Bulletin Board: War in the Air Messages

I am trying to contact Zoe Deterding, her father Henry was I believe a friend of my Father Lt Commander HNC Hearn, who was pilot in L7656 and ran out of fuel over Norway. If Zoe views this, can she contact me direct if she wishes.
Regards
Andy Hearn

My father, Jack Brigham. learnt to fly just prior to second world war through a newspaper scheme (possibly Daily Express). I thought it was called "Guardians of the Air" but have been unable to find out any information about it. He joined the RAF and flew Coastal Command and then became part of Bomber Command. He died in April aged 90.

I am presently up dating a book published in 2003 and 2003 entitled "A Separate Little War" published by Grub Street Publishing London for its paperback edition in Spring 2008.

I would welcome contact with anyone who has any information on Coastal Command operations against enemy shipping off the coasts of France, Holland and Norway during World War 2 in reference to Mosquitoes and Beaufighters.

I look forward to hearing from you.
Your Sincerely
Andrew Bird

A potentially dangerous situation arose at Bangkok shortly after the Japs capitulated. I was flying flying back to Rangoon with 20 ex POWs being repatriated. An engine cut before reaching a critical point, and I was able to stop. Water had found its way into one petrol tank due, we discovered, to being pumped in from barrels by Japanese prisoners. Water is a normal result of condensation in a closed container, and I doubt if it was deliberate, but they were tipping the barrels on edge so that the stirrup pump reached lower than it should. It was pre-flight practice to drain off a little from each petrol tank after an aircraft had been standing overnight because of condensation, but in this case we had only recently landed. A loaded Dakota would fly on one engine, but the potential was there for those men to have lost their lives after beating the odds and surviving their brutal Japanese imprisonment.

An interesting co-incidence at Bangkok was meeting my Aussie radio-operator's brother, who had been taken prisoner in Singapore right at the beginning of the Japanese attack.  He was there awaiting return to Australia, and we happened to be there at just the right time.

62 Sqdn. crews moved up to Toungoo for a special mission. Imagine hills 1000-ft high on each side of a narrow valley, with similar peaks at one end. A remote community lives there, facing starvation after the retreating Japanese troops took what food was left. There was no other suitable access to the village through which to take the large quantities of food needed, so 62 Squadron was employed to drop rice, double-sacked. This was done from a bit under< 100ft, and the dropping run was short, so as much weight as possible had to be offloaded on the first run. As it was, my first climb out of the valley, with roaring motors and every rivet straining, literally on a wing and a prayer, barely cleared the jagged peaks. Had there been a hitch on that first run I doubt if we could have climbed out fully loaded. The glider-snatching training that I had received proved helpful, for that had required similar full-throttle-high-rate-of-climb practice. I suppose I was the more fortunate, sitting up front in comfort, whilst my crew sweated it out down in the fuselage, manhandling the heavy loads, knowing the importance of getting them out quickly. Incidentally one aircraft was reported to have lost a bit of wing, but I guess a a little can be spared off 95ft!!

Another memorable occasion was two days after my very fine Navigator was posted away from the Squadron. It was a supply-dropping mission to a fighting remnant in the Chin Hills in northern Burma, towards the Chinese border. My log book records "Sept.20th 1945 - Supply drop - Mank-wei-long - Aborted". The journey was too far for a loaded DC3 to operate from our base at Rangoon, so it was staged from Toungoo, up country. I guess we would have found the dropping zone had Don been navigating, but we didn't, despite searching for as long as I dared, keeping an eye on the petrol< gauges. I decided to take the load of rice back, rather than dump it, a decision based on an incorrect estimate of where we were. Events proved that we must have been best part of 100 miles East of that estimate, so the petrol supply was stretched. On the way back to Toungoo we were able to get a bearing from Rangoon, which helped, but it didn't tell us the distance.

Passing a mountain range, that I assumed to be the last before our destination, I initiated a rate of descent aimed at reaching 1000ft at Toungoo to economise on fuel, so imagine my horror to be then confronted with another range. That meant opening up and climbing again, and then an engine cut! Immediately, I called out to the crew to dump the load, but rescinded that instruction when I quickly changed over to main tanks, having forgotten that I had emptied the auxiliary tanks.

Another radio bearing from Rangoon now enabled us to identify our position more accurately and thus correct our course to Toungoo. I calculated that though we would be tight on fuel we could still get back with our load, for it went against the grain to dump it. But there was one more hazard to face. Due to a combination of deteriorating light, plus lack of familiarity with the area, and, being honest, a bit of "flapping", we couldn't locate the airfield. In the remote but prayerful hope that one of our Squadron would still be on the ground, and listening on R.T., I called up for assistance. Just one aircraft was indeed still on the ground awaiting take-off. They spotted us and gave us directions. Only pints, not gallons, of fuel were left before we refilled for the return to Rangoon. Our flying time was 6hrs. 35 mins, a long haul for a fully loaded Dakota.

Interested in receiving information on the history of this squadron which flew the Mosquitos.

Pilot Officer L. L. Laughlin was an American pilot who flew with the 607 Squadron until the Eagle Squadrons were formed. He was one of the original pilots of the 121 Eagle Squadron. We are attempting to find any information about his time spent before his death 21 June 1941 (KIA). We have not been able to trace how he got to England or his time there. Before he left he told his neice he was going through Canada. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Having returned from Australia, my dad’s mother [Charles Sullivan of the HMS Edinburgh's sister] went to live in Moretonhampstead. My uncle was born there in 1944, son of a Canadian in the RAF. Sadly he never met his dad [a rear gunner], as the latter was killed over Dresden. Grandma kept his photo [in full uniform] next to my uncle's wedding photo [the likeness is uncanny], and wore his Air Force Wings [clearly visible in the photo] as a broach. After her death in 1994 in Bournemouth, they were the first two items my uncle claimed from her flat.

I am researching my deseased father's WWII experiences with the Polish RAF 304 Squadron in the UK and training in Canada. His Polish name was Waclaw Kasprowicz. Any information (photo's ..etc) gratefully accepted.

Thank you, John Kennard

Are any members of 21 Squadron still around? my brother Fl.Officer G. Brian Chippendale was killed in action on 21 April 1943. I would be very happy to hear from anyone who knew him. PDC

Hello,

I am looking for information on my uncle, Lloyd McCartney. He was a tailgunner in a Lancaster bomber. Unfortunately that is all the information I have. If anyone has heard the name or has pictures or information please email me at dolphinfan13@hotmail.com

thank you so much

Please can anyone help me I'm writing an article about a Halifax bomber plane that crashed in our village in WW2 in 1943, sadly all seven crew died. I have traced three families of the crew and I am now looking for the family of W/O Class 1 Air Gunner Norman William Gardner Toronto, Son of William Clement and Mary Elsie Gardner. He was in RCAF in Group 4 1663 HCU Rufforth York England.We are erecting a memorial plaque at the crash site in the New Year and are trying to trace all the families of the seven crew.
Thanks
Anne

I am trying to trace any family or friends of Sergeant John Hodgson. He was an RAF Flight Engineer from the Leeds area - his Lancaster bomber crashed in northern France in late July 1944. A memorial stone has now been inaugurated at the crash site and we have been able to contact 6 out of the 8 families of the crew so far. The people of the village of Rebrechien near Orleans, southwest of Paris want to tell surviving families that their sacrifice is both remembered and greatly valued even after 60 years. A 60 page commemorative brochure about the plane, the crash and the life story of the crew incuding information some about Sergeant John Hodgson has been produced. The following are extrcts from the commemorative brochure:

SERGEANT JOHN HODGSON: THE FLIGHT ENGINEER

We have not found the Hodgson family yet. We however believe this could be just a matter of time, for we have some serious factual elements about John. John Hodgson was aged 27 when he died in the crash. He was the son of George and Ivy Hodgson of Leeds, Yorkshire. We also know that he was the only crew member to be married. He married Constance Emily Hodgson. Valerie White, nee Brown, Eric Brown’s sister, remembers about John:

“John Hodgson was the only member of the crew who was married. His wife, Constance was also in the Air Force and had requested a transfer to the same base as John at Ludford Magna. They had arrangements to stay with a family whose house backed on to the airfield. The crew's plane was parked within sight of the yard. The day John's wife arrived at the house, having gained her transfer; the family already knew something was amiss as John's plane had not returned from the night before. They took her straight to Air Command, where she was told the plane and crew were missing. I don’t know what happened to her, except that she re-married”.

Please contact me:
Ian Ellis
Mobile Tel: 07989 272 376
E mail: ianellis@onetel.com

My father was with 2923 squadron. he tained in Uxbridge then moved to Melkshamand and Weeton as a bomb fitter. Travelling to Eastleigh he was then sent to Italy followed by Greeece where he was a POW. Is there any one stil left out there who was stationed with my Dad that may know him.He is 84 years old and has a good memory of the past for chatting.

My late father was a pilot with this RCAF Night Intruder squadron from January through to August of 1945. I have with no succes to date contacted numerous sources trying to locate a photograph of him during this period. We only have photos of him previous to this when he was with Eastern Air Command in Atlantic Canada. If anyone can assist me in this quest I would be very grateful.

I would like to find any information or photos of the 409 Repair & Salvage Unit for my Dad John (Jack)Taylor, who is 82 this year. I am finding it difficult to find any information on this unit so any help would be very much appreciated.

I JOINED RAF IN DECEMBER 1942, TRAINED AS A NAVIGATOR IN SOUTH AFRICA AND SPENT SOME TIME IN MIDDLE EAST.
WAS EVENTUALLY MADE REDUNDANT AND POSTED TO 120 MU IN PALESTINE.

WOULD LIKE TO CONTACT ANY EX RAF, WAAF, 6th. AIRBORNE WHO WERE AT 120 M.U. RAS EL AIN PALESTINE 1945 ONWARDS.

New Zealander Ivan Jamieson,flew fighter planes from aircraft carriers in World War 2 ,helicopters in jungle missions during the Malayan Emergency and became a leading light in Christchurch,New Zealand aviation,transport and tourism.. He died recently ,aged 83.

When World War 2 broke out he wanted to join the Air Force but his mother objected . So , in a "cunning little act of subterfuge ",as daughter Caherine puts it , he enlisted with the Royal Navy.
Unbeknown to his mother , the navy was seeking flyers for its Fleet Air Arm . He trained as a pilot before being posted to the Pacific where he flew operations against the Japanese for eighteen months.

Ivan Jamieson had his share of minor crashes . Recovering in a Sydney hospital from one , he "sneaked home " for a few days to marry Marie Morris , in March 1945.

Andrew Ivan Robert Jamieson,born Wellington ( NZ )September 23 ,1921 ; died Oxford ( North Canterbury,New Zealand ) August 23 , 2005.

An Obituary appeared in a Christchurch Newspaper, "The Press", on Saturday September 3 ,2005

Colin White is the only New Zealand Fleet Air Arm pilot left who flew with 828/830 Torpedo Squadron and 185 RAF squadron on Hurricanes during 1942.

Colin will be representing fallen New Zealand Servicemen at a Battle for Malta Re-union , marking the 60th anniversary of the Siege of Malta.
It will be the first time that he has set foot on the tiny Mediterranean island since 1943
Colin White is not looking forward to reliving painful memories but is determined to pay tribute to those who died there

He is thought to be one of only two Kiwis still alive who took part in the siege ; the other is Jack Rae , a distinguished fighter pilot with the DFC and Bar.

The Re-union takes place at Malta,on the 22nd and 23rd September 2005

Looking for information on Squadron Leader Launcelot Eustice Smith, Commanding Officer of 607 (County of Durham) Squadron. Lance Smith was known to have lived in Slaley area of Northumberland. I particularly need information on his early life, schooling etc.

I'm searching for any information concerning Tommy Dowbiggin, supposed to be a Mosquito pilot, shot down in belgium and rescued by the belgian underground in 1943 or 1944.
Thanks for your help

Would like to discuss targets, maintance or personnel.

Does anyone have any information on the RAF SCU's, which landed in Normandy, on D-day & just after?