Early Night Fighter Radio Observers/Navs ( radar operators)

Most of the above are mentioned in “Night Fighter” by CF “Jimmy” Rawnsley and Robert Wright, as Jimmy Rawnsley served on 604 flying initially as an Air Gunner on Blenheims before becoming a radar operator, flying with John Cunningham.

I wish I could find my copy…maybe lent it to somebody !!

rgds baz

Interesting Simon…my PC does not read doc – but easy enough to google !
The brevet thing is interesting sometimes…looks like this particular gentleman qualified for/wore 4 different half wings…

A/G,RO,O and finally ‘E’ as a flight engineer

rgds baz

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In a different thread I came across mention of AC2 John William Compton as being awarded the Battle of Britain Clasp,I was intrigued because it was the lowest ranked airman I had seen to be given an operational award.
It has been kindly confirmed by Peter Colwill on RAF Commands that Compton was indeed a Radio Observer (RO)

And soon afterwards was promoted to sergeant !

I eventually remembered reading (years ago) that some of the early RO’s flew without any Flying Badge or Rank for a short while because the RAF was so short of potential Radar operators for Airborne Interception…it took time for the ‘system’ to catch up with them !
It was not unusual to see LAC (Leading Aircraftsman) aircrew (A/G’s) at that time but AC2 rank really was the lowest of the low !

Here’s another!

Most of the above are mentioned in “Night Fighter” by CF “Jimmy” Rawnsley and Robert Wright, as Jimmy Rawnsley served on 604 flying initially as an Air Gunner on Blenheims before becoming a radar operator, flying with John Cunningham.

Here is a gallant gentleman…

Lt. Terence Genney, R.F.A (Temporary Lieutenant, Royal Field Artillery)

Terence Genney was born in Grimsby on 3rd June 1896 and was educated at Louth School. He served in the 1914-18 war in the Lincolnshire Regiment, was commissioned in October 1914 and awarded the MC (gazetted 18th January 1918). The citation read:

T./Lt. Terence Genney, R.F.A (Temporary Lieutenant, Royal Field Artillery)

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He took command of a battery when all the officers had become casualties and kept it in action on two occasions under heavy shelling.

**************

Genney joined the RAF as a direct-entry Air Gunner in early May 1940.

After completing his gunnery training Genney joined 604 Squadron at Northolt in June and served throughout the Battle. He teamed up with F/Lt. AS Hunter. When the squadron began re-equipping with Beaufighters in September 1940, Genney retrained as a Radio Observer.

On 6th February 1941 Hunter and Genney took off from Middle Wallop in the dark for a delayed air test. Their Beaufighter R2054 went into a spin as it approached to land. Both men were killed.

Genney was 44. He is buried in St. Nicolas churchyard, Grainsby, Lincolnshire.

So Genney would have worn the A/G flying badge until the R/O badge was introduced

Flying Officer Terence Genney

Flight Lt Ben Bent

Bent joined the RAF on 8 November 1937 and began a Wireless Operator Course in February 1938 and having completed the course was posted to Biggin Hill on 9 January 1939. In June 1940 he volunteered for aircrew duties and after a short radar course, he joined 25 Squadron on 6 August and began operational night-flying a few days later, as an LAC without a flying badge. On 27 September he was promoted to Sergeant, with the category of Wireless Operator (Air). On his first operational tour he assisted in five successful interceptions. On the night of 4/5 May 1941 he intercepted and damaged an unidentified enemy aircraft, on the 7/8th and 8/9th two Do 17s were destroyed, on the 11/12th a He 111 was damaged and during the night of 13/14 June a Ju 88 was destroyed. He remustered as a Radio Observer on 10 July 1941 and was posted to 54 OTU on 29 April 1942 as an instructor. On 23 July he was reclassified as a Navigator Radio and rejoined 25 Squadron on 8 September 1942. On 21 March 1944 he assisted in the destruction of two Ju 88s and at 00.43 hours on 6 June a Bf 110 over the Dutch Islands, believed to be the first enemy aircraft shot down on D-Day. Awarded the DFC (26.5.44), he then served as a Night Fighter Liaison Officer in France with P 61 Squadron USAF.

Here is another early RO – I believe he may have been awarded the DFM as an LAC and before he had a flying badge (anybody confirm ?)

A Battle of Britain D.F.M. group of five awarded to Sergeant Bernard Cannon, No. 604 Squadron, a Radar Operator on Blenheim Night Fighter patrols

Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (1052310 Sgt. B. Cannon, R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star, clasp, Battle of Britain; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; Defence and War Medals, the first sometime plugged and fitted with replacement suspension, otherwise very fine (5) £900-1200

Footnote
D.F.M. London Gazette 24 June 1941 ‘This airman has been continuously engaged on operational flying since August, 1940. He has taken part in the destruction of at least three enemy aircraft.’

The recommendation gives the following details: ‘This airman has been continuously and actively engaged on operational flying with 604 Squadron since August, 1940. During this period, he has been directly instrumental in enabling his pilot to make visual contact with the enemy by night on seven occasions. Each contact has resulted in a confirmed destruction of the enemy, one probable destruction, one damaged, one combat in which no claim was made and one interception from which there was no combat. I recommend him for the immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.’

Bernard Cannon was born in Bolton in 1915, and joined the Royal Air Force in June 1940. He volunteered for flying duties and at the end of the month was at R.A.F. Yatesbury for an airborne radar course, and on 20 July was posted to 604 Squadron at Gravesend, never having flown. Cannon was one of those who flew operationally without rank or brevet, receiving three shillings per day, which included one shilling flying pay. When other radar operators were posted away as surplus in December 1940, Cannon was flying with the CO, Squadron Leader M. F. Anderson, and was kept on. Cannon was released from the Royal Air Force in 1945, as a Warrant Officer, and died on 17 December 1983.