WO Arthur Nicholl DFC

WO Arthur Nicholl DFC, R76180, Navigator, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality : Canadian

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling (model unknown) BK600

Born in Carbonnear, Newfoundland in 1916

During the war and at the time of receiving his DFC he lived in Leamington Spa in Warwickshire UK, but in Canada lived in and near Toronto and for the last 30 years in Palgrave ON. .

Enlisted in Halifax, 5 November 1940
Trained at:
No.1 ITS (graduated 31 March 1941)
No.1 AOS (graduated 2 August 1941)
No.1 BGS and No.1 AOS (graduated 22 June 1941)

Distinguished Flying Cross - No.214 Squadron - Award effective 31 December 1942 as per London Gazette dated 12 January 1943 and AFRO 232/43 dated 12 February 1943.
Presented at Buckingham Palace, 25 May 1943.

This officer has completed many operational sorties attacking targets in Germany, Italy and Western Europe, displaying superb navigational skill throughout. One night while he was navigator of an aircraft detailed to attack Duisberg, a shell burst in the vicinity and caused the starboard inner engine to catch fire. Despite adverse weather, Warrant Officer Nicholl succeeded in bringing the aircraft back to its base where [the] fire was extinguished. Over Bremen in similar circumstances, though one engine had been put out of action by anti-aircraft fire, Warrant Officer Nicholl directed his captain to the target where the bombs were released. His efficiency as a navigator and his great determination and devotion to duty have been proved on many occasions.

Arthur and the crew of BK600 flew 2 complete tours of operations together during the second World War.

Arthur died on 6 January 2010.

Source : Chris Nichol (son) and Squadron ORB

Date record last updated : 28 February 2010

FS Harry Alyn Neal

FS Harry Alyn Neal R67970 (26) of LaGrange, Illinois had the unusual distinction of being an American, but joined the Royal Canadian Airforce and flew for the British Royal Airforce " On the 10thof April 1942 at 22.50 , Wellington Mark 1c Bomber No. HB856, piloted by P/O John Murray left Stradishall Royal Air Force base destined for the German city of Essen in the heavily defended industrial Ruhr Valley. Flt/Sgt Neal was onboard as co-pilot. Intelligence had predicted clear weather over the whole bombing run and as with the 3 previous night sorties that week, the planes of his 214 Squadron should return in the early hours of the next morning. The weather forecast had not been correct however and once over Germany the formations broke up in the heavy cloud and encountered concentrated and accurate anti-aircraft fire.

Hb856 did not return, and was later reported by German authorities that all crew had perished. All are buried in the Reichswald Forest Memorial Site in Germany.

Researched by Alan Butterworth of South Africa, nephew of Cpt H.M. Butterworth.

See Cpt Harold Butterworth page for further info .

Fg/Off Stephen Nessner

Fg/Off Stephen Nessner, Special Wireless Operator, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality : Canadian

Fg/Off Nessner spoke German

Source : Mrs. Louisa Stephenson, Kitchener, Ontario

Date record last updated : 13 July 2010

FS Stuart Spencer Newcombe

FS Stuart Spencer Newcombe, 999799, Observer, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 17 September 1942, Aged 29

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

Buried in HEVERLEE WAR CEMETERY. Reference : 2. J. 3.

Son of Frank Viner Newcomb and Florence Ruth Newcomb; husband of Alice Doreen Newcomb, of Chorltoncum-Hardy, Manchester.

Was a regular in the crew of Fg/Off Alan Skone as Navigator. For reasons unknown, on operations the night of 27th of August he was replaced as the crews navigator by Pilot Officer Dunckley. It was to be a stroke of luck for Sgt Newcombe as Stirling Mark 1 R9155 BU-Q which took off from Stradishall at 20:29 hours was never seen again and all crew were lost.

Unfortunately he sadly lost his life a couple of weeks later when flying with Stirling Mk1 R9350 BU-T.

See also 'A PEACEFULL VIEW'

Source : Arthur Skone and CWGC and Nightjar Newsletter Spring 2004 and Chorley

Date record last updated : 30 April 2011

Sgt Frederick James North

Sgt Frederick James North, 1231672, Flight Engineer, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 23 May 1943, Aged 22

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

Buried in REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY. Reference : 3. D. 1.

Son of Frederick William and Rosetta North, of Ponder's End, Enfield, Middlesex; husband of Merle Alfreda Esther North.

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 Jimmy Nuttall

FS Jimmy Nuttall, Flight Engineer, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom

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

Jimmy Nuttall arrived at St Athan from his initial training at Blackpool, on 7 December 1942, with Ronald Williams.

Jimmy joined P/O Scantleton's crew at Stradishall and their Stirling was involved in a mid-air collision with a Wellington over the practice bombing range on 6 November 1943. The "Wimpey" had suddenly broken cloud right under the nose of the Stirling and the tail fin of the "Wimpey" ploughed through the nose of the Stirling with the bomb-aimer lying in the bombing position. Luckily he escaped injury, as did the rest of the Stirling crew, but sadly the Wellington crew were lost. Scantleton's instruments had been rendered u/s by the collision but he managed to bring his aircraft back over base, giving the crew the option of baling out or staying put. They elected to do the latter and the landing was successful. The next day a photograph was taken with eight men standing abreast in the hole in the nose of the Stirling that the Wellington's tail fin had made.

Source : John Scantleton (son of Flt/Lt V L Scantleton) and Catherine Sommer (daughter of W/O Roland Williams)

Date record last updated : 4 August 2009

Sgt J Newell

Sgt J Newell, 642329.

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

On 9 March 1942 he was part of an aircrew that reported for duty with 215 Squadron at 150TU Harwell. .

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

Source : Colin Burningham

Date record last updated : 29 May 2010

Fg/Off John Freeman Nicholson

Fg/Off John Freeman Nicholson, 70501, Pilot, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 6 June 1940, Aged 22

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I N2993 BU-?

Buried in STRADISHALL (ST. MARGARET) CHURCHYARD

Son of John Freeman Nicholson and Georgina Hay Nicholson, of Stanwix, Carlisle; husband of Esther Nicholson.

Source : CWGC and Jock Whitehouse and Traces of WW2 website and Nightjar Newsletter and Chorley

Date record last updated : 8 August 2011

Sgt Nicholls

Sgt Nicholls, Co-pilot

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) N2800 BU-P
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) T2992 BU-J
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) T2998
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) W5713 BU-B

Source : Ian Hunt

Fg/Off C D Noble DFC, MBE

Fg/Off C D Noble DFC, MBE, Nationality : Canadian, Date taken POW 20 June 1942, POW number 477

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I N3762 BU-C

Imprisoned at POW camp Sagan (Zagan) & Belaria, Germany

MBE awarded 1st October 1946 for escaping activities:
On 10 June 1943 26 airmen made their escape. The timing had to be perfect, the planning meticulous , to get so many men through the camp gates in broad daylight. The two 'bogus' guards played their part so well that the real guards allowed the 'shower party' through to the showers which were located outside the camp. No sooner where they out of sight then they melted into the pine trees.
A minute later 24 prisoners transformed into workmen and commercial travellers, vanishing quickly, leaving only a pile of discarded clothes. Unfortunately the escape was discovered within half an hour. Most of the 'kriegies' **, including Flying Officer C D Noble DFC RCAF (whose third attempt at escape this was) were rounded up the following day at, or near, Sagan railway station. Four
men managed to stay clear of recapture.
Noble's two earlier escape attempts involved, first, hiding in the garbage wagon and the next in a truck loaded with tree branches.
** Kriegie is what the POWs called themselves. It is short for Kriegesgefangenen which is the German word for prisoner of war.

SEE PRISONERS OF WAR

Source : Chorley and "Footprints in the sands of time" by Oliver Clutton-Brock

Date record last updated : 13 February 2008

Sqn/Ldr Peter Nixey DSO

Sqn/Ldr Peter Nixey DSO, 42257, Pilot, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 20 June 1942, Aged 22

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I N3762 BU-C

Buried in OMMEN GENERAL CEMETERY. Reference : Grave 7

Son of Frederick Henry and Marjorie Nixey; husband of Margaret Nixey, of Farningham, Kent.

Source : CWGC, Chorley and Ian Hunt

Date record last updated : 13 February 2008

Sgt Peter Newman

Sgt Peter Newman, 1816804, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 22 March 1945, Aged 21

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress III KJ112 BU-P

Named on the following Memorial : Runnymede Memorial Panel 276

Son of Mrs. R. Newman, of Lincoln.

Source : Chorley and CWGC and Nightjar Newsletter Spring 2003 and Catherine Stewart (relative of WO James McFarlane)

Date record last updated : 27 July 2010

FS Stanley Newton

FS Stanley Newton, Flight Engineer

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

Source : Robert Mackett

Date record last updated : 8 March 2008

WO Neeke

WO Neeke

Was part of the main crew of Flg/Off E Woodley

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

Date record last updated : 28 August 2008

Sgt Norris

Sgt Norris

Was part of the main crew of Flg/Off E Woodley

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

Date record last updated : 28 August 2008

Plt/Off R H Nelson

Plt/Off R H Nelson, 413339, Navigator, Royal New Zealand Air Force, Nationality : New Zealand, KIA 22 September 1943, Aged 26

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

Buried in HANOVER WAR CEMETERY. Reference : 12. B. 17.

Son of James Harold and Minnie Nelson, of Gisborne, Auckland, New Zealand.

Source : CWGC and John Fowler

Date record last updated : 5 August 2009

FS John Nash

FS John Nash, 1378097, Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 2 April 1942, Aged 21

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C Z8979 BU-P

Buried in REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY. Reference : Coll. grave 9. A. 3-6.

Son of Percy and Laura Nash, of Rye Foreign, Sussex.

Source : Ian Hunt and CWGC

Date record last updated : 23 August 2009

Sgt Nicholls

Sgt Nicholls, Co-pilot

Occasional Co-Pilot with Crew ??Leyshon

Believed killed when he was the pilot of his own crew.

Source : Aled Leyshon (grandson of Mervyn Leyshon)

Date record last updated : 4 October 2009

Sgt George Eric Newman

Sgt George Eric Newman, 1177845, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 1 April 1942

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

Named on the following Memorial : RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL Panel 90

Son of George and Annie Newman, of Kettering, Northamptonshire.

Source : Simon Dawes and Chorley and CWGC

Date record last updated : 29 December 2009

Sgt William Wynes Robey Norton

Sgt William Wynes Robey Norton, 400885, Royal Australian Air Force, Nationality : Australian, KIA 26 March 1942, Aged 29

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C Z1143 BU-?

Named on the following Memorial : Australian War Memorial panel 128

Buried in VRIEZENVEEN GENERAL CEMETERY. Reference : Coll. grave 1-6.

Son of Wykes Strange Chapman Norton and Eva Grace Norton, of Armadale, Victoria, Australia.

Source : CWGC and Hans J. Kobes, Vriezenveen (NL) and John Cripps and http//www.awm.gov.au and Geoff Swallow (Australian Researcher)

Date record last updated : 14 February

Sgt Nixey

Sgt Nixey, Pilot

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling (model unknown) R9322 (1 June 1942)

This could quite possibly be Sqn Ldr Peter Nixey KIA 20 June 1942 with Stirling N3762 BU-C

Source : Don MacDonald

Date record last updated : 19 March 2010

Ronald Wiggins Newark

Ronald Wiggins Newark

Served with 214 and 218 Squadrons during WW2. Is now deceased.

Source : Graham Newark (son of Ronald)

Date record last updated : 20 June 2010

Sgt Nicholl

Sgt Nicholl

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I R9319 BU-S

Date record last updated : 3 October 2010

Sgt Albert Edwin Newman

Sgt Albert Edwin Newman, 1600295, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 30 July 1943, Aged 21

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark III EF407 BU-A

Named on the following Memorial : RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL, Panel 160

Son of Albert George and Lily Frances Newman, of Pilley, Hampshire.

Source : Chorley and CWGC

Date record last updated : 30 April 2011

Sgt Robert Melville Nelson

Sgt Robert Melville Nelson, 580853, Observer, Royal Air Force, KIA 4 April 1940, Aged 22

Buried in BATHGATE CEMETERY. Reference : Sec. T Grave 225

Son of John and Margaret Ferguson Nelson, of Bathgate.

Sgt Nelson could possibly be linked to Wellington P9267 as the website source states that he died on the same date as the 2 crew members attached to this flight. He therefore could possibly have been attached to 149 Squadron on the day he died. This is only supposition and has not yet been confirmed, (Carol Edwards - site administrator)

Source : Traces of WW2 website and CWGC

Date record last updated : 8 August 2011

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