The
information on this page has been obtained from many sources. The idea
is to gather any and all information on each individual member of 214
Squadron and record it here. Eventually, as enough information is received
for each individual, a separate section will be set up for them with photos,
memories and their personal story. If you served with the squadron, or
know someone who was with the squadron, please contact
me (remove the xxx to send an email) and help build this memorial
/ tribute to the squadron.
NOTE
: To see the information for each individual, find their name in the
HONOUR ROLL in the left column and if the name is underlined click on
it. If the name is not underlined, then no further details are available
yet.
FS Wally P Scarth
FS Wally
P Scarth, (1591970). Qualified as Flight Engineer 02/03/1944, 1659HPU. Qualified
as Flight Engineer 29/11/1944, 214 Squadron.
FS Scarth
served with 578 Squadron through 1944 as Flight Engineer on Halifax III bombers.
Here he made numerous bombing runs over Germany before transfering late in
the year to 214 Squadron who were then based at Oulton. Operations once again
saw him make numerous runs over Germany but this time he was engaged primarily
in window operations crewing on B17 G Bombers. His two main pilots here seem
to have been F/O Rogers and F/O Nelson. F/Sgt Scarth passed away in 2003.
Crew Halifax III MZ559 L.K.F of 578 squadron. (see note below)
The crew are left to right: Bob Burn ~ Canadian Navigator; Sam Brown ~ Rear Gunner; S/Ldr Bob Davies ~ Pilot: Wally Scarth ~ Flight Engineer; Charlie Hayward ~ mid Upper Gunner; Vernon Corbett ~ Canadian Bomb Armer and Dick Tither (we think) Wireless Operator.
NOTE: Mel Morris, friend of S/Ldr Bob Davies states that the above photo is incorrect. This photo was taken at the HCU at Riccall before they were posted to 578 Sqdn.Burn. LK-F was another Halifax they flew from Burn that was bombed from above by a Lancaster forcing them to land at Old Buckenham on the way back from a raid.
PAGE FROM F/SGT SCARTH's LOG WHILE WITH 214 SQUADRON
INSIDE FRONT COVER OF LOG BOOK
F/Sgt Scarth's log book is intact and in possession of the family. A few entries of the log while Wally was with 578 Squadron are on file with the site, however if anyone requires further lookups of entries from 578, I am certain the family would be happy to oblige.
SOURCE
/ RESEARCH: kindly provided by Stephen Foster
(Friend of the family)
Flt/Lt Vern L Scantleton DFC
Flt/Lt
Vern L Scantleton DFC, Pilot, Royal Australian Air Force, Nationality
: Australian
Flt/Lt Vern.L. Scantleton DFC now lives in Toowoomba Queensland, Australia.
He completed two tours of operation with 214 squadron bomber command flying
Stirling and Flying Fortress aircraft based at Chedbrough and Oulton
Vern has written 5 war experience stories that give a great insight into life in World War 2. These are shown in the links below :
Vern
can be contacted via his son John at xxxscantleton@exemail.com.au (remove
xxx to send an email)
The site administrators have a list of Flt/Lt Scantleton's operations from
22 April 1944 to 13 February 1945. If you would like further details please
contact the site administrators.
?? V L Scantleton, Acting O/C A Flight as per Plt/Off Foskett log 30 March
1944
Source
: John Scantleton (son of Flt/Lt V L Scantleton)
Date record last updated : 4 August 2009
Sgt
D B Scoble
Sgt
D B Scoble, RNZAF, Shot down in raid on Berlin 01/03/1943 and taken prisoner.
Crew were:
F/S J.M. Lyall prisoner RCAF
Sgt N.G. Etherden prisoner RAF
F/O B.F.R Hotson killed RNZAF
Sgt D.B Scoble prisoner RNZAF
Sgt R.H Thom prisoner RNZAF
Sgt J.G Jack prisoner RAF
Sgt J.G Powell prisoner RAF
Sgt
Peter Doig Scott
Sgt
Peter Doig 'Scotty' Scott, flew from RAF Stradishall in May 1940
until February 1941 with the 214 Squadron. He then moved to RAF Moreton-in-Marsh
and finally to RAF Edgehill before going to North Africa where he did another
tour with 150 Squadron. Peter was a Gunnery Instructor on the base and flew
as rear gunner on operations. He was the squadron Gunnery Leader with the
150.
Hopefully
in the near future we will have Scottys full story. Sheila and I have discussed
the best approach and will have something up soon
Sgt Allan Randall Scott
Sgt Allan Randall Scott, Service No: 573717, Nationality: United Kingdom, Rank: Sergeant (Flt. Engr.) Royal Air Force, Age: 19, Date of Death: 07/06/1942
Additional information: Son of Euphenia Robertson Scott.
Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave 51. Cemetery: VLIELAND GENERAL CEMETERY
On the night of June 6/7, 1942 Stirling N3761 piloted by F/Lt Turtle failed to return from an attack on Emden. None of the crew survived.
The crew of Stirling N3761were as follows:
TREPPASS, LEONARD L.
RAFVR United Kingdom
Rank: Pilot Officer (Obs.)
108005
BARHAM, WILFRED W
RAFVR United Kingdom
Flight Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.)
755880
HARRISON, NORMAN N
RAFVR United Kingdom
Flight Lieutenant
116554
HOLDSWORTH, JOHN BARRY J B
RAFVR United Kingdom
Pilot Officer
115722
CARDINAL, BARRIE PHILLIP B P
RCAFCanada
Pilot Officer (Air Gnr.)
J/7197
MARKS, EDWARD MICHAEL E M
RCAF Canada
Pilot Officer - Air Gunner
J/15139
SCOTT, ALLAN RANDALL A R
RAF United Kingdom
Sergeant (Flt. Engr.)
573717
TURTLE, REGINALD WILLIAM ARTHUR
RAF United Kingdom
P/O (pilot)
40866
SOURCE
& RESEARCH: Kate Brettell
FS
Alex Sharpe
FS
Alex Sharpe, 1011102, Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality
: United Kingdom, KIA 22 June 1944, Aged 23
Plt/Off Geoff Shattock Pilot and crew served with 214 from 28 February 1943
to 29 July 1943. They were based at Chedburgh, Suffolk flying Stirlings.
See Stories and Tall Tales ("N" for nuts section) for a story written
by Flt/Lt Wallace about one of the crews Ops over Germany when their Stirling
was shot up by another Stirling injuring the pilot Geoff Shattock.
Source
: Dave Wallace, son of Flt/Lt A. Wallace
Date record last updated : 12 September 2008
Plt/Off Kenneth John Simpson
Plt/Off
Kenneth John Simpson, 413675, Royal Australian Air Force, Nationality
: Australian, KIA 1 September 1943, Aged 22
Son of John Ewen and Edith Mary Simpson, of King's Lynn, Norfolk. Sp. Memorial
`D'.
Raymond was born in 1923.
Two bodies were recovered from the sea and buried in Yerseke. One was Allan
Hockley and the other was 20 year old Raymond George Victor Simpson of King's
Lynn, Norfolk. Of note it was actually Raymond buried in grave 172 and Allan
in grave 171. It is said that the remainder of the crew parachuted into
a flooded area of Holland being picked up by Gestapo shortly after swimming
to dry land.
Source : Ryan
Dudley (nephew of Allan Hockley) and CWGC and Roz Glenn (daughter-in-law
of FS Thomas Glenn) and John Simpson (nephew of Ramond Simpson)
Fg/Off
Alan Raymond Collier Skone. 68186, Age 22, Son of Sidney
Walter & Edith Skone of Ewell, Surrey.
SERVICE CHRONOLOGY
He reported to No 2 Reception Centre, Cardington on 25 July 1940. first service number 1182859.
After a month of basic training at Cardington he was posted to No 1 Reception Wing in Torquay
Accepted as suitable for Pilot Training and on 14 September he joined No 5 ITW (Initial Training Wing) in Hastings. (during the time he was there No 5 ITW was re-located to Torquay)
By the end of 1940 he was an LAC (Leading Aircraftman) with a Grade A proficiency and very good character references. He had been found suitable for training as a pilot being classed as a U/T (Under Training) Pilot on 18 November.
On 11 December he was posted to No 51 Group Pool based at Yeadon, now the Leeds/Bradford Airport, where he was introduced to the DH82a, the Tiger Moth, to begin his basic pilot flying training.
On 3 March 1941, he was posted to Cranwell, Lincolnshire - the Headquarters of No 21 Group, Training Command known as the Royal Air Force College Flying Training School - where his pilot training continued on Airspeed Oxford twin-engine aircraft.
On 28 May 1941 Alan qualified as a fully trained pilot, was promoted to Sergeant and then "discharged from the RAF ! He was then re-engaged as a Probationary Pilot Officer in the RAF VR (Volunteer Reserve) with the new service number 68186
Instructor for Elementary Flying for "Learner" pilots. He was posted to the No 2 Central Flying School, also based at Cranwell, carrying out his duties with pupils in the Oxford aircraft.
Joined No 2 SFTS (Service Flying Training School) at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire. Here he continued with his duties as a flying instructor but this time with Blenheims.
Admitted to the SSQ (Station Sick Quarters) and transferred to the RAF Hospital at Oxford.
On 7 January 1942, posted to No 11 OTU (Operational Training Unit) which was based at Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire.
On June 1942 Alan joined Operational Squadron No 214.
On 27 august 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.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.
RESEARCH & SOURCE: Arthur Skone, Pembrokshire
SEE
'A
PEACEFULL VIEW' by Arthur
Skone for further information on P/O Alan Skone, as well as details of several
crews and overview of various squadron operations.
Sergeant Smiles was on 19 Course at No 10 FTS Tern Hill with Jack Wetherly
and Harold Paterson. Like them, he flew a tour with 214 Squadron from late
1940 until mid 1941, showing himself to be an especially determined captain.
After 29 operations, he was awarded the DFM and his citation (London Gazette
6 June 1941) speaks of two incidents when he dived his Wellington to 1400
and 1000 feet to attack heavily defended targets.
He had three crashes in 1941. The first was on 29 January 1941 when his
Wellington crashed on take-off from Stradishall with a full bomb load and
Padre Harrison, the Squadron Chaplain, won the George Medal after rescuing
the wounded.
Smiles was posted to 21 OTU Moreton-in-Marsh, surviving two more crashes.
Source
: Christopher Jary (author) and London Gazette and Nightjar Newsletter
Date record last updated : 4 October 2009
Sgt Herbert R B 'Smithy' Smith
Sgt
Herbert R B 'Smithy' Smith, Flight Engineer, Royal Air Force, Nationality
: United Kingdom
Plt/Off
John Gordon Smith. J6960. Canadian RCAF. Pilot of Stirling BF337
BU-B. See Sgt Meredith for more details
London Gazette Citation
Pilot Officer
John Gordon SMITH (Can/J.6960),. Royal Canadian Air Force, No. 214 Squadron.
One night in June, 1942, Pilot Officer Smith, was captain of an aircraft detailed
to attack a target in the Ruhr. . Whilst flying over enemy territory, his
aircraft was attacked by an enemy fighter whilst at a height of 17,000 feet.
The fighter made repeated attacks in quick succession but was driven off by
fierce and accurate fire. The fighter is believed to have been destroyed.
Another enemy aircraft then took up the attack and opened fire from close
range. Pilot Officer Smith's aircraft sustained severe damage. The front gunner
and flight engineer were badly injured and the port outer engine caught fire.'
The 'flames from the engine assumed dangerous proportions but, after the propeller
fell off, the fire subsided considerably. Despite the damage sustained, Pilot
Officer Smith displayed excellent airmanship and flew the aircraft back to
this country where he made a successful forced landing. This officer's skill,
coolness and gallantry in the face of trying circumstances were of a high
order. He has participated in several sorties and has always shown great determination
to press home his attacks against the enemy.
Sgt John 'Smitty' Smith
Sgt
John 'Smitty' Smith, Wireless Operator, Royal Air Force, Nationality :
British
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 Flt/Lt Wallace about one of the crews Ops over Germany when their Stirling
was shot up by another Stirling injuring the pilot Geoff Shattock.
Source
: Dave Wallace, son of Flt/Lt A. Wallace
Date record last updated : 14 September 2008
Sgt D Smith
Sgt
D Smith, 1308089 Wireless/Operator Gunner (No other details) On
the 10th of 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. Sgt D
Smith was on board as Wireless operator, Gunner. 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 .
Plt/Off Denis Hedley Smith
Plt/Off
Denis Hedley Smith , Pilot, 134995, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
, Nationality : United Kingdom. KIA 03 February 1943.
Sqn/Ldr
A H Smythe known as Pug or Sniffer became was a superb flight commander on
his first tour with 214, and was later W/Cdr on his second tour with 214 Squadron
when on Stirlings at Stradishall and Chedburgh. He had his own horse and used
to ride it around the dispersal areas. His family was part of the Lyons confectionary
business. He was an ex Imperial Airways pilot, lived on a houseboat somewhere
in Portugal and he died in Spain a few years back.
Left to right
S/Ldr Smythe - pilot, Sidney Meadowcroft, Keith Falconer, Tim Yates - W/Op,
Peter Scott -R/G, F/O O'Connor
Photo Source: Peter D Scott
Photo believed to be taken in Dec or early Jan 1941, likely BU-P Stirling N2800 in background
Sidney and Keith were killed in action, Tim died in March of 2002 at age 83 and O'Connor was killed while on leave in London after stepping off a bus (source - Ted Turner)
As an example of his determination he was on a raid 21/12/40 to Venice in R3208 with among others Peter Scott as front gunner and P/O paterson as 2nd W/Op and they ran out of oxygen crossing the Alps so rather than return to base they turned back across the Alps and bombed Germany instead. (from the log of Peter Scott)
SOURCE
& Research: Biography of Peter Doig Scott by Sheila Scott Bryne
FS Tom S Sparks
Believed to show Dutch Resistance worker who tried to help Sgt Sparks avoid
capture. Her name is not known.
FS
Tom S Sparks, Air Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom,
Date taken POW 22 June 1944, POW number 414
FS Sparks was one of several crew from Fortress BU.B to bail out and be taken
prisoner of war. (captured 8 July 1944).
After bailing out FS Sparks was given shelter by a Dutch resistance group.
Unfortunately is had unknowingly been infultrated by the Germans. Put in a
van to be transported to a safe house, FS Sparks found on reaching its destination
that instead of evading capture, he was surrounded by a dozen German soldiers,
all pointing their rifles at him.
On repatriation in 1945 he continued his RAF career and was promoted to FS.
He was later reported as saying that pilot John Cassan and co-pilot Syd Bryant
were wrestling with the controls of the aircraft attempting to make a forced
landing at the time he bailed out, giving rise to the theory that there may
have been badly wounded on board.
In June 1945, survivor FS Tom Sparks sent a letter to John's mother which
confirms that John stayed at the controls of the aircraft because, quote "One
of the boys up front was badly injured" (likely Navigator FS George Orr).
This
diary records FS Harry Whatton's time as a Prisoner of War from June 1944
until his liberation in May 1945. It also includes his time during the 'TheLong
March' of January to February 1945. Harry clearly had a fixation for liberation
and dwells much on the shortage of food. Perhaps an honest reflection of the
monotony of PoW camp life.
Tom and Harry were together throughtout their time in Holland and in Stalag
Luft 7 and later at Stalag 3A.
Source
: John Cripps (nephew of Sgt Sydney Bryant) and Barbara Speakman (daughter
of Sgt Tom Sparks) and Keith Stone (nephew of Harry Whatton) and "Footprints
in the sands of time" by Oliver Clutton-Brock
Date record last updated : 27 October 2009
WO H A 'Steve' Spregg
WO
H A 'Steve' Spregg, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality
: United Kingdom
John Stelling Special Operator, Special Duties, flew with 214 Squadron from
1 May 1944 until 6 December 1944. Initially he did his training on a Dominie
starting on the 28 January 1944 with a number of pilots whose names are noted
in his flight log. He then moved on to Proctors completing his training 11
March 1944 being transferred to Flying Fortresses (B17’s) commencing
his tour 19 March 1944. John then flew with 214 Squadron from that date from
Oulton completing his tour of 35 sorties on 6 December 1944.
It is believed John subsequently moved on to air traffic control towards the
end of the WW II . John married Anne Pickering (WRAF) commencing work for
Vauxhall (now a subsidiary of General Motors) in Luton, Bedfordshire living
in the area initially in Luton then moving to Barton-Le-Clay in 1952/53. John
and Anne had five children, Susan, Michael and Judi (twins), Anabel and Jeremy
respectively.
The family moved to Chester in 1962 when John took up a new post at Vauxhall
in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire. Unfortunately John died of cancer in March 1964.
No
information is known about the above photo of FS Stelling's
( SEE PHOTO ALBUM FOR ENLARGEMENT)
Adrian
& Judi Houlbrook are entrusted with FS Stelling's Flight Log book.
Source
: Adrian Houlbrook & Judi (SteIling) Houlbrook (daughter of John Stelling)
Date record last updated : 26 May 2009
Fg/Off George Stewart
Fg/Off
George Stewart,
421849, Pilot, Royal New Zealand Air Force, Nationality : New Zealand, KIA
7 March 1945, Aged 22
Distinguished Flying Cross - No.214 Squadron - awarded as per London Gazette
dated 22 August 1941 (and listed in AFRO 272/43 dated 19 February 1943).
Born in Vancouver 1917; educated there (navigating officer with Canadian
Pacific Steamships). Appointed Pilot Officer on Probation, 23 October
1939. With No.214 Squadron, 20 December 1940 to 22 June 1941 when
posted to RAF Mildenhall. No citation other than "for gallantry
and devotion to duty in the execution of air operations." AFRO
272/43 dated 19 February 1943 (reporting the Bar to his DFC) described him
as a Canadian in the RAF. Air Ministry Bulletin 4812 refers. Public
Record Office Air 2/8899 has recommendation drafted when he had flown 28
sorties (162 operational hours).
On the night of the 12th March 1941(12/04/1941), this officer carried out an attack on the railway station at Hamburg in the face of intense anti-aircraft and searchlight activity. After diving down from 8,000 feet to bomb his target, he attacked searchlight concentrations, many of which were put out of action. On the return journey he attacked six enemy mine-sweepers and two 6,000 ton merchant ships whose decks he machine-gunned. This officer has displayed complete qualities of leadership and disregard for his personal safety. He has proved himself to be an inspiration to all.
STURDY, S/L Walter Ronald Nisbett (42906) - Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross - awarded as per London Gazette dated 12 January 1943; No.214 Squadron.
Since
the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross this officer has completed a number
of daring sorties against the enemy. In July 1942, when attacking a
target in the Ruhr, his aircraft was severely damaged by anti-aircraft fire.
With great presence of mind and by his great skill and coolness, Squadron
Leader Sturdy extinguished the fire which had started, enabling him to fly
his aircraft to base. In similar circumstances in September 1942, he
flew his aircraft back from Bremen, flying several hundred miles on three
engines. He has displayed great efficiency and courage in difficulties
on several occasions. Throughout, Squadron Leader Sturdy has evinced
great powers of leadership and exceptional devotion to duty.
He married Jean Furley who I believe was one of the head WAFs at Stradishall
where they met. After the war they initially moved to Toronto where he trained
to become a chiropractor. They then moved to Vancouver where he set up his
practice with their 3 kids.He passed away approx. 1995 and Jean passed away
in the spring of 2007.
Walter had friends also connected to 214 Squadron, Reg Lewis and H. Bidmead.
He also stayed in touch with a man called Earl Ward who also ended up in British
Columbia.
Source : London
Gazette and Sandy Garnham, (granddaughter) and Squadron ORB and Ian Hunt
I signed up for my Service in Glasgow 13 March 1939. I had to travel from
Edinburgh, my home town, to Glasgow then to London to start my career as
a regular R.A.F. person. I wanted to go in as a mechanic but they suggested
I could be a wireless operator, they would teach me. At that point I did
not have to blow up the mercury (Medical Test) so I agreed and they made
me a recruit for a Wireless Operator. I signed on for six years regular
and six years reserve and did my training in Cardington, Bedforshire, then
on to Wireless School for my radio training. When war broke out, I went
to Porthcawl South Wales for my gunnery training.
After completing operational training, Hargest, Evans and I were posted
to a squadron based in Newmarket - the horse racing track. However the day
before we arrived the squadron had lost six of the eight planes they had
(shot down). All six crews had perished. Now the morale of those who did
come back was very low. All they talked about was the ones they knew that
were now gone. Hargest, Evans and myself saw how affected they were because
they talked about playing soccer with this person, or how they went to the
local with that person. It was a sad sight.
Since now there were no aircraft, we, Hargest, Evans and myself were then
posted on to 214 Sqdn at Stradishall and operations. Here we decided we
would not get close to anybody except our own crew, and that was what we
did. Just stuck together. We went everywhere together.
The book "Portrait of a Bomber Pilot by Christopher Jary" covers
the 214 squadron from pages 32 to 52 and has photos of our crew, the photograph
on page 39 was our original crew. All told, we flew 30 missions together
on Wellington "G" George. (This is likely Wellington Serial 1621
as noted from Venner log book entry)
Later on in my service I was flying with trainee pilots and doing menial
operational stuff. If the pilots got lost while flying I would get on the
radio and get a navigational fix so that we could chart our way back to
base. That was the kind of assignments I had after my 50th bombing raid.
I finally got sick of the trainee stuff and I applied to take the pilots
training course. I actually flew solo in Scone in Perth, Scotland. That
was at the end of the seven years with the RAF.
Between operations we usually went to Cambridge to have a couple of 'Beers'
and go dancing, we could do this because Evans had a car, so Hargest and
I shared the cost and we always enjoyed ourselves. Now that used to be when
the moon was bright, since we only flew every third night on Operations
during this time. When there was no moon, we went on operations every second
night so that cut down on our entertainment.
Those nights we would walk to the local in Stradishall to have a few beers
and a 'singsong'. It was a small house with the front room being the bar
and we did have music there. Another thing we used to do was have a cup
of tea and a 'Wad', at this farm house - just a small place very close to
our dispersal area where our aircraft "G" 'George' was. This beautiful
old lady and her son would make a pot of tea and we would bring some cakes,
so at break time we would enjoy our 'break' just like "home with Mam!"
I wasn't involved with any sports, but I did play the trumpet in the station
jazz band. I was more into dancing, Glen Miller and Harry James.
Outside of our own crew, the feeling of the crews was that you didn't want
to get close to any other crew because at any time a message could come
through that one of our aircraft failed to return. If you didn't get close
to anyone else then you didn't have to worry it might be someone you were
associated with. There is only one I spent any time with, that was Bill
Crofts. The reason I remember him was he had a gramophone and a lot of Glen
Miller's records which he used to play in his room and we were invited to
listen to them, this we did when we had time.
Ted Hargest passed away many years ago.
Evans has gotten lost and we cannot find him.
The only one I know who is still around besides myself, is " W/C Beck"
the original First Pilot. I visited Hargest's home, Blue Boar Inn, Brecon,
Wales and Evan's home, Mertha Tidville, Wales and I write to Hargest's daughter
in Australia. (NOTE: George may not have known but W/C John Beck predeceased
him some six months earlier in January)
On 12 September, forty Wellingtons were sent to attack dock and railway
targets in Germany and Brussels. Again flying as second pilot with Beck,
Jack went to bomb the marshaling yards at Osnabruck. They successfully found
their target - perhaps by homing in on its transmitter. Staying well above
the German barrage balloons at 3,500 feet, they were unable to avoid its
accurate anti-aircraft defenses. 'G-George' was hit in three places. Fortunately
no one was wounded and no serious damage done. . . . They landed safely
back at Stradishall after a memorable five and a half hour second trip.
Part of 'G-George's' fabric, holed by the ack-ack, was preserved as a memento
of their brush with the German anti-aircraft battery which occurred in the
early hours of Friday the 13th.!
A piece of the fabric saved from BU-G that was holed by ack ack on Friday
the 13th, September. George was the artist who embellished it with the Nazi
Cross.
Flight
jacket on and ready to go! George patiently waiting reads a book while wondering
where in the blazes the rest of the crew has got to. 2001 (Book is "Portrait
of a Bomber Pilot" by Author Christopher Jary)
George died at 3am on 10 June 2003.
Source : Christopher
Jary (author of "Portrait of a bomber pilot")
Date record last updated : 11 April 2009
FS
J A Smith
Was a crew
member of Stirling BK653, which crashed in the village of Bonneuil les Eaux,
Northern France
Source
: Julien Saguez, French Researcher
FS
Stan Scott
FS Stan Scott,
Bomb Aimer, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom
Source : Mrs Shirley
Whitlock neice of one of the crew, Ian Hunt and CWGC.
Sgt
Douglas Edward Shrimpton
Sgt
Douglas Edward Shrimpton,
1183690, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 25 June 1942, Aged 21
He was a Tailgunner originally from Labradour (at that time, not a part
of Canada) and was shot down over the North Sea (probably by an Me110 night
fighter) during operations on the 24th of June 1943. None of the crew survived
but his body was recovered on the coast of Holland. His remains are interred
in the South East corner of the Bergen General Cemetery. He had married
a local girl Kathleen Gillan, whom he met during gunnery school at 10 BGAS
at Heathhall, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.
Source
: Steve
Abbott grandson of Solomon Seward, Ian Hunt and CWGC
Sgt
Peter David Straton
Sgt
Peter David Straton, 1396511, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Nationality
: United Kingdom. KIA 24 June 1943
Son of Joseph and Liza Shorttle; husband of Joan Shorttle, of Middlesbrough,
Yorkshire.
London
Gazette 14 September 1943 DFM awarded while with 199 Squadron.
London Gazette 26 October 1943 Appointed Flight Sergeant from 4 September
1943.
London Gazette 24 March 1944 Promotion to Flying Officer.
After the crash of HB805 on 24 February 1945 the body of the pilot, FO Shorttle,
was found and was buried on 7 May 1945 at No1 cemetery Ittenbach Germany,
before being re-interred at Rheinberg war cemetery.
Source
: CWGC and Beryl Hutchinson (daughter of Plt/Off R W Towell)
Date record last updated : 23 August 2009
Sgt
Harry Edward Sambrook
Sgt
Harry Edwards Sambrook, 935979. W. Op.[Air]. Royal Air Force. Nationality
: United Kingdom. KIA 30 September 1940 aged 28.
He joined 214 Sqn on 1 September 1944 and was flying on ops from 28
September 1944 to 14 April 1945. Initially in the Squadron's O.R.B.
(Operations Record Book - the official Squadron 'log' of ops and other
events) he is listed as 'F/O (Flying Officer) M C J Stainier' (5 Ops
between 28 September 1944 and 7 October 1944), but thereafter he is
listed as 'Flying Officer M C J Mark' (33 more ops between 9 October
1944 and 13 April 1945).
He used the alias name of Marc C J Mark in case of capture. Prior
to joining 214 Squadron his airfield in Belgium had been overrun by
the Germans early in the war and he had been captured and made POW.
He escaped from the Miranda de Robo concentration camp in Spain and
made his way to the UK and joined the RAF, who felt that the name
change should be made while on flying operations so as not to be easily
identified in the event he fell into German hands again.
F/O Stainier 'bent' a Fortress in a landing accident on 12 September
1944, while in training with 1699 Flight, 214 Sqn's Fortress conversion
unit. He records that there was a problem with the aircraft's flaps
(Fortress SR380) on a night training exercise, and the a/c then swung
on landing at RAF Woodbridge (one of the emergency landing airfields,
in Suffolk) and tipped onto its nose. One air gunner was slightly
injured. The other ops were a combination of RCM jamming ones accompanying
Bomber Command raids and "Window patrols", dropping radar-confusing
"window" (nowadays "chaff") strips of reflective-coated paper.
After the war he worked for Sabena Airlines.
He died in 1959.
Source
: Lt/Col Jean-Marie Stainier (son of Marc Stainier) and Ian Hunt and
Angus Cameron
Sgt
Ronald Victor Street
Sgt Ronald Victor Street, 1575811, Air Gunner,
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA
24 May 1943, Aged 19
Son of Albert and Mary Ann Street, of Low Hill, Wolverhampton.
The small island of Schiermonnikoog is the most northerly of the Frisian
Islands, lying about 11 kilometres north of the Dutch mainland. The
Vredenhof (Peace Garden) is a small private cemetery in the sand dunes
about 1.5 kilometres east of the village.
Please note that it is not possible to take vehicles to the island.
The cemetery was created in 1906 for the burial of bodies washed up
by the sea, and maintained by local subscriptions. The land (subsequently
acquired by the Netherlands Government) was the gift of the then owner,
Count von Bernstorff; and the cemetery was the personal project and,
until his death in 1955, the main interest of a well known resident
of Schiermonnikoog. He laid out the cemetery, planted trees and shrubs
and built a cross and a small chapel, all largely at his own expense.
During the 1939-1945 war the cemetery was extended at the rear and
new trees and shrubs were planted. It is in this part of the cemetery
that the majority of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth graves are
situated, although a few are in the original portion. There are now
nearly 70, 1939-1945 war casualties commemorated in this site; just
over a quarter of these are unidentified.
Source
: CWGC and Nightjar Newsletter Summer/Autumn 2003.
Source
: CWGC and Nightjar Newsletter Winter / Spring 2004
Date record last updated : 21 February 2008
Sqn/Ldr Martin Tyringham Stephens DFC
Sqn/Ldr Martin Tyringham Stephens DFC,
75730, Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality
: United Kingdom, KIA 13 February 1942, Aged 40
Named on the following Memorial : Runnymede Memorial panel 267
Son of Percy and Jennie Sinclair; husband of Eileen Terasa Sinclair,
of Hastings, Sussex.
Fg/Off Sinclair previously served with 9 Squadron. His DFM appeared
in the London Gazette on 17 August 1943. His widow later remarried
and helped with the provision of a monument at Oulton.
Source : Chorley
and CWGC and Nightjar Newsletter Spring 2003 and Catherine Stewart
(relative of WO James McFarlane)
Is also listed on returning operational aircrew on 31 August 1944
Named on a photograph of 214 Squadron members at Brackla, January
1945 - see Album 4
Brackla near Nairn in Invernesshire. It was the hutted camp of ACAC,
Air Crew Allocation Centre, a clearing house for tour expired aircrew.
In spite of heavy losses, far more had survived than could be used
for further flying duties and it was quite a problem finding suitable
niches for all.
Source
: Gerhard Heilig and David Wright (son of Flt/Lt George Wright) and
George Mackie
Date record last updated : 28 July 2008
Plt/Off
J R 'Ricky' Sherbourne
Plt/Off
J R 'Ricky' Sherbourne, Bomb Aimer, Royal Canadian Air Force,
Nationality : Canadian
Is also listed on returning operational aircrew on 31 August 1944.
Both times he is listed as Warrant Officer
Source
: David Wright (son of Flt/Lt George Wright) and George Mackie and
Catherine Sommer (daughter of Roland Williams)
Date record last updated : 14 February 2010
Gp/Capt
John Arthur Guinness Slessor CVO DL
Gp/Capt
John Arthur Guinness Slessor CVO DL, Flight Commander
Son of Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir John Cotesworth Slessor,
GCB (3 June 1897-12 Jul 1979) and the former Hermione Grace Guinness
(d 1970), husband of Mrs Hazel Garstin
Died on 11th March 2008 in Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. A Service
of Thanksgiving was held in the chapel of Cheltenham College on Friday
11th April .
As a Sqn Ldr, John was a Flt Cdr during his time on No 214 (FMS) Sqn
in 1958-59.
Source
: AVM Eric Macey OBE and Michael Rhodes on groups.google.com/group/Peerage-News
Date record last updated : 5 May 2008
FS
Smith
FS
Smith, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality
: United Kingdom, Date taken POW 25 August 1944, POW number 720
To see other interesting interviews and information, please click
on the following link : http://www.themrp.org
Source
: Roger Mills (son of John Tudor Mills) and interview by Allan Cameron
Date record last updated : 20 May 2010
Gp/Capt
Boyd Drayton 'Shrub' Sellick
Gp/Capt
Boyd Drayton 'Shrub' Sellick, Pilot
Served with 214 Squadron pre World War 2.(about 1935) until the start
of WW2, flying Wellingtons
He was Commanding Officer at Oakington 1942
He was Commanding Officer at Hemswell, dates unknownBoyd was at 576
sqn at Fiskerton Lincolnshire June 1944 to February 1945 as Wing Commander.
He eventually rose to the rank of Group Captain.
It is believed that he lived in the Huntington/ Peterbourgh area and
died in 1999, but this has not been confirmed.
Source
: David Briggs & Peter Walker (214 Squadron Association Secretary)
SAC Roy Alan George 'Rags' Sales,
4163484, Ground Crew, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom
Born 16 September 1946
Born in Dartford, Kent
Son of Alfred Redvers Sales and Lillian May Sales (nee Cherry)
Roy enlisted in January 1955 and did basic training at RAF Padgate
and trade training on armaments at RAF Kirkham.
His first posting was to RAF Marham on the Technical Wing then to
RAF Gaydon for a course on the Valiant aircraft. He was then transferred
to 214 Squadron serving in Malta (twice), Cyprus and Hada. Roy also
did a brief spell at Istress, France.
Whilst in Malta in Autumn 1956 the Suez Crisis erupted and it seemed
that there were no armourers in the "bomb dump" who had
experience of live bombing up so he was made up to Acting NCO and
transferred to Technical Wing where he worked for 72 hous without
a break on bombing patterns and fusing what are now known as "dumb"
bombs but also introduced radio fuses from nuclear weapons thus turning
the bombs into Airburst weapons.
Later he worked on Purple Club and Blue Danube atom bombs plus the
Yellow Sun hydrogen bombs.
Source
: Roy Sales
Date record last updated : 30 December 2008
Sgt
Ralph Reginald Shipley
Sgt
Ralph Reginald Shipley, Air Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality
: United Kingdom
Pilot Officer Smith was OK after his aircraft was badly shot about
by night fighters and crash landed at Coltishall and written off.
Two other crew members (names unknown) were wounded during the fighter
engagements.
Source
: Nightjar Newsletter Autumn 2004
Date record last updated : 26 May 2009
Sgt
John Leslie Smith
Sgt
John Leslie Smith, 748177, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 9 May 1941, Aged 23
Flew on 29 July 1943 as 2nd pilot with Jack Dixon's crew.
Source
: John Jewsbury (son of R F Jewsbury)
Date record last updated : 7 July 2009
Sqn/Ldr
Ronald Seeley OBE MBE BEM
Sqn/Ldr
Ronald Seeley OBE MBE BEM, 573755, Radar, Royal Air Force, Nationality
: British
Born 26 February 1922
Born in Barrow-in-Furness, Lancashire
He was noted as receiving an MBE in London Gazette Issue 44999 published
on the 30 December 1969.
Ronald died on 4 May 1997 aged 75
Source
: Anne Cheung (daughter) and London Gazette
Date record last updated : 8 August 2009
Wg/Cdr
A G Skingsley
Wg/Cdr A G Skingsley,
Royal Air Force
Commanding Officer of 214 Squadron at RAF Marham 22 May 1974 when
he presented a plaque to the Air Gunners Association, which is now
displayed at the Yorkshire Air Museum in the Air Gunnery Hut. This
plaque is shown below :
Flt/Lt
Francis William Savage DFC, 129071, Royal Air Force Volunteer
Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom
Pilot Officer (prob) to be Flying Officer on probation (war subs)
on 20 November 1942 reported in London Gazette Issue 35864 published
on the 12 January 1943.
Flying Officer to Flight Lieutenant (war subs) 20 May 1944 reported
in London Gazette Issue 36554 published on the 6 June 1944
Note of DFC in London Gazette Issue 37030 published on the 10 April
1945.
Note of retaining rank after the war as Flt/Lt from 22 August 1946
in London Gazette Issue 37708 published on the 30 August 1946
Source
: London Gazette issues
Date record last updated : 5 August 2009
Sydney
Shaw
Sydney
Shaw, Mid Upper Gunner
Sydney Shaw was mid-upper gunner on Fortresses employed in the radio
countermeasures role. He originally wanted to go for pilot when joining
up, but the temptation to get at the enemy and get involved as soon
as possible, led him to change his mind and go for air gunner, which
of course was a much quicker training program than pilot! I think
in later life he regretted this, and the missed opportunity for a
career as a peace time commercial arline pilot!
The
above photograph shows him in an 'action' pose, at the waist gunners
position. Apparently some offical squadron photographs were taken
whilst he was on leave, and subsequently, his mates arranged for these
to be taken upon his return!
Unfortunately, we don't know the serial number of his 'kite', nor
any details of his crew mates, but will endeavour to find out.
He died at home in Portsmouth about 20 years ago.
The above photograph shows bomber and crew, with Sydney sat on his
turret!
Source
: Rob Shaw (grandson of Sydney Shaw)
Date record last updated : 9 August 2009
Sgt
Thomas Henry Sansum
Sgt
Thomas Henry Sansum, 902416, Wireless Operator, Royal Air Force
Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 5 November 1940,
Aged 25
Named on the following Memorial : Canadian Books of Remembrance
Named on the following Memorial : Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Named on the following Memorial : Runnymede Memorial Panel 60
Son of George Edward and Margaret Chambers Stack; nephew of Mrs. Mamie
Turner, of Amherst, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Source
: Chorley and CWGC
Date record last updated : 10 October 2009
Sgt
Francis Donald Stannard
Sgt
Francis Donald Stannard, 903139, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 14 May 1943, Aged 24
From Jan Bardoul:
"In the early hours of 14 May 1943 a burning plane crashed into
a house in my hometown of Heerlen, The Netherlands, setting the house
on fire. At a few miles' distance a wounded airman was found and taken
to hospital. He was reported to be severely wounded., he suffered
from a fractured pelvis. The hospitalized airman appeared to be Leslie
Sutcliffe, born in Eccles on 27 July 1921. Address: 99 Grasmare Crescent"
Source
: Chorley and "Footprints on the sands of time" by Oliver
Clutton-Brock and Jan Bardoul of Heerlen, the Netherlands
Sgt
Eric George Walter Shotter, 930243, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner,
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA
1 April 1942, Aged 21
Son of William and Ellen Stephens, of Three Cocks, Brecknockshire.
Sgt/Pilot Vincent L Stephens, 1119436. Arrived at Stradishall on 26
February 1942.
With undoubtedly a lot of good natured practical jokes and wisecracks
on 01 April 1942 April Fools day, Wellington IC Z8842 lifted off the
runway at Stradishall on what was to be Sgt Stephens third and last
operational flight.
Sgt Stephens' body was recovered from the North Sea.
Jane has the letters Vincent wrote while in the Air Force and the
correspondence concerning his death and burial in Holland.
Source
: Jane Brookes (niece of Sgt. Vincent Stephens) and Chorley and CWGC
Date record last updated : 29 December 2009
Plt/Off
Harry Arthur Shortt
Plt/Off
Harry Arthur Shortt, 100558, Co-pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer
Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 16 April 1942, Aged 25
Son of Henry and Annie Elizabeth Shortt, of Little Baddow, Essex;
husband of Sylvia Ada Shortt.
Source
: Adrian van Zantvoort and Chorley and CWGC
Date record last updated : 1 January 2010
SAC
Robert 'Bob' Stocker
SAC
Robert 'Bob' Stocker, R4272335, Electrical Mechanic (Air), Royal
Air Force
Robert wrote:
"Although the true meaning of Ultor in Umbris is Avenging in
the Shadows, one of the first things I was told by "the boys"
when I arrived, was that really it meant "Always in the Dark."
I joined 214 Squadron during the bad winter of ‘62/63. As an
Elec Mech(Air) my first job was to flush battery acid from the bomb-bay
with bi-carb solution from a 5 gallon carboy because a battery had
boiled over. I sloshed a good amount around, put the bottle on the
ground and started mopping. When I tried to lift it again for another
go, it was frozen solidly to the ground! (Marham could get REALLY
cold!)
I was in 214 Squadron when a Vulcan was flight-refuelled from either
Waddington or Scampton (I can’t remember which) to what should
have been Perth in Australia . However, Perth was fog-bound so the
aircraft had to be diverted to Fremantle. I believe that was 1964
but age is getting the better of me!
I was flown to Gan, one of the Maldive Islands . Other refuelling
points were El Adam (Lybia) and Akrotiri ( Aden ). At the time, the
troubles between the Greek and Turkish Cypriots was at its worst and
families were using the R.A.F. transport aircraft to fly families
home to Blighty, so we had to be flown out 10 days before the exercise
and back again 9 days after it. We only had to see the Valiants in
the day before, pre and after flight the next day, the day of the
exercise, then pre-flight them to return the next day. The rest of
the 3 weeks was more or less a holiday-in-the-sun!
With an average temperature over each 24 hour period of 86F , I vowed
never to complain about cold weather again because you can wrap up!
From miles away, at night, you could see the ident beacon flashing
- - .-. (M R)
I flew with our Wing Commander on a refuelling leap-frog exercise
over the North Sea which was fine until he started swapping his distance
and close-up glasses every few seconds with a thumping great drogue
swishing about just feet from the windscreen! (Another memory loss
! I can’t remember his name, but it might have been Jones.)
Metal crystallisation of the main spar caused the Valiants to be grounded,
and for several weeks Chipmonks and Ansons were flown in for the pilots
to keep up their flying hours. I went for a joy-ride with Flight Lieutenant
Peach in a Chipmonk and we did some aerobatics. Great fun! He let
me take the stick for about 5 minutes, too. (I couldn’t reach
the pedals, though!)
My great sadness is losing contact with a 214 friend called Ron Meldrum.
We spent many a happy hour in a King’s Lynn pub called The Golden
Ball, affectionately known as (if you will excuse the R.A.F. vernacular)
The Rusty Knacker.
