Hi Guys
I’m trying to track down some information on my grandfather who was a pilot in the second world war. Unfortunatly he passed away a few years ago and the majority of the information I have gathered is through family stories predominantly through my mum.
He was very guarded about his war stories and very rarely spoke of them although I remember other people he knew thorugh the RAF coming to visit him on occassions before his death from as far a field as Canada .
I’m looking to get a better picture of the man but don’t know really where to start.
His name was Herbert Davies and he was with the 10th squadron. He began in the RAF as a cook and was promoted to sergeant, in 1941 he was sent to Arizona to train as a bomber pilot. He then went onto fly Halifax bombers.
Through the years he gained the DFC whilst operating over Europe before VE day and after that went on to fly POWs home to Australia, according to my mum he got ‘two stars’ which she thinks may have been the India and Burma star
I think he was ranked a flight leutenant when he left the RAF but my mum seems to think he had been an ‘acting captain’ though a battle commission or something.
I remember him having framed letters from the King congratulating him on bravery and a photo of him meeting the Queen at a later date.
One of my uncles his flying logs which I intend to borrow when we next meet but I was wondering is there anywhere on-line I could find more information about him
If anyone could help point me in the direction of where I can get any information I’d be hugely appreciative
By: JDK - 21st November 2010 at 07:27
Excellent work so far, a couple of minor points:
His name was Herbert Davies and he was with the 10th squadron.
In the RAF (and other Commonwealth air forces) it’s always 10 Squadron (“Ten Squadron”) never ‘tenth’, as that’s an American designation.
I think he was ranked a flight leutenant
You mean ‘lieutenant’, written the same but pronounced differently in different forces. (Apart from pedantry, it’s worth getting these things right as they help with searching – online or elsewhere. Hope that helps.)
… my mum seems to think he had been an ‘acting captain’ though a battle commission or something.
Probably simply that he was the pilot and therefore the ‘aircraft captain’ or ‘the skipper’. In both cases it’s not a rank, but a job (or role).
There were ‘field promotions’ and the like in the Army, but not, as far as I’m aware, ever in the RAF or companion air forces.
Through the years he gained the DFC whilst operating over Europe before VE day and after that went on to fly POWs home to Australia, …
That’s very interesting, and I’d like to hear more about that. As far as I know only one Halifax was used to fly families home from Europe, and that was a private endeavour organised by the aircraft designer G. N. Wickner and crew, but your chap’s name doesn’t appear. ( http://www.pprune.org/aviation-history-nostalgia/236813-halifax-lancaster-used-emigrate-australia-after-war.html ) That’s assuming he’d be flying the type he’d flown during the war. What’s far more likely is that the postwar work was with an airline, rather than RAF or RAAF. Anything you find would perhaps open up into more info – not enough as yet, sadly.
By: Dick Milton - 20th November 2010 at 17:32
Many thanks again.
The information has given me an excellent head up start!
Thanks Don
By: Dick Milton - 18th November 2010 at 20:08
Speechless
I can’t thank you enough for such an outstanding and complete reply to my question.
I will further investigate the leads and then give them to Steve (Cyrils son) as a complete surprise.
Thank you once again.
I am also working on a relative from Canada. Tony,s Dad (F/O D.R.Walsh) flew for RCAF Lancaster mark X NA-D Dolly KB-843 428 ghost squadron. I have quite a bit of info. but would appreciate anymore.
Spooky with how close the surnames are!
many thanks
By: Dick Milton - 16th November 2010 at 20:04
F/L C T Welch DFC
I am trying to find out if possible why F/L Ct Welch of 156 Pathfinder Squadron won the DFC. I have already researched a huge amount see link:
http://www.156squadron.com/display_welch.asp
He is my friends Dad, sadly no longer with us. I just want to find out everything I can. Can anone help?
kind regards
Dick Milton
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August 31, 2010 at 5:41 pm