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R.A.F. BOMBER COMMAND RESEARCH
I have been researching the history of two Lancaster Bombers, ED656 and W4933, which were paid for by the town of Andover in the 1943 "Wings for Victory" fund raising drive.
For each aircraft I intend to find all of the raids flown by each crew member who ever flew in each aircraft, and where possible track down those who survive to this day. So far I have almost finished ED656's crews, W4933 is hardly started. For the text of a lecture on the 'Wings for Victory' fund raising effort of Andover, and some of the history of both aircraft, and their crew's click here.
ED656, coded WS-V, operated with 9 Squadron from 26 April 1943, flying 45 operations before crashing on return from the Berlin raid of 23 November 1943, killing six of the eight crew (a Second Pilot was with them).
The pilots who flew ED656 were -
Sgt. G S Stout, Sqn. Ldr. R McFarlane, Sgt. G H Saxton, Sgt. J Evans, Plt. Off. N J Robinson, Plt. Off. J Anstee, Sgt. C Payne, Flt. Lt. C J Brain, Sgt. W W Turnbull, Fg. Off. D J Brill, Fg. Off. W English, Plt. Off. J H S Lyon, Plt. Off. C Ward, Plt Off. J Argent, Flt. Lt. F J Mitchell Flt. Lt. G F Robinson.
For a detailed list of all crew members who flew in ED656 please click HERE
Below is a crew photograph from November 1943 of Plt. Off. 'Paddy' Robinson and his crew, in front of ED656 WS-V. Robinson (155261) is second from left with the oxygen mask. Sgt. 'Buster' Davis (1456344), the Navigator is in the centre (fourth from left). The rest of the crew were - Sgt. W E Jones (979839) (W.Op.), Flight Sgt. B J Pitman (1337565) (Air Bomber), Sgt. R G Taylor (1462395) (Flight Engineer), Sgt. J Casey (109938) (Air Gunner - rear) and F/Sgt. L E Mitchell (RCAF/R/150809). All except the last two were killed when the aircraft crashed returning from Berlin at 23.40 hrs on 23 November 1943. Picture courtesy of the late Mr William Parry (Ground Crew Sergeant ED656).
Below is a crew photograph (from a photocopy) from August 1943 of Plt. Off. Payne and his crew, in front of W5001 WS-Z. From left to right the crew are Sgt. P A S Twinn (Air Gunner - rear), Sgt. C A Gilbert (Flight Engineer), F/O E N Armstrong (Navigator), Plt. Off C Payne (Pilot), Sgt. F Robinson (W/Op.) Sgt. S C Young (Air Bomber) and F/Sgt. N O Bennett (RAAF Air Gunner - Mid Upper). The crew was transferred to help form 514 Squadron, flying Lancaster II's on 20 September 1943. They ended their tour with 514 in May 1944. Payne, Gilbert, Robinson and Twinn then did a second tour with 149 Squadron from February 1945 to the end of the war. Picture courtesy of Mr Twinn.
W4933 flew with 156 Squadron from March 1943 to July 1943, then was transferred to the PFF Night Training Unit. From here she returned to ops. with 44 Squadron (coded KM-Y) in September 1943, transferring to 50 Squadron in February 1944. After flying 52 operations she was the first aircraft to be lost on the Nuremburg raid on 30/31 March 1944, crashing on take off when a tyre burst (no casualties).
The pilots who flew W4933 were -
156 Squadron -
Sgt. R B Miller, Wg Cdr. G H Wormersley, F.Sgt. R J Hudson, Fg. Off. L R Crampton, F. Sgt. P A Coldham, Fg. Off J C Pritchard, Flt.Lt. P R Vincent, Plt.Of. W J Timperley, Flt. Lt. R E Young
44 Squadron -
Plt. Off. C R Snell, Plt. Off. T H Knight, Plt. Off. C G Hill, Plt. Off. R L Ash, Plt. Off. C Oakley, Fg. Off. E Mercer, Plt. Off. J Chatterton, Flt. Lt. F H Phillips.
50 Squadron - Plt. Off. D J Oram, F.Sgt. G C Bucknell
Below is a copy (from a photocopy) of a photograph of Plt. Off. J Chatterton and his crew at the end of their tour in April 1944, photographed in front of ND 579. From left to right they are J Davidson (Air Gunner - rear), W Champion (Air Gunner Mid Upper), W Baker (Bomb Aimer), J Chatterton (Pilot), D Reyland (Navigator), K Letts (Flight Engineer), J Mitchie (W/Op.). John Chatterton's son, Mike joined the RAF and flew the BBMF Lancaster for several seasons. Picture courtesy of Mr J Chatterton.
If you want more details of these crew and their raids or have any information about them you can pass on please E-mail me at andrew@hobley97.freeserve.co.uk
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Last revised 19/12/98
Copyright Andrew Hobley 1998