So, another year has passed since my Grandfather got shot down (68 years now) and it has only taken me a year to speak to Dad and find out some more details!!
Jettisoning – D. Thomas isn’t in the photo….the photo I put up is the ‘normal’ crew
The crew members in the original photo are:
Top: Jack Thorpe, Harry Hopkinson, Eddy Lampen, Blackie Stewart
Bottom: Bob McArthur, Jack ‘Johnny’ Walker, Peter Croal
Having spoken to Dad, he thinks it was actually Blackie Stewart who committed suicide. Eddie Lampen was devastated that his normal crew went missing on the raid and was understandably very depressed about the whole situation. He did not want to fly, but was told that if he did not, he would be labelled as a coward and reluctantly continued his flying duties.
And some more photos:
This was taken shortly after the war ended…Some of the crew met up in Saltburn – J. Walker, J. Thorpe, T. Stewart, R. McArthur
This is the remaining crew members meeting up at Melbourne some time after the war. This was the largest gathering of the crew after bailing out of the Halifax.
My Grandfather (right) seeing the Elvington Halifax on the day it was unveiled to the public
And a few random pics that I couldn’t help but put in!
This was taken in Amman in ’58 during the Suez crisis. He was flying Hastings at the time. Obviously had enough spare time for a game of cricket!!
A claim to fame during his VC10 days:
And finally, Jack Ostley (left), a member of 617 Sqdn and JW on Remembrance Day in 2003.
ps….Sorry about the quality of some of the pics…..I don’t have access to a scanner and the photos are stuck in photo albums that I am loathed to disturb!
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