Flt Lt WHA Dick DFC and Moulsford Manor…Help?

Hi Folks and apologies for being a little cheeky in punting my post back up to the top of the list but I do have a serious question.

Further to the the above posts I had a look at the excellent website lostbombers.co.uk for a reference to RG498 Halifax III. The following was posted:-

“Serial Range RG480 – RG513. 34 Halifax Mk.V1. Part of a batch of 400 HP Halifax Mk.B.111/A.V11/B.V1. RG345-RG390; RG413-RG446 (80) B.111; RG447-RG458; RG472-RG479 (20) A/B.V11; RG480-RG513; RG527-RG568; RG583-RG625; RG639-RG679; RG639-RG736; RG749-RG790; RG813-RG853; RG867-RG879 (300) B.V1. Delivered by English Electric Co (Salmesbury & Preston) between 14Feb45 and 28Feb45. Airborne 1332 15Mar45 from Pocklington to bomb the Mathias Stinnes Benzol plant. Bombed the AP at 1618 from 19,000 feet, but sustained serious Flak damage. diverted to Manston, landing here at 1743. Its arrival was only semi-controlled due to the battle-damage which resulted in a heavy landing and soon afterwards a fire broke out. It is believed the crew escaped relatively unharmed, but the microfilm quality is so poor thet their names are quite unreadable. F/L W.L.M.Dick ”

Is there any way you know of that could verify if WLM Dick is just a misreading of WHA Dick and seeing if the award of the DFC was for bringing this stricken a/c home.

Many thanks again for any help that is forthcoming.

Guys, I can’t thankyou enough for taking the time and the trouble to do some digging.
Having looked at the Gazette late last night I was faced with a huge number of entries and you chaps have very kindly looked in to it for me. The two entries would seem to tie up re the Halifax, as I see from a quick look on T’internet show 102 being equipped with Halifax III’s at the time of 498’s loss ( can’t explain the different initials though.) and the award of the DFC some 6 mths later. Similarly his retirement almost coincides with the deeds dates on this property.
Time for some more digging to see what happened!!!!

Many Thanks once again all.

As a PS This current house and area seem to be magnets and seem to attract aircrew. Not only am I a civvie pilot in a house once owned by a service crew member but 3 of my immediate neighbours are ex BOAC skippers and we’re in what used to be the grounds of a manor with strong USAAF links……the plot thickens!!!

PPS Thanks again Colin. I will do my utmost to pop along but unfortunately it won’t be on the 16th due to work but I’ll check out your meeting dates and hopefully I can thankyou in person.

W H A Dick

Now got access to my copies of the Retired Air Force List

Dick W H A DFC, Born 9/3/23. Commissioned 10/11/42. F/Lt 8/9/51. Ret GD(G) 30/9/64.

Regards
Ross

I have also found reference to a “Flt Lt W L M Dick” associated with a 102 Sqn Halifax RG498 lost on 15th March on a raid on Bottrop.

This may be a total red herring, but maybe somebody has a better reference than mine who could shed some more light?

He is also mentioned at Issue 37914 published on the 21 March 1947. Page 5 of 8

On Appointment to the reconstituted RAuxAF:

Flight Lieutenants retaining their rank:

WHA Dick DFC (133416) 14th Feb 1947

F/Lt William Herbert Ames Dick

Hi,

133416 William Herbert Ames Dick was gazetted on 15/09/1944 (Issue 4271) for award of a DFC while serving as a Flying Officer with No.102 Sqn.

Regards
Ross

No worries,
be good to see you at Abingdon,but I hope to be VERY busy(pop along to the Marlborough Club,DIDCOT for one of our OAG meetings…the next ones on April 16th)

Anyway,one of my members has come up with this re Moulsford Manor….

Moulsford Manor and ‘Bucklands’ (a large house on the Reading Road, just past the turning to Cholsey on the right – I think it’s now a pre-school/play group) together, were designated AAF 511 and assigned to the US Eighth Air Force Service Command, but just what use they put it to I don’t know – I haven’t got that far yet!

Not a lot,but a start for you

Colin

Colin,you are a gentleman indeed and look forward to hearing any news.Also look forward to the beginning of May and your ‘little do’. Hope to be able to thank you in person although I think you may be a tad busy 😉 !!!

Cheers Ian st. I wasn’t aware of that website and judging by the quick look I’ve had so far it may take some time to wade through all the articles!!! 😮

Cheers guys.

Any other help would be greatly appreciated.

Hi
I’ve fired this query out to members of my Oxfordshire Aviation Group many of who live in the Wallingford/Cholsey/Didcot area.
I f anything comes back,I’ll let you know
Colin

You could try searching the London Gazette records here:

http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveSearch.asp?WebType=0&Referer=WW2