Hi guys,
A dear friend of mine was a Bomb Aimer on Lancasters with 106 Squadron during WW2. In June 1944 he was grounded for a short while due to his health, and during this time his crew (he believed) went “Missing”. However, despite some rigerious searching i have been unable to trace his crew as a loss??
As you will see from the entry in his log book (below) the Pilot of the crew in question was S/LDR De Belleroche, and the Lancaster used for 14 op’s prior to the crews disapearence was “B” Bertie. As you will see in the log, the Pilot changes on 27th June 1944, but the A/c is still “B” Bertie.
My theroy is that the rest of the crew has completed their tour, but i’m surprised that my friend know nothing about this??
He subsequesntly joined W/CDR Stevens crew and completed his tour.
How can i find out what happened to his original crew??
Any answers / theroys would be gladly received.
Richard
By: LW206 - 22nd January 2011 at 23:21
Yes, “B” Bertie was ME789 coded ZN-B.
Icare9,
Yes that would make sense. Strange how they never informed their Bomb Aimer of their departure??
David,
The entry in the 97 ORB’s ties in perfectly date wise with the Log book.
Absolutely fantastic guys. A 66 year mystery finally solved.
Unfortunatly F/Lt Gordon Beston who’s Log Book this was, died in Spetember 2009 aged 87 years. He had always wondered about the fate of his original crew and i have spent hours searching records etc to try and find the information he sought. It’s a real shame i didnt find this forum before he died.
Thanks everyone for your help.
Richard
By: David Layne - 22nd January 2011 at 22:49
If they were already flying Operations, then the likely reason for the move to 97 Squadron would be experienced crews to replace Pathfinder losses.
As regards “B Bertie”, 15 OF-B’s were lost, 13 Lancs, 1 Manchester and 1 Wellington, but without knowing the serial, it won’t be possible to narrow down further. Frequently the letter was changed if an aircraft were in need of maintenance or repair, so another would be given that code letter. In some instances there were 2 with the same letter, so “B2”, for instance, would distinguish one from the other.
I think he was referring to a 106 Squadron B Bertie which would have been a ZN-B
By: David Layne - 22nd January 2011 at 22:41
97 Squadron Orbs has
39433 S/L de Belleroche GD To 97 Sqn from 106 Sqn 25.6.44
176925 P/O Vere-Hodge GDN
CanR153411 Sgt A.Coombs AG To 97 Sqn from 106 Sqn 25.6.44
CanR119411 Sgt W.Winskill AG
1739072 Sgt R.C.Dicken F/E
1398266 Sgt W.Parsons W/Op
By: efiste2 - 22nd January 2011 at 21:18
Sorry to hijack the thread but thats excellent how you have found info like that. My late uncle was in either 150 or 170 squadron at hemswell 1944-45 and thats all i know. Is there any publication or online record that can help me track down his or the squadrons activities or any info for that matter. My main problem is that I have no access to his war records at this time 🙁
By: Icare9 - 22nd January 2011 at 21:16
If they were already flying Operations, then the likely reason for the move to 97 Squadron would be experienced crews to replace Pathfinder losses.
As regards “B Bertie”, 15 OF-B’s were lost, 13 Lancs, 1 Manchester and 1 Wellington, but without knowing the serial, it won’t be possible to narrow down further. Frequently the letter was changed if an aircraft were in need of maintenance or repair, so another would be given that code letter. In some instances there were 2 with the same letter, so “B2”, for instance, would distinguish one from the other.
By: LW206 - 22nd January 2011 at 20:26
Ross….Thats them, fantastic mate!!
I have found the entry in Bomber Command Losses and De Belleroche’s crew is exactly the same as in 106 squadons ORB for the time my friend flew with them (Bomb Aimer is different of course). Great work! Im really impressed and very greatfull, thank you.
So they ended up at 97 Squadron! What would be the reason for the squadron move?? How can i find out if they went direct to this squadron or somewhere else inbetween??
Thanks
Richard
By: Ross_McNeill - 22nd January 2011 at 19:58
He is lsted as a PoW in my transcription of the 1944 list.
http://www.rafcommands.com/Air%20Force%20PoWs/RAF%20POWs%20Query%20D_1.html
http://www.156squadron.com/display_newpff_roll.asp?ID=97
Scroll down to 11/09/44 and see entry for Lancaster PB510.
Regards
Ross
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January 22, 2011 at 7:37 pm