Interesting seeing the log book with `617` squadron written in it.
When were they designated 617? I thought that was after the raid?
Weren’t they called Squadron X or something beforehand?
Don’t know, just asking 🙂
BTW why 617?

This is the logbook of F/O Robert Urquhart DFC who was the Navigator to Maudslay, and was sadly killed in Lancaster AJ-Z on the morning of the 17th May, returning from the Eder attack.
617 Squadron was called Squadron X originally, as they were formed so quickly as a new squadron, but by March 26th they had received royal approval and a badge was authorised. I think that was an unused number at the time. People tend to forget that 618 was formed 11 days later testing the smaller spherical bomb codenamed ‘Highball’ using the Mosquito on behalf of the Navy for attacks on shipping.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]216458[/ATTACH]The bomb doors were taken off, flares were used on the raid.

Battle of Britain Clasp

How interesting Slippers you have ‘inherited’ two Battle of Britain groups, you are lucky – especially as Wallers DFC group has gone through four auction houses and two medal dealers since 1998 for over £2000 and Doughty’s group was sold on E bay in 2005 for over £1000. I would suggest buying a few lottery tickets with your luck of inheritance!
By the way there is no photo of Doughty so don’t look for one, and his is a very sad story.

Ginger Lacy Medals

I remember his medals coming up for auction at Hendon on the 15th September 1990 when they sold for £28,000 and the Spinks auctioneer stated that the family would be keeping the flying logbook for research purposes, but would offer them to the buyer at a later stage.

Eye For Detail

Anyone else noticed the ‘cocking toggle’ tucked in the boot of the air gunner depicted in the memorial, a nice touch from the sculptor Philip Jackson!

MayDay

Talking of phonetic alphabets I thought this may be of interest?

A Piece of Cake

A lot of the filming took place at the old Friston ‘D-Day’ airfield in East Sussex, where sets were put up and blown up along with dummy aircraft, this photo is not one of those sets.

Another PNG Pic

Just to give a flavour of the country and locals, I used to spend all my free time going into the jungle exploring with a team and recovering items! This was the entrance to a Japanese hospital cut into a cave at the back of Rabaul harbour, all the beds and equipement were still there along with Japenese helmets and weapons (although rusted through!). If only I had had the foresight and spare cash to transport these back to the UK at the time!
+Sorry its not aviation themed, my other aircraft pictures are too large to post