Sqn/Ldr Nigel Firth Walker DFC DSO

Sqn/Ldr Nigel Firth Walker DFC DSO, Navigator, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) N2802 BU-A

Nigel Walker joined 214 Squadron in November 1940 as a sergeant navigator. His captain was Pilot Officer Jack Wetherly.
When Jack Wetherly completed his tour in March 1941 the crew was taken over by Pilot Officer John Topliss. When Topliss and his crew were lost on Hamburg on 11 May 1941 flying Wellington R1462, Walker was not with them: he was on leave prior to being commissioned.

In 1942 he returned to operations, joining 83 Squadron (Pathfinders). Here he completed a second tour, serving as Navigation Officer and Bombing Leader, and was awarded the DFC (1942) and the DSO (1943).

He survived the war, married a WAAF from the Y Service and lived in Oxford. In 1963 he published his recollections of his time in Bomber Command, entitled Strike to Defend.

Source : Christopher Jary, Author - Portrait Of A Bomber Pilot.

Date record last updated : 16 May 2009

Plt/Off George Hamilton Webster

Plt/Off George Hamilton Webster, J5471 Pilot. Resided Winnipeg Canada. He was the son of William and Ellen Webster of Elmwood, sister Jessie Grieve. Killed in action at age 22 during night bombing operations Jan. 28, 1942, while piloting Wellington aircraft #X9890. His body was never found. George is Commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial in Surrey, England and a bay on a lake in Northern Manitoba, Canada bears his name in honour.

See CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mk1c X9890 BU-F

See W/O Harry Ward's memoirs for 26 January 1942 for his recollections of P/O George Webster.

The following was written by George's sister, Jessie Grieve, for inclusion in A Place of Honour, Manitoba's War Dead Commemorated in its Geography published by the Manitoba Government. (16 January 1995)

George was born August 1, 1919 in Winnipeg. He attended Salisbury School, Morse Place, Lord Selkirk and St. John's Technical schools. He worked for the Department of Education before enlisting. He always had a great love for airplanes; he used to drive me to the airport (then Stevenson's Field) and we would watch planes landing and taking off. George enlisted as a clerk in the airforce in 1939 and was stationed at Manning Depot in Toronto. George and I were always very close and I saved money to go visit him. Mother said: "His letters are different - keep your eyes open - perhaps he has a girlfriend!" The "girlfriend" turned out to be private flying lesons.

I went to Toronto Flying Club and watched innumerable take-offs and landings. At that time in history the airforce was only taking university graduates or those who were licensed pilots as air crew. With his commercial pilot license attained, George was able to remuster to air crew. George graduated from the flying training school at Dunnville, Ontario at age 21 and received the highest award at his class wings ceremony.

He was chosen for Bomber Command and trained at Lossiemouth, Scotland. He was then stationed at Stradishall. (Suffolk). He piloted a Wellington Bomber and he and the whole crew were reported missing in action during a raid on Muenster.

Webster Bay (64 G6) in Jefferson Lake was named after George in 1994.

Nov 2004, George's sister, Jessie Grieve currently lives in Winnipeg. Jessie has visited the Runnymede Memorial and had contacted the families of the other crew members.

Source: Stewart Murray, family connection to Squadron,

Ref: Allison: "They Shall Grow Not Old"

FS Harry Whatton

Harry and Elsie married on 26 December 1947.

FS Harry Whatton, 1384559, Wireless Operator, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom, Date taken POW 8 July 1944, POW number 423

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark II SR382 BU-B

Imprisoned at POW camp Bankau (Bakow), Poland
Imprisoned at POW camp Luckenwalde

Born in Holborn, Islington, London, UK

Son of Percival Whatton and Dora Elleen Whatton. Husband of Elsie Edwards.

SEE PRISONERS OF WAR

Harry was born in 1921.

Harry was responsible for radio communications aboard Fortress SR382 BU-B. He was one of several crew to bail out and evade capture for several weeks until his capture in Antwerp on 8 July 1944.

Keith Stone (Harry's nephew) writes:
"I am in contact with a relative who took the trouble to make a copy of the diary written by Harry in PoW camp. This was done at the time of Harry's death in 1994, when he was 73 years old. In the diary he describes the shooting down in detail and mentions the names of all the crew members. The diary shows he and Tom Sparks were together throughtout their time in Holland and in Stalag Luft 7 and later at Stalag 3A."

Click on the following link to read the diary :
The Diary of an Allied Advanced Guard. Not Defeated, Just Waiting

This diary records Harry's time as a Prisoner of War from June 1944 until his liberation in May 1945. It also includes his time during the 'The 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.

For more information see : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_March_(1945)

Source : Keith Stone (nephew of Harry Whatton) and John Cripps (nephew of Sgt Sydney Bryant) and "Footprints in the sands of time" by Oliver Clutton-Brock

Date record last updated : 7 November 2009

Plt/Off Denis Max Weddell

Fg/Off Denis Max Weddell, 137107, Navigator, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, 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. 13.

Son of William and Effie Weddell, of Sheffield; husband of Kathleen Weddell, of Pitsmoor, Sheffield.

Source : CWGC and Ian Hunt

Date record last updated : 8 August 2009

Flt/Lt Jack Harold 'Shorty' Wetherly DFC MiD

Flt/Lt Jack Harold 'Shorty' Wetherly DFC MiD 1 January 1942, 82716, Co-pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 30 March 1943, Aged 28

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) ??Cole (5 November 1940)
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) ??Glass (1941)
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) ??McKeand (1941)
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) N2776 BU-G
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) N2802 BU-A

Born 7 December 1914

Born in Croydon, England

Buried in KIEL WAR CEMETERY. Reference : 4. J. 15

Son of Harold William and Gertrude Alice Wetherly; husband of Marjorie Alwyn Wetherly, of Carshalton, Surrey. Husband of Peggy Faux

Jack attended Whitgift School before joining his father's paper merchant business in London. Short, stocky, fair, intelligent but unintellectual, with a high-spirited sense of fun and a deep sense of duty, like many young men of his generation he yearned to fly. He enlisted in the RAF Class F Reserve in 1935 and learnt to fly at Hanworth and Redhill, progressing from Blackburn B2s and De Havilland Moths to Hawker Harts and Audaxes. The outbreak of war found him with his wings and 83 solo hours in his logbook but with no aircraft to fly. He therefore spent several frustrating months doing PT on the beach at Hastings before he was posted to No 10 FTS at Tern Hill to complete his flying training. In the midst of all this, on 30 September 1939 he married Peggy Faux in Southport, Lancashire.

From 15 OTU at Harwell he was posted as an Acting Pilot Officer to 214 Squadron at Stradishall in early September 1940. Here he acquired the nickname 'Shorty'. His first two operations, on 10 and 12 September, were as second-pilot to John Leighton Beck (later Wing Commander, DFC and Bar). John later remembered Jack's high-spirited impressions of Abbott and Costello; he also did a good Fats Waller and a memorable Carmen Miranda.

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.!

His next ten ops were with Maurice Hartford (later Flight Lieutenant, DFC). Their aircraft was N2776 BU-G. Several of these early operations formed Bomber Command's contribution to the Battle of Britain: their attacks on the German invasion barges gathering in the Channel ports. His last operation as second pilot was with 20-year-old Sergeant Geoff Cole (later Squadron Leader, DFC) on 5 November, when they attacked Emden.

During his time at Stradishall, Jack and Peggy lived in a flat over the petrol pumps at Haverhill. Among their friends and contemporaries there were George Patrick, the landlord of the local pub, Keith Falconer (Flight Lieutenant, later DFC), 214 Squadron's Navigation Leader, and his actress wife, a lot of soldiers from the King's Own Scottish Borderers, who were stationed locally, and a number of Cockney women evacuated from blitzed London. Bombed from their homes, the latter used to cheer when they saw Jack in uniform.

In mid-November Jack took over as captain of a new crew from OTU. The aircraft was N2802 BU-A.

The last few operations in Jack's tour with 214 Squadron were with Sgt Ray Glass (later Squadron Leader, DFC) and Sgt George McKeand (later Flight Lieutenant, DSO, DFC). His final operation was to Bremen on 12 March 1941, after which the new CO, Richard Jordan (later Air Marshal, DFC), endorsed his logbook "Above the Average"and recommended him for a DFC. He was then posted to 21 OTU at Moreton in Marsh 'for a rest' after his 28 operations.

Jack remained with 21 OTU for ten months, flying in their Navigation Flight and once having to bale out of an Anson over South Wales. Although his DFC did not materialise, he was mentioned in Despatches on 1 January 1942. Later that month he was posted to Number 2 Flying Instructors' School at Montrose to become a qualified flying instructor. Here he met Flying Officer Ray Holmes (the Hurricane pilot who rammed the Dornier that bombed Buckingham Palace on 15 September 1940) and Flight Lieutenant George Unwin (another Battle of Britain pilot, DFM and Bar - later Group Captain, DSO). After a spell as a flying instructor at Cranwell, where his daughter was born, Jack was promoted Flight Lieutenant and, in August 1942, was posted back to Montrose as an instructor of flying instructors.

In January 1943 he was recalled to Bomber Command in time for the start of Air Chief Marshal Harris's main offensive. Converting to the Halifax at Riccall, he joined Leonard Cheshire's 76 Squadron at Linton-on-Ouse, near York, in early February 1943. Here, a year after Butch Harris's appointment as C-in-C, the pace and scale of Bomber Command's activities had been transformed from the tiny, though dangerous, operations of 1940. In the next six weeks, Jack flew 15 operations to Wilhelmshaven, Lorient, Nuremberg, Cologne, Stuttgart, Munich, Duisburg, Berlin and Essen. The Essen trip on 5 March was the first full-scale use of Oboe and marked the beginning of really effective strategic bombing. Three nights later Jack took the new CO, Wing Commander Don Smith (later DSO, DFC) second dickey on his first operation to Nuremberg. Jack himself was about to be promoted to squadron leader to take command of a flight. Meanwhile, March included three Berlin operations: on the 1st, 27th and 29th. On the last of these, Jack's Halifax, DT 744 'K-King', was intercepted by Leutnant August Geiger (later Hauptmann, Knight's Cross, killed 29 September 1943) and shot down over Schleswig-Holstein. He and his crew were all killed. Jack was twenty-eight.

In June 1945 Jack's DFC, which Leonard Cheshire had recommended in March 1943, was gazetted and Peggy went to Buckingham Palace to receive it from King George VI. In June 1947 Peggy married a soldier, Captain Sydney Jary MC of The Royal Hampshire Regiment; she died in January 1995. In 1990 Peggy and Sydney's son, Christopher, wrote Portrait of a Bomber Pilot, a biography of Jack. Group Captain Leonard Cheshire VC DSO DFC wrote the Foreword while Ian Lawson, Geoff Cole, Ray Glass, George McKeand, Nigel Walker, Ray Holmes, Don Smith, John Leighton Beck, Mervyn Leyshon and many of Jack's friends and contemporaries breathed life into the book with their vivid memories of those brave, sad times.

Source : Christopher Jary, Author - Portrait Of A Bomber Pilot and CWGC and George Steven

Date record last updated : 27 June 2009

Sgt Ken W J 'Chalky' White

Sgt Ken W J 'Chalky' White, Air Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress (model unknown) HB817 BU-G
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress (model unknown) KJ101 BU-H
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress (model unknown) KJ114 BU-B

Alan Mercer has contributed some reminiscences and a photo of Sgts White and Langhorn with 'their' B-17 in a book about 100 Group which came out about a year ago: "Even When The Sparrows Are Walking" by Laurie Brettingham.

"Chalky" White and Freddy Langhorn in front of their aircraft HB817 BU-G, Spring 1945

Source : Ian Hunt and Alan Mercer and Jennifer Baumfield

Date record last updated : 21 February 2009

Sgt William Wildey DFM

Sgt William Wildey DFM, 1052356 1st Wireless Operator.

On the night of 27/06/1942 Stirling N3751 coded BU-P set out for operations to Bremen. After bombing the target the crew encountered Luftwaffe nightfigters who often frequented the bomber routes home. Enduring an unforgettable night of horror N3751 and crew, although severely damaged by flak, attacked by five enemy fighters and shot at over the sea managed to bring their aircraft home. At 0500 be it a miracle or skill, N3751 returning to base, skidded down the runway wheels up and came to a rest. Although not officially verified yet it is almost certain that Stirling BU-P never flew again. All surviving crew members were awarded the DFM. The citation as follows tells the harrowing story:

3196 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 21 JULY,1942

Award of the Distinguished Flying Medal to:

953982 F/Sgt James Ian Cunningham Waddicar, Gunner

4OO468 Sergeant Frank Morton GRIGGS RAAF, Pilot

1378114 Sergeant Arthur 'O'HARA, Navigator

953982 Flight Sergeant James Ian Cunningham WADDICAR

1014907 Sergeant Ronald WATSON, Gunner

527989 .Sergeant Thomas Noel Castree PROSSER,'

1052356 Sergeant 'William WILDEY 1st Wireless Operator

These airmen (listed above) were members of the crew of an aircraft detailed to attack Bremen" on ' the night' of 27th June, 1942 ( 27/06/1942 ), Sergeant Griggs acting as captain. The objective was successfully bombed., but over the target area the aircraft sustained much damage from anti-aircraft fire. One of the starboard engines was hit and put out of action. Shortly afterwards the bomber was subjected to an attack by an enemy fighter, fire from which caused further damage. Almost immediately a second fighter opened fire and Sergeant Wildey, the 1st wireless operator, was wounded in the arm. The first fighter then returned to the attack but was met with a long and vicious burst from Sergeant Waddicar's guns which sent the enemy aircraft spinning towards the ground, where it exploded on impact.

Some time later, after crossing Holland, Sergeant O'Hara, the navigator, who had "skilfully guided his captain' thus far, observed 2' enemy fighters closing in. Sergeant Watson, who was tending the injured wireless operator, immediately attempted to man his turret but it was jammed. With the assistance of Sergeant O'Hara, who held his legs, he managed to reach his guns and he then delivered an effective burst at the leading fighter, which caused it to dive towards the sea completely out of-control. Meanwhile, Sergeant Waddicar, with commendable ingenuity, had temporarily repaired one of his guns which had failed and opened fire at the second aircraft from close range.. The attacker dived away and exploded before hitting the water! The bomber was not yet out of danger, being subjected to machine gun fire from the sea. A few minutes later another fighter appeared opening fire with a long burst but Sergeant Waddicar's return fire caused it to break off the engagement.

Sergeant Griggs, displaying fine airmanship, eventually flew his severely damaged aircraft safely back to base where he made a crash landing. Throughout the operation, these airmen displayed unflinching courage, great fortitude and splendid team work in foiling the attacks of 5 enemy fighters, 3 of which were shot down. Their conduct upheld the highest 'traditions of the Royal Air Force.

Source: Citation text is from the on line archives of the London Gazette

FS Ernest G Wilson

He Giveth, his loved ones sleep

FS Ernest G Wilson, R76046 RCAF Wop/Ag, Age 23. F/Sgt Wilson and crew were KIA on 3 July 1942 ( 03/07/1942 ).

Stirling BU-T took off sometime between 11.00pm and midnight 02/07/1942. 325 aircraft attacked and bombed Bremen in good visibility. A Bremen report states that over 1,000 houses and 4 small industrial firms were damaged. In the port 3 cranes and 7 ships were hit. The 1,736 ton steamer Marieborg was sunk and became a danger to navigation. Five people were killed and four injured. In all, Thirteen aircraft were lost, 8 Wellingtons, 2 Hampdens, 1 Halifax and 2 Stirlings.

BF313 was shot down by a night fighter piloted by Ofw Karl-Heinz Scherfling of II./NJG2 and crashed at 0150hrs 3rd July 1942 ( 03/07/1942 ) onto mudflats 22km NNW of Groningen, Holland. All the crew were killed.

The crew of BF313, coded BU-T consisted of :

W/C Kenneth Knocker - pilot

Sgt Richard Fairhurst

Sgt Peter Inman

P/O Daniel Malofie

Sgt Tristam Palmer

F/Sgt Robert Ritchie

Sgt John Underwood

F/Sgt Ernest Wilson

The crew is buried at Westernieland General Cemetery, The Netherlands.

SOURCE & RESEARCH: Stevin Oudshoorn

SEE ALSO: www.basher82.nl

Plt/Off David Wilson

Plt/Off David Wilson, Pilot

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C X9979 (Autumn 1941) BU-O

Date record last updated : 16 June 2010

Sgt R A Williams

Sgt R A Williams, 08/04/1941 - 07/04/1941. 214 Sqn. Wellington 1c. "Took off Stradishall on operations to Kiel. Lost without trace. All are commemmorated on the Runnymede Memorial".

The crew of R1380 coded BU-?

Sgt R A Williams

Sgt K Manson RNZAF

Sgt R A Chatfield

Sgt R C Plummer

Sgt H R Easton RCAF and

Sgt C H R Mercer

(- all killed).

SOURCE: Chorley (book 2 - 1941) Ian Hunt

Plt/Off John William Winstone

Plt/Off John William Winstone, 429389, Air Bomber, Royal New Zealand Air Force, Nationality : New Zealand, KIA 7 March 1945, Aged 25

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress (model unknown) KJ106 BU-G

Buried in BECKLINGEN WAR CEMETERY. Reference : Plot 14. Row D. Grave 12

Son of Herbert John Marriner Winstone and Agnes Essy Edith Winstone of Christchurch, Canterbury, New England

Source : CWGC

Date record last updated : 20 October 2008

Plt/Off I K Woodroffe

Plt/Off I K Woodroffe,

In de nacht van 9 op 10 mei voerden 146 bommenwerpers - 69 Wellingtons, 42 Whitley's, 24 Hampdens en 11 Manchesters - van Bomber Command een succesvolle aanval uit op de tweelingsteden Mannheim en Ludwigshafen. Zware schade werd onder meer toegebracht aan 22 fabrieken en elf spoorwagons, geladen met industriële brandstoffen, brandden volledig uit. Twee bommenwerpers - een Wellington en een Whitley - gingen verloren.

Wellington Mk.1C (R1447) van No.214 squadron - om 22.26 uur gestart van Stradishall - werd door een Duitse nachtjager neergeschoten waarna de machine nabij Woensdrecht neerstortte. De zes bemanningsleden slaagden erin om zich tijdig in veiligheid te brengen en werden (uiteinde-lijk) allemaal in krijgsgevangenschap afgevoerd.

Plt.Off. I.K. Woodroffe pow

Sgt. H.Barnes pow

Sgt. J.R. Fry RNZAF pow

Sgt. H. Gillies pow

Sgt. B.L. Tillotson pow

Flg.Off. M.M. Marsh pow

SEE PRISONERS OF WAR

SOURCE & RESEARCH: Wim de Meester

Sgt Joseph Byrne Woods

Sgt Joseph Byrne Woods, 1330321, Navigator, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 11 April 1943, Aged 21

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

Son of Thomas Henry and Katie Woods, of Wimbledon, Surrey.

Buried at ROYAN ROMAN CATHOLIC CEMETERY. Plot K. Row 3. Grave 1.

Son of Thomas Henry and Katie Woods, of Wimbledon, Surrey.

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

Date record last updated : 16 June 2010

Wg/Cdr John Wynne DFC

Colour restored by Johny Wynne and Leslie Bostock

Wg/Cdr John Wynne DFC, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress (model unknown) ??Wynne
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark II HB779 BU-K

From the cockpit of his B-17 Flying Fortress John Wynne could see through the clear night the oil tanks 22,000ft below him exploding into flames.

Although only 23, Flight Lieutenant Wynne was already a veteran bomber pilot. As he swung the nose of his aircraft towards home, he was confident the mission had been a success: the Nazis had suffered another punishing blow. It looked 'bloody good', Wynne thought. Now his task was to get his nine-man crew safely back to Britain in time for an early breakfast. Although German fighters and anti aircraft fire would harass them much of the way, this was a gauntlet the cool-headed young RAF pilot had run many times before.

On this occasion, however, the return journey was to be brutally interrupted. For five of the men men on board, it was not merely fear that loomed, but death - or more accurately, calculated murder of the most savage kind. Captured by German forces, they were to become the victims of one of World War 2's final atrocities, whose grim details would remain hidden for many years to come, even from their own skipper.

The target that Wednesday night, March 14, 1945, was the oil refinery at Lutzendorf, a few miles south of Leipzig. Although Germany was by now only months away from defeat, the Allied bombing campaign was continuing unabated, in the hope of hastening the end. On this raid, however, Wynne's bomb-bay was empty. His task was not to drop high explosives on the oil refinery but to fly above the main wave of 244 Lancasters, jamming the enemy radar.

As Wynne well knew, after a raid like this 100 or more enemy night-fighters would have been directed towards the bomber stream, seeking to exact revenge. So the whole force, including the B-17, rapidly dropped to 3,000ft. At such a low level, the echo from the ground confused the German fighters' radar, even though it did make the lumbering bombers easier targets for the ack-ack batteries below. In two hours' time they should be across the Rhine and over territory held by the Allies. Ahead of him, Wynne saw two bombers hit by ground fire. He altered course, dodging the flak that was coming up at them 'like ping-pong balls'. 'We were doing very nicely,' he remembers. 'Then suddenly a shell hit the port landing wheel, ricocheted and exploded. There was a bang and then a flash and some of the hot fragments hit the inner port engine.' For a while it seemed the damage wasn't serious. 'One was used to being hit,' says Wynne. Then the oil pressure plummeted in the stricken engine. Even so, they reckoned the aircraft could probably be nursed across the Rhine to the emergency Allied airfield at Rheims. That hope was short-lived. Fire broke out in the engine, the pistons seized up and soon the whole aircraft was shaking furiously, with gauges and light fittings breaking loose and flying about the plane. They were only 1,000ft above the ground. 'Amazingly, no one shot at us,' says Wynne. 'With that bonfire on the wing they could have hit us with a rifle'.

Once they had crossed the Rhine, he ordered the crew to put on their parachutes and open the escape hatches. When the vibration became so severe it seemed that the whole plane was about to disintegrate, he told them to jump.

With remarkable bravery, Wynne had decided to stay at the controls to the last possible moment, perhaps the aircraft could be saved, he hoped, and his conscience was now clear as far as the safety of his men was concerned. They would be landing in friendly territory, after all. In fact, five of them would never be seen again.

John Wynne managed to fly the crippled B-17 all the way back across the Channel single-handed. It was an astonishing feat. Trapped by the pipe supplying oxygen to his mask, he had piloted the plane for much of the journey standing up, and then landed it safely at RAF Bassingbourn with his port landing wheel shot away.

Then a very remarkable thing happened. A retired pastor from what was then East Germany came to live in the village. Dr Heinemann-Gruder, a former army officer, was a man of immense moral rectitude. When he learned about the murder of the RAF men, he resolved to put up a memorial at the place where they had died. Against strong local opposition, he got his way, contacted relatives of some of the British airmen, and in November 1992 a simple plaque was erected on the wall of the church. It bore the names of the victims and the words 'Father, forgive'.

From this brave act of expiation flowed an extraordinary series of events, beginning with the confession of one of the murderers at the dedication service itself. The by now-elderly man broke into sobs. "I was one of the boys who killed them" he said. The widow of one of the murdered men, Harold Frost, then quite unexpectedly stepped forward to address them with great dignity, assuring them of her forgiveness. The reconciliation process was under way.

Upon hearing this story, a newspaper reporter tracked down John Wynne, now a hill farmer In Wales, and told him of the ceremony in Huchenfeld. Wynne was astonished. Nearly half a century on from that desperate night In March 1945, this was the first he had heard about the dreadful fate of his missing crewmen. Greatly moved, he commissioned a Welsh artist to make a wooden rocking
horse that he and his wife Pip donated to the kindergarten at Huchenfeld in 1994. The horse was called Hoffnung, the German word for 'hope', and bore the inscription: "To the children of Huchenfeld, from the mothers of 214 RAF Squadron:" It was the start of a close relationship between the Wynnes and the villagers.

February 2008
A packed church saw the unveiling of the plaque by the Lutheran pastor of Huchenfeld Herr Pfarrer Jorg Geisler in the presence of the Mayor of Huchenfeld and Members of both communities. The plaque was the final ceremony of the act of the twinning of the village of Llanbedr with that of Huchenfeld and marked the climax of a process of reconciliation and friendship begun in 1992 when a plaque commemorating the names of the British airmen was placed on the wall of Huchenfeld Church and unveiled in the presence of the widow of one of the victims and two of their colleagues who survived.

The link with Huchenfeld originated through the pilot of the Flying Fortress Bomber whose crew were killed. Flight Lieutenant (latter Wing Commander) John Wynne DFC has fostered relations with Huchenfeld in an act of reconciliation for that tragic event. Wing Commander Wynne presented the Kindergarten of Huckenfeld with a Rocking Horse which they named Hoffnung (Hope). Since that time Welsh school children go to Huchenfeld every other year and local families host children from Huckenfeld on alternate years as part of this process of reconciliation and growing friendship between the two communities.

Source : John Wynne and John & Carol Edwards (family connection to Flt/Lt Sidney C Matthews) and Fred Foskett of Llanbedr and various newspaper reports and Leslie Bostock

Date record last updated : 27 October 2008

FS James Ian Cunningham Waddicar DFM

FS James Ian Cunningham Waddicar, 953982.

Sgt Waddicar and medals

On the night of 27/06/1942 Stirling N3751 coded BU-P set out for operations to Bremen. After bombing the target the crew encountered Luftwaffe nightfigters who often frequented the bomber routes home. Enduring an unforgettable night of horror N3751 and crew, although severely damaged by flak, attacked by five enemy fighters and shot at over the sea managed to bring their aircraft home. At 0500 be it a miracle or skill, N3751 returning to base, skidded down the runway wheels up and came to a rest. All surviving crew members were awarded the DFM. The citation as follows tells the harrowing story:

3196 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 21 JULY,1942

Award of the Distinguished Flying Medal to:

953982 F/Sgt James Ian Cunningham Waddicar

4OO468 Sergeant Frank Morton GRIGGS RAAF

1378114 Sergeant Arthur 'O'HARA

953982 Flight Sergeant James Ian Cunningham WADDICAR

1014907 Sergeant Ronald WATSON

527989 .Sergeant Thomas Noel 'Castree. PROSSER,'

1052356 Sergeant 'William WILDEY

These airmen were members of the crew of an aircraft detailed to attack Bremen" on ' the night' of 27th June, 1942, ( 27/06/1942 ) Sergeant Griggs acting as captain. The objective was successfully bombed., but over the target area the aircraft sustained much damage from anti-aircraft fire. One of the starboard engines was hit and put out of action. Shortly afterwards the bomber was subjected to an attack by an enemy fighter, fire from which caused further damage. Almost immediately a second fighter opened fire and Sergeant Wildey, the 1st wireless operator, was wounded in the arm. The first fighter then returned to the attack but was met with a long and vicious burst from Sergeant Waddicar's guns which sent the enemy aircraft spinning towards the ground, where it exploded on impact.

Source: Picture of Sgt Waddicar sadly is from an advertisement for the sale of his medals. Citation text is from the on line archives of the London Gazette

Sgt Alan Cartwright Wade

Sgt Alan Cartwright Wade 943745 - RAFVR - 214 (FMS) Squadron. KIA 11th April 1943 aged 25.

See CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling BK612 MK 1 , coded BU-Z

Son of Herbert and Alice Wade, of Leeds, Yorkshire.

Listed on the RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL. Panel 168

SOURCE & RESEARCH: Cheryl Garner, Great Niece of Thomas Frank Richardson and CWGC.

Flt/Lt Alexander Cameron Wallace DFC

Flt/Lt Alexander Cameron Wallace DFC, Navigator, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality : Canadian

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

Served with 214 from 28 February 1943 to 29 July 1943. The crew were based at Chedburgh, Suffolk flying Stirlings, F/Lt Wallace having completed 17 Ops with them before posting out.

After 214 squadron Flt/Lt Wallace did Oboe marking with 109 Squadron at Little Staughton Bedfordshire in the Pathfinder Force. His regular pilot here was W/C W.G. Foxall DSO,DFC. After completing 73 Operations (30 daylight) with 109 Squadron he was posted out tour expired having a total of 90 Operations completed with Bomber Command.

Postings :

No.1 Initial Training School, Toronto - Graduated 6 December 1941
No. 4 Air Observers’s School, London - Graduated 16 March 1942
No. 4 Bombing & Gunnery School, Fingal - Graduated 25 April 1942
No.2 Advanced Navigation School, Pennfield Ridge, N.B. - Graduated 25 May 1942
No.9 Advanced Flying Unit, Penros Wales 8 August 1942 to 7 September 1942
No. 14 Operational Training Unit, Cottesmore Rutlands 8 September 1942 to 30 December 1942
No.1657 Heavy Conversion Unit, Stradishall Suffolk 1 January 1943 to 27 February 1943
No.214 Squadron, Chedburgh Suffolk 1 March 1942 to 29 July 1943 (17 Ops completed)
No.28 Operational Training Unit, Wymeswold Leicestershire 30 July 1943 to 14 February 1944
No.1655 Mosquito Training Unit, Marham Norfolk - 15 February 1944 to 30 March 1944
No. 109 Squadron, Little Staughton Bedfordshire 2 April 1944 to 21 December 1944
Mosquitoes - Oboe marking, Pathfinder Force - 73 Operations completed (30 daylight)
Arrived back in Canada 1 February 1945
Struck off the roll 12 March 1945
Awarded DFC 15 March 1945

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

Distinguished Flying Cross - No. 109 Squadron

Award effective 15 March 1945 as per London Gazette dated 23 March 1945 and AFRO 721/45 dated 27 April 1945. Home in Woodstock, Ontario; enlisted London, 23 July 1941. Trained at No.1 ITS (graduated 6 December 1941), No.4 BGS (graduated 25 April 1942) and No.2 ANS (graduated 25 May 1942). Award sent by registered mail 6 May 1949.

The citation reads: "This officer has completed many successful operations against the enemy in which he has displayed high skill, fortitude and devotion to duty."

Public Records Office has recommendation dated 18 December 1944 when he had flown 89 sorties (275 operational hours).

4 Apr 43- Kiel 10 Apr 43 Frankfurt
14 Apr 43- Stuttgart 16 Apr 43 Mannheim
20 Apr 43- Rostock 4 May 43 Dortmund
12 May 43- Duisburg 13 May 43 Bochum
11 June 43- Dusseldorf 13 June 43 GARDENING - Grionde
19 June 43- Le Creusot 21 June 43 Krefeld
22 June 43- Mulheim 24 June 43 Wuppertal
25 June 43- Gelsenkirchen 28 June 43 Cologne
3 July 43- Cologne 11 Apr 44 St.Trond
13 Apr 44- Duren 24 Apr 44 Dusseldorf
30 Apr 44- Duren 1 May 44 Chambly #
2 May 44- Leverkusen 7 May 44 St.Valery #
9 May 44- Berneval # 10 May 44 Ghent #
14 May 44- Coutrai 26 May 44 Lison
27 May 44- Le Clipon # 29 May 44 Xanten
2 June 44- Laval 4 June 44 Sangatte #
6 June 44- St.Pierre du Mont # 6 June 44 Vire #
7 June 44- Versailles # 12 June 44 Arras #
14 June 44- Douai # 16 June 44 Renescure #
22 June 44- Siracourt *# 24 June 44 Flers #
27 June 44- Foret d'Eawy 6 July 44 Coquereaux *#
7 July 44- Vaires # 8 July 44 Scholven
14 July 44- Les Landes Vielle 16 July 44 St.Philibert Ferme *
19 July 44- Thiverny *# 20 July 44 Homberg #
25 July 44- St.Cyr *# 28 July 44 Foret de Nieppe *#
31 July 44- Foret de Nieppe # 1 Aug 44 Anderbelck *#
2 Aug 44- Foret de Nieppe *# 3 Aug 44 L'isle Adam *#
5 Aug 44- Noyelle en Chausse *# 8 Aug 44 Bellecroix *#
18 Aug 44- L'isle Adam *# 23 Aug 44 Castrop Rauxel
25 Aug 44- Brest # 27 Aug 44 Homberg *#
28 Aug 44- Leverkusen 30 Aug 44 Lumbres*#
5 Sept 44- Le Havre *# 9 Sept 44 Le Havre *#
10 Sept 44- Le Havre *# 11 Sept 44 Le Havre *#
14 Sept 44- Wassenaer *# 17 Sept 44 Boulogne *#
17 Sept 44- Westkapelle *# 18 Sept 44 Rheine
20 Sept 44 - Sangatte *# 25 Sept 44 Calais *#
26 Sept 44- Calais *# 5 Oct 44 Frankfurt
6 Oct 44- Dortmund # 11 Oct 44 Fort Fredrick*#
14 Oct 44- Duisburg *# 14 Oct 44 Duisburg #
23 Oct 44- Essen # 28 Oct 44 Westkapelle #
29 Oct 44- Walcheren*# 30 Oct 44 Cologne #
31 Oct 44- Cologne 2 Nov 44 Hallendorf
6 Nov 44- Gelsenkirchen*# 18 Nov 44 Munster *#
30 Nov 44- Duisburg*# 4 Dec 44 Karlsruhe #
6 Dec 44- Osnabruck # 18 Dec 44 Duisburg

( # - marking duties ; * - daytime operation)

"This navigator will shortly finish his tour with this squadron, having now done 90 trips with Bomber Command of which 72 were with us; 53 of these have been marking trips. Flight Lieutenant Wallace has consistently shown a high degree of reliability, the result of keenness to operate and sound knowledge of our equipment. Apart from his keen desire to fly and fight he has unstintingly given of his time in planning operations. He is a willing worker and a splendid member of aircrew."

To this the Officer Commanding, RAF Station Little Staughton, adds on 22 December 1944: "This officer has shown outstanding skill in the manipulation of the special equipment with which his aircraft is fitted. He has at all times shown very much above average ability as a Navigator, and is strongly recommended for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross".

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

Date record last updated : 14 September 2008

WO Harry Ashley Ward DFM

CLICK ON NAME FOR PERSONAL PAGE

Sgt Ronald Watson DFM

Sgt Ronald Watson DFM, 1014907. Gunner

3196 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 21 JULY,1942

Award of the Distinguished Flying Medal to:

953982 F/Sgt James Ian Cunningham Waddicar, Gunner

4OO468 Sergeant Frank Morton GRIGGS RAAF, Pilot

1378114 Sergeant Arthur 'O'HARA, Navigator

953982 Flight Sergeant James Ian Cunningham WADDICAR

1014907 Sergeant Ronald WATSON, Gunner

527989 .Sergeant Thomas Noel Castree PROSSER,'

1052356 Sergeant 'William WILDEY 1st Wireless Operator

Source: Citation text is from the on line archives of the London Gazette

Sgt Douglas Wilmott Waters

Sgt Douglas Wilmott Waters, Gunner. Wellington IC N2746 , BU-M took off at 20:00 from Stradishall, Suffolk on a raid to Hamburg on 13 March 1941 ( 13/03/1941 ). The aircraft captained by Sgt. Elder was shot down over the Netherlands by a German nightfighter shortly after 23:00 and crashed near city of Groningen. The nose gunner Sgt Douglas Wilmott Waters survived and became a POW, the rest were KIA. They are buried at the Esserveld cemetery, Groningen. Most are buried in communal graves, some with members of another crew which crashed in the vicinity on the same night.

Crew of N2746 coded BU-M consisted of:

Sgt Alexander G. Elder - pilot

Sgt Victor L Bagley - 2nd pilot

Sgt George C Daniel - air gunner

Sgt Sol Glazer (NZ) - Observer

Sgt John L Tomkinson - wireless operator

Sgt Douglas Wilmott Waters - Front Gunner

A picture of the German fighter pilot (Ofw. Gildner) and his wireless operator, inspecting the wreck of Elder's Wellington has been located by Stevin Oudshoorn (see below).

SOURCE & RESEARCH: Very kindly submitted Stevin Oudshoorn. See Stevin's website for further information on all aircraft lost over the Netherlands.

www.basher82.nl

Sgt C B Walton

Was a crew member of Stirling BK653, which crashed in the village of Bonneuil les Eaux, Northern France

Source : Julien Saguez, French Researcher

Sgt Stanley Alfred Woodrow

Sgt Stanley Alfred Woodrow (Air Gunner), 933968, Nationality : United Kingdom. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. KIA 26/27 March 1943.

Son of Herbert Frederick and Ellen Cecilia Woodrow, of South Norwood, Surrey.

See CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling BF453 BU-L

Buried at the Hanover War Cemetery

Sources : Eric Matthews relative of Eric Greenhalgh and CWGC.

Flt/Lt Frank Richard Woodger

Flt/Lt Frank Richard Woodger, 52114, Flight Engineer, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 24 February 1945, Aged 32

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB805 BU-C
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I W7584 BU-D

Buried in RHEINBERG WAR CEMETERY. Reference : 6.E.22

Son of Frank Herbert Stubbs Woodger and Gertrude Woodger; husband of Anne Glenys Woodger, of Bangor, Caernarvonshire.

Woodger previously managed to bail out of Stirling Mk1 W7584 D on 21 November 1942 before it crashed, killing the pilot . In the Nightjar Newsletter Spring 2004 he was recorded as Woodyer.

Source : CWGC and Ian Hunt and Nightjar Newsletter Spring 2004

Date record last updated : 13 February 2009

Sgt T F Williams

Sgt T F Williams. POW 28 September 1940.

See CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mk1c L7843

SEE PRISONERS OF WAR

Source : Nightjar Newsletter Winter / Spring 2006.

FS J E Williams

FS J E Williams, R/67724, Pilot

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) ??Williams
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) Z8900
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) Z8900 (15 November 1941)

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 and W.R.Chorley

Date record last updated : 29 May 2010

Sgt John Philpin Williams

Sgt John Philpin Williams, 983072, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 6 January 1942, Aged 26

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C ??Enright (22 December 1941)

Buried in UZMASTON (ST. ISMAEL) CHURCHYARD.

Son of Ambrose John and Elizebeth Lettice Williams, of Haverfordwest.

Was part of the first aircrew to be seconded to 215 Squadron on 22 December 1941.
On 6 January 1942, he was killed in an accident to Wellington L7863 of 3 Group Training Flight at Newmarket while seconded to 215 Squadron aged 26.
See Photo album 4 "The exodus of the 214 to the 215".

Source : Colin Burningham and CWGC

Date record last updated : 16 June 2010

Sgt Ernest Albert Wright

Sgt Ernest Albert Wright, 526692, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom. KIA 5 March 1943.

See CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mk3 BK662 BU-K

Named on the RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL. Panel 170.

Source : Nightjar Newsletter and CWGC.

FS A E Wallace

FS A E Wallace, Navigator

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

Source : Ian Hunt

Date record last updated : 1 January 2010

William Walker

CLICK ON NAME FOR PERSONAL PAGE

Please also see Stories and tall tales "A TIP OF THE HAT" by William Walker.

Flt/Lt Thomas Cledwyn Watkins AFM

Flt/Lt Thomas Cledwyn Watkins AFM, Pilot, 2567833, Royal Air Force , Nationality : United Kingdom. KIA 11 September 1959 Age 28.

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Valiant B Mark I XD869

Date of Birth 13 December 1930 in Ystradgynlais, Swansea, Wales.

Stationed at RAF Marham.

He is buried in Ystradgynlais Churchyard. Grave 9.

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

Source : Jock Whitehouse and Armed Forces Memorial

Fg/Off Peter Edward Wormall AFM

Fg/Off Peter Edward Wormall AFM, Co-pilot, 607747, Royal Air Force , Nationality : United Kingdom. KIA 11 September 1959 Age 22.

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Valiant B Mark I XD869

Date of Birth 01 September 1937 in Mile End, London.

Stationed at RAF Marham.

He is buried in MARHAM CEMETERY. RAF Grave 11.

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

Source : Jock Whitehouse and Armed Forces Memorial

Sgt Phillip James White

Sgt Phillip James White , 956165, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve , Nationality : United Kingdom. KIA 07 December 1940.

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) R3209 BU-H

Named on the following Memorials :
Runnymede Memorial Panel 20.

Source : Ian Hunt & CWGC

Sgt Alan Asquith Wooding

Sgt Alan Asquith Wooding , Co-pilot, 745040, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve , Nationality : United Kingdom. KIA 07 December 1940 Age 27.

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) R3209 BU-H

Son of Russell Asquith Wooding and Mildred Wooding, of Caterham, Surrey; husband of Freda Wooding, of Ipswich, Suffolk. His brother, William Russell Wooding, also died on service.

Named on the following Memorials :
Runnymede Memorial Panel 21.

Source : Ian Hunt and CWGC

WO Maurice Charles White

WO Maurice Charles White , Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, 1166191, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve , Nationality : United Kingdom. KIA 15 March 1945 Age 25.

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress III HB803 BU-L

He is buried at CHOLOY WAR CEMETERY. 2. C. 4.

Son of Charles and Lilian White; husband of Doreen Hilda Helen White, of Croxley Green, Hertfordshire.

Source : CWGC and Nightjar Spring 2003

Sgt W Walsh

Sgt W Walsh , Air Gunner.

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB803 BU-L
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress (model unknown) HB819 BU-U

Source : Ian Hunt

Sgt N W Williams

Sgt N W Williams , Air Gunner.

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB803 BU-L
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress (model unknown) HB819 BU-U

Source : Ian Hunt

Sgt Jack Kenneth Wilkins

Sgt Jack Kenneth Wilkins, 416581, Pilot, Royal New Zealand Air Force, Nationality : New Zealand, KIA 24 May 1943, Aged 21

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark III BF528

Born in New Zealand

Buried in RHEINBERG WAR CEMETERY. Reference : 2. G. 20.

Son of Thomas Owen and Mary Aileen Wilkins, of Te Puke, Auckland, New Zealand.

Initially buried at Stadtfriedhof.

Source : Dave Pointer (grandson of Sgt WS Clifton-Moggs) and CWGC

Date record last updated : 07 February 2008

Sgt Victor Norman Walker

Sgt Victor Norman Walker, 1380192, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 23 May 1943, Aged 23

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark III BF478 BU-G

Named on the following Memorial : Runnymede Memorial Panel 168

Son of Charles William and Clara Walker, of Feltham, Middlesex.

Source : CWGC and Nightjar Newsletter Summer/Autumn 2003

Date record last updated : 27 July 2010

FS Harold Ward

FS Harold Ward, 1060035, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 24 May 1943, Aged 20

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark III BF478 BU-G

Named on the following Memorial : Runnymede Memorial Panel 139

Son of Walter and Edith Lydia Ward, of Bircotes, Nottinghamshire.

Source : CWGC and Nightjar Newsletter Summer/Autumn 2003.

Date record last updated : 18 February 2008

Sgt Stanley Watson

Sgt Stanley Watson, 1133624, Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 14 September 1942, Aged 30

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

Buried in RHEINBERG WAR CEMETERY. Reference : Joint grave 17. G. 21-22.

Son of Robert and Florence Watson, of Middlesbrough, Yorkshire.

Source : CWGC and Nightjar Newsletter Winter / Spring 2004

Date record last updated : 21 February 2008

Plt/Off James Wood

Plt/Off James Wood, 69426, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 14 February 1942, Aged 25

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C Z1081 BU-B

Buried in FLUSHING (VLISSINGEN) NORTHERN CEMETERY. Reference : Row B. Grave 20.

Son of James and Anne Wood; husband of Gladys Wood, of Backworth, Northumberland.

CWGC states death date 2 days after loss of aircraft?

Source : CWGC and Nightjar Newsletter Winter / Spring 2005

Date record last updated : 21 February 2008

Plt/Off Jake Walters

Plt/Off Jake Walters, Pilot

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark II SR386 BU-N

Source : Gerhard Heilig

Date record last updated : 8 March 2008

FS Robert E 'Taffy' Williams

FS Robert E 'Taffy' Williams, Mid Upper Gunner

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB774 BU-G

Is listed on Battle Orders for 22 August 1944.

Is also listed on returning operational aircrew on 31 August 1944. On both occasions he was listed as a Waist Gunner.

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 and Catherine Sommer (daughter of Roland Williams)

Date record last updated : 5 August 2009

FS H 'Bert' Waugh

FS H 'Bert' Waugh, Rear Gunner, Royal Australian Air Force, Nationality : Australian

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

Replacement for FS Houghton.

Died in Armidale Australia abt 2002 aged 92.

Source : Robert Mackett

Date record last updated : 8 March 2008

Wg/Cdr William Wilkinson

Wg/Cdr William Wilkinson, Bomb Aimer, 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

Flt/Lt George Llewelyn Wright DFC

Flt/Lt George Llewelyn Wright DFC, 1320233, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB774 BU-G

Born 27 March 1922

Born in Chaplin Road, Wembley, Middlesex

Son of Commander C S & Mrs Wright, husband of Hazel Mary Holifield

Educated at Watford Grammar School. Very keen on sport, particularly swimming, rugby and ice skating.
At the outbreak of WW2 he joined the LDV until he joined the RAF on 29 September 1941. His initial training took place at Bournemouth. He was then selected for air crew training and was sent to No6 British Flying Training School at Ponca City, Oklahoma USA in June 1942.
In January 1943 he returned to England via Monckton, Canada as a Sergeant Pilot and was posted to a conversion unit at Stradishall until eventually being attached to 214 Squadron on 2 October 1943.
George flew 36 operations over Europe with a crew of eight in a Fortress MK111 at the age of 21 in many different aircraft, but the majority of the flights were on HB774 BU-G.
Is listed on Battle Orders for 22 August 1944 with HB774
Is also listed on returning operational aircrew on 31 August 1944 with HB774.
At the finish of his tour of operations he married Hazel on 28 November 1944 at St John's Church, Wembley. After a 10 day honeymoon he returned to his Squadron.
George was awarded the DFC for the special work done on the Fortresses.
He volunteered for the RAF Transport Command hoping for flights around Europe and the chance of more married life. Unfortunately the Far East was still at war and George converted to Dakotas in January 1945, transferring to 238 Squadron serving in India and then in Australia. Two of his original crew, Fred Mullenger (navigator) and Johnny Bates (wireless operator) went with him.
George returned from Australia in February 1946 on the ship Stirling Castle, after having completed 1,800 flying hours. After a bit of leave he was posted as Commandant at a POW camp in Suffolk. The inmates were Italians.
He was demobbed in late 1947, joining KLM in October 1947 as Operations Officer.
Daughter Jennifer was born in April 1948.
George left KLM to join Air Traffic Control in 1953, working first at Northolt, then Bovington and then Heathrow.
Daughter Liz was born in December 1950.
Son David was born in February 1956.
In 1975 George decided to come off operational Air Traffic Control and joined Ops 2, retiring 31 March 1982.
On 1 May 1982 he climbed Mount Everest.

AIRCRAFT FLOWN:

1657 CU at Stradishall:

Stirling Mark I and Mark III

BF452
BF342
BF332 (Mark III)
BF404
BF468 (Mark III)
BF517 (Mark III)
N3708
N3758
N6089
R9297
W7510 Q
W7570
W7574

214 SQUADRON Stradishall
Stirling Mark I

R9251
R9269 K
R9273 L
R9277 H

214 SQUADRON Downham Market
Stirling Mark III

EF199
EF271
EF291
LJ477 K

BOMBER COMMAND
8th Air Force Aircraft for training B17s

42-30241 F
42-30970 F
42-31031 G
318
451
833

B17C (Fortress Mark I)

AN520

B17Fs (Fortress Mark II)

SR377 M
SR378 D
SR379 O
SR380 Y
SR381 F
SR382 B
SR383 F
SR384 A
SR386 N
SR388 H
SR389 P

B17Gs (Fortress Mark III)

HB763 T
HB765 B
HB767 A
HB772 Q
HB774 G
HB779 K
HB780 C
HB785 A
HB787 J
HB788 B
HB793 S
HB796 T
HB802 O
HB803 L
HB818 H

Whilst with 238 Squadron he flew numerous Dakota IV aircraft

His son David has all of his RAF documentation and can be contacted via the website administrators.

See Roland Williams personnel page for his memories of flyng with George Wright.

Source : David Wright (son of Flt/Lt George Wright) and George Mackie and Roland Williams

Date record last updated : 5 August 2009

Fg/Off Edward 'Ted' Walker

Fg/Off Edward 'Ted' Walker, Navigator

Ted died, age 96, on November 30th 2007.

He was a navigator on 214 Sqn until mid 1943 when a number of aircraft and crews were transferred to the newly formed 620 Sqn at Chedburgh.
On August 23/24th 1943, on a raid to Berlin, Ted's Stirling BK801 was shot down over Germany. He was taken to Sagan (Zagan) & Belaria, Germany L3 POW camp. Of the eight crew only Ted and two others survived to be taken POWs.

Ted had attended many 214 Sqn Reunions and, although frail, he insisted that he attend that held in September 2007. His son Jim who brought him from Darlington says that Ted thoroughly enjoyed himself although he got rather tired towards the end of the evening.

Source : Nightjar Newsletter Winter/Spring 2008, Peter Walker and 'Footprints on the sands of time' by Oliver Clutton-Brock

Date record last updated : 5 May 2008

Sgt Patrick John Wilson

Sgt Patrick John Wilson, 1806740, Flight Engineer, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 13 September 1944, Aged 31

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

Buried in CALAIS SOUTHERN CEMETERY. Reference : Plot R. Grave 6.

Son of Peter Badenoch Wilson and Mary Ogg Wilson, of Wanstead, Essex; husband of Ethel May Wilson, of Woodford, Essex.

Sgt Wilson's body was found in Calais harbour on 19 December 1944.

Source : CWGC and John Cripps

Date record last updated : 7 June 2008

WO Gordon 'Howie' Wing

WO Gordon 'Howie' Wing, Rear Gunner

Born 29 May 1922

'Howie' was a Warrant Officer rear gunner first on Stirlings and then Fortress's flying a total of 46 missions the last being on 31 December 1944. He later went on to be one of the two founder members of the Air Gunners Association.

Gordon (Howie) flew over 40 missions with 214 between 16 December 1943 and 31 December 1944. The first four missions being on Mk 3 Stirlings and the rest on Mk2 & 3 Flying Fortress

Following the war Gordon saw service first in the Kenyan Police in Africa where he flew another 2 unofficial missions with 214 who were stationed out there fighting the Mau Mau guerrillas, and following his return to the UK, served with the British Transport Police in London. Gordon was also one of the two founder members of the Air Gunners Association of which he was rightly very proud.
He was subsequently made a Freeman of the City of London.

During the summer of 2009 Gordon lost his beloved (third) wife Elizabeth which he understandably found very hard to deal with. He himself had suffered poor health over the last few years and sadly passed away in his own home on the evening of 29th October 2009. Gordon had no children of his own but always considered his second wife's daughter Marion as his own child. Both of them attended Gordon's funeral.

Simon Moxon sent this letter:

"Dear Air Commodore Jackson. (member of the local Royal Air Force Association.)

You very kindly sent the below reply to my colleague Tony Darragh concerning the funeral arrangements of my dear old friend Gordon Wing.
I thought I'd let you know that the ceremony, his ashes were interred in the family grave in Hampton, went very well.
It started off with a ceremony in the local church. The sermon was delivered by a minister who knew Gordon personally and who had also conducted Gordon's wife, Elizabeth's, funeral back in the Summer.

There then followed a graveside ceremony with the ashes in a nice oak urn were placed in Gordon's family grave along with his lucky mascot, a small stuffed toy which kept him safe on all his op's. I think it fitting as it accompanied him on his final mission to the heavens. We had a very good bugler from the RAF central band at Uxbridge who played the Last Post, a standard bearer from the R.A.F.A., a Flight Lieutenant from the Air Cadets where Gordon and his brothers both attended in the 1930's, myself and two other Police colleagues in uniform, one being our ceremonial standard bearer as Gordon was a Police Officer after the war.
It all went very well and I was so pleased that we marked his passing in such a way. His nephew from America, who is his closest living relative, was there and was impressed and very pleased with the turn out.

In February the RAF cadets at Feltham were going to dedicate one of their newly built rooms to Gordon's brother Clive who was lost on his second trip on Lancaster's, aged 18. I was going to accompany Gordon to that ceremony. It has now been decided to dedicate it to both Gordon and Clive and I will attend with others to remember them both. I think it is marvellous that these local men will be remembered in such a way."

Simon also wrote :
"I feel quite sure that he is up there now with rest of the boys, gathered around a piano, pints of beer overflowing in their hands, singing their hearts out and talking about their lives, their loves and of course their wartime experiences. God bless them all."

Source : Simon Moxon (friend of Gordon) and Rob Wing (nephew)

Date record last updated : 1 January 2010

SAC Peter MacDonald 'Mac' Walker

Peter M Walker age 21 just before parting for the Suez Campaign, 1956.

SAC Peter MacDonald 'Mac' Walker, 4137453, Engine Mechanic, Royal Air Force, Nationality : British

Born 12 September 1935

Born in Brundall, Norfolk, England

Son of Donald K Walker and Sissie M Walker

Peter was in the RAF from September 1953 to September 1958. He served on 35 Squadron Canberras from 1954 to 1955 and on 214 Squadron Valiants from 1956 to 1958 at RAF Marham.
Peter took part in the Suez Campaign from Malta from September 1956 to December 1956.

Peter is currently the 214 Squadron Association Secretary (2008).

Source : Peter Walker

Date record last updated : 13 July 2008

Fg/Off William Wells DFC

Sgt Donald Williamson

Sgt Donald Williamson, 1777442, Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 26 August 1944, Aged 21

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress (model unknown) HB763 BU-T

Buried in HOTTON WAR CEMETERY. Reference : Coll. grave IX. C. 4-6.

Son of James and Lily Williamson, of Cleadon Park, South Shields, Co. Durham.

Is listed on Battle Orders for 22 August 1944.

Source : George Mackie and CWGC

Date record last updated : 28 July 2008

Flt/Lt Ernest Wilfred Woodley DFC

Flt/Lt Ernest Wilfred Woodley DFC with his dog Smudge

Flt/Lt Ernest Wilfred Woodley DFC, 147989, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : British

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB765 BU-R
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB793 BU-S
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB796 (Date unknown) BU-T
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB799 (Date unknown) BU-K BU-L
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB802 (Date unknown) BU-C
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB815 (Date unknown) BU-J
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB820 BU-P
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III KJ103 (date unknown) BU-M
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III KJ107 (Date unknown) BU-N
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III KJ109 BU-V

Born 15 April 1917

Born in Heston Middlesex

Buried in Eastbourne, East Sussex.

Son of James William Woodley and Emily Woodley (Bucknall)

Ernest was posted to 214 Squadron from 1699 Flight on 24 December 1944 with Fg/Off Shillcock, Plt/Off Queen and Plt/Off Barrett.

Flew 20 actual 'operational take-offs'. Does not disregard aborted ops, early returns etc.

He was awarded his DFC for the amount of hours he flew with bomber command. On his recommendation for his DFC (AIR 2/9081 TNA) it reads:
"This officer has now completed his second tour of operation with Bomber Command, consisting of 20 Sorties, 110.30 hrs. He has taken part in raids against all the heavily defended targets in Germany and has never failed to press home his sorties with utmost vigour. F/O Woodley is a skilful captain who possesses great interest, his duties and strict attention to detail has, without a doubt, been instrumental in his crews efficiency and all round abilities." Signed by the Wing Commander of 214 Squadron -16 March 1945 (W/Cdr R.L. Bowes)

At the time of his recommendation he had flown 32.45 Hrs on operational and completed 53 sorties.

Wilf was transferred from 214 Squadron on 25 June 1945 to No. 6 Lancaster Finishing School at RAF Ossington.

Wilf relinquished his commission on 01 July 1959 but he retained the rank of Flt/Lt.

After the war, Ernest became an Airline Pilot and was a commercial licence holder. During the 1950's he was flying from Liverpool (from RAF Speke). It is also rumoured that he flew racehorses around the world.

Ernest died on 17 January 2003 aged 85.

Source : Ian Hunt and Emily Ward (Great niece of Flt Lt Ernest Woodley) and operations records and Air Force lists

Date record last updated : 17 November 2008

WO Weight

WO Weight

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

FS William Robert West

FS William Robert West, R/76959, Pilot, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality : Canadian, KIA 2 April 1942

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) Z1156

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

Source : CWGC and Chorley's "Bomber Command Losses" 1942 volume

Date record last updated : 3 October 2008

Sgt Vernon Philip Walrond Wheaton

Sgt Vernon Philip Walrond Wheaton, 933154, Observer, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : British, KIA 2 April 1942, Aged 32

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) Z1156

Buried in DURNBACH WAR CEMETERY. Reference : 2. F. 6.

Son of Francis Drake Wheaton and Eugenie Wheaton; husband of Blanche Wheaton, of Wood Green, Middlesex.

Source : CWGC and Chorley's "Bomber Command Losses" 1942 volume

Date record last updated : 3 October 2008

FS J W Walker

FS J W Walker, Waist Gunner, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality : Canadian

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress (model unknown) ??Peden
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress (model unknown) SR381 BU-F

Was the only person injured on 21 June 1944. All of the crew survived.

Source : Nightjar Newsletter Spring 2003 and Return of operational Aircrew at 16:00hrs on 31 August 1944

Date record last updated : 31 October 2008

Fg/Off J B Waters

Fg/Off J B Waters, Air Bomber, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality : Canadian

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress (model unknown) ??Peden
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress (model unknown) SR381 BU-F

Source : Michael Phillips (son of Jack Phillips) and Nightjar Newsletter Spring 2003 and Return of operational Aircrew at 16:00hrs on 31 August 1944

Date record last updated : 31 October 2008

Sgt Weller

Sgt Weller

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) X3206

Source : Colin Burningham and W.R.Chorley

Date record last updated : 17 November 2008

Sgt T J Walsh

Sgt T J Walsh

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling (model unknown) BF318 (28 November 1942)

Source : Squadron ORB

Date record last updated : 29 December 2008

Sgt E K Ward

Sgt E K Ward

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling (model unknown) BK600

Source : Squadron ORB

Date record last updated : 29 December 2008

Sgt R A Windram

Sgt R A Windram

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling (model unknown) BK600

Source : Squadron ORB

Date record last updated : 29 December 2008

Sqn/Ldr Bruce Gibb Wallace DFC and Bar

Sqn/Ldr Bruce Gibb Wallace DFC and Bar, 403482, Pilot, Royal New Zealand Air Force, Nationality : New Zealand

London Gazette 35966 2 April 1943

Acting Flight Lieutenant Bruce Gibb WALLACE

This officer has completed 41 sorties, including a number of attacks against targets in the Ruhr.
He is a very determined captain, who has pressed home his attacks with vigour. One night in March, 1943, he captained a bomber detailed to attack Munich. Although the undercarriage and tailplane of the aircraft were damaged by striking a tree when taking-off, Flight Lieutenant Wallace flew on and eventually accomplished his mission successfully. Three nights later he took part in an attack on Essen. Whilst over the target area, his aircraft was held in the searchlights. Despite this, he pressed home his attack from 8,000 feet and dived to 1,000 feet to escape the defences.
On the return flight he engaged a light anti-aircraft gun position and silenced it. Although his aircraft was hit in many places during the operation he flew it safely to base. Flight Lieutenant Wallace has set a courageous and inspiring example.

London Gazette 361313 10 August 1943

Acting Squadron Leader Bruce Gibb Wallace
Bar to DFC awarded

Sgt Ralph Reginald Shipley was part of one of his crews and had completed his tour mid 1943.

Source : London Gazette and Jonathan Shipley (grandson of Sgt Ralph Shipley)

Date record last updated : 13 February 2009

Sgt G E Webber

Sgt G E Webber, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom

Managed to bail out of Stirling Mk1 W754 BU-D before it crashed.

Source : Nightjar Newsletter Spring 2004

Date record last updated : 13 February 2009

Sgt E J Wrigglesworth

Sgt E J Wrigglesworth, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I W7584 BU-D

Managed to bail out of Stirling Mk1 W754 BU-D before it crashed.

Source : Nightjar Newsletter Spring 2004

Date record last updated : 13 February 2009

Plt/Off Henry Joseph Woodrow

Plt/Off Henry Joseph Woodrow, 403487, Royal New Zealand Air Force, Nationality : New Zealand, KIA 15 January 1942, Aged 27

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) R1759 BU-L

Named on the following Memorial : Runnymede Memorial Panel 117.

Born 14 October 1914

Born in London England

Son of Henry and Julia Ann Woodrow, of Mount Albert, Auckland, New Zealand.

After his aircraft crashed into the North Sea off Whitby Yorkshire, his body was never recovered.

Source : CWGC and Richard Allenby - www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk

Date record last updated : 20 June 2010

Sgt Williams

Sgt Williams, Co-pilot

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C T2841 (29 November 1940) BU-K

Source : Ian Hunt

Date record last updated : 11 April 2009

FS Peter John Withers

FS Peter John Withers, 924720, Observer, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 24 July 1942, Aged 20

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

Buried in WERKENDAM PROTESTANT CEMETERY. Reference : Row 8. Grave 6.

Son of John Richard and Dorothy Ada Withers, of Oxford.

Source : CWGC and Nightjar Newsletter Autumn 2004

Date record last updated : 16 May 2009

WO/II Robert George Wilson

WO/II Robert George Wilson, R/197780, Air Gunner, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality : Canadian, 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. 1.

Source : CWGC and Nightjar Newsletter Spring 2003

Date record last updated : 26 May 2009

Flt/Lt Deryck Dibble Whitsun-Jones

Flt/Lt Deryck Dibble Whitsun-Jones, Navigator

With 214 Squadron from October 1949 to December 1951, flying Lancasters and then Lincolns. He joined the RAF during the war, trained in Canada and saw active service in Bomber Command, completing a tour of operations with 640 Squadron (flying Halifaxes). He then stayed on in the RAF until 1963, flying a variety of aircraft types with different squadrons.

Source : Nicholas Whitsun-Jones (son)

Date record last updated : 27 June 2009

Flt/Lt Kenneth Wyver

Flt/Lt Kenneth Wyver, 116006, Pilot

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress (model unknown) ??Wyver (21 February 1945) BU-N

Joined 214 Squadron from 31 Base on 1 September 1944.
First Operation was on 7 October 1944.
Last operation was on 21 February 1945.
Posted to 10 OTU 12 March 1945

31 Fortress operations were flown from October 1944 to February 1945. These are actual operational take offs, but do not disregard aborted operations, early returns etc.

Source : Ian Hunt and Roger Mills (son of John Tudor Mills)

Date record last updated : 27 June 2009

M 'Mick' Ward

M 'Mick' Ward

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

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

Mick Ward then became their rear gunner and remained with the crew for the rest of their tour until he was shot in the shoulder on the 6th November 1943.

6th November 1943
Special Ops
Their mission was to a marshalling yard in France but at 2000 feet over the target, rear gunner Mick Ward collected a bullet in his shoulder. He left the crew for medical attention.

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

Date record last updated : 7 July 2009

Sgt L G Wright

Sgt L G Wright, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I R9163 BU-C

Source : Nightjar Newsletter Spring 2004

Date record last updated : 7 July 2009

Sgt Hamish Wilson GM

Sgt Hamish Wilson GM, Rear Gunner, Royal New Zealand Air Force, Nationality : New Zealand

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling (model unknown) R9358 (9 March 1943)

Gallantry Medal awarded for his bravery in rescuing Sgt Flack from a crashed aircraft on 9th March 1943

Source : John Jewsbury

Date record last updated : 7 July 2009

Sgt H A Wilson

Sgt H A Wilson, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I R9163 BU-C

Source : Nightjar Newsletter Spring 2004

Date record last updated : 7 July 2009

Sgt T J Wilson

Sgt T J Wilson, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I R9163 BU-C

Source : Nightjar Newsletter Spring 2004

Date record last updated : 7 July 2009

Rick West

Rick West, Air Electronics Officer

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Victor K Mark I XH588

Source : John Brown

Date record last updated : 17 April 2010

Flt/Lt Ward

Flt/Lt Ward

Attended the 62 Victor Mk1 Course. See photo album 4 for photograph taken 24 November 1965.

Source : John Brown

Date record last updated : 4 August 2009

WO Roland 'Ron' Williams '39/45 Aircrew Europe, Clasp, Defence

WO Roland 'Ron' Williams '39/45 Aircrew Europe, Clasp, Defence, 1834473, Flight Engineer, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress (model unknown) ??Archibald (15 July 1944)
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB774 BU-G

Born 16 January 1914

Born in Thurnscoe, Yorkshire

Buried in SANDWELL CREMATORIUM WEST BROMWICH

Son of William and Ethel Williams nee Probert. Husband of Elsie Williams

Roland Williams writes :

"My first attempt to join the RAF was in January 1932, when I was 18 years old, and I was rejected because I was four teeth short of a full set. Then in 1938, I applied to join the RAFVR but the particular squadron was being disbanded. So it wasn't until 1942 that I was able to achieve my ambition by enlisting for aircrew directly from a reserved occupation.

Jimmy Nuttall and I arrived at St Athan from our initial training at Blackpool on 7th December 1942 and began our flight engineer's course twelve days later, staying together throughout until the end of our tour of operations with 214 Squadron in November 1944. At St Athan on Saturday afternoons we used to go to Cardiff on the bus to visit the Prince of Wales Theatre, where we saw some very good shows, having paid sixpence for a seat in the gods. One particular Saturday we decided to hitch-hike along with a few other airmen. Being quite a good sprinter, I was first to a pick-up truck that pulled up and got into the cab with the driver. After moving off, I looked back to see Jimmy and three or four others walking back towards the main gate. the driver was having a chuckle. I asked, "What happened?" and he said, "See those fifty-gallon drums in the back? Well, my job is emptying cesspits and you can guess what's in them!" The lads had grabbed the tail- and side-boards. They immediately let go, but had to return to the station to wash their hands - and a couple of them their tunics.

Sgt. George Wright's crew had just finished their training on Wellingtons when they were blessed with two members of the Williams clan at 1657 Conversion unit Stradishall - Bob (Taffy) and Ron (myself). Two incidents during our training at Stradishall that were involved in come to mind. The first was when we had taken off for our first cross-country flight and had been airborne for only a few minutes, and the port inner engine caught fire. The fire was successfully put out and the prop feathered. Arriving back over base we were instructed to jettison fuel from the main tanks (nos. 2 & 4 on each mainplane) which in total capacity would be around eleven hundred gallons of 100-octane petrol. This we did with the whole station watching and we landed safely.

The second incident occurred when we were performing circuits and landings at night from an American base. After three and a half hours of ups and downs in Q Queenie, we were standing at the edge of the runway prepared to take off when I checked the accumulators and realised there would be insufficient power to raise the undercarriage, so we taxied to dispersal with the intention of recharging. Unfortunately, however (or rather, fortunately as it turned out) the American trolley-acc. Connections didn't fit, so we informed base who told us to leave the aircraft there and they would send a crew-bus for us. The next morning, another crew were sent out with the appropriate trolley-acc. To bring Q Queenie back to base, but arriving over Stradishall the undercarriage became stuck in the half-way down position. When all efforts to move it either way had failed, and after over an hour's orbiting, instructions were given to belly land her at Newmarket. Lucky us! I was told that Queenie had previously been ditched in Bradwell Bay and then salvaged after floating for sixteen hours. I wonder if she ever got airborne again?

We were posted to Downham Market as an operational crew, and once again, on our first assignment to drop 5,000 lbs of mines near the Friesian Islands, we had trouble with the undercart which refused all attempts to raise it by conventional methods except hand winding (376 turns of each wheel by crank-handle!). In desperation I gave the control rods which ran alongside of the fuselage a hefty kick with my flying boot, then called the skipper to try again - and this time the down lock was freed and the undercart retracted. We completed our op, dropping the mines from 3,000 feet.

Our second minelaying trip was a visit to the Ile de Ré, lasting just under six hours and non-eventful: 5,000 lbs of mines from 5,000 feet. But on our return from a bombing trip to Hazebrouk in France, we feathered the port inner engine and lost all electric power. Even the R.T. Died on us after George had received permission to make a right-hand circuit for landing. Freddie Mullenger, the navigator, was standing between the skipper and me to pass messages, and I informed George through him that I was going aft to wind the tail wheel down and then the main wheels. The tail wheel was no trouble (100-odd turns of the crank) but when I turned to get back to the centre section I was thrown off-balance and started to spew. I still had my mae-west on and was sweating profusely, while I was heaving and crawling through the spew on my hands and knees. Johnny Bates, our wireless op, and myself each cranked down a wheel and I made sure they were locked in the down position, then I went forward to pass a message to Freddie and advise George that I was going to wind the flaps down when our heads collided and George landed with another Stirling ahead of him on the runway, which somehow he overtook, and managed to stop just short of the end. As we were putting our gear away in the locker room, Jimmy Southgate, the rear gunner, put his arm around my shoulders and said, "Bloody good show, Ron!" - and that's when I broke down and swore I wouldn't fly again, But we were there again the next night on a "bullseye" exercise!

Between arriving at 214 F.M.S. Squadron, Downham Market, on December 26th 1943 and January 14th 1944 we had completed four operations. Then we moved with the squadron to train on B17 Flying Fortresses at Sculthorpe. At one instruction class, Warrant Officer Mackie (as he was then) asked the American instructor if it was possible to loop a Fortress. "Hell, no!" came the reply, but as soon as Mackie was let loose to fly the machine, that's just what he did. And as we watched, I remember a Yankee sergeant's stomach also doing a loop and he was as sick as a dog. Mackie got a severe reprimand, but I suspect the Winco had his tongue in his cheek as he handed out the same. Mackie had a reputation of being a bit of a daredevil, and one day asked me to accompany him as his flight engineer to Newmarket, as Pedro, his engineer, was sick. I agreed and on the way over we came upon a formation of American fortresses, so Mackie decided to have a little fun by first of all putting his mainplane between that of another Fortress and its tail, then dropping back and putting his nose within a couple of car-lengths of the tail of another - with the tail gunner mouthing epithets and threatening us with his twin point five Brownings, or trying to thumb us away. Well, we got to Newmarket and back!

On airsickness: I used to get airsick very often but I learned the trick of sticking two fingers down my throat to make myself sick when I began to feel rough, open the side window, and with my head turned aft, rid myself of stomach contents. I could then carry on with my job. But I was caught out one day when I didn't turn my head quickly enough, and spewed into my oxygen mask. Scrub as I would afterwards, I could not rid the mask of the smell, so after a week I had to exchange it for a new one. Johnny Bates used to tease me at the after-flight meal, saying "How about a bit of greasy pork, Ron, going up and down your throat on a piece of string?" He'd never been airsick and didn't realise how it felt until one night when we had been in ten tenths cloud and great turbulence, having climbed up to 26 thousand feet and descended to 12 thousand without getting out of it, the whole crew except George and Freddie succumbed. Ricky Sherburne, our bomb aimer, had been eating chocolate and was flying in the top turret - George's peaked cap was just below the turret and received what Ricky rejected. I was sick into the tail wheel hand-cup into which I would later have to plunge my hand to lock and unlock the tail wheel to taxi to dispersal. At the after-flight meal, it was my turn to ask Johnny "How would you like a piece of greasy ...?" I got no further: he was up from the table like a shot and off into the ablutions with his hand over his mouth. But I felt sorry for him losing his meal, although I enjoyed mine. And he never ribbed me again.

The Squadron had moved to Oulton approximately 12 miles from Norwich on May 16th, 1944, the officers being billeted in Blickling Hall, residence of Lord Lithgow, and the NCO's in nissen huts, which reminds me that sometimes in cold weather we could wake up with sufficient globules of condensation on the blanket to scoop up and wash our hands. Yet we didn't catch cold. In one hut dwelt an Australian Warrant Officer bomb- aimer of whom the powers that be had lost track. He unofficially took charge of the ablutions and would press a uniform for half-a-crown or launder a whole bunch of washing for the same amount. Where he obtained his soaps and powder was a mystery, but I'll bet he went back to Aussie-land with a small fortune.

July 4th, Independence Day 1944. Midnight, and the Yanks were celebrating in their camp area a short distance from our billets, yelling, whooping and firing revolvers, while we were trying to get some sleep. I went out through the hedge in my pyjamas just in time to see their C/O's car approaching. He stopped. The car was a right-hand drive, so all he had to do was hear my complaint, stick a bloody great hand out and shove me backwards into the hedge and nettles - and drive off without a word.

Mentioning pyjamas brings back a memory of one chap in our billet who took a fancy to a pair of blue and white ones I had. I told him that if we got the chop he could have them. We had taken part in the Koenigsberg attack and been diverted to Honiley near Coventry, landing there at 06-55 after a ten hours and ten minutes Squadron airborne record flight. Of course, because we hadn't returned the previous night, he had come to the conclusion that he would exercise his right! But he gave them back with no hard feelings. I wasn't a regular drinker but did get drunk at a mess party. Dickie Gunton, the engineers' leader, and a WAAF officer put me to bed in those same pyjamas and I still turned up on time at the flights next morning.

On the night of June 2nd 1944, three of our B17's - those of Sqd/Ldr Bill Day, Johnny Cassan and George Wright - took part in the attack on the marshalling yards of Trappes, about forty miles south-west of Paris. I read in the Daily Express some years later that this was the raid that opened the second front. We were flying in F Freddie and as we approached the target, a huge orange flare was dropped on our tail, so George decided to move off track and fly a parallel course. Immediately alongside us appeared a Halifax in the full glare of the flare, exchanging fire with a Messerschmidt 210. The Halifax went down with engines on fire and the Me. Following with the rear gunner firing back, but we saw no chutes from the Halifax. From then on we saw many aircraft shot down, with Fred, our navigator, logging their positions until he had no space to log more. The official report the next morning quoted sixteen of our aircraft were lost. We had been attacked by a Me. 110 and of course, George had taken evasive action by the usual corkscrewing, but we sustained a few holes from bullets which miraculously passed diagonally between the two waist gunners Bob Williams and Don Robson.

Warrant Officer Archibald was another of the Mackie ilk who liked to have a bit of fun in the air. I was to go with him on another sortie to Nevers, another town south of Paris, on 15th July 1944. On the afternoon air test we came upon a cricket match taking place at Pakenham. Some joker in the crew suggested to Archie that he beat it up. Down went Archie with quite a clip on, along the full length of the pitch, and the cricketers throwing themselves flat on their faces. As we climbed away, the same joker said, "Round again, Archie!" and the voice of the wireless operator came over the intercom: "Wait a second, Archie, till I wind the trailing aerial in." That aerial was seventy feet long with ¾" lead balls interspaced along its length. He didn't make the second run! We were over the target that night and the rear gunner reported a fighter on each of the quarters (port and starboard). But we had to be prodded by Archie as to their position because the gunner was slow with his commentary. Suddenly it was "Corkscrew starboard go!" and Archie threw the aircraft over into that manoeuvre and we escaped. But as we came out of the corkscrew a Focker Wolf came round our bows almost within touching distance, and I remember saying to Archie, "Bloody hell! Here's another one! Such a near miss!" The next day my skipper told me not to take part in any more spare operations or I might finish my tour before the rest of the crew, and he would hate to have to get another engineer. Nice to be appreciated!

It is now 1995 and I am in my 82nd year. Every anecdote I have outlined here is as clear in my mind as though it happened yesterday. I was fortunate to fly with the following members of a crew that knew their jobs and carried them out so well: George Wright, pilot, Freddie Mullenger, navigator, Johnny Bates, wireless operator, Stan Bayliss, special duties wireless operator, Bob (Taffy) Williams, waist gunner, Don Robson, waist gunner, Ricky Sherburne, upper turret gunner cum bomb-aimer, with a very special mention for Jimmy Southgate, rear gunner, who cold bring tears to my eyes by hugging me round my shoulders."

His last day of service with the RAF was 6 August 1946.

From his service and release book, we know that as a W/O he was paid 20 shillings a month, so on 22 July 1946 after 42 months service he received a war gratuity of £42 plus post-war credits of sixpence a day for 1295 days, making a total of £76 7s 6d.

Is listed on Battle Orders for 22 August 1944.

Is also listed on returning operational aircrew on 31 August 1944

He died on 6 August 1999 aged 85.

Catherine writes (July 2009):
"He and my mother regularly attended the Squadron reunions, and greatly enjoyed meeting their old friends there. My mother, Elsie Williams, now aged 93, continued to attend until a couple of years ago, together with Stan and Rona Bayliss, but has been unable to do so any more since Stan's death three years ago."

He was a founder member of the 214 Squadron Annual Reunion, which he attended faithfully until his death.

Source : David Wright (son of Flt/Lt George Wright) and George Mackie and Roland Williams memories and Catherine Sommer (daughter of Roland Williams)

Date record last updated : 14 February 2010

Sgt Mervyn Alfred Weavers

Sgt Mervyn Alfred Weavers, 1283647, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 26 November 1941, Aged 25

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark II Z8373

Named on the following Memorial : Runnymede Memorial Panel 54

Son of William Walter and Mildred Weavers; husband of Clara Ann Weavers, of Sydenham, London.

Source : Nightjar Newsletter Spring 2005 and CWGC

Date record last updated : 10 August 2009

Sgt H Woodgate

Sgt H Woodgate, A407301 (A407310?)

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) Z8900

On 7 December 1941 Sgt Woodgate was posted to 214 Squadron from 20OTU.
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 from Portreath direct to Malta, en-route to ME for 99 Squadron in India.

Source : Colin Burningham

Date record last updated : 29 May 2010

Sgt Stanley Allan Wormald

Sgt Stanley Allan Wormald, 758099, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 5 November 1940, Aged 20

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C T2470 (5 November 1940) BU-K

Buried in HARROW (PINNER) NEW CEMETERY. Reference : Sec. B.4. Grave 25.

Son of Stanley Alfred and Millie Wormald, of Pinner.

Source : CWGC and Chorley

Date record last updated : 27 September 2009

Sgt Arnot Flaws Wilson

Sgt Arnot Flaws Wilson, 935907, Rear Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 9 May 1941, Aged 19

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) ??Eddison
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C R1226 BU-L

Buried in BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY. Reference : Coll. grave 32. C. 2.

Son of Ruth Wilson, of Workington, Cumberland.

Source : CWGC and Aled Leyshon (grandson of Mervyn Leyshon)

Date record last updated : 4 October 2009

Sgt Watts

Sgt Watts

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C Z8858 BU-B

Source : Malcolm Brown (son of John Merlin Brown)

Date record last updated : 23 November 2009

Sgt Jack Ward

Sgt Jack Ward, 1064100, Navigator / Observer, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 16 April 1942

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) Z8951 BU-X

Buried in EINDHOVEN (WOENSEL) GENERAL CEMETERY. Reference : Plot JJ. Coll. grave 54-56.

Source : Adrian van Zantvoort and Chorley and CWGC

Date record last updated : 1 January 2010

Plt/Off Woods

Plt/Off Woods, Pilot

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) R1621 BU-G

Source : Records of Fg/Off Venner

Date record last updated : 16 June 2010

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