Seeking Info. Re. 166 Sqn

Hi all,

I’m new to this forum, and having viewed recently, my first post is a request, so pls. foregive me for that.

I’m seeking info. re. 166 Sqn 1943-44, photos of a/c and crews, especially that of my second cousin, Sergeant (WOp/AG) Freddie Collins who served with 166 Sqn from Nov ’43, and who, along with four other members of the crew of AS-C2 EE137, was KIA 14 Jan 1944.

Via an unofficial historian of the Sqn I have some excellent details, including accounts from the two survivors of 14 Jan 1944 of that trip, plus their first trip as a crew, in W4966, to Berlin on 22 Nov 1943, which resulted in heavy damage and a crash-landing at Bradwell Bay, which made the national press.

If anyone has, or has knowledge of, any contemporary photos of 166 Sqn aircraft and crews, especially of W4966 (also AS-C2), I would be most grateful to receive them.

The five KIA 14 Jan 1944 are buried in Hanover War Cemetery; they are:

WO (Pilot) William Valentine Butler (of Copnor, Portsmouth)
Sgt (F/E) Raymond Edward William Cheeseman (of Greenhithe, Kent)
F/Sgt (AG) Ronald Soo (of Litherland, Liverpool)
Sgt (AG) James Michael Preston RCAF (of Chatham, Ontario)

I plan to visit Hanover Cemetery in late Sep this year. It’s a long shot, but if anyone knows of any surviving relatives, on whose behalf I could lay a personal message or dedication (in addition to my own), I would be more than happy to hear from them.

e-mail to [email]Andyp4@yahoo.co.uk[/email] or
[email]Andy_Page4@hotmail.com[/email]

Thanks in advance.