Checking the Videoplus numbers for “Bomber Crew” I spotted that tonight it’s the turn of “Tail End Charlie” to be focused on. I know that my Mum’s uncle was (apparently) a rear gunner in Wellingtons, and was invalided out of the RAF after a crash on the Yorkshire moors. However he would never talk about it (understandable – according to the funeral eulogy he was in hospital for months), and is now no longer available to ask.
Given that all I really know is his name, any hints as to how I might find more? Does anyone think I stand even half a chance?
Adrian
By: trumper - 13th December 2004 at 20:38
😀 Try the Elvington air Museum in Yorkshire,they have the gunners association there and are a very very nice group of people. http://www.yorkshireairmuseum.co.uk/
http://www.yorkshireairmuseum.co.uk/collections/airgunners/index.asp
Good luck 🙂
By: adrian_gray - 13th December 2004 at 17:05
Blimey, I thought you needed more info than that!
Right, time to butter up a cousin… If anything comes of it I will happily share it – all we have on my side of the family is a photo of him in his forage cap-with-a-white-flash. If you’ve ever read Michael Bentine’s autobiography……..
Many thanks!
Adrian
By: Moggy C - 13th December 2004 at 16:14
With permission from the next of kin you can get any ex-airman’s service record from the admin people at RAF Innsworth.
You have to pay a non-refundable search fee that isn’t particularly big. In return you get a colour photocopy of the original manilla folder with all the handwritten annotation showing where he was posted good/bad conduct, promotions, qualifications, medals etc.
A fascinating document in its own right.
Full name, d.o.b. and approximate years of service should be enough for them to go on.
Share it with us if you do?
Moggy
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December 13, 2004 at 3:45 pm