieved in final exam: 147 out of 150.
Sydney was also fluent in German.

He was killed during Op Millenium, the big 1000 bomber raid on Cologne Germany. His comrades were killed with him when their aircraft crashed near Monchengladbach however the reason for the crash as yet is undetermined.

"Sydney is my Great Uncle and like him I am a serving member of the Metropolitan Police "- R. Conybear

CWGC names his mother as Annie Matilda Dimond

Source : Emrys Jones and R Conybear (great nephew of Sydney Dimond)

Date record last updated : 14 June 2009

Sgt E Dixon

Sgt E Dixon, KIA 1 - 2/ 04/1942 piloting Wellington 1c, serial Z8805. The Squadron lost 7 Wellingtons this night. Only 1 of the 42 crewmen in these 6 aircraft survived, a Sgt C.H. Davidson in W/O1 Page's a/c.

Research: Ian Hunt

Plt/Off Robert Leslie Dodds

Plt/Off Robert Leslie Dodds, 172519, Navigator, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 15 September 1944, Aged 23

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB767 BU-A

Buried in CALAIS CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY, LEUBRINGHEN. Reference : 3. A. 11.

Son of Mr. and Mrs John Dodds, Police Station, Wooler

Plt/Off Robert Leslie Dodds, was a navigator aboard Fortress III, HB767, BU.A 214 Sqn when it was shot down over the coast of N France on 12th/13th September 1944. He managed to survive for several days thanks to the bravery of a French family.

Robert attended the Dukes Grammar School in Alnwick. Please follow this link to their roll of honour site. http://www.newmp.org.uk/detail.php?contentId=6179

The following article was published on
http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/showthread.php?11753-Details-for-these-casualties-Duke-s-School-Alnwick/page2

"R.L. DODDS is something of an enigma in that he is buried in a Canadian War Cemeterary (Calais) and the C.W.G.C. does not record his next of kin. In "Forty Years On - the DSOB casualties",it states that his father was an inspector in the Northumbria Police and presumably moving with his parents around Northumberland and Tyneside he had a number of addresses and schools. The record shows him attending schools at Wooler, Alnwick and then Lemington, Newburn. He then worked for Carse and Goodger before becoming a member of the Alnwick Gazette, the weekly newspaper. In the acknowledgements for information for the book, the Gazette is credited as the main source for the info on Dodds. Admittedly, he does not appear on the Wooler, Alnwick or Newburn war memorials but from my research over the years I know that many of these "frequent movers" are not so recorded."

Plt/Off Dodds is listed in the London Gazette in issues 36503, 36712 & 36744.

Source : CWGC and Anthony Crouch (Nephew of Plt Off Dodds) and John Cripps and Chorley and Simon Glancey and the London Gazette

Date record last updated : 28 December 2011

Sgt Derek Oswald Dowson

Sgt Derek Oswald Dowson, 975343, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, KIA 11 April 1943

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I BK612 BU-Z

Named on the following Memorial : RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL Panel 148.

Son of Ernest John and Margaret Dowson, of Tolworth, Surrey.

Source : Cathy Horton, family of Sgt Dowson, is currently researching details of his RAF service. Cheryl Garner, Great Niece of Thomas Frank Richardson and CWGC.

Date record last updated : 30 January 2011

Plt/Off Raymond Harold Dunkley

Plt/Off Raymond Harold Dunkley, 404344 Age 22, Son of Harold Edward & Doris Dunckley of Blenheim, Marlborough, New Zealand

On 27 august 1942 ( 27/08/1942 ) three hundred and six aircraft were sent by Bomber Command to attack mainly the aircraft factories at the German city of Kassel situated some forty miles to the north east of the `Dams' which had been attacked in May 1942 by the `Dambusters'. The Command lost thirty-one aircraft, 10.1% of the force sent. One squadron, No 142, lost five of its fifteen Wellingtons taking part in the raid. It is believed that the German Night-Fighter Controllers were `spot on' in assessing just where the target was, hence the heavy casualties.

There was very little cloud cover over Kassel and it was well illuminated by the Pathfinders. Widespread damage was caused, particularly in the south west of the city, with over seventy large fires being started and severe damage being done to all three of the Henschel aircraft factories.

214 Squadron sent twelve aircraft on this raid, including Stirling Mark 1 R9155 Q - BU which took off from Stradishall at 2029 hours. On this occasion Pilot Officer Dunckley took the place of the regular navigator Sergeant S.Newcombe. Pilot Officer R.H.Dunckley was a New Zealander and Sergeant R.R. Gray was a Canadian. The others were British.

FLYING OFFICER A.R.SKONE PILOT

SERGEANT J. KING FLIGHT ENGINEER

PILOT OFFICER R.H. DUNCKLEY NAVIGATOR

SERGEANT A.C. LYLE AIR GUNNER/BOMB AIMER

FLIGHT SERGEANT R.A.COLEHAN WIRELESS OPERATOR

SERGEANT R.GRAY AIR GUNNER

SERGEANT W.J.BUSHELL AIR GUNNER

Nothing was heard of them again. It has been established that they were one of the twenty-five bombers shot down by Luftwaffe fighters out of a total loss of thirty-one. They had bombed their target and were on the way back when, shot down by a night fighter, crashed at Issum ten miles to the north west of Moers with no survivors. They were all buried temporarily, in the local cemetery.

Six of the crew of Stirling Mark 1 R9155 Q-BU who died on Thursday 27 August 1942 (27/08/1942 -28/08/1942) were buried in Collective Grave 28. H. 8-13:

SOURCE & RESEARCH: ARTHUR SKONE

See also 'A PEACEFULL VIEW'

Sgt Stanley Frederick Dean

Sgt Stanley Frederick Dean, 1445870, Flight Engineer, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, KIA 13 May 1943, Aged 27

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I BF381 BU-P2

Buried in REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY. Reference : 5. B. 5.

Son of Walter and Emily Maria Dean; husband of Ada Dean, of Leicester.

Source : Ian Hunt and CWGC

Date record last updated : 29 October 2010

Sgt Norman Douglas

Sgt Norman Douglas, 1411154, Air Bomber, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, KIA 13 May 1943, Aged 21

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I BF381 BU-P2

Buried in REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY. Reference : 5. B. 4.

Son of William Isaac and Catherine Douglas, of Waunarlwydd, Glamorgan.

Source : Ian Hunt and CWGC

Date record last updated : 29 October 2010

Sgt William Duthie

Sgt William Duthie, 1349970, Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, KIA 13 May 1943, Aged 20

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I BF381 BU-P2

Buried in REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY. Reference : 5. A. 17.

Son of William and Georgina Duthie, of Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire.

Source : Ian Hunt and CWGC

Date record last updated : 29 October 2010

Sgt John Dodd

Sgt John Dodd, 1107057, Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : New Zealand, KIA 24 May 1943, Aged 22

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark III MZ261 BU-T

Buried in REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY. Reference : 3. N. 18.

Son of John and Rose Dodd, of Greenock, Renfrewshire.

On the 23 May 1943 at 23.15, Stirling MZ261 coded BU-T lifted off from Chedburgh, in Suffolk on the nights operations. The target for the night was a bombing raid on Dortmond which included several other 214 squadron aircraft. This was destined to be their last flight. It is unknown exactly what happened, possibly flak or a nightfighter, but Stirling MZ261 crashed at Unna about 15km ENE of Dortmund. Initially the crew were buried here but they were later taken re-interred in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.

Source : Martin Alford, nephew of Donald Alford & CWGC

Date record last updated : 18 February 2008

FS R O Douglas

FS R O Douglas, Rear Gunner, Royal New Zealand Air Force, Nationality : New Zealand, Date taken POW 14 March 1945, POW number NK

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark II HB802 BU-O

SEE PRISONERS OF WAR

POW camp not known

Back in the UK on 8 April 1945

Source : 'Footprints on the sands of time' by Oliver Clutton-Brock and Ian Hunt and ORB

Date record last updated : 20 September 2011

Fg/Off R W Darracott

Fg/Off R W Darracott, Navigator / B Special Ops.

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Fortress HB802 BU-O

Source : Ian Hunt, ORB of F/LT N Rix

WO Francis Herbert DIX MiD

WO Francis Herbert Dix MiD, 411069, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal New Zealand Air Force, Nationality : New Zealand, KIA 24 February 1945, Aged 24

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB805 BU-C

Buried in RHEINBERG WAR CEMETERY. Reference : 6. E. 18

Son of Herbert Heorge Dix M.M. And Ethel Louisa Dix (nee Rivett) of Milford, Auckland, New Zealand

His father held the Military Medal

Source : CWGC

Date record last updated : 7 December 2008

Sgt J A Dillow

Sgt J A Dillow, 1381369, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) ??Williams

Was part of an aircrew to be seconded to 15OTU for 215 Squadron on 11 March 1942.

See Photo album 4 "The exodus of the 214 to the 215".

Source : Colin Burningham

Date record last updated : 29 May 2010

Plt/Off A Dobson

Plt/Off A Dobson, Pilot

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Fortress Mark II KJ119 BU-O

Fortress Ops Flown = 1
(actually 'operational take-offs' Does not disregard aborted ops, early returns etc)

Source : Ian Hunt

Date record last updated : 1 January 2010

FS Frederick Charles Drake

FS Frederick Charles Drake, Special Operator

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Fortress Mark II KJ119 BU-O

Source : Lorna Drake (daughter) and Ian Hunt

Date record last updated : 1 January 2010

Sqn/Ldr Michael Thomas Doyle

Sqn/Ldr Michael Thomas Doyle , Flight Commander, 504369, Royal Air Force , Nationality : British. KIA 19 August 1968 Age 39.

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Victor XH646

Date of Birth 30 December 1928.

He is buried at St Faith's Crematorium, Norwich.

Named on the following Memorials :
Armed Forces
Rolls of Honour, Church of St Clement Danes, London

Stationed at RAF Marham. Born in Paddington, London. He had assumed his responsibilities as a flight commander on the morning of his death.

Source : Jock Whitehouse and Armed Forces Memorial

LAC Thomas Hubert Davies

LAC Thomas Hubert Davies , 1218754, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve , Nationality : British. KIA 12 August 1945 Age 23.

He is buried at BARI WAR CEMETERY. 12.F.8.

Son of Fred and Mary Davies of Northfleet Kent

Source : Jock Whitehouse and CWGC

Plt/Off Didsbury

Plt/Off Didsbury, Co-pilot, Royal New Zealand Air Force

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) T2992 (04 May 1941) BU-J
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) T2992 (06 May 1941) BU-J
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) T2992 (08 May 1941) BU-J
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) T2992 (09 May 1941) BU-J
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) T2992 (11 May 1941) BU-J
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) T2992 (16 May 1941) BU-J

Also see record for Plt/Off C M Didsbury. They could be the same person.

Source : Ian Hunt

Date record last updated : 10 October 2009

Sgt E R H Dyde

Sgt E R H Dyde

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I EF362 BU-N

Source : Ian Hunt and Nightjar Newsletter Spring 2004 and Joyce Birch (cousin of WG Cooper)

Date record last updated : 12 August 2009

Sgt Ronald Dicks

Sgt Ronald Dicks, 1121218, Flight Engineer, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 14 September 1942, Aged 29

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I R9166 BU-H

Buried in RHEINBERG WAR CEMETERY. Reference : 17. H. 22.

Son of Joseph and Eleanor Dicks; husband of Winifred Mary Dicks, of Westhouses, Derbyshire.

Source : CWGC and Nightjar Newsletter Winter / Spring 2004

Date record last updated : 21 February 2008

Flt/Lt Alan H Deadman DFC

Flt/Lt Alan H Deadman DFC, Navigator, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling (model unknown) ??Mackett

Source : Robert Mackett

Date record last updated : 8 March 2008

Sgt G Daulby

Sgt G Daulby, Wireless Operator, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom, Date taken POW 31 August 1943, POW number 222586

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark III EE970 BU-B

Imprisoned at POW camp Muhlberg am der Elbe, Germany

SEE PRISONERS OF WAR

Frank Edge writes:
"I have been researching Stirling bomber EE970 for the daughter and granddaughter of one of the crew - the radio operator Sargeant George Daulby who successfully bailed out along with the rest of the crew apart from the pilot - Pilot Officer KJ Simpson who stayed in the plane and died when the plane crashed. Sadly another crew member DC Houghton died as well when his parachute failed to open. A good account of what happened was published in Canadian papers The Sunday Star Metro and The Toronto Star on 7 11 1999. The pilot's body was never recovered and he has no known grave and the family of George Daulby say this fact haunted him for the rest of his life. There is a good chance his body was pulled from the wreckage of the plane and buried but the crash site was in the Soviet sector after the war and not accessible ".

Source : Ian Hunt and "Footprints on the sands of time" by Oliver Clutton-Brock and Chorley and Geoff Swallows (Australian Researcher) and Frank Edge (researcher)

Date record last updated : 7 August 2010

Sgt H M Diebel

Sgt H M Diebel, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality : Canadian, Date taken POW 31 August 1943, POW number 222684

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark III EE970 BU-B

Imprisoned at POW camp Muhlberg am der Elbe, Germany

SEE PRISONERS OF WAR

Source : Ian Hunt and "Footprints on the sands of time" by Oliver Clutton-Brock and Chorley and Geoff Swallows (Australian Researcher)

Date record last updated : 31 January 2010

Sgt Peter Edward Durman

Sgt Peter Edward Durman, 1389300, Air Bomber, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 16 November 1944

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark II HB787 (16 November 1944) BU-J

Buried in BECKENHAM CREMATORIUM AND CEMETERY. Reference : Sec. L.7. Grave 19794.

Source : CWGC and Nightjar Newsletter Spring 2003

Date record last updated : 01 April 2008

Fg/Off Kenneth Peter Dack

Fg/Off Kenneth Peter Dack, 154246, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 13 September 1944, Aged 20

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB767 BU-A

Named on the following Memorial : Runnymede Memorial Panel 205

Son of Robert Peter and Mary Ann Allen Dack, of Southall, Middlesex.

Source : CWGC and John Cripps

Date record last updated : 7 June 2008

Sgt Edwin Dobson

Sgt Edwin Dobson, 1442409, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 13 September 1944

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB767 BU-A

Named on the following Memorial : Runnymede Memorial Panel 228

Source : CWGC and John Cripps

Date record last updated : 7 June 2008

Plt/Off Donald

Plt/Off Donald

Was occasionally part of the crew of Fg/Off E Woodley

Source : Emily Ward (Great niece of Fg/Off Ernest Woodley)

Date record last updated : 28 August 2008

Fg/Off David Allan Dadswell

Fg/Off David Allan Dadswell, 40367, Pilot, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 7 December 1940, Aged 26

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C R2476
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) T2470 BU-K
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) T2476 (29 November 1940) BU-X

Named on the following Memorial : Runnymede Memorial panel 5

Son of Harold Edmund and Ruby Alice Dadswell, of Shirley, Surrey; husband of Anita Dadswell.

The following is an excerpt from the personnel entry of Sqn/Ldr Geoff Cole:
On 7 December 1940 his crew and two others were despatched half an hour ahead of the main force to act as pathfinders by locating and marking the target, Dusseldorf, with incendiaries. The weather was atrocious and Geoff Cole's aircraft lost both engines, falling several thousand feet before he was able to start them again. The other two 'pathfinder' aircraft, captained by **Flight Lieutenant Harris** and Flying Officer Dadswell, were both lost.

Source : Personnel entry of Sqn/Ldr Geoff Cole and CWGC and Nightjar Newsletter Winter / Spring 2006 and Ian Hunt

Date record last updated : 11 April 2009

Fg/Off E Dawes

Fg/Off E Dawes, Pilot

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C N2746 (29 November 1940) BU-M

Source : Ian Hunt

Date record last updated : 11 April 2009

Sgt Denis Frank Dobson

Sgt Denis Frank Dobson, 539408, Flight Engineer, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 24 July 1942

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I W7567 BU-S

Buried in WERKENDAM PROTESTANT CEMETERY. Reference : Row 8. Grave 2.

Source : CWGC and Nightjar Newsletter Autumn 2004 and Diane Hann (relative of Denis Dobson)

Date record last updated : 16 May 2009

Sgt William Denis Dale

Sgt William Denis Dale, 1594366, Flight Engineer, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 21 March 1945

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress (model unknown) HB785 (21 March 1945) BU-A

Buried in DURNBACH WAR CEMETERY. Reference : 7. D. 2.

Source : CWGC and Nightjar Newsletter Spring 2003

Date record last updated : 7 November 2010

Sgt Alan Walter Dean

Sgt Alan Walter Dean, 926810, Co-pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 9 May 1941, Aged 19

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C R3208 (9 May 1941)

Named on the following Memorial : Runnymede Memorial Panel 42

Son of Percy John and Ida Dean, of New Eltham, London.

Looking at his logbook (which Simon Dean is the proud possesor of!), he first flew (joined?) with 214 (B flight) on the 24 March 1941 when he was 2nd pilot to Sgt Browell on air test in Wellington R3208. Reading through the logbook this was his usual aircraft and Sgt Browell was the usual 1st pilot. 1st mission was to Rotterdam on 3rd April 1941.
For some reason, on one occasion (10 April 1941) he flew 6708 to Brest, once 1623 (12 April 1941) also to Brest and 2918 (25 April 1941) to Kiel.
He then returned to 3208 for the remainder of his career. He died on his 10th mission on 9 May 1941. The mission details are not in the logbook, but Simon seems to remember his father telling him he was flying over Hamburg and that Sgt Browell's body was found in the river there. Simon knows that Alan's body was never found, but his name is on the Runnymede Memorial.
It is very sobering to think that Alan joined the RAF in August 1940 and after 8 months of training, his operational career lasted only 6 weeks.

Source : Simon Dean (nephew) and CWGC and Nightjar Newsletter Autumn 2005 and Chorley

Date record last updated : 28 December 2011

FS Ray Delisle

FS Ray Delisle

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress (model unknown) HB785 (Corke) BU-A

Source : Pilot Officer William Foskett

Date record last updated : 26 May 2009

Fg/Off Douglas Nugent Donald

Fg/Off Douglas Nugent Donald, J/47071, Air Bomber, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality : Canadian, KIA 21 March 1945, Aged 23

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress (model unknown) HB785 (21 March 1945) BU-A

Buried in DURNBACH WAR CEMETERY. Reference : 7. D. 6.

Son of Charles D. Donald and Fanny Donald; husband of Corinne Donald, of Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.A.

Source : CWGC and Nightjar Newsletter Spring 2003

Date record last updated : 26 May 2009

Fg/Off Patrick 'Doc' Dougherty

Fg/Off Patrick Dougherty 1945

Fg/Off Patrick 'Doc' Dougherty, 199341, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : British

Born 6 November 1923

Born in Stowmarket

Son of Michael and Lily Dougherty

Patrick Dougherty joined the RAF in 1942, at the age of 18, having previously been a member of the ATC.
He undertook flying training in the USA with 5 BFTS from 1943 to 1944 at Clewiston Florida , when he flew the Stearman and the AT6A Harvard.
Returning to England as a Sgt Pilot in June 1944, he converted to the multi-engine role on the Oxford at RAF Calveley before learning to fly the Wellington at 85 (Bomber Command) OTU RAF Husband Bosworth.
In April 1945, he converted to the B17 Flying Fortress when he served on 214 Sqn based at RAF Oulton at the end of the war in Europe .
He was commissioned and promoted to Flying Officer at this time.

Subsequently, in common with many 4-engine pilots, he moved to Transport Command where he flew the B24 Liberator with 102 Sqn from RAF Bassingbourne in a troop carrying and aeromedical role returning FEPOW from India and the DC3 Dakota with 53 Sqn from RAF Waterbeach, mainly to Berlin .
His final flight as a pilot was on 28 January 1948 in Dakota KN523 on an instrument and local flying sortie out of RAF Waterbeach.

He retired from the RAF in 1948 and went on to have a very successful career in the cable industry, with Johnson and Phillips Ltd, Enfield Standard Power Cables Ltd and was Managing Director of Greengate Cables Ltd. His final appointment was with the Overseas Development Agency in Zambia .

Patrick Dougherty died on 18 November 2009 at the age of 86.

His first wife, Valerie died in 2002. He remarried in 2005 and is survived by his second wife, Nora and his only son from his first marriage, Air Vice-Marshal Simon Dougherty RAF Retd, a former Director-General Medical Services (RAF).

Source : AVM Simon Dougherty (Patrick's son)

Date record last updated : 31 January 2010

Sqn/Ldr Jack Dixon DFC

Sqn/Ldr Jack Dixon DFC, Pilot

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling (model unknown) ??Dixon
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark III BK663 (29 March 1943)
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling (model unknown) EF403 (18 September 1943) BU-G

October 1942 at 14 OTU Cottesmore. Jack and his crew formed here and stuck together for a long time.

3rd January 1943
Jack Dixon’s log book says he finished at 14 OTU .He was assessed as an "average" pilot in his log on 5th January with 406 hours under his belt. Subsequent history reveals he was anything but "average"!

5th February 1943
Jack and crew arrive at 1651 HCU Waterbeach (5 miles north of Cambridge) to convert to Stirlings for I month.

19th February 1943
Jacks first logged flight at 1651 accompanying a F/Lt Cope (Instructor) flying as a second pilot on a raid to Wilhemshaven, bombing on PFF flares. This was Jack's only February flight with conversion training flights starting on 3rd March.

28th March 1943
Jack Dixon's first flight as captain - logged as a 5 hour trip.
All the crew were happy admiring the views on the way to St Nazaire to bomb submarine pens which had been lit by flares. However as they flew over La Rochelle they had their first experience of flak with shells bursting nearby , all went very quiet on the plane with no more casual conversation! Got them all thinking.

29th March 1943
Only the crews’ second Stirling trip "gardening", dropping mines near Texel (an island off the Dutch coast).
On return to base, and whilst in circuit at 2000 feet over Chedburgh, they collided in the dark with another Stirling losing their port tailplane and rear gun turret.
Jack got a Green Endorsement in his log book for safely bringing the Stirling back to Terra Firma.

20th April 1943
Ops to Rostock

24th July 1943
Operation Gomorrah!

29th July 1943
Ops to Hamburg. Early days of the use of WINDOW (chaff) by the crew. F/Sgt Simpson with them as 2nd pilot. The Stirling had a much lower ceiling (13,000 feet) than the other planes on the raid (Lancs at 22,000 and Halifaxs at 18,000) who had arrived before them. On the raid Jack felt a thud whilst at the controls and when they arrived back at base an unexploded incendiary bomb was found lodged in one of the fuel tanks in the port wing! Obviously dropped from a bomber above.

27th August 1943
Ops to Nuremburg.
At 11,000 feet, with bombs gone and whilst still over their target the crew were attacked by 2 fighters. The port outer was on fire and the starboard outer feathered. Eventually the port prop fell off and they were then able to extinguish fire and restart the starboard outer.
Very low on fuel they landed at Ford.
Jack records this trip as "Shakey Do" which was probably something of an understatement, either way he was awarded an immediate DFC. Second pilot on this trip was a F/O Carl Puterborough (RCAF).

31st August 1943
Just 4 days later, interestingly and very unusually, Jack whilst on Compass Swings logs "Nervous - no time to be so during the drama of getting back", suggesting that they were feeling the pressure.

18th September 1943
Ops as ordered
Flying at 5000 feet. Compasses and all nav aids U/S except H2S downward radar. They were lost but found an enormous glow in the sky which they reckoned must be Paris. The crew headed north, found the coast and subsequently made it across the Channel making an emergency landing at Ford (again) whilst very low on fuel. The engines petered out at the end of the runway, even before they were able to get to their "pan".Now that really was low!!

6th November 1943
Special Ops
Their mission was to a marshalling yard in France.

15th May 1945
Logbook re starts with Jack still as pilot but now ranked as Squadron Leader. They were with 1653 HCU flying Lancasters with four Operational Flights shown, the last on June 1st 1945. Log shows a summary dated 2nd June 1945.

Jack stayed on as Squadron Leader at O/C D Tactical Flight of 1653 Heavy Conversion Unit (which was formed at Chedburgh in November 1943), flying as a Pilot Instructor.

There is much more information on the crew record for Stirling ??Dixon.

Source : John Jewsbury (son of R F Jewsbury) and Walter Rowley

Date record last updated : 7 July 2009

Ted Drew

Ted Drew, Mid Upper Gunner

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling (model unknown) ??Dixon
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark III BK663 (29 March 1943)

There is more information on the crew record for Stirling ??Dixon.

Source : John Jewsbury (son of R F Jewsbury) and Walter Rowley

Date record last updated : 7 July 2009

Sgt Dennis Lawrence Dean

Sgt Dennis Lawrence Dean, 576664, Flight Engineer, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 22 September 1943, Aged 19

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I EF393 BU-R

Buried in HANOVER WAR CEMETERY. Reference : 12. B. 12.

Son of Thomas Henry and Vera Kathleen Dean, of Wood Green, Middlesex.

Source : CWGC and John Fowler

Date record last updated : 5 August 2009

Sgt C H Davidson

Sgt C H Davidson, Nationality : United Kingdom, Date taken POW 1 April 1942, POW number 42

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C Z1052

Imprisoned at POW camp Heydekrug (Silute), Lithuania
Imprisoned at POW camp Sagan (Zagan) & Belaria, Germany
Imprisoned at POW camp Thorn (Torun), Poland OR Oerbke (Fallingbostel), Germany - dates unknown

SEE PRISONERS OF WAR

Sole survivor of this crew.

Source : Ian Hunt and 'Footprints on the sands of time' by Oliver Clutton-Brock

Date record last updated : 13 September 2009

Sgt L G Dobson

Sgt L G Dobson, R/71398

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) Z8900

On 7 November 1941 Sgt Dobson was posted to 214 Squadron from 21OTU.
Joined the crew of Z8900 after 15 November 1941.
On 19 January 1942 he was posted to 99 Squadron.
On 23 February 1942 he was posted from Waterbeach to Portreath.
On 26 February 1942 he was posted direct to Malta, en-route to ME for 99 Squadron in India.

Source : Colin Burningham

Date record last updated : 4 October 2009

Plt/Off Colin McDougall Didsbury

Plt/Off Colin McDougall Didsbury, NZ401259, Pilot, Royal New Zealand Air Force, Nationality : New Zealand, KIA 7 August 1941, Aged 23

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C X9750 BU-?

Named on the following Memorial : Auckland War Memorial
Named on the following Memorial : Runnymede Memorial Panel 63

Born in Wellington New Zealand

Son of Harold Guy and Euphemia Didsbury, of Wellington, New Zealand.

Also see record for Plt/Off Didsbury. They could be the same person.

Source : Auckland War Memorial and CWGC and Chorley

Date record last updated : 10 October 2009

Sgt Gwynn Towyn Davies

Sgt Gwynn Towyn Davies, 1314365, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 26 May 1943, Aged 29

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark III BK659 BU-N

Named on the following Memorial : RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL Panel 147

Son of Evan and Elsie M. Davies, of Gilfach Goch. Glamorgan.

After his aircraft crashed into the North Sea his body was never found.

Source : CWGC and Geoff Swallow (Australian researcher) and Chorley

Date record last updated : 31 January 2010

Sgt Ernest Dobson

Sgt Ernest Dobson, 1590215, Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 9 February 1945, Aged 20

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB796 (09 February 1945) BU-T

Buried in BRADFORD CREMATORIUM. Reference : Panel 1

Son of Arthur and Alice Dobson, of Allerton.

Source : CWGC and Geoff Swallow (Australian researcher) and Chorley

Date record last updated : 2 February 2010

Sgt J W Dales

Sgt J W Dales, R/110805, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality : Canadian, Date taken POW 31 August 1943, POW number 43257

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark III EF401 BU-Y

Imprisoned at POW camp Dosel bei Warburg
Imprisoned at POW camp Kloster Haina hospital
Imprisoned at POW camp Thorn (Torun), Poland OR Oerbke (Fallingbostel), Germany - dates unknown
Imprisoned at POW camp Weilburg am der Lahn

SEE PRISONERS OF WAR

Source : Chorley and "Footprints on the sands of time" by Oliver Clutton-Brock and http://www.rafcommands.com/airforcepows

Date record last updated : 20 June 2010

Plt/Off Dean

Plt/Off Dean

No further information available yet.

Date record last updated : 3 October 2010

Sgt Henry Downs

Sgt Henry Downs, 616823, Air Gunner, Royal Air Force, KIA 2 April 1942

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C R1789 BU-?

Buried in DURNBACH WAR CEMETERY. Reference : Coll. grave 2. F. 10-18.

Source : CWGC

Date record last updated : 29 October 2010

Sgt John Clifford Dunn

Sgt John Clifford Dunn, 1310826, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : British, KIA 2 April 1942, Aged 26

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C R1789 BU-?

Named on the following Memorial : Clacton on Sea Memorial
Named on the following Memorial : No. 3 Group Bomber Command Roll of Honour in the RAF Window in Ely Cathedral.

Born 29 March 1916

Born in Orsett, Essex England

Buried in DURNBACH WAR CEMETERY. Reference : 2. F. 1.

Son of John Dunn, and of Elizabeth M. Dunn, of Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.

Sgt Dunn was to have been married just three weeks after he was killed. Best man was to have been Sgt Peter Wood.

Source : CWGC and Christine Head (niece)

Date record last updated : 20 September 2011

Sqn/Ldr William Davies

Sqn/Ldr William Davies, 74467, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, KIA 8 September 1941, Aged 42

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C R1784 BU-?

Buried in BERLIN 1939-1945 WAR CEMETERY. Reference : 4. A. 7.

Son of William and Sarah Jane Davies, of Cardiff; husband of Sarah Lilian Davies, of Cardiff.

Source : CWGC

Date record last updated : 30 October 2010

Sgt Alexander Shaw Dewar

Sgt Alexander Shaw Dewar, 931485, Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, KIA 17 August 1942, Aged 25

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I BF330 BU-H

Buried in FODDERTY OLD CHURCHYARD. Reference : Plot 7. Grave 1033.

Son of John S. M. Dewar and Bessie Dewar, of Dingwall.

Source : CWGC

Date record last updated : 19 November 2010

Sgt Harold Charles Dent

Sgt Harold Charles Dent, 1384029, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, KIA 15 April 1943, Aged 26

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I EF331 BU-H

Buried in SEPT-SAULX CHURCHYARD. Reference : Grave 3.

Son of Harold Martin Dent and of Francisca Violeta Dent (nee Saenz). of Guatemala City.

Source : CWGC

Date record last updated : 17 December 2010

Sgt Robert Ernest Dutton

Sgt Robert Ernest Dutton, 1338700, Air Bomber, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, KIA 15 April 1943, Aged 27

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I EF331 BU-H

Buried in SEPT-SAULX CHURCHYARD. Reference : Grave 2.

Son of Ernest Samuel and Sarah Louise Dutton, of Acton, Middlesex.

Source : CWGC

Date record last updated : 17 December 2010

Plt/Off John Dodds-Forrest

Plt/Off John Dodds-Forrest, 62022, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 25 June 1941, Aged 27

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C R1609

Named on the following Memorial : RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL Panel 32.

Son of John and Emily Ross Forrest.

Source : CWGC

Date record last updated : 12 October 2011

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