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Surname :
WADDICAR, J I

Waddicar_James_Ian_Cunningham

Waddicar_James_Ian_Cunningham_2
Sgt Waddicar and medals

FS James Ian Cunningham Waddicar DFM, 953982, Mid Upper Gunner

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark III N3751 BU-P

3196 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 21 JULY 1942
Award of the Distinguished Flying Medal

"The first fighter then returned to the attack but was met with a long and vicious burst from Sergeant Waddicar's guns which sent the enemy aircraft spinning towards the ground, where it exploded on impact. Sergeant Waddicar, with commendable ingenuity, had temporarily repaired one of his guns which had failed and opened fire at the second aircraft from close range. The attacker dived away and exploded before hitting the water. Throughout the operation, these airmen displayed unflinching courage, great fortitude and splendid team work in foiling the attacks of 5 enemy fighters, 3 of which were shot down. Their conduct upheld the highest traditions of the Royal Air Force."

Source : 214 Squadron ORB and London Gazette and National Archives Air Records AIR/50/233/13

Date record last updated : 8 January 2021



WADE, A C

Sgt Alan Cartwright Wade, 943745, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, KIA 11 April 1943, Aged 25

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I BK612 BU-Z

Named on the following Memorial : RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL Panel 168.

Son of Herbert and Alice Wade, of Leeds, Yorkshire.

Source : Cheryl Garner, Great Niece of Thomas Frank Richardson and CWGC.

Date record last updated : 30 January 2011



WAITE, J H

Flt/Lt J H Waite, 87654, Observer / Bomb Aimer

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) N2802 (Date unknown) BU-A
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark II R1613 (Date unknown) BU-G
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) T2709 (12-Mar-1941) BU-D

Died in March 2007

Peter Waite writes :
My father flew in 214 Squadron as an "Observer" Navigator and Bomb Aimer, from January 1941 until June 1942 mainly in T2709 D with Sq/Ldr Sharp as pilot and captain but later in R1613G and N2802 A with P/O Crampton.

My father trained at No 20 OTU and after leaving 214 trained as an instructor at No2 SOAN before being seconded to the RAAF until 1944 when he returned to the UK.

Source : Peter Waite (son of Flt/Lt J H Waite)

Date record last updated : 8 March 2019



WAKE, J A

Sgt J A Wake

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark III EE899 (24-Jul-1943)

Source : 214 Squadron ORB

Date record last updated : 10 March 2023



WAKELY

Sgt Wakely

Was a regular crew member with Gp/Capt John Aidan Field

Source : Richard Field (son of Gp/Capt John Aidan Field)

Date record last updated : 24 May 2019



WALCH, S

Plt/Off S Walch, J45149, Royal Canadian Air Force

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB790 (14-Jan-1945) BU-Q

Source : 214 Squadron ORB

Date record last updated : 17 April 2020



WALDRON, F J

WALKER

WALKER

WALKER, C N

Plt/Off Charles Norman Walker, 78863, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 8 January 1941, Aged 29

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C T2956 BU-?

Buried in SALE CEMETERY. Reference : Sec. S. Grave 6086.

Son of Robert William and Ethel Walker, of Sale; husband of Marjorie Evelyn Walker. of Sale.

Was on strengh of 38 Squadron, a unit that had moved recently to the Middle East.

Source : CWGC and Chorley

Date record last updated : 15 June 2018



WALKER, E

Fg/Off Edward 'Ted' Walker, Navigator

Ted died, age 96, on November 30th 2007.

He was a navigator on 214 Squadron until mid 1943 when a number of aircraft and crews were transferred to the newly formed 620 Squadron at Chedburgh.
While with 620 Squadron on August 23/24th 1943, on a raid to Berlin, Ted's Stirling BK801 was shot down over Germany n a mission to Berlin. He was taken to Sagan (Zagan) & Belaria, Germany L3 POW camp. His POP number was 2290. Of the eight crew only Ted and two others survived to be taken POWs.

Ted had attended many 214 Squadron Reunions and, although frail, he insisted that he attend that held in September 2007. His son Jim who brought him from Darlington says that Ted thoroughly enjoyed himself although he got rather tired towards the end of the evening.

Source : Nightjar Newsletter Winter/Spring 2008, Peter Walker and "Footprints on the sands of time" by Oliver Clutton-Brock

Date record last updated : 20 November 2020



WALKER, J W

FS J W 'Johnny' Walker, R.173927, Rear Gunner, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality : Canadian

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress (model unknown) ??Peden
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark II SR381 BU-F

Was the only person injured on 21 June 1944. All of the crew survived.

Source : Nightjar Newsletter Spring 2003 and Return of operational Aircrew at 16:00hrs on 31 August 1944

Date record last updated : 22 June 2014



WALKER, N F

Sqn/Ldr Nigel Firth Walker DFC DSO, Navigator, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) N2802 BU-A

Nigel Walker joined 214 Squadron in November 1940 as a sergeant navigator. His captain was Pilot Officer Jack Wetherly.
When Jack Wetherly completed his tour in March 1941 the crew was taken over by Pilot Officer John Topliss. When Topliss and his crew were lost on Hamburg on 11 May 1941 flying Wellington R1462, Walker was not with them: he was on leave prior to being commissioned.

In 1942 he returned to operations, joining 83 Squadron (Pathfinders). Here he completed a second tour, serving as Navigation Officer and Bombing Leader, and was awarded the DFC (1942) and the DSO (1943).

He survived the war, married a WAAF from the Y Service and lived in Oxford. In 1963 he published his recollections of his time in Bomber Command, entitled Strike to Defend.

Source : Christopher Jary, Author - Portrait Of A Bomber Pilot.

Date record last updated : 16 May 2009



WALKER, P F

Flt/Lt Peter Fowler Walker, 85280, Navigator, Royal Air Force, Date taken POW 9 December 1940, POW number 34

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I R1246 BU-H

Imprisoned at POW camp Dulag Luft (Oberursel), Germany
Imprisoned at POW camp Marlag-Milag Nord, Tarmstedt, Germany
Imprisoned at POW camp Sagan (Zagan) & Belaria, Germany

SEE PRISONERS OF WAR

Flt/Lt Peter Walker is recorded as baling out from his aircraft when it hit a barrage balloon cable on 9 December 1940 while flying between R.A.F Stradishall and 70 Squadron based in the Middle East.

Flt/Lt Peter Walker was captured near St Marie, northern France on 9 December 1940.

Flt/Lt Walker is not listed in "Footprints on the sands of time" by Oliver Clutton-Brock, which has an extensive list of POW's.

Listed in the London Gazette as follows:

LG No 34970 on 15 October 1940 - Promotion to Pilot Officer on probation as of 8 September 1940.

LG No 35444 on 3 February 1942 - Promotion to Flying Officer as of 8 September 1941.

LG No 35736 on 6 October 1942 - Promotion to Flight Lieutenant as of 8 September 1942.

Peter was recorded as "Was awaiting exit through tunnel which broke from Sagan 24 March 1944". This was part of "The Great Escape".

Due to a massive offensive from the Russians, on 28 January 1945 Stalag Luft 3 Sagan was evacuated by the Germans and 2,000 RAF officers (inclusing Flt/Lt Walker) were marched to Marlag-Milag Nord, a naval POW camp, arriving on 5 February 1945. Camp conditions were appaling

Source : Air Force POW's website and Andy Buckley and www.rafcommands.com and London Gazette

Date record last updated : 30 September 2020



WALKER, P M

Walker_Peter_Macdonald
Peter M Walker age 21 just before parting for the Suez Campaign, 1956.

SAC Peter MacDonald 'Mac' Walker, 4137453, Engine Mechanic, Royal Air Force, Nationality : British

Born 12 September 1935

Born in Brundall, Norfolk, England

Son of Donald K Walker and Sissie M Walker and husband of Sally Ann Walker

Peter was in the RAF from September 1953 to September 1958. He served on 35 Squadron Canberras from 1954 to 1955 and on 214 Squadron Valiants from 1956 to 1958 at RAF Marham.
Peter took part in the Suez Campaign from Malta from September 1956 to December 1956.

For many years he was the No. 214 Squadron Association Secretary until it disbanded.

He died on 28 October 2020 aged 85.

Please click on this link to see his obituary

Please click on this link to see a more detailed obituary

Source : Peter Walker

Date record last updated : 14 November 2020



WALKER, V N

Sgt Victor Norman Walker, 1380192, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 23 May 1943, Aged 23

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark III BF478 BU-G

Named on the following Memorial : RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL Panel 168

Son of Charles William and Clara Walker, of Feltham, Middlesex.

Source : CWGC and Nightjar Newsletter Summer/Autumn 2003

Date record last updated : 27 July 2010



WALKER, W

William Walker

Click here to read The Memoirs of William Walker

Click here to read an article "A TIP OF THE HAT" by William Walker

Source : William Walker

Date record last updated : 17 November 2017



WALL, W

WO William Wall, 565802, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 4 June 1942, Aged 25

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I W7537 BU-H

Buried in BECKLINGEN WAR CEMETERY. Reference : Coll. grave 14. B. 4-8.

Son of William and Elizabeth Wall. Husband of Doris Bertha Wall of Thornton Heath Surrey

Source : Chorley and CWGC and http://aircrewremembered.com

Date record last updated : 2 June 2017



WALLACE

Sgt Wallace

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C R1341 (14-Jul-1941)

Source : 214 Squadron ORB

Date record last updated : 31 August 2020



WALLACE

Sgt Wallace

Was a regular crew member with Gp/Capt John Aidan Field

Source : Richard Field (son of Gp/Capt John Aidan Field)

Date record last updated : 24 May 2019



WALLACE, A C

Wallace_Alexander_Cameron

Flt/Lt Alexander Cameron Wallace DFC, Navigator, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality : Canadian

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark III BK659 (20-Apr-1943) BU-N
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark III EH699 BU-X

Served with 214 from 28 February 1943 to 29 July 1943. The crew were based at Chedburgh, Suffolk flying Stirlings, Flt/Lt Wallace having completed 17 Ops with them before posting out.

After 214 Squadron Flt/Lt Wallace did Oboe marking with 109 Squadron at Little Staughton Bedfordshire in the Pathfinder Force. His regular pilot here was W/C W.G. Foxall DSO,DFC. After completing 73 Operations (30 daylight) with 109 Squadron he was posted out tour expired having a total of 90 Operations completed with Bomber Command.

Postings :

No.1 Initial Training School, Toronto - Graduated 6 December 1941
No. 4 Air Observers's School, London - Graduated 16 March 1942
No. 4 Bombing & Gunnery School, Fingal - Graduated 25 April 1942
No.2 Advanced Navigation School, Pennfield Ridge, N.B. - Graduated 25 May 1942
No.9 Advanced Flying Unit, Penros Wales 8 August 1942 to 7 September 1942
No. 14 Operational Training Unit, Cottesmore Rutlands 8 September 1942 to 30 December 1942
No.1657 Heavy Conversion Unit, Stradishall Suffolk 1 January 1943 to 27 February 1943
No.214 Squadron, Chedburgh Suffolk 1 March 1942 to 29 July 1943 (17 Ops completed)
No.28 Operational Training Unit, Wymeswold Leicestershire 30 July 1943 to 14 February 1944
No.1655 Mosquito Training Unit, Marham Norfolk - 15 February 1944 to 30 March 1944
No. 109 Squadron, Little Staughton Bedfordshire 2 April 1944 to 21 December 1944
Mosquitoes - Oboe marking, Pathfinder Force - 73 Operations completed (30 daylight)
Arrived back in Canada 1 February 1945
Struck off the roll 12 March 1945
Awarded DFC 15 March 1945

See Articles ("N" for nuts section) for a story written by Flt/Lt Wallace about one of his Ops over Germany when their Stirling was shot up by another Stirling injuring the pilot Geoff Shattock.

Distinguished Flying Cross - No. 109 Squadron

Award effective 15 March 1945 as per London Gazette dated 23 March 1945 and AFRO 721/45 dated 27 April 1945. Home in Woodstock, Ontario; enlisted London, 23 July 1941. Trained at No.1 ITS (graduated 6 December 1941), No.4 BGS (graduated 25 April 1942) and No.2 ANS (graduated 25 May 1942). Award sent by registered mail 6 May 1949.

The citation reads: "This officer has completed many successful operations against the enemy in which he has displayed high skill, fortitude and devotion to duty."

Public Records Office has recommendation dated 18 December 1944 when he had flown 89 sorties (275 operational hours).

4 Apr 43- Kiel 10 Apr 43 Frankfurt
14 Apr 43- Stuttgart 16 Apr 43 Mannheim
20 Apr 43- Rostock 4 May 43 Dortmund
12 May 43- Duisburg 13 May 43 Bochum
11 June 43- Dusseldorf 13 June 43 GARDENING - Grionde
19 June 43- Le Creusot 21 June 43 Krefeld
22 June 43- Mulheim 24 June 43 Wuppertal
25 June 43- Gelsenkirchen 28 June 43 Cologne
3 July 43- Cologne 11 Apr 44 St.Trond
13 Apr 44- Duren 24 Apr 44 Dusseldorf
30 Apr 44- Duren 1 May 44 Chambly #
2 May 44- Leverkusen 7 May 44 St.Valery #
9 May 44- Berneval # 10 May 44 Ghent #
14 May 44- Coutrai 26 May 44 Lison
27 May 44- Le Clipon # 29 May 44 Xanten
2 June 44- Laval 4 June 44 Sangatte #
6 June 44- St.Pierre du Mont # 6 June 44 Vire #
7 June 44- Versailles # 12 June 44 Arras #
14 June 44- Douai # 16 June 44 Renescure #
22 June 44- Siracourt *# 24 June 44 Flers #
27 June 44- Foret d'Eawy 6 July 44 Coquereaux *#
7 July 44- Vaires # 8 July 44 Scholven
14 July 44- Les Landes Vielle 16 July 44 St.Philibert Ferme *
19 July 44- Thiverny *# 20 July 44 Homberg #
25 July 44- St.Cyr *# 28 July 44 Foret de Nieppe *#
31 July 44- Foret de Nieppe # 1 Aug 44 Anderbelck *#
2 Aug 44- Foret de Nieppe *# 3 Aug 44 L'isle Adam *#
5 Aug 44- Noyelle en Chausse *# 8 Aug 44 Bellecroix *#
18 Aug 44- L'isle Adam *# 23 Aug 44 Castrop Rauxel
25 Aug 44- Brest # 27 Aug 44 Homberg *#
28 Aug 44- Leverkusen 30 Aug 44 Lumbres*#
5 Sept 44- Le Havre *# 9 Sept 44 Le Havre *#
10 Sept 44- Le Havre *# 11 Sept 44 Le Havre *#
14 Sept 44- Wassenaer *# 17 Sept 44 Boulogne *#
17 Sept 44- Westkapelle *# 18 Sept 44 Rheine
20 Sept 44 - Sangatte *# 25 Sept 44 Calais *#
26 Sept 44- Calais *# 5 Oct 44 Frankfurt
6 Oct 44- Dortmund # 11 Oct 44 Fort Fredrick*#
14 Oct 44- Duisburg *# 14 Oct 44 Duisburg #
23 Oct 44- Essen # 28 Oct 44 Westkapelle #
29 Oct 44- Walcheren*# 30 Oct 44 Cologne #
31 Oct 44- Cologne 2 Nov 44 Hallendorf
6 Nov 44- Gelsenkirchen*# 18 Nov 44 Munster *#
30 Nov 44- Duisburg*# 4 Dec 44 Karlsruhe #
6 Dec 44- Osnabruck # 18 Dec 44 Duisburg

(# - marking duties ; * - daytime operation)

"This navigator will shortly finish his tour with this squadron, having now done 90 trips with Bomber Command of which 72 were with us; 53 of these have been marking trips. Flight Lieutenant Wallace has consistently shown a high degree of reliability, the result of keenness to operate and sound knowledge of our equipment. Apart from his keen desire to fly and fight he has unstintingly given of his time in planning operations. He is a willing worker and a splendid member of aircrew."

To this the Officer Commanding, RAF Station Little Staughton, adds on 22 December 1944: "This officer has shown outstanding skill in the manipulation of the special equipment with which his aircraft is fitted. He has at all times shown very much above average ability as a Navigator, and is strongly recommended for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross".

Source : Dave Wallace (son of Flt/Lt A. Wallace) and London Gazette

Date record last updated : 30 April 2011



WALLACE, A E

FS A E Wallace, Navigator

See CREWS AND LOSSES for Fortress Mark III KJ119 BU-O

Source : Ian Hunt

Date record last updated : 1 January 2010



WALLACE, B G

Wallace_Bruce_Gibb

Wallace_Bruce_Gibb_crew
With his crew

Wallace_Bruce_Gibb_log
Extract from his flying log book

Sqn/Ldr Bruce Gibb Wallace DFC and Bar, 403482, Pilot, Royal New Zealand Air Force, Nationality : New Zealand

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark III BK686 (29-Mar-1943) BU-C

Born in Invercargill, New Zealand

Don Wallace writes :
My Father was born and brought up Invercargill NZ, and after marrying my Mother, Sylvia Ross (also from Invercargill), completed his training in NZ, and was posted to train to fly the Wellington at Lichfield, joining 150 Squadron, 24-Jul-1941 at RAF Snaith, Yorkshire, completing his First Tour on 21-Jul-1942. After becoming an instructor on Liberators, was posted to 214 Squadron at RAF Chedburgh flying Stirlings from 2-Dec-1943 - 17-Jun-1943, where he won his DFC and Bar during the period March to May 1943. He was refused a 3rd Tour, and after a spell at 3 Group HQ (after passing out at RAF Staff College), decided to apply to join BOAC (later British Airways) before hostilities ended, was accepted and later offered a permanent contract. Post War he flew many of the non-jet airliners of the day, until he was selected to join a small group of pilots to fly the DH106 Comet 1. He became an instructor on the Comet 1 (which experienced a number of crashes), Training Manager Comet 4, and later on VC10s, where he also flew HM Queen, Prince Philip, and Princess Ann on a Royal Tour to Australasia in 1970.

London Gazette 35966 2 April 1943
Acting Flight Lieutenant Bruce Gibb WALLACE
DFC awarded
"This officer has completed 41 sorties, including a number of attacks against targets in the Ruhr.
He is a very determined captain, who has pressed home his attacks with vigour. One night in March, 1943, he captained a bomber detailed to attack Munich. Although the undercarriage and tailplane of the aircraft were damaged by striking a tree when taking-off, Flight Lieutenant Wallace flew on and eventually accomplished his mission successfully. Three nights later he took part in an attack on Essen. Whilst over the target area, his aircraft was held in the searchlights. Despite this, he pressed home his attack from 8,000 feet and dived to 1,000 feet to escape the defences.
On the return flight he engaged a light anti-aircraft gun position and silenced it. Although his aircraft was hit in many places during the operation he flew it safely to base. Flight Lieutenant Wallace has set a courageous and inspiring example.""

London Gazette 36131 13 August 1943
Acting Squadron Leader Bruce Gibb Wallace
Bar to DFC awarded

Sgt Ralph Reginald Shipley was part of one of his crews and had completed his tour mid 1943.

Don Wallace also writes :
I have published a book originally typed by my Father for his family in 1977, telling the story of his career in Bomber Command, and later belonging to a very small group of the earliest Jet Airline Pilots in the World. The book, FLIGHT PLANS is published by Woodfield Publishing Ltd, here in the UK- Please click on this link to go to their website

Source : London Gazette and Jonathan Shipley (grandson of Sgt Ralph Shipley) and Don Wallace (son of Sqn/Ldr Bruce Gibb Wallace) and 214 Squadron ORB

Date record last updated : 11 March 2022



WALLIS, C L

Wallis_Charles_Louis

Wallis_Charles_Louis_service_book_cover
Airman's Service Book cover

Wallis_Charles_Louis_service_book_inside
Airman's Service Book inside

Wallis_Charles_Louis_wedding
Wedding of Charles and Edna

Wallis_Charles_Louis_crew_1
Charles (second from the right) with other aircrew. Can anyone name the other crew members?

Wallis_Charles_Louis_crew_2
Charles with crew. Can anyone name the other crew members?

Wallis_Charles_Louis_crew_3
Charles on top of a Flying Fortress. Can anyone name the other crew members?

Wallis_Charles_Louis_2
Charles and Edna on a cruise ship

Charles Louis 'Charlie' Wallis, 1398949, Navigator, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom

Born 24 April 1922

Born in London

Buried in Merton & Sutton Joint Cemetery. Reference : D698

Son of Ada and Bill Wallis. Husband of Edna Dorothy Wallis

Brief Career History of Charlie Wallis after service in Royal Air Force :
Charlie Wallis became a teacher, and started work in Spencer Park School, Trinity Road, Wandsworth where he spent practically all his working life. He was a highly respected teacher by staff and pupils alike. He specialised in mathematics and in the earlier part of his career in Physical Education. He had one son, born on 22 May 1959, who he named after him and he was a dedicated family man. He was also dedicated to teaching and the school he taught in and retired when he was 62. He was married to Edna Dorothy Wallis (born on 12 October 1928.), who was dedicated to him all her life. She was a school assistant for most her working life in Clapham. In the earlier part of Charlie's career he lived in Clapham, South London and later 1976 in Morden, Surrey. He died in 1997 age 75.

Brief Career History of his son Charlie Wallis (junior) :
Charlie Wallis (junr) was born on 22 May 1959 in Clapham. He attended a Grammar School and joined the Civil Service in 1979 and finished his career (retired) in 2011. He currently lives in Morden, and has been custodian of his father's photographs and RAF history with 214 Squadron, and has only recently contacted the 214 Squadron website in 2011.

Robert Robson writes :
Charlie Wallis was my house master at Spencer Park School, Wandwsorth, London, between 1967 and 1971.
He quite often mentioned that he had been in the RAF during the war and would sometimes become very morose when talking about comrades that had died.
He always made a point of trying to explain that these men had died for us. I have to admit that as a youngster I never really quite understood.
It was only later in life that I really began to understand.
I developed a keen interest in World War 2 and have studied it quite intensely.
As I said, Charlie, we always referred to him as 'Charlie', as opposed to Mr. Wallis, was my house master. He actually caned me on a couple of occasions. But he said to me at the time, this is going to hurt me more than it's going to hurt you. An old cliche, but I knew that he meant it.
And as I recall, I fully deserved the punishment.
He was a terrific teacher and was really into sports. I was quite a useful footballer and a very good long distance runner, and I guess I became one of his favourites.
I remember after winning a cross country race once Charlie bought me a great big bar of chocolate.
That's the kind of bloke he was.
Fairly naturally, I lost contact with him when I left school.
But I had thought about him many times over the following years.
I was sad to see that he didn't live to a very great age. But he certainly left an impression upon me and I have no doubt many, many others.
Incidentally I remember his son Charlie Jnr. Charlie Snr. was one of the teachers that took us on a week long trip to Swanage and Charlie Jnr. came along as well.
I am so pleased that I came upon your site and found out so much more about Charlie and part of his life.

Source : Charlie Wallis (son) and Robert Robson (former pupil of Charles Louis Wallis)

Date record last updated : 14 March 2020



WALSH, T J

Sgt T J Walsh

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling (model unknown) BF318 (28-Nov-1942)

Source : 214 Squadron ORB

Date record last updated : 29 December 2008



WALSH, W

WALTERS, R J

Walters_Jake

Plt/Off R Jake Walters, Pilot, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality : Canadian

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark III BF562 (24-Jul-1943)
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark III EF403 (27-Jul-1943) BU-G
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark II SR386 BU-N

He was the pilot for 6 Fortress flights between April 1944 to May 1945 (actual operational take-offs. Does not disregard aborted ops, early returns etc.) He also previously flew Stirlings with 214.

Murray Peden's book , A Thousand Shall Fall, provides an account of one of his fellow Canadians, Jake Walters, on a mission to drop mines. Mine laying was usually less risky than conventional bombing, with mines being dropped from low level. Unfortunately, on this occasion Walter's Stirling flew right over a flak ship which, hearing approaching engines, was ready for them. The impact of the flak blew the aircraft upside-down. Jake, through desperate fight with the controls and fortuitous use of throttles, applied power to only one side and enabled the aircraft to keep rolling and resume level flight.

In addition Paddy Gilpin, who was a member of Jake Walter's crew on that mission. Reports: "On one scary night, especially it being on our very first operational trip and our first Gardening trip, up by the Frisian Islands on July 28/29,1943, we were shot upside down by Flack, carrying a full load of mines at just over 600 feet ... I still think it was a miracle to this day how we ever got out of it. May I add that, although we couldn't get the height of all the other big Bombers, the old Stirling could fly rings around them. Funny how we all loved the Old Stirling, although may I state, I have also flown many hours in Lancasters". Thanks to the skill of the pilot and his crew, the robustness of the Stirling and a healthy measure of luck Jake's crew returned safely.

Jake is mentioned 11 times in Murray Peden's book.

Source : Gerhard Heilig and Ian Hunt and Murray Peden and 214 Squadron ORB

Date record last updated : 10 March 2023



WALTON, C G

Sgt C G Walton, Date taken POW 16 April 1943, POW number 1165

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark III BK653 BU-A

Imprisoned at POW camp Heydekrug (Silute), Lithuania
Imprisoned at POW camp Sagan (Zagan) & Belaria, Germany
Imprisoned at POW camp Thorn (Torun), Poland - dates unknown

SEE PRISONERS OF WAR

Sgt Walton was taken POW when Stirling BK653 BU-A, crashed in the village of Bonneuil les Eaux, Northern France on 16 April 1943.

Source : Julien Saguez, French Researcher and Chorley and "Footprints on the sands of time" by Oliver Clutton-Brock

Date record last updated : 30 July 2011



WALTON, R G C

Sgt Robert Gordon Clifford Walton, 1177185, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 29 November 1941, Aged 21

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C X9752 BU-?

Buried in NOTTINGHAM NORTHERN CEMETERY. Reference : Sec. E/19. Grave 44.

Source : CWGC and Chorley

Date record last updated : 30 October 2020



WARD

Ward

Flt/Lt Ward

Attended the 62 Victor Mk1 Course. See photo album 4 for photograph taken 24 November 1965.

Source : John Brown

Date record last updated : 4 August 2009



WARD, E K

Sgt E K Ward

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I BK600
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I W7584 (07-Aug-1942) BU-D

Source : 214 Squadron ORB and Richard Maddox (researcher)

Date record last updated : 31 March 2023



WARD, H

Ward_Harold_and_brother_Gordon
FS Harold Ward (left) and his brother Gordon Ward.
Gordon had joined the Grenadier Guards when this photo was taken.
He was three years older than Harold.
Photo was taken in 1942 or 1943.

FS Harold Ward, 1060035, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 24 May 1943, Aged 20

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark III BF478 BU-G

Named on the following Memorial : RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL Panel 139

Son of Walter and Edith Lydia Ward, of Bircotes, Nottinghamshire.

Source : CWGC and Nightjar Newsletter Summer/Autumn 2003 and Angela Shannon (niece of FS Harold Ward)

Date record last updated : 21 May 2021



WARD, H A

WO Harry Ashley Ward DFM

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C X9890 (26-Jan-1942) BU-F
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C Z1068 (01-Apr-1942) BU-X

Enlisted at RAF Recruiting Centre, Oxford 25 April 1940.

Recalled to service for Ground defence duties at No 9 Recruits Centre, Blackpool 29 July 1940.

Posted to Hooton Park, Cheshire 9 August 1941.

Posted to ITW Babbacombe 20 September 1940. Completed training 27 December 1940.

Posted to Navigation School at No. 45 Air School, Oudtshoorn, South Africa wef from 9 February 1941 after convoy voyage on Empress of Australia.

Returned to England 17 July 1941-14 August 1941 on Franconia.

Posted to No 11 OTU Bassingbourn 15th September 1941 to 23 November 1941.

Posted to 214 Squadron at Stradishall 24 November 1941 to 30 April 1942.

Posted to 161 Squadron at Tempsford 30 April 1942 , Crashed 22 October 1942.

RAF Hospital Henlow 22nd to 24th November 1942.

RAF Hospital Halton 24th November 1942 to 27th June 1943.

Posted to NCO Aircrew Rehabilitation Centre Hoylake, 27th June 1943 to 27 September 1943.

Posted to RAF Hospital Halton 27 September 1943 to 10 December 1943.

Posted to NCO Aircrew Rehabilitation Centre Hoylake, 10 December 1943 to 6 June 1944.

Posted to RAF Hospital Halton 6th June 1944 to 6th September 1944.

Posted to RAF Tempsford 6th September 1944 to 8th September 1944.

Posted to RAF Hospital Halton 8th September 1944 to 10th November 1944.

Discharged, unfit for further service , 11th November 1944 from RAF Uxbridge.

Died 10 August 1998.

Extracts from Warrant Officer Ward's log book :

214 Squadron RAF Stradishall

Date Aircraft Wellington Pilot Target
30/11/41 R1789 Q P O Wood Emden DNCO
07/12/41 R1789 Q P O Wood Boulogne DCO
17/12/41 R1789 Q P O Wood Brest DCO
27/12/41 R1789 Q P O Wood Brest DCO
02/01/42 R1789 Q P O Wood Brest DCO
08/01/42 Z3962 T Sgt Chadwick Brest DCO
15/01/42 R1789 Q P O Wood Hamburg DNCO
26/01/42 X9890 F P O Webster Brest DCO
28/01/42 Z1169 W F/S Klassen Munster DCO
12/02/42 X9758 H Sgt Chadwick Scharnhorst & Gneisnau DCO Operation Fuller
13/02/42 Z8951 Sgt Chadwick Search DCO
19/02/42 Z8979 T Sgt Chadwick Essen DCO
22/02/42 Z8962 T Sgt Chadwick Wilhelmshaven DCO
25/02/42 Z1158 S Sgt Chadwick Kiel DCO
27/02/42 Z8962 T Sgt Chadwick Wilhelmshaven DCO
25/03/42 X9979 O Sgt Smith Essen DCO
28/03/42 Z1068 T Sgt Smith Essen DCO
01/04/42z Z1068 T Sgt Smith Hanau DNCO
12/04/42 Z1169 W Sgt Smith Essen landed Manston DCO
14/04/42 DV696 V Sgt Smith Dortmund landed Manston DCO

161 Squadron RAF Tempsford

Date Aircraft Whitley Pilot Target
30/04/42 Z9670 P O Mott As ordered DCO
04/05/42 Z6653 O Flt/Lt Boxer As ordered DNCO
05/05/42 Z6653 O Flt/Lt Boxer As ordered DCO
30/05/42 Z6940 S Sgt Smith As ordered NICKELS DCO
31/05/42 Z???? P F/Sgt Peterson As ordered NICKELS DCO
02/06/42 Z6653 O Sgt Smith Tours DCO
10/06/42 Z6653 O Sgt Smith As ordered NICKELS DCO
19/06/42 Z6814 L Sgt Smith As ordered NICKELS DCO
24/06/42 Z6629 N F/Sgt Land As ordered DNCO
07/09/42 Z6828 Sgt Gray BULLSEYE DNCO
23/09/42 Z6658 P O Smith As ordered DNCO
24/09/42 Z6653 O P O Smith As ordered DNCO
17/10/42 Z9160 P O Smith Gibraltar DCO
13/10/42 6629 S/Ldr Gunn Gibraltar - Base DCO
21/10/42 BD 228 S P O Smith As ordered DNCO compass faulty,, crashed on landing Cptn killed

Click on this link to see Harry Ward's memoirs for 26 January 1942

Click on this link to see Harry Ward's memoirs for 1 April 1942

Source : Ian Hunt and Harvey Ward and Aileen Young (son and daughter of Harry Ward)

Date record last updated : 14 February 2020



WARD, J

Ward_Jack

Sgt Jack Ward, 1064100, Navigator / Observer, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 16 April 1942

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C Z8951 (16-Apr-1942) BU-X

Buried in EINDHOVEN (WOENSEL) GENERAL CEMETERY. Reference : Plot JJ. Coll. grave 54-56.

Source : Adrian van Zantvoort and Chorley and CWGC and Ryan Treadwell (great nephew of Sgt Vernon Ernest Egan)

Date record last updated : 10 August 2018



WARD, M

Sgt M 'Mick' Ward

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling (model unknown) ??Dixon
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark III EF403 (27-Jul-1943) BU-G

There is more information on the crew record for Stirling ??Dixon.

Mick Ward then became their rear gunner and remained with the crew for the rest of their tour until he was shot in the shoulder on the 6th November 1943.

6th November 1943
Special Ops
Their mission was to a marshalling yard in France but at 2000 feet over the target, rear gunner Mick Ward collected a bullet in his shoulder. He left the crew for medical attention.

Source : John Jewsbury (son of R F Jewsbury) and Walter Rowley and 214 Squadron ORB

Date record last updated : 10 March 2023



WARDROP

WARING, S L

Waring_Stewart_L
Photo taken in Spring 1970

Flt/Lt Stewart L Waring, Co-pilot

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Victor Mark I - 3 point tanker XA927 (May-1969)
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Victor Mark I - 3 point tanker XA932 (Spring-1970)
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Victor Mark I - 3 point tanker XA941 (27-Jun-1967)

Stewart Waring writes :
I joined 214 in July 1967 following advanced training on the Gnat and the Victor course at 230 OCU Finningley.

I flew XA927 quite a few times subsequently, including on April 6 flying her manually across the Atlantic, just to say I had 'flown the Atlantic', The rest of the crew were very patient.

I was a co-pilot on 214 from July 1967 - May 1970. I flew 786 hours on the Victor. I took part in the Transatlantic Air Race with Flt.Lt. Tony Wright (Captain), and most of the major detachments of that time.

Above is a photo taken in Spring 1970 with XA932. Note Command Crew badge. Was the CO's co-pilot at that time, Wg.Cdr. Colin Preece.

Operation Blue Nylon -Transatlantic Air Race in May 1969 :
I was the co-pilot on Tony Wrights crew that accompanied the Harrier across the Atlantic on the NY-London run. The pilot was Sqn.Ldr Graham Williams who I met for the first time some years ago. He was surprised to see the photographs I had taken over the Atlantic, including a re-fuelling shot through the periscope. Each day a decision was made as to whether the attempt would be made the following day. As there were several days of no go, it was OK to have a bit of a hooley in the bar. As there were lots of crew, away from the distractions at home it was a lively time.

We took on fuel near Goose and set off with the Harrier at 0.88 mach, the pods having been removed. There were four re-fuellings, as I remember, and the Harrier had a strengthened probe to limit the risk of breaking the end off. As we approached UK the Harrier left us and went on to London. Our flight time in XA927 was 5.15. For years I had a copy of the op order with maps etc, but burnt it when I left the RAF, pity. There was a great party in London sometime after the race, The Tankertrash crews tried to steal the cake, but the police became involved. No further action. It was some do. Morale in the Tanker Force was sky high at the time, it was a most professional force, led by 214 of course.

On June 11 we took on 58000 lbs of fuel, and then gave it all back to the other Victor. This was to fulfil a requirement for a max weight transfer as part of the Basic Training Requirements.

January 1970, Marham-Akrotiri-Masirah-Gan-Masirah-Akrotiri on Exercise Ultimacy. I did about half the flying on this exercise from the left-hand seat having completed an Intermediate co-pilots’ course some time before.

My last flight in her was 19 March 1970 on an air test. From my log book there is no indication that I ever had any problems with her, which was not the case with some of the other aircraft on the squadron.

I left for an unwanted ground tour of 2 years 18 days at HQ No.1(B) Group.

My last posting was to the Radar Research Squadron at RAE Bedford. There I was fortunate enough to fly all the Canberras, but also Meteor, Viscount, Nimrod, Comet, Hunter Hawk and Devon, plus 'co-piloting' in. other types, including the Wessex and Sea King. It was that sort of place, a paradise if you liked flying.

I then flew for airlines until I had to retire due age 65.

Great that the right seat from XA927 has survived. I have the control column of XA936 and can remind myself of the many happy hours I spent flying this wonderful aircraft. I would do it all again.

Source : Flt/Lt (Ret) Stewart L Waring

Date record last updated : 12 March 2024



WARNER, W L

Plt/Off Wilfred Lawrence Warner, Pilot, Royal Air Force, Nationality : Canadian, KIA 29 April 1937, Aged 22

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Harrow (model unknown) K6950

Born in West Transcona, Manitoba, Canada

Wilfred Warner came from Yale Avenue, West Transcona, Manitoba, Canada

Source : Jock Whitehouse and Peter Garside (relative of AC1 Thomas Garside) and Simon

Date record last updated : 24 August 2018



WARREN, A L

Sgt Alan Leonard Warren, 1385391, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 4 July 1943, Aged 27

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark III EE882 BU-J

Named on the following Memorial : RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL Panel 168.

Son of Alan and Florence Maud Warren, of Ponders End, Middlesex.

Source : CWGC and Chorley

Date record last updated : 22 August 2019



WARREN, W E

Sgt W E Warren, Nationality : United Kingdom, Date taken POW 27 September 1943, POW number 584

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark III EF402 BU-E

Imprisoned at POW camp Heydekrug (Silute), Lithuania
Imprisoned at POW camp Thorn (Torun), Poland - dates unknown

SEE PRISONERS OF WAR

Source : "Footprints on the sands of time" by Oliver Clutton-Brock

Date record last updated : 8 August 2011



WARRINER, J T

LAC John Thomas Warriner, 615941, Royal Air Force, KIA 13 December 1939, Aged 24

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I R2699 BU-

Buried in BOLTON PERCY (ALL SAINTS) CHURCHYARD

Son of James and Mary Hannah Warriner, of Bolton Percy.

Source : CWGC and John Jones (Researcher) and Jock Whitehouse

Date record last updated : 5 April 2019



WARWICK, R G

FS Robert George Warwick, 1318846, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, KIA 2 January 1942

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I N3729 (07-Aug-1942) BU-R

He died while serving with No. 2 Squadron when flying Lancaster JB682/MG-A was attacked by a night-fighter and brought down at Ramsel near Lingen enroute to Berlin.

Source : 214 Squadron ORB and Richard Maddox (researcher)

Date record last updated : 31 March 2023



WATERS, D W

Waters_Douglas_Wilmott

Sgt Douglas Wilmott Waters, 910761, Nose Gunner, Nationality : British, Date taken POW 13 March 1941, POW number 736

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C N2746 (13-Mar-1941) BU-M

Imprisoned at POW camp Barth, Germany
Imprisoned at POW camp Beninia?, Poland
Imprisoned at POW camp Heydekrug (Silute), Lithuania

Born 22 October 1920

Born in Dover, Kent, England

Son of Leonard David Waters and Nellie Waters (nee Amos).

SEE PRISONERS OF WAR

Sgt Douglas Wilmott Waters was the only survivor from the crash of N2746 on 13 March 1941and became a POW.

While in captivity, Sgt Waters wrote to Cedric's family about the crash on 9 September 1941. The letter says:

"Dear Miss M. Daniels, I have just received your letter of the ?th July and I am very sorry to confirm that Cedric died with the rest of the crew. He was killed by machinegun fire and the rest of the crew were in the plane when she hit the ground and blew up. I managed to jump just in time and broke my fall in some trees. They are buried in Holland but at what place I do not know but I hope to find out after the war. I am afraid I cannot say more at present and excuse me if this is a gruesome letter over a very nasty business. Wishing you all the best. Yours Sincerely, Douglas W. Waters."

Douglas died on 23 September 2008 in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England.

He was cremated and his remains were scattered on his father's grave in Whitstable, Kent.

His father died in 1944 and his mother in 1991.

Please click on this link to see Sgt Waters notes on his life

Source : "Footprints on the sands of time" by Oliver Clutton-Brock and Stevin Oudshoorn and CWGC and Chorley and Ian Waters (son of Sgt Douglas Wilmott Waters)

Date record last updated : 8 March 2019



WATERS, J B

Waters_J_B

Fg/Off J B Waters, Air Bomber, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality : Canadian

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress (model unknown) ??Peden
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark II SR381 BU-F

Source : Michael Phillips (son of Jack Phillips) and Nightjar Newsletter Spring 2003 and Return of operational Aircrew at 16:00hrs on 31 August 1944 and Murray Peden

Date record last updated : 30 December 2011



WATKINS, T C

Watkins_Thomas_Cledwyn

Flt/Lt Thomas Cledwyn Watkins AFM, Pilot, 2567833, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom. KIA 11 September 1959 Age 28

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Valiant B Mark I XD869

Date of Birth 13 December 1930 in Ystradgynlais, Swansea, Wales.

Stationed at RAF Marham.

He is buried in Ystradgynlais Churchyard. Grave 9.

Named on the following Memorials :
Armed Forces Memorial
Rolls of Honour, Church of St Clement Danes, London

Norman Young writes :
I was Cleds roommate at RAF Thornhill and have a number of B&W photographs. The attachment is from his APO days. If any family member wants other photos they may contact us.

Click on this link to see the photographs

Source : Jock Whitehouse and Armed Forces Memorial and Norman Young

Date record last updated : 8 December 2017



WATSON, J

Sgt J Watson

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling (model unknown) W7610 (07-Aug-1942)

Source : 214 Squadron ORB and Richard Maddox (researcher)

Date record last updated : 31 March 2023



WATSON, R

Sgt Ronald Watson DFM, 1014907, Front Gunner

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark III N3751 BU-P

3196 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 21 JULY 1942
Award of the Distinguished Flying Medal

"After crossing Holland, Sergeant O'Hara, the navigator, who had skilfully guided his captain thus far, observed 2 enemy fighters closing in. Sergeant Watson, who was tending the injured wireless operator, immediately attempted to man his turret but it was jammed. With the assistance of Sergeant O'Hara, who held his legs, he managed to reach his guns and he then delivered an effective burst at the leading fighter, which caused it to dive towards the sea completely out of-control.
Throughout the operation, these airmen displayed unflinching courage, great fortitude and splendid team work in foiling the attacks of 5 enemy fighters, 3 of which were shot down. Their conduct upheld the highest traditions of the Royal Air Force."

Source : 214 Squadron ORB and London Gazette and National Archives Air Records AIR/50/233/13

Date record last updated : 8 January 2021



WATSON, S

Sgt Stanley Watson, 1133624, Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 14 September 1942, Aged 30

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling (model unknown) N3674 (01-Aug-1942)
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling (model unknown) R9152 (11-Aug-1942)
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I R9166 (14-Sep-1942) BU-H

Buried in RHEINBERG WAR CEMETERY. Reference : Joint grave 17. G. 21-22.

Son of Robert and Florence Watson, of Middlesbrough, Yorkshire.

Source : CWGC and Nightjar Newsletter Winter / Spring 2004 and 214 Squadron ORB and Chorley

Date record last updated : 28 April 2023



WATT, W B

Sgt William Bassington Watt, 1110178, Front Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom, Date taken POW 4 September 1942, POW number 27005

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I BF330 (07-Aug-1942) BU-H
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I BF337 (04-Sep-1942) BU-B
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I W7538 (26-Jun-1942) BU-T

Imprisoned at POW camp Lamsdorf (Lambinowice), Germany - from 1943, was previously Stalag 8B
Imprisoned at POW camp Lamsdorf (Lambinowice), Germany - until 1943 when it became Stalag 344

SEE PRISONERS OF WAR

Source : Chorley and "Footprints on the sands of time" by Oliver Clutton-Brock and Teunis Schuurman (researcher The Netherlands) and Richard Maddox (researcher) and The National Archives and 214 Squadron ORB

Date record last updated : 31 March 2023



WATT, W C

WATTS

Sgt Watts

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C Z8858 BU-B

Source : Malcolm Brown (son of John Merlin Brown)

Date record last updated : 23 November 2009



WAUGH, H

Waugh_H_G

Waugh_H_G_signature

FS H 'Bert' Waugh, Rear Gunner, Royal Australian Air Force, Nationality : Australian

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling (model unknown) Mackett crews

Replacement for FS Houghton (after his death in September 1943) of Bob Mackett's crew RAF Lakenheath early 1944.

Died in Armidale Australia about 2002 aged 92.

Paul Baker provided the above photograph which is signed on the back. Paul writes :
It was signed on rear by himself cross checked with visitors book when he was staying with my grandparents under Lady Ryder scheme. Also my father vouched that it is him. Bob Mackett and other members his crew were regular guests.

Source : Robert Mackett and Vic Pheasant 214 Squadron Association and Paul Baker

Date record last updated : 17 November 2017



WEAKNER, S H

Sgt Simon Hughes Weakner, 1032406, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, KIA 22 September 1943

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I R9258 BU-W

Buried in HANOVER WAR CEMETERY. Reference : Coll. grave 10. D. 5-8.

Source : GWGC

Date record last updated : 13 August 2017



WEAVERS, M A

Sgt Mervyn Alfred Weavers, 1283647, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 26 November 1941, Aged 25

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark II Z8373

Named on the following Memorial : RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL Panel 54

Son of William Walter and Mildred Weavers; husband of Clara Ann Weavers, of Sydenham, London.

Source : Nightjar Newsletter Spring 2005 and CWGC

Date record last updated : 10 August 2009



WEBBER, G

Sgt George Webber, Wireless Operator, Nationality : Canadian

He was a regular crew member with Flight Lieutenant William Jack Humphries.

Source : Ross Humphries

Date record last updated : 25 January 2015



WEBBER, G E

Sgt G E Webber, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I W7584 (21-Nov-1942) BU-D

Managed to bail out of Stirling Mark I W7584 (21-Nov-1942) BU-D before it crashed.

Source : Nightjar Newsletter Spring 2004 and Chorley and 214 Squadron ORB and www.rafcommands.com

Date record last updated : 28 April 2023



WEBSTER, G H

Plt/Off George Hamilton Webster, J/5471, Pilot, Royal Canadian Air Force, KIA 28 January 1942, Aged 22

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C X9890 (26-Jan-1942) BU-F
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C X9890 (28-Jan-1942) BU-F

Named on the following Memorial : RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL Panel 101.

Son of William and Ellen Webster, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

His body was never found.

Click on this link to see WO Harry Ward's memoirs for 26 January 1942 for his recollections of Plt/Off George Hamilton Webster

The following was written by George's sister, Jessie Grieve, for inclusion in A Place of Honour, Manitoba's War Dead Commemorated in its Geography published by the Manitoba Government. (16 January 1995) George was born August 1, 1919 in Winnipeg. He attended Salisbury School, Morse Place, Lord Selkirk and St. John's Technical schools. He worked for the Department of Education before enlisting. He always had a great love for airplanes; he used to drive me to the airport (then Stevenson's Field) and we would watch planes landing and taking off. George enlisted as a clerk in the airforce in 1939 and was stationed at Manning Depot in Toronto. George and I were always very close and I saved money to go visit him. Mother said: "His letters are different - keep your eyes open - perhaps he has a girlfriend!" The "girlfriend" turned out to be private flying lesons.
I went to Toronto Flying Club and watched innumerable take-offs and landings. At that time in history the airforce was only taking university graduates or those who were licensed pilots as air crew. With his commercial pilot license attained, George was able to remuster to air crew. George graduated from the flying training school at Dunnville, Ontario at age 21 and received the highest award at his class wings ceremony.
He was chosen for Bomber Command and trained at Lossiemouth, Scotland. He was then stationed at Stradishall. (Suffolk). He piloted a Wellington Bomber and he and the whole crew were reported missing in action during a raid on Muenster.
Webster Bay (64 G6) in Jefferson Lake was named after George in 1994.

November 2004, George's sister, Jessie Grieve currently lives in Winnipeg. Jessie has visited the Runnymede Memorial and had contacted the families of the other crew members.

Source : Stewart Murray, family connection to Squadron, Ref: Allison: "They Shall Grow Not Old" and WO Harry Ashley Ward and CWGC

Date record last updated : 14 February 2020



WEBSTER, M

Sqn/Ldr Maurice Webster OBE, Navigator / Radar

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Valiant (model unknown) ??Hill

Passed away on 26 April 2016 aged 88

He was a navigator on Valiants when Sir Michael Beetham was CO, about 1957- 61 period. He lived in Harrogate.

Source : Nightjar Summer 2016 and AVM Eric H Macey

Date record last updated : 8 December 2017



WEDDELL, D M

Fg/Off Denis Max Weddell, 137107, Navigator, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 26 July 1943, Aged 25

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark III BK686 (26-Jul-1943) BU-C

Buried in REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY. Reference : 6. C. 13.

Son of William and Effie Weddell, of Sheffield; husband of Kathleen Weddell, of Pitsmoor, Sheffield.

Source : CWGC and Ian Hunt

Date record last updated : 8 August 2009



WEIGHT

WO Weight

Was part of the main crew of Flg/Off E Woodley

Source : Emily Ward (Great niece of Fg/Off Ernest Woodley)

Date record last updated : 28 August 2008



WELLER

Sgt Weller

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) X3206

Source : Colin Burningham and W.R.Chorley

Date record last updated : 17 November 2008



WELLS

Flt/Lt Wells

No further information available yet.

Date record last updated : 3 October 2010


WELLS, W

WEST, R

Rick West, Air Electronics Officer

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Victor K Mark I XH588

Source : John Brown

Date record last updated : 17 April 2010



WEST, W R

West_William_Robert
OTU 19 graduation picture

FS William Robert West, R/76959, Pilot, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality : Canadian, KIA 2 April 1942

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C Z1156 (01-Apr-1942)

Buried in DURNBACH WAR CEMETERY. Reference : Coll. Grave 2. F. 10-18.

Source : CWGC and Chorley's "Bomber Command Losses" 1942 volume and Mike Smith (great nephew) and Ian Hunt

Date record last updated : 14 February 2020



WETHERLY, J H

Wetherly_Jack

Flt/Lt Jack Harold 'Shorty' Wetherly DFC MiD, 82716, Co-pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 30 March 1943, Aged 28

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) ??Cole (05-Nov-1940)
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) ??Glass (1941)
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) ??McKeand (1941)
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) N2776 BU-G
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) N2802 BU-A

Born 7 December 1914

Born in Croydon, England

Buried in KIEL WAR CEMETERY. Reference : 4. J. 15

Son of Harold William and Gertrude Alice Wetherly; husband of Marjorie Alwyn Wetherly, of Carshalton, Surrey. Husband of Peggy Faux

Jack attended Whitgift School before joining his father's paper merchant business in London. Short, stocky, fair, intelligent but unintellectual, with a high-spirited sense of fun and a deep sense of duty, like many young men of his generation he yearned to fly. He enlisted in the RAF Class F Reserve in 1935 and learnt to fly at Hanworth and Redhill, progressing from Blackburn B2s and De Havilland Moths to Hawker Harts and Audaxes. The outbreak of war found him with his wings and 83 solo hours in his logbook but with no aircraft to fly. He therefore spent several frustrating months doing PT on the beach at Hastings before he was posted to No 10 FTS at Tern Hill to complete his flying training. In the midst of all this, on 30 September 1939 he married Peggy Faux in Southport, Lancashire.

From 15 OTU at Harwell he was posted as an Acting Pilot Officer to 214 Squadron at Stradishall in early September 1940. Here he acquired the nickname 'Shorty'. His first two operations, on 10 and 12 September, were as second-pilot to John Leighton Beck (later Wing Commander, DFC and Bar). John later remembered Jack's high-spirited impressions of Abbott and Costello; he also did a good Fats Waller and a memorable Carmen Miranda.

On 12 September, forty Wellingtons were sent to attack dock and railway targets in Germany and Brussels. Again flying as second pilot with Beck, Jack went to bomb the marshaling yards at Osnabruck. They successfully found their target - perhaps by homing in on its transmitter. Staying well above the German barrage balloons at 3,500 feet, they were unable to avoid its accurate anti-aircraft defenses. 'G-George' was hit in three places. Fortunately no one was wounded and no serious damage done. . . . They landed safely back at Stradishall after a memorable five and a half hour second trip. Part of 'G-George's' fabric, holed by the ack-ack, was preserved as a memento of their brush with the German anti-aircraft battery which occurred in the early hours of Friday the 13th.!

His next ten ops were with Maurice Hartford (later Flight Lieutenant, DFC). Their aircraft was N2776 BU-G. Several of these early operations formed Bomber Command's contribution to the Battle of Britain: their attacks on the German invasion barges gathering in the Channel ports. His last operation as second pilot was with 20-year-old Sergeant Geoff Cole (later Squadron Leader, DFC) on 5 November, when they attacked Emden.

During his time at Stradishall, Jack and Peggy lived in a flat over the petrol pumps at Haverhill. Among their friends and contemporaries there were George Patrick, the landlord of the local pub, Keith Falconer (Flight Lieutenant, later DFC), 214 Squadron's Navigation Leader, and his actress wife, a lot of soldiers from the King's Own Scottish Borderers, who were stationed locally, and a number of Cockney women evacuated from blitzed London. Bombed from their homes, the latter used to cheer when they saw Jack in uniform.

In mid-November Jack took over as captain of a new crew from OTU. The aircraft was N2802 BU-A.

The last few operations in Jack's tour with 214 Squadron were with Sgt Ray Glass (later Squadron Leader, DFC) and Sgt George McKeand (later Flight Lieutenant, DSO, DFC). His final operation was to Bremen on 12 March 1941, after which the new CO, Richard Jordan (later Air Marshal, DFC), endorsed his logbook "Above the Average"and recommended him for a DFC. He was then posted to 21 OTU at Moreton in Marsh 'for a rest' after his 28 operations.

Jack remained with 21 OTU for ten months, flying in their Navigation Flight and once having to bale out of an Anson over South Wales. Although his DFC did not materialise, he was mentioned in Despatches on 1 January 1942. Later that month he was posted to Number 2 Flying Instructors' School at Montrose to become a qualified flying instructor. Here he met Flying Officer Ray Holmes (the Hurricane pilot who rammed the Dornier that bombed Buckingham Palace on 15 September 1940) and Flight Lieutenant George Unwin (another Battle of Britain pilot, DFM and Bar - later Group Captain, DSO). After a spell as a flying instructor at Cranwell, where his daughter was born, Jack was promoted Flight Lieutenant and, in August 1942, was posted back to Montrose as an instructor of flying instructors.

In January 1943 he was recalled to Bomber Command in time for the start of Air Chief Marshal Harris's main offensive. Converting to the Halifax at Riccall, he joined Leonard Cheshire's 76 Squadron at Linton-on-Ouse, near York, in early February 1943. Here, a year after Butch Harris's appointment as C-in-C, the pace and scale of Bomber Command's activities had been transformed from the tiny, though dangerous, operations of 1940. In the next six weeks, Jack flew 15 operations to Wilhelmshaven, Lorient, Nuremberg, Cologne, Stuttgart, Munich, Duisburg, Berlin and Essen. The Essen trip on 5 March was the first full-scale use of Oboe and marked the beginning of really effective strategic bombing. Three nights later Jack took the new CO, Wing Commander Don Smith (later DSO, DFC) second dickey on his first operation to Nuremberg. Jack himself was about to be promoted to squadron leader to take command of a flight. Meanwhile, March included three Berlin operations: on the 1st, 27th and 29th. On the last of these, Jack's Halifax, DT 744 'K-King', was intercepted by Leutnant August Geiger (later Hauptmann, Knight's Cross, killed 29 September 1943) and shot down over Schleswig-Holstein. He and his crew were all killed. Jack was twenty-eight.

In June 1945 Jack's DFC, which Leonard Cheshire had recommended in March 1943, was gazetted and Peggy went to Buckingham Palace to receive it from King George VI. In June 1947 Peggy married a soldier, Captain Sydney Jary MC of The Royal Hampshire Regiment; she died in January 1995. In 1990 Peggy and Sydney's son, Christopher, wrote Portrait of a Bomber Pilot, a biography of Jack. Group Captain Leonard Cheshire VC DSO DFC wrote the Foreword while Ian Lawson, Geoff Cole, Ray Glass, George McKeand, Nigel Walker, Ray Holmes, Don Smith, John Leighton Beck, Mervyn Leyshon and many of Jack's friends and contemporaries breathed life into the book with their vivid memories of those brave, sad times.

Source : Christopher Jary, Author - Portrait Of A Bomber Pilot and CWGC and George Steven

Date record last updated : 27 June 2009



WHATMOUGH

WHATTON, J H

Whatton_Harry_Wedding_photo
Harry and Edith married on 26 December 1947.

FS J Harry Whatton, 1384559, Wireless Operator, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom, Date taken POW 8 July 1944, POW number 423

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark II SR382 BU-B

Imprisoned at POW camp Bankau (Bakow), Poland
Imprisoned at POW camp Luckenwalde

Born 19 September 1921

Born in Holborn, Islington, London, UK

Son of Percival Whatton and Dora Elleen Whatton. Husband of Edith Edwards.

SEE PRISONERS OF WAR

On 21 June 1944 he was one of several crew to bail out and evade capture for several weeks until his capture in Antwerp on 8 July 1944.

Harry was responsible for radio communications aboard Fortress SR382 BU-B. He was one of several crew to bail out and evade capture for several weeks until his capture in Antwerp on 8 July 1944.

Keith Stone (Harry's nephew) writes:
"I am in contact with a relative who took the trouble to make a copy of the diary written by Harry in PoW camp. This was done at the time of Harry's death in 1994, when he was 73 years old. In the diary he describes the shooting down in detail and mentions the names of all the crew members. The diary shows he and Tom Sparks were together throughtout their time in Holland and in Stalag Luft 7 and later at Stalag 3A."

Whatton_Harry_Diary_frontpage Whatton_Harry_RIP_page

Click on the following link to read the diary :The Diary of an Allied Advanced Guard. Not Defeated, Just Waiting

This diary records Harry's time as a Prisoner of War from June 1944 until his liberation in May 1945. It also includes his time during the 'The March' of January to February 1945.
Harry clearly had a fixation for liberation and dwells much on the shortage of food. Perhaps an honest reflection of the monotony of PoW camp life.

For more information see : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_March_(1945)

Harry died in November 1994, aged 73.

Source : Keith Stone (nephew of Harry Whatton) and John Cripps (nephew of Sgt Sydney Bryant) and "Footprints on the sands of time" by Oliver Clutton-Brock and Susan Carr (Harry's daughter) and www. Ancestry.co.uk

Date record last updated : 30 October 2020



WHEATON, V P W

Sgt Vernon Philip Walrond Wheaton, 933154, Observer, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : British, KIA 2 April 1942, Aged 32

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C Z1156 (01-Apr-1942)

Buried in DURNBACH WAR CEMETERY. Reference : 2. F. 6.

Son of Francis Drake Wheaton and Eugenie Wheaton; husband of Blanche Wheaton, of Wood Green, Middlesex.

Source : CWGC and Chorley's "Bomber Command Losses" 1942 volume

Date record last updated : 3 October 2008



WHEWAY, H F V

Sgt Harold Frank Vernon Wheway, 925047, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 28 April 1942, Aged 22

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C DV768 BU-?

Named on the following Memorial : Isle of Wight Memorial page
Named on the following Memorial : RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL. Panel 96.

Son of Harold and Amy Wheway, of New Malden, Surrey; husband of T. K. Wheway, of Cardiff.

His body was never found after the aircarft crashed into the sea.

Source : Chorley and CWGC and Bev Nicholes (Isle of Wight Memorial page)

Date record last updated : 10 November 2017



WHITAKER, R

Sgt R Whitaker

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I R9350 (07-Aug-1942) BU-T

Source : 214 Squadron ORB and Richard Maddox (researcher)e

Date record last updated : 31 March 2023



WHITE

Plt/Off White

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark II W5452 BU-U

Pilot Officer White was the only crew member to survive the crash of Wellington W5452 on 21 September 1941.

Source : Chorley

Date record last updated : 31 December 2014



WHITE

WHITE, K W J

White_Ken_W_J

Sgt Ken W J 'Chalky' White, Air Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB817 BU-G
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III KJ101 BU-H
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III KJ114 (02-May-1945) BU-B

Alan Mercer has contributed some reminiscences and a photo of Sgts White and Langhorn with 'their' B-17 in a book about 100 Group which came out about a year ago: "Even When The Sparrows Are Walking" by Laurie Brettingham.

Fortress_HB817
Langhorn_Fred_C_plus_White_Ken_W_J
"Chalky" White and Freddy Langhorn in front of their aircraft HB817 BU-G, Spring 1945

Source : Ian Hunt and Alan Mercer and Jennifer Baumfield

Date record last updated : 21 February 2009



WHITE, M C

WO Maurice Charles White, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, 1166191, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom. KIA 15 March 1945 Age 25

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress III HB803 (15-Mar-1945) BU-L

Buried in CHOLOY WAR CEMETERY. 2. C. 4.

Son of Charles and Lilian White; husband of Doreen Hilda Helen White, of Croxley Green, Hertfordshire.

Source : CWGC and Nightjar Spring 2003 and Chorley

Date record last updated : 1 December 2017



WHITE, P D

Sgt Paget Derick White, 1405182, Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 4 July 1943, Aged 20

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark III BK717 (04-Jul-1943) BU-U

Buried in FLUSHING (VLISSINGEN) NORTHERN CEMETERY. Reference : Row F Grave 15

Son of William Francis John and Jessie White, of Broadway, Somerset.

Source : Chorley and CWGC

Date record last updated : 5 January 2014



WHITE, P J

Sgt Phillip James White, 956165, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom. KIA 07 December 1940

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) R3209 BU-H

Named on the following Memorial : RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL. Panel 20.

Source : Ian Hunt & CWGC


WHITEHEAD, J W

Sgt J W Whitehead

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling (model unknown) W7577 (07-Aug-1942) BU-P

Source : 214 Squadron ORB and Richard Maddox (researcher)

Date record last updated : 31 March 2023



WHITFILED, G

Gordon Whitfiled, Engine Mechanic

Gordon was posted to 214 Squadron after basic training as an engine mechanic in June 1974 and stayed until the squadron was disbanded in January 1977.

Source : Gordon Whitfiled

Date record last updated : 25 January 2015



WHITSUN-JONES, D D

Flt/Lt Deryck Dibble Whitsun-Jones, Navigator

With 214 Squadron from October 1949 to December 1951, flying Lancasters and then Lincolns. He joined the RAF during the war, trained in Canada and saw active service in Bomber Command, completing a tour of operations with 640 Squadron (flying Halifaxes). He then stayed on in the RAF until 1963, flying a variety of aircraft types with different squadrons.

Source : Nicholas Whitsun-Jones (son)

Date record last updated : 27 June 2009



WHITTINGHAM, C J

Fg/Off Clifford John Whittingham, 46402, Navigator, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 20 September 1942, Aged 26

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I R9355 (08-Sep-1942) BU-D
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I R9356 (20-Sep-1942) BU-U

Buried in DURNBACH WAR CEMETERY. Reference : 6. J. 3.

Son of John and Emily Mary Whittingham, of Chester.

Source : Chorley and CWGC and 214 Squadron ORB

Date record last updated : 28 April 2023



WILDEY, W

Sgt William Wildey DFM, 1052356, Wireless Operator

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark III N3751 BU-P

3196 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 21 JULY 1942
Award of the Distinguished Flying Medal

"The objective was successfully bombed, but over the target area the aircraft sustained much damage from anti-aircraft fire. One of the starboard engines was hit and put out of action. Shortly afterwards the bomber was subjected to an attack by an enemy fighter, fire from which caused further damage. Almost immediately a second fighter opened fire and Sergeant Wildey, the 1st wireless operator, was wounded in the arm. Sargeant Watson attended to his injuries. Throughout the operation, these airmen displayed unflinching courage, great fortitude and splendid team work in foiling the attacks of 5 enemy fighters, 3 of which were shot down. Their conduct upheld the highest traditions of the Royal Air Force."

Source : 214 Squadron ORB and London Gazette and National Archives Air Records AIR/50/233/13

Date record last updated : 8 January 2021



WILES, L H V

Wiles_Laurence_Henry_Victor

Wiles_Laurence_Henry_Victor_grave

Wiles_Laurence_Henry_Victor_training
This shows Laurence during his pilots training and shows Laurie (right hand top) with three of his pilot training colleagues (unfortunately names unknown).

Sgt Laurence Henry Victor Wiles, 1334775, Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, KIA 22 September 1943

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I R9258 BU-W

Buried in HANOVER WAR CEMETERY. Reference : 4. B. 1

Steven Amos writes "He served with 214 Squadron flying in Short Stirlings as an air gunner and then went to Canada to train as a pilot. He completed his pilot training in 1943 and then as far as I know re-joined his squadron (although I cannot confirm that) and on his return volunteered to fly with a crew who were missing their rear gunner and sadly lost his life when their aircraft was shot down near Hanover on 22nd September 1943."

Source : GWGC and Steven Amos (Nephew)

Date record last updated : 13 August 2017



WILKES, F A

Sgt F Alan Wilkes, Co-pilot / Flight Engineer, Royal Air Force

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB819 (11-May-1945) BU-U
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB819 (12-May-1945) BU-U
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB819 (02-Apr-1945) BU-U
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB819 (26-Apr-1945) BU-U
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB819 (06-May-1945) BU-U

Stations served :
RAF Locking
RAF St Mawgan
RAF St Athan
RAF Bishopscourt
RAF Oulton
RAF Watchfield
Seighford
Wheaton Aston
Sutton Bridge
Volkenrode

Aircraft flown and serviced during 1940-1945 :
Piper Cub
Tiger Moth
Avro Anson
Airspeed Oxford
B/A Swallow
Curtiss Tomahawk
Boulton Paul Defiant
Boeing Fortress
Douglas Dakota
Fairey Battle

While with 214 Squadron Sgt Wilkes had completed 66 Flights by 30 July 1945.

He was co-pilot with:
Fg/Off Jack Henderson
Flt/Lt Gilbert
Sqn/Ldr Bevis Denton 'Bob' Davies
Flt/Lt Jones
Fg/Off Nelson
Flt/Lt David Murray Peden
Flt/Lt John Wynne
Flt/Lt H Mark
Flt/Lt Colhoun

We have been advised that Sgt F Alan Wilkes died on 15th November 2016 aged 92 years.

Source : F A Wilkes and Robert Wilkes (son)

Date record last updated : 13 December 2016



WILKIE

WILKINS, J K

Sgt Jack Kenneth Wilkins, 416581, Pilot, Royal New Zealand Air Force, Nationality : New Zealand, KIA 24 May 1943, Aged 21

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark III BF528

Born in New Zealand

Buried in RHEINBERG WAR CEMETERY. Reference : 2. G. 20.

Son of Thomas Owen and Mary Aileen Wilkins, of Te Puke, Auckland, New Zealand.

Initially Buried in Stadtfriedhof.

Source : Dave Pointer (grandson of Sgt WS Clifton-Moggs) and CWGC

Date record last updated : 07 February 2008



WILKINSON, W

Wilkinson_William

Wg/Cdr William Wilkinson, Bomb Aimer, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling (model unknown) Mackett crews

Born 16 November 1923
Born in Birkenhead, England

As soon as he was 17, in November 1940, Bill volunteered for the RAF but was deferred until April 1941 and then again until March 1942 when Bill was at last called forward for aircrew training.

At No 26 Operational Training Unit in 1943 Bill crewed up with FS Bob Mackett, FO Alan Deadman, W/Op Gordon Lowe, Mid Upper Gunner Bruce Taggart and Tail Gunner Doug Houghton. In July 1943 Flt Eng Stan Newton joined the crew and they all joined 214 Squadron at RAF Chedburgh the end of the month.

By the Autumn of 1943, Bill and his crew had completed six operations when the Stirling bomber aircraft were withdrawn from front line service; the loss rate of these aircraft on the main bombing raids had become unsustainable. They were then one of six crews detached to augment No 161 Squadron at RAF Tempsford dropping supplies to resistance groups and underground agents in occupied Europe.

Wilkinson_William_and_crew
RAF LAKENHEATH early 1944 with 149 Squadron
Back row L-R
Gordon Lowe (W/op / AG) Bert Waugh (RG) Bruce Taggart (MUG)
Front Row L-R
Al Deadman (NAV) Bob Mackett (Pilot) Bill Wilkinson (BA)

By March 1944, Bill with his Bob Mackett crew had completed their required tour of 30 operations. As the crew split up to go on their various ways, Bill went RAF Wing as an instructor on 26 OTU Wellingtons, also being awarded a commission as a Pilot Officer.

It was on 1st January 1945 when Bill returned to operational flying, this time on the Halifax, joining No. 192 Squadron at RAF Foulsham. In addition to bombing operations, these aircraft carried electronic jamming equipment and German speaking special operators conducting radio spoofing. Bill's new crew were all second tourists and completed 14 ops by the time that Germany surrendered in May 1945. In all, Bill had flown 44 ops in his war service, from March 1942 to June 1945, achieving 629 flying hours.

Bill remained in the RAF in his Flying Officer rank, and undertook the duties of adjutant at a number of RAF bases before becoming the Station Adjutant in the rank of Flight Lieutenant at RAF Boscombe Down. But in September 1946 Bill decided to leave the RAF and returned to Birkenhead and qualified as a stevedore supervisor, only to rejoin the RAF in February 1950.

Promoted to Wing Commander in February 1975, Bill's last job in the RAF was Wing Commander Administration at RAF Uxbridge. On his retirement from the RAF in March 1978, Bill joined the company Sperrys, until April 1986 when he fully retired.

Bill was a founder member of the 214 (FMS) Squadron Association, and served on the Committee for several years as the Treasurer and Auditor.

Vic Pheasant has provided us with a a complete synopsis of Bills' wartime and peacetime RAF service. Click on this link to read the document.

Wing Commander William Wilkinson died on 14 September 2015, aged 91.

Source : Robert Mackett and Vic Pheasant (214 Squadron Association)

Date record last updated : 21 February 2016



WILLIAMS

WILLIAMS, F T

Sgt Fernley Thomas Williams, 1201671, Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 28 April 1942, Aged 30

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C DV768 BU-?

Buried in KIEL WAR CEMETERY. Reference : 5.B.4.

Husband of Winifred Florence Williams, of Bexleyheath, Kent.

Source : Chorley and CWGC

Date record last updated : 27 November 2020



WILLIAMS, G

Sqn/Ldr Graham Williams, Pilot

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Victor Mark I - 3 point tanker XA927 (May-1969)

Took part in the Transatlantic Race in May 1969.

Source : Flt/Lt (Ret) Stewart L Waring

Date record last updated : 13 August 2023



WILLIAMS, J E

FS J E Williams, R/67724, Pilot

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) ??Williams
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) Z8900
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) Z8900 (15-Nov-1941)

Was part of an aircrew to be seconded to 15 OTU for 215 Squadron on 11 March 1942.

See Photo album 4 "The exodus of 214 Squadron to 215 Squadron".

Source : Colin Burningham and W.R.Chorley

Date record last updated : 29 May 2010



WILLIAMS, J P

Sgt John Philpin Williams, 983072, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 6 January 1942, Aged 26

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C ??Enright (22-Dec-1941)

Buried in UZMASTON (ST. ISMAEL) CHURCHYARD.

Son of Ambrose John and Elizebeth Lettice Williams, of Haverfordwest.

Was part of the first aircrew to be seconded to 215 Squadron on 22 December 1941.
On 6 January 1942, he was killed in an accident to Wellington L7863 of 3 Group Training Flight at Newmarket while seconded to 215 Squadron aged 26.
See Photo album 4 "The exodus of 214 Squadron to 215 Squadron".

Source : Colin Burningham and CWGC

Date record last updated : 16 June 2010



WILLIAMS, J W

Sgt John William Williams, 1094029, Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, KIA 15 April 1943, Aged 31

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I EF331 BU-H

Buried in SEPT-SAULX CHURCHYARD. Reference : Grave 6.

Son of Louis Henry and Arabella Williams; husband of Gertrude Jane Williams, of Marchamley, Shropshire.

Source : CWGC

Date record last updated : 17 December 2010



WILLIAMS, N W

Williams_N_W

Sgt N W Williams, 2226960, Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB803 (06-Oct-1944) BU-L
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB819 (14-Feb-1945) BU-U
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III KJ107 (05-Jan-1945) BU-N
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III KJ107 (06-Jan-1945) BU-N

Sgt N W Williams trained as an Air Gunner and qualified on 30 June 1944 at No 12 Air Gunner's School, Bishop's Court.

He then went to 1699 CU as part of Flg Off Mark Stainier's crew where they both did numerous training ops. Murray Peden was involved with some of these training operations.

He joined 214 Squadron and flew combat sorties from October 1944 to April 1945, mainly as part of the crew that flew with Fg/Off Marc Stainier (also known as Fg/Off Mark).

His first tour of 36 operational sorties was completed on 13 April 1945.

Sgt Williams is recorded as serving in India in February 1946

Source : Ian Hunt and Vic Tyler-Jones (President, Llai Local History Society) and 214 Squadron ORB

Date record last updated : 17 April 2020



WILLIAMS, R

Williams_Roland

WO Roland 'Ron' Williams '39/45 Aircrew Europe, Clasp, Defence, 1834473, Flight Engineer, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress (model unknown) ??Archibald (15-Jul-1944) BU-H
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB774 BU-G

Born 16 January 1914

Born in Thurnscoe, Yorkshire

Buried in SANDWELL CREMATORIUM WEST BROMWICH

Son of William and Ethel Williams nee Probert. Husband of Elsie Williams

Roland Williams writes :

"My first attempt to join the RAF was in January 1932, when I was 18 years old, and I was rejected because I was four teeth short of a full set. Then in 1938, I applied to join the RAFVR but the particular squadron was being disbanded. So it wasn't until 1942 that I was able to achieve my ambition by enlisting for aircrew directly from a reserved occupation.

Jimmy Nuttall and I arrived at St Athan from our initial training at Blackpool on 7th December 1942 and began our flight engineer's course twelve days later, staying together throughout until the end of our tour of operations with 214 Squadron in November 1944. At St Athan on Saturday afternoons we used to go to Cardiff on the bus to visit the Prince of Wales Theatre, where we saw some very good shows, having paid sixpence for a seat in the gods. One particular Saturday we decided to hitch-hike along with a few other airmen. Being quite a good sprinter, I was first to a pick-up truck that pulled up and got into the cab with the driver. After moving off, I looked back to see Jimmy and three or four others walking back towards the main gate. the driver was having a chuckle. I asked, "What happened?" and he said, "See those fifty-gallon drums in the back? Well, my job is emptying cesspits and you can guess what's in them!" The lads had grabbed the tail- and side-boards. They immediately let go, but had to return to the station to wash their hands - and a couple of them their tunics.

Sgt. George Wright's crew had just finished their training on Wellingtons when they were blessed with two members of the Williams clan at 1657 Conversion unit Stradishall - Bob (Taffy) and Ron (myself). Two incidents during our training at Stradishall that were involved in come to mind. The first was when we had taken off for our first cross-country flight and had been airborne for only a few minutes, and the port inner engine caught fire. The fire was successfully put out and the prop feathered. Arriving back over base we were instructed to jettison fuel from the main tanks (nos. 2 & 4 on each mainplane) which in total capacity would be around eleven hundred gallons of 100-octane petrol. This we did with the whole station watching and we landed safely.
The second incident occurred when we were performing circuits and landings at night from an American base. After three and a half hours of ups and downs in Q Queenie, we were standing at the edge of the runway prepared to take off when I checked the accumulators and realised there would be insufficient power to raise the undercarriage, so we taxied to dispersal with the intention of recharging. Unfortunately, however (or rather, fortunately as it turned out) the American trolley-acc. Connections didn't fit, so we informed base who told us to leave the aircraft there and they would send a crew-bus for us. The next morning, another crew were sent out with the appropriate trolley-acc. To bring Q Queenie back to base, but arriving over Stradishall the undercarriage became stuck in the half-way down position. When all efforts to move it either way had failed, and after over an hour's orbiting, instructions were given to belly land her at Newmarket. Lucky us! I was told that Queenie had previously been ditched in Bradwell Bay and then salvaged after floating for sixteen hours. I wonder if she ever got airborne again?
We were posted to Downham Market as an operational crew, and once again, on our first assignment to drop 5,000 lbs of mines near the Friesian Islands, we had trouble with the undercart which refused all attempts to raise it by conventional methods except hand winding (376 turns of each wheel by crank-handle!). In desperation I gave the control rods which ran alongside of the fuselage a hefty kick with my flying boot, then called the skipper to try again - and this time the down lock was freed and the undercart retracted. We completed our op, dropping the mines from 3,000 feet.
Our second minelaying trip was a visit to the Ile de Ré, lasting just under six hours and non-eventful: 5,000 lbs of mines from 5,000 feet. But on our return from a bombing trip to Hazebrouk in France, we feathered the port inner engine and lost all electric power. Even the R.T. Died on us after George had received permission to make a right-hand circuit for landing. Freddie Mullenger, the navigator, was standing between the skipper and me to pass messages, and I informed George through him that I was going aft to wind the tail wheel down and then the main wheels. The tail wheel was no trouble (100-odd turns of the crank) but when I turned to get back to the centre section I was thrown off-balance and started to spew. I still had my mae-west on and was sweating profusely, while I was heaving and crawling through the spew on my hands and knees. Johnny Bates, our wireless op, and myself each cranked down a wheel and I made sure they were locked in the down position, then I went forward to pass a message to Freddie and advise George that I was going to wind the flaps down when our heads collided and George landed with another Stirling ahead of him on the runway, which somehow he overtook, and managed to stop just short of the end. As we were putting our gear away in the locker room, Jimmy Southgate, the rear gunner, put his arm around my shoulders and said, "Bloody good show, Ron!" - and that's when I broke down and swore I wouldn't fly again, But we were there again the next night on a "bullseye" exercise!
Between arriving at 214 F.M.S. Squadron, Downham Market, on December 26th 1943 and January 14th 1944 we had completed four operations. Then we moved with the squadron to train on B17 Flying Fortresses at Sculthorpe. At one instruction class, Warrant Officer Mackie (as he was then) asked the American instructor if it was possible to loop a Fortress. "Hell, no!" came the reply, but as soon as Mackie was let loose to fly the machine, that's just what he did. And as we watched, I remember a Yankee sergeant's stomach also doing a loop and he was as sick as a dog. Mackie got a severe reprimand, but I suspect the Winco had his tongue in his cheek as he handed out the same. Mackie had a reputation of being a bit of a daredevil, and one day asked me to accompany him as his flight engineer to Newmarket, as Pedro, his engineer, was sick. I agreed and on the way over we came upon a formation of American fortresses, so Mackie decided to have a little fun by first of all putting his mainplane between that of another Fortress and its tail, then dropping back and putting his nose within a couple of car-lengths of the tail of another - with the tail gunner mouthing epithets and threatening us with his twin point five Brownings, or trying to thumb us away. Well, we got to Newmarket and back!
On airsickness: I used to get airsick very often but I learned the trick of sticking two fingers down my throat to make myself sick when I began to feel rough, open the side window, and with my head turned aft, rid myself of stomach contents. I could then carry on with my job. But I was caught out one day when I didn't turn my head quickly enough, and spewed into my oxygen mask. Scrub as I would afterwards, I could not rid the mask of the smell, so after a week I had to exchange it for a new one. Johnny Bates used to tease me at the after-flight meal, saying "How about a bit of greasy pork, Ron, going up and down your throat on a piece of string?" He'd never been airsick and didn't realise how it felt until one night when we had been in ten tenths cloud and great turbulence, having climbed up to 26 thousand feet and descended to 12 thousand without getting out of it, the whole crew except George and Freddie succumbed. Ricky Sherburne, our bomb aimer, had been eating chocolate and was flying in the top turret - George's peaked cap was just below the turret and received what Ricky rejected. I was sick into the tail wheel hand-cup into which I would later have to plunge my hand to lock and unlock the tail wheel to taxi to dispersal. At the after-flight meal, it was my turn to ask Johnny "How would you like a piece of greasy ...?" I got no further: he was up from the table like a shot and off into the ablutions with his hand over his mouth. But I felt sorry for him losing his meal, although I enjoyed mine. And he never ribbed me again.
The Squadron had moved to Oulton approximately 12 miles from Norwich on May 16th, 1944, the officers being billeted in Blickling Hall, residence of Lord Lithgow, and the NCO's in nissen huts, which reminds me that sometimes in cold weather we could wake up with sufficient globules of condensation on the blanket to scoop up and wash our hands. Yet we didn't catch cold. In one hut dwelt an Australian Warrant Officer bomb- aimer of whom the powers that be had lost track. He unofficially took charge of the ablutions and would press a uniform for half-a-crown or launder a whole bunch of washing for the same amount. Where he obtained his soaps and powder was a mystery, but I'll bet he went back to Aussie-land with a small fortune.
July 4th, Independence Day 1944. Midnight, and the Yanks were celebrating in their camp area a short distance from our billets, yelling, whooping and firing revolvers, while we were trying to get some sleep. I went out through the hedge in my pyjamas just in time to see their C/O's car approaching. He stopped. The car was a right-hand drive, so all he had to do was hear my complaint, stick a bloody great hand out and shove me backwards into the hedge and nettles - and drive off without a word.
Mentioning pyjamas brings back a memory of one chap in our billet who took a fancy to a pair of blue and white ones I had. I told him that if we got the chop he could have them. We had taken part in the Koenigsberg attack and been diverted to Honiley near Coventry, landing there at 06-55 after a ten hours and ten minutes Squadron airborne record flight. Of course, because we hadn't returned the previous night, he had come to the conclusion that he would exercise his right! But he gave them back with no hard feelings. I wasn't a regular drinker but did get drunk at a mess party. Dickie Gunton, the engineers' leader, and a WAAF officer put me to bed in those same pyjamas and I still turned up on time at the flights next morning.
On the night of June 2nd 1944, three of our B17's - those of Sqd/Ldr Bill Day, Johnny Cassan and George Wright - took part in the attack on the marshalling yards of Trappes, about forty miles south-west of Paris. I read in the Daily Express some years later that this was the raid that opened the second front. We were flying in F Freddie and as we approached the target, a huge orange flare was dropped on our tail, so George decided to move off track and fly a parallel course. Immediately alongside us appeared a Halifax in the full glare of the flare, exchanging fire with a Messerschmidt 210. The Halifax went down with engines on fire and the Me. Following with the rear gunner firing back, but we saw no chutes from the Halifax. From then on we saw many aircraft shot down, with Fred, our navigator, logging their positions until he had no space to log more. The official report the next morning quoted sixteen of our aircraft were lost. We had been attacked by a Me. 110 and of course, George had taken evasive action by the usual corkscrewing, but we sustained a few holes from bullets which miraculously passed diagonally between the two waist gunners Bob Williams and Don Robson.
Warrant Officer Archibald was another of the Mackie ilk who liked to have a bit of fun in the air. I was to go with him on another sortie to Nevers, another town south of Paris, on 15th July 1944. On the afternoon air test we came upon a cricket match taking place at Pakenham. Some joker in the crew suggested to Archie that he beat it up. Down went Archie with quite a clip on, along the full length of the pitch, and the cricketers throwing themselves flat on their faces. As we climbed away, the same joker said, "Round again, Archie!" and the voice of the wireless operator came over the intercom: "Wait a second, Archie, till I wind the trailing aerial in." That aerial was seventy feet long with ¾" lead balls interspaced along its length. He didn't make the second run! We were over the target that night and the rear gunner reported a fighter on each of the quarters (port and starboard). But we had to be prodded by Archie as to their position because the gunner was slow with his commentary. Suddenly it was "Corkscrew starboard go!" and Archie threw the aircraft over into that manoeuvre and we escaped. But as we came out of the corkscrew a Focker Wolf came round our bows almost within touching distance, and I remember saying to Archie, "Bloody hell! Here's another one! Such a near miss!" The next day my skipper told me not to take part in any more spare operations or I might finish my tour before the rest of the crew, and he would hate to have to get another engineer. Nice to be appreciated!
It is now 1995 and I am in my 82nd year. Every anecdote I have outlined here is as clear in my mind as though it happened yesterday. I was fortunate to fly with the following members of a crew that knew their jobs and carried them out so well: George Wright, pilot, Freddie Mullenger, navigator, Johnny Bates, wireless operator, Stan Bayliss, special duties wireless operator, Bob (Taffy) Williams, waist gunner, Don Robson, waist gunner, Ricky Sherburne, upper turret gunner cum bomb-aimer, with a very special mention for Jimmy Southgate, rear gunner, who cold bring tears to my eyes by hugging me round my shoulders."
His last day of service with the RAF was 6 August 1946.

From his service and release book, we know that as a W/O he was paid 20 shillings a month, so on 22 July 1946 after 42 months service he received a war gratuity of £42 plus post-war credits of sixpence a day for 1295 days, making a total of £76 7s 6d.

Is listed on Battle Orders for 22 August 1944.

Is also listed on returning operational aircrew on 31 August 1944

He died on 6 August 1999 aged 85.

Catherine writes (July 2009):
"He and my mother regularly attended the Squadron reunions, and greatly enjoyed meeting their old friends there. My mother, Elsie Williams, now aged 93, continued to attend until a couple of years ago, together with Stan and Rona Bayliss, but has been unable to do so any more since Stan's death three years ago." He was a founder member of the 214 Squadron Annual Reunion, which he attended faithfully until his death.

Sadly Roland's wife Elsie passed away on 16 February 2017 aged 100. Please see Nightjar Summer 2017.

Source : David Wright (son of Flt/Lt George Wright) and George Mackie and Roland Williams memories and Catherine Sommer (daughter of Roland Williams)

Date record last updated : 31 August 2017



WILLIAMS, R A

Sgt Russell Arthur Williams, 741780, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, KIA 8 April 1941, Aged 20

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C R1380 BU-?

Named on the following Memorial : RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL Panel 55.

Son of Alfred James Williams, and of Rosetta Williams, of Rainham, Essex.

Source : CWGC and Ian Hunt

Date record last updated : 1 December 2017



WILLIAMS, R E

FS Robert E 'Taffy' Williams, Mid Upper Gunner

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB774 BU-G

Is listed on Battle Orders for 22 August 1944.

Is also listed on returning operational aircrew on 31 August 1944. On both occasions he was listed as a Waist Gunner.

Named on a photograph of 214 Squadron members at Brackla, January 1945 - see Album 4

Brackla near Nairn in Invernesshire. It was the hutted camp of ACAC, Air Crew Allocation Centre, a clearing house for tour expired aircrew. In spite of heavy losses, far more had survived than could be used for further flying duties and it was quite a problem finding suitable niches for all.

Source : Gerhard Heilig and David Wright (son of Flt/Lt George Wright) and George Mackie and Catherine Sommer (daughter of Roland Williams)

Date record last updated : 5 August 2009



WILLIAMS, S J

Sgt S J Williams, 1175876, Front Gunner

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I W7538 (26-Jun-1942) BU-T

Wounded during the fighter engagement.

Source : Richard Maddox (researcher) and The National Archives

Date record last updated : 24 February 2023



WILLIAMS, T F

Sgt T F Williams, 902179, Date taken POW 27 September 1940, POW number 312

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C L7843 BU-?

Imprisoned at POW camp Barth, Germany
Imprisoned at POW camp Heydekrug (Silute), Lithuania
Imprisoned at POW camp Thorn (Torun), Poland - dates unknown

SEE PRISONERS OF WAR

Source : Nightjar Newsletter Winter / Spring 2006 and Steve Toyne (service number in mother's diary)

Date record last updated : 30 October 2020



WILLIAMSON, D

Sgt Donald Williamson, 1777442, Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 26 August 1944, Aged 21

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB763 (25-Aug-1944) BU-T

Buried in HOTTON WAR CEMETERY. Reference : Coll. grave IX. C. 4-6.

Son of James and Lily Williamson, of Cleadon Park, South Shields, Co. Durham.

Is listed on Battle Orders for 22 August 1944.

Source : George Mackie and CWGC

Date record last updated : 28 July 2008



WILLIAMSON, J H

Sgt John Henry Williamson, 1057437, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 29 August 1941, Aged 23

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C R1604 BU-?

Buried in FLUSHING (VLISSINGEN) NORTHERN CEMETERY. Reference : Row B Grave 3

Son of Henry and Grace Catherine Williamson, of Edinburgh.

Source : Chorley and CWGC

Date record last updated : 5 January 2014



WILLING, R J

Sgt R J Willing

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III KJ103 BU-M

Source : Chorley

Date record last updated : 31 August 2011



WILSON

Sgt Wilson

Was a regular crew member with Gp/Capt John Aidan Field

Source : Richard Field (son of Gp/Capt John Aidan Field)

Date record last updated : 24 May 2019



WILSON, A F

Sgt Arnot Flaws Wilson, 935907, Rear Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 9 May 1941, Aged 19

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) ??Eddison
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C R1226 BU-L

Buried in BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY. Reference : Coll. grave 32. C. 2.

Son of Ruth Wilson, of Workington, Cumberland.

CWGC said he was a Wireless Operator / Air Gunner.

Source : CWGC and Aled Leyshon (grandson of Mervyn Leyshon)

Date record last updated : 28 March 2015



WILSON, D

Daniel Wilson, Pilot

Extracted from the writings of Flt/Lt John Valentine Swan. May not be correct as some of the writing is hard to decipher.

Source : Lynn Mortimer (daughter of Flt/Lt John Valentine Swan)

Date record last updated : 3 January 2020



WILSON, D

Wilson_David

Plt/Off David Wilson, Pilot

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C X9979 (Autumn-1941) BU-O

Date record last updated : 16 June 2010


WILSON, D

Wilson_David_Tug

David 'Tug' Wilson, Navigator / Radar

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Victor K Mark I ??Rudin

David writes :
I flew with John Rudin's crew 1968 to 70.

Source : David 'Tug' Wilson

Date record last updated : 1 December 2017



WILSON, E G

Wilson_Ernest_G_grave

FS Ernest George Wilson, R/76046, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality : Canadian, KIA 3 July 1942, Aged 23

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I BF313 BU-T

Buried in WESTERNIELAND GENERAL CEMETERY, DE MARNE. Reference : Grave N.469

Son of Arthur W. and Cassie Curran Wilson, of Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Flight Sergeant Ernest George Wilson was from Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Source : Chorley and CWGC and Steve Oudshoorn

Date record last updated : 22 June 2014



WILSON, H

Sgt Hamish 'Tug' Wilson GM, Rear Gunner, Royal New Zealand Air Force, Nationality : New Zealand

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I R9358 (09-Mar-1943) BU-A

Gallantry Medal awarded for his bravery in rescuing Sgt Flack from a crashed aircraft on 9th March 1943

Source : John Jewsbury

Date record last updated : 28 December 2011



WILSON, H A

Sgt H A Wilson, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I R9163 BU-C

Source : Nightjar Newsletter Spring 2004

Date record last updated : 7 July 2009



WILSON, J C

Wilson_John_Cameron

Sgt John Cameron 'Jock' Wilson DFM, 1368303, Wireless Operator, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark III EF445 BU-J

Awarded the DFM on 7 July 1944. Click on this link to see more from the London Gazette

Steve Palmer writes :
I am sending you a photograph of the Atkinson crew of Stirling EF-445 BU-J lost in the North Sea on 23rd November 1943, plus some others that are relevant. They originated from the Flight Engineer on the crew, then Sgt Des Hughes. He, along with Friend and Wilson are pictured on the boundary of RAF Waterbeach (see crew for photograph) when they formed part of the Chopping crew on 514 Squadron, where they went on to add membership of the Caterpillar Club to their Goldfish. Nevertheless all three survived their tour, Friend and Wilson being awarded the DFM and Hughes the DFC, having been commissioned in May 1944.

Source : Chorley and Steve Palmer and London Gazette

Date record last updated : 26 October 2018



WILSON, P J

Sgt Patrick John Wilson, 1806740, Flight Engineer, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 13 September 1944, Aged 31

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB767 BU-A

Buried in CALAIS SOUTHERN CEMETERY. Reference : Plot R. Grave 6.

Son of Peter Badenoch Wilson and Mary Ogg Wilson, of Wanstead, Essex; husband of Ethel May Wilson, of Woodford, Essex.

Sgt Wilson's body was found in Calais harbour on 19 December 1944.

Source : CWGC and John Cripps

Date record last updated : 7 June 2008



WILSON, R G

Wilson_Robert_George_grave

WO/II Robert George Wilson, R/197780, Air Gunner, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality : Canadian, KIA 21 March 1945

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB785 (21-Mar-1945) BU-A

Buried in DURNBACH WAR CEMETERY. Reference : 7. D. 1.

Source : CWGC and Nightjar Newsletter Spring 2003 and Chris Edwards from Garmisch

Date record last updated : 28 June 2014



WILSON, R W

Sgt Richard William Wilson, 1108674, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, KIA 16 July 1942

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling (model unknown) BF318 (16-Jul-1942)

Source : Bob Brown (nephew of Sgt Richard Kerry) and CWGC

Date record last updated : 15 January 2021



WILSON, T J

Sgt T J Wilson, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I R9163 BU-C

Source : Nightjar Newsletter Spring 2004

Date record last updated : 7 July 2009



WINDRAM, R A

Sgt R A Windram

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I BK600
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark III BK686 (29-Mar-1943) BU-C
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I W7584 (07-Aug-1942) BU-D

Source : 214 Squadron ORB and Richard Maddox (researcher)

Date record last updated : 31 March 2023



WING, G

WO Gordon 'Howie' Wing, Rear Gunner

Born 29 May 1922

'Howie' was a Warrant Officer rear gunner first on Stirlings and then Fortress's flying a total of 46 missions the last being on 31 December 1944. He later went on to be one of the two founder members of the Air Gunners Association.

Gordon (Howie) flew over 40 missions with 214 between 16 December 1943 and 31 December 1944. The first four missions being on Mk 3 Stirlings and the rest on Mk2 & 3 Flying Fortress

Following the war Gordon saw service first in the Kenyan Police in Africa where he flew another 2 unofficial missions with 214 who were stationed out there fighting the Mau Mau guerrillas, and following his return to the UK, served with the British Transport Police in London. Gordon was also one of the two founder members of the Air Gunners Association of which he was rightly very proud.
He was subsequently made a Freeman of the City of London.

During the summer of 2009 Gordon lost his beloved (third) wife Elizabeth which he understandably found very hard to deal with. He himself had suffered poor health over the last few years and sadly passed away in his own home on the evening of 29th October 2009. Gordon had no children of his own but always considered his second wife's daughter Marion as his own child. Both of them attended Gordon's funeral.

Simon Moxon sent this letter:

"Dear Air Commodore Jackson. (member of the local Royal Air Force Association.)

You very kindly sent the below reply to my colleague Tony Darragh concerning the funeral arrangements of my dear old friend Gordon Wing.
I thought I'd let you know that the ceremony, his ashes were interred in the family grave in Hampton, went very well.
It started off with a ceremony in the local church. The sermon was delivered by a minister who knew Gordon personally and who had also conducted Gordon's wife, Elizabeth's, funeral back in the Summer.

There then followed a graveside ceremony with the ashes in a nice oak urn were placed in Gordon's family grave along with his lucky mascot, a small stuffed toy which kept him safe on all his op's. I think it fitting as it accompanied him on his final mission to the heavens. We had a very good bugler from the RAF central band at Uxbridge who played the Last Post, a standard bearer from the R.A.F.A., a Flight Lieutenant from the Air Cadets where Gordon and his brothers both attended in the 1930's, myself and two other Police colleagues in uniform, one being our ceremonial standard bearer as Gordon was a Police Officer after the war.
It all went very well and I was so pleased that we marked his passing in such a way. His nephew from America, who is his closest living relative, was there and was impressed and very pleased with the turn out.

In February the RAF cadets at Feltham were going to dedicate one of their newly built rooms to Gordon's brother Clive who was lost on his second trip on Lancaster's, aged 18. I was going to accompany Gordon to that ceremony. It has now been decided to dedicate it to both Gordon and Clive and I will attend with others to remember them both. I think it is marvellous that these local men will be remembered in such a way."

Simon also wrote :
"I feel quite sure that he is up there now with rest of the boys, gathered around a piano, pints of beer overflowing in their hands, singing their hearts out and talking about their lives, their loves and of course their wartime experiences. God bless them all."

Source : Simon Moxon (friend of Gordon) and Rob Wing (nephew)

Date record last updated : 1 January 2010



WINSTONE, J W

Winstone_John_William_grave

Plt/Off John William Winstone, 429389, Air Bomber, Royal New Zealand Air Force, Nationality : New Zealand, KIA 7 March 1945, Aged 25

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III KJ106 BU-G

Buried in BECKLINGEN WAR CEMETERY. Reference : Plot 14. Row D. Grave 12

Son of Herbert John Marriner Winstone and Agnes Essy Edith Winstone of Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand

Source : CWGC and David Champion (researcher)

Date record last updated : 23 February 2018



WITHERS, P J

Withers_Peter_John_grave

FS Peter John Withers, 924720, Observer, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 24 July 1942, Aged 20

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I R9355 (07-Jul-1942)
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I R9355 (09-Jul-1942)
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I W7567 (24-Jul-1942) BU-S

Buried in WERKENDAM PROTESTANT CEMETERY. Reference : Row 8. Grave 6.

Son of John Richard and Dorothy Ada Withers, of Oxford.

Source : CWGC and Nightjar Newsletter Autumn 2004 and Arthur Skone and Richard Hallam (nephew of Eric Cooper)

Date record last updated : 26 July 2015



WITTS, P

Peter Witts, Air Gunner

Peter crewed on a Fortress.

He died in November 2011, aged 95.

Source : Squadron Association

Date record last updated : 27 September 2013



WOOD

Plt/Off Wood

Was a regular crew member with Gp/Capt John Aidan Field

Is possibly Plt/Off James Wood.

Source : Richard Field (son of Gp/Capt John Aidan Field)

Date record last updated : 24 May 2019



WOOD, J

Plt/Off James Wood, 69426, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 14 February 1942, Aged 25

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C Z1081 BU-B

Named on the following Memorial : Newcastle-upon-Tyne Rutherford College BOR

Buried in FLUSHING (VLISSINGEN) NORTHERN CEMETERY. Reference : Row B. Grave 20.

Son of James and Anne Wood; husband of Gladys Wood, of Backworth, Northumberland.

He died after spending several days in a dinghy after the aircraft ditched on 12 Februray 1942.

Source : CWGC and Nightjar Newsletter Winter / Spring 2005 and Simon Glancey and John Jones (researcher)

Date record last updated : 10 May 2019



WOOD, P

Wood_Peter_2

Wood_Peter

Wood_Peter_grave

Sgt Peter Wood, 1310876, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, KIA 2 April 1942

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C R1789 (01-Apr-1942) BU-Q

Buried in DURNBACH WAR CEMETERY. Reference : 2. F. 3.

Andrew Lomas would like to make contact with other family members or contacts of the crew. Please send the administrators an email if you would like to contact Andrew and we will forward your email to Andrew.

Source : CWGC and and Diana Beach (niece of Sidney Burtwell and Christine Head (niece of John Dunn) and Andrew Lomas (relation of Sgt Peter Wood)

Date record last updated : 3 February 2023



WOOD, R A

Sgt R A Wood, Flight Engineer

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark III BK659 (14-May-1943) BU-N

Source : Alan Beevor (son Flt/Lt Arthur Beevor DFC) and 214 Squadron ORB

Date record last updated : 25 September 2020



WOODGATE, H

Sgt H Woodgate, A407301 (A407310?)

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) Z8900

On 7 December 1941 Sgt Woodgate was posted to 214 Squadron from 20OTU.
Joined the crew of Z8900 after 15 November 1941.
On 19 January 1942 he was posted to 99 Squadron.
On 23 February 1942 he was posted from Waterbeach to Portreath.
On 26 February 1942 he was posted from Portreath direct to Malta, en-route to ME for 99 Squadron in India.

Source : Colin Burningham

Date record last updated : 29 May 2010



WOODGER, F R

Flt/Lt Frank Richard Woodger, 52114, Flight Engineer, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 24 February 1945, Aged 32

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark III BK686 (29-Mar-1943) BU-C
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB805 (24-Feb-1945) BU-C
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I W7584 (21-Nov-1942) BU-D

Buried in RHEINBERG WAR CEMETERY. Reference : 6.E.22

Son of Frank Herbert Stubbs Woodger and Gertrude Woodger; husband of Anne Glenys Woodger, of Bangor, Caernarvonshire.

Woodger previously managed to bail out of Stirling Mark I W7584 BU-D on 21 November 1942 before it crashed, killing the pilot. In the Nightjar Newsletter Spring 2004 he was recorded as Woodyer.

Source : CWGC and Ian Hunt and Nightjar Newsletter Spring 2004 and Chorley and 214 Squadron ORB and www.rafcommands.com

Date record last updated : 28 April 2023



WOODING, A A

Sgt Alan Asquith Wooding, Co-pilot, 745040, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom. KIA 07 December 1940 Age 27

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) R3209 BU-H

Son of Russell Asquith Wooding and Mildred Wooding, of Caterham, Surrey; husband of Freda Wooding, of Ipswich, Suffolk. His brother, William Russell Wooding, also died on service.

Named on the following Memorial : RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL Panel 21.

Source : Ian Hunt and CWGC


WOODLEY, E W

Woodley_Ernest_Wilfred
Flt/Lt Ernest Wilfred Woodley DFC with his dog Smudge

Flt/Lt Ernest Wilfred Woodley DFC, 147989, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : British

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB765 BU-R
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB793 BU-S
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB796 (Date unknown) BU-T
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB799 (Date unknown) BU-K BU-L
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB802 (Date unknown) BU-C
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB815 (Date unknown) BU-J
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB820 BU-P
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III KJ103 (Date unknown) BU-M
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III KJ107 (Date unknown) BU-N
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III KJ109 BU-V

Born 15 April 1917

Born in Heston Middlesex

Buried in Eastbourne, East Sussex.

Son of James William Woodley and Emily Woodley (Bucknall)

Ernest was posted to 214 Squadron from 1699 Flight on 24 December 1944 with Fg/Off Shillcock, Plt/Off Queen and Plt/Off Barrett.

Flew 20 actual 'operational take-offs'. Does not disregard aborted ops, early returns etc.

He was awarded his DFC for the amount of hours he flew with bomber command. On his recommendation for his DFC (AIR 2/9081 TNA) it reads:
"This officer has now completed his second tour of operation with Bomber Command, consisting of 20 Sorties, 110.30 hrs. He has taken part in raids against all the heavily defended targets in Germany and has never failed to press home his sorties with utmost vigour. F/O Woodley is a skilful captain who possesses great interest, his duties and strict attention to detail has, without a doubt, been instrumental in his crews efficiency and all round abilities." Signed by the Wing Commander of 214 Squadron -16 March 1945 (W/Cdr R.L. Bowes)

At the time of his recommendation he had flown 32.45 Hrs on operational and completed 53 sorties.

Wilf was transferred from 214 Squadron on 25 June 1945 to No. 6 Lancaster Finishing School at RAF Ossington.

Wilf relinquished his commission on 01 July 1959 but he retained the rank of Flt/Lt.

After the war, Ernest became an Airline Pilot and was a commercial licence holder. During the 1950's he was flying from Liverpool (from RAF Speke). It is also rumoured that he flew racehorses around the world.

Ernest died on 17 January 2003 aged 85.

Source : Ian Hunt and Emily Ward (Great niece of Flt Lt Ernest Woodley) and operations records and Air Force lists

Date record last updated : 17 November 2008



WOODROFFE, I K

Plt/Off I K Woodroffe, Date taken POW 9 May 1941, POW number 1343

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) ??Kitchin (09-Jan-1941)
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) N2776 (15-Jan-1941)
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C R1447 BU-A
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C T2819 (10-Feb-1941)
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C T2819 (14-Feb-1941)
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C T2819 (23-Feb-1941)
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C T2819 (01-Mar-1941)
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C T2819 (14-Mar-1941)

Imprisoned at POW camp Sagan (Zagan) & Belaria, Germany
Imprisoned at POW camp Spangenberg bei Kassel, Germany

SEE PRISONERS OF WAR

Before his promotion, Plt/Off Woodroffe was a Sergeant regularly flying with Flt/Lt Kitchin.

On the night of 9-10 May, 146 bombers - 69 Wellingtons, 42 Whitleys, 24 Hampdens and 11 Manchesters - from Bomber Command carried out a successful attack on the twin cities of Mannheim and Ludwigshafen. Heavy damage was caused to 22 factories and eleven railway wagons, loaded with industrial fuels, burned out completely. Two bombers - a Wellington and a Whitley - were lost.

Wellington Mark I C (R1447) of No. 214 Squadron - started at 22:26 from Stradishall - was shot down by a German night fighter, after which the machine crashed near Woensdrecht. The six crew members managed to get to safety in time and were (eventually) all taken prisoner of war.

Source : Wim de Meester of The Netherlands and Chorley and "Footprints on the sands of time" by Oliver Clutton-Brock and John Baines (Son of WO Harold Baines) 214 Squadron ORB

Date record last updated : 19 February 2021



WOODROW, H J

Plt/Off Henry Joseph Woodrow, 403487, Royal New Zealand Air Force, Nationality : New Zealand, KIA 15 January 1942, Aged 27

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C R1759 (15-Jan-1942) BU-L

Named on the following Memorial : RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL Panel 117.

Born 14 October 1914

Born in London England

Son of Henry and Julia Ann Woodrow, of Mount Albert, Auckland, New Zealand.

After his aircraft crashed into the North Sea off Whitby Yorkshire, his body was never recovered.

Source : CWGC and Richard Allenby - www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk

Date record last updated : 20 June 2010



WOODROW, S A

Woodrow_Alfed_Stanley_grave

Sgt Stanley Alfred Woodrow, 933968, Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 27 March 1943, Aged 22

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I BF453 BU-L

Buried in HANOVER WAR CEMETERY. Reference : 10. B. 6.

Son of Herbert Frederick and Ellen Cecilia Woodrow, of South Norwood, Surrey.

Sources : Eric Matthews (relative of Eric Greenhalgh) and CWGC

Date record last updated : 30 September 2020



WOODS

Plt/Off Woods, Pilot

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) R1621 BU-G

Source : Records of Fg/Off Venner

Date record last updated : 16 June 2010



WOODS, C W

Sgt Clarence William Woods DFM, 402941, Royal Australian Air Force, Nationality : Australian

Named on the following Memorial : Australian War Memorial (Honours and Awards)

Awarded the DFM on 6 November 1942 : Click on this link to see the entry in the London Gazette

Source : London Gazette and Australian War Memorial

Date record last updated : 26 March 2021



WOODS, J

Sgt Johnny Woods, Mid Upper Gunner, KIA

Born in Purley, Surrey ?

He was a regular crew member with Flight Lieutenant William Jack Humphries.

Sgt Woods was KIA on his second tour.

Source : Ross Humphries

Date record last updated : 25 January 2015



WOODS, J B

Woods_Joseph_Byrne_grave

Sgt Joseph Byrne Woods, 1330321, Navigator, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 11 April 1943, Aged 21

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I BK612 BU-Z

Son of Thomas Henry and Katie Woods, of Wimbledon, Surrey.

Buried in ROYAN ROMAN CATHOLIC CEMETERY. Plot K. Row 3. Grave 1.

Son of Thomas Henry and Katie Woods, of Wimbledon, Surrey.

Source : Cheryl Garner, Great Niece of Thomas Frank Richardson and CWGC and Allison Roberts (niece of WO George Alexander Davie)

Date record last updated : 3 November 2017



WOODS, S A

Flt/Lt Sidney Albert Woods DFM, 144708 / 933967

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB793 (28-Jan-1945) BU-S

Is mentioned in the supplement to the London Gazette on 2 occasions, 15 June 1943 and 6 August 1943.

He also served with 104 Squadron.

He was the pilot for 15 Fortress flights between April 1944 to May 1945 (actual operational take-offs. Does not disregard aborted ops, early returns etc.)

Source : Ian Hunt and London Gazette and 214 Squadron ORB

Date record last updated : 17 April 2020



WORMALD, S A

Sgt Stanley Allan Wormald, 758099, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 5 November 1940, Aged 20

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C T2470 (05-Nov-1940) BU-K

Buried in HARROW (PINNER) NEW CEMETERY. Reference : Sec. B.4. Grave 25.

Son of Stanley Alfred and Millie Wormald, of Pinner.

Source : CWGC and Chorley

Date record last updated : 27 September 2009



WORMALL, P E

Fg/Off Peter Edward Wormall AFM, Co-pilot, 607747, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom. KIA 11 September 1959 Age 22

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Valiant B Mark I XD869

Date of Birth 01 September 1937 in Mile End, London.

Stationed at RAF Marham.

He is buried in MARHAM CEMETERY. RAF Grave 11.

Named on the following Memorials :
Armed Forces Memorial
Rolls of Honour, Church of St Clement Danes, London

Source : Jock Whitehouse and Armed Forces Memorial


WRIGGLESWORTH, E J

Sgt Edmund Joseph Wrigglesworth, Bomb Aimer, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I W7584 (21-Nov-1942) BU-D
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I W7631 (23-Oct-1942) BU-G

Born 11 November 1911

Born in Kingston upon Hull, Yokhire

Son of Arthur Aubrey Wrigglesworth and Ellen Nolan. Husband of Miriam Casement

He managed to bail out of Stirling Mark I W7584 (21-Nov-1942) BU-D before it crashed. He was injured as he bailed out.

He also survived the crash of Stirling Mark I W7631 (23-Oct-1942) BU-G.

17 September 1940 Euston House, London
Mustering: On Entry. AirCraft Hand /Air Craftman.
Air Observer, Rank: AC2 Air Craftman 2nd class
24 September 1940 - 25 January 1941 No. 9. Recruiting Centre, Blackpool
25 January 1941 - 8 March 1941 RAF Tangmere, West Sussex
8 March 1941 - 29 March 1941 No. 1. Receiving Wing, Babbacombe, Devon
29 March 1941 - 25 June 1941 No. 3 Initial Training Wing, Torquay, Devon
Mustering: 23 May 1941 Under Training Air Observer, Rank: LAC Leading Aircraftman
25 June 1941 - 10 November 1941 No. 31. Air Navigation School, Port Albert,Ontario, Canada
10 November 1941 - 19 January 1942 No 31 Bombing & Gunnery School, Camp Pilton, Ontario, Canada
Mustering: 22 December 1941 Air Observer, Rank: T/SGT Temporary Sergeant
19 January 1942 Return to UK
20 January 1942 - 24 February 1942 No. 3.Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth
24 February 1942 - 28 April 1942 Observer Advanced Flying Unit, RAF Penrhos,, North Wales
28 April 1942 - 08 August 1942 No.11. Operational Training Unit, RAF Bassinbourn, Cambridgeshire (Training for night operations?)
Mustering: 23 July 1942 Air Bomber
08 August 1942 - 16 September 1942 1651 Conversion Unit, RAF Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire (conversion from twin-engined to four engine bombers)
Rank: T F/SGT Temporary Flight Sergeant (22/12/1941)
16 September 1942 - 21 November 1942 214 Squadron, RAF Stradishall
(and satellite RAF Chedburgh)
21 November 1- - 19 December 1942 RAF Ely Hospital (following leg injury - see W7584)
09 March 1943 - 26 April 1943 No.2. Airman's Convalescent Depot, "TheLeas" school,
Hoylake, Wirral, Chesire
26 April 1943 - 13 May 1943 RAF Stradishall (and satellite RAF Chedburgh)
13 May 1943 - 03 June 1943 214 Squadron, RAF Stradishall
(and satellite RAF Chedburgh)
03 June 1943 - 18 August 1943 Non Effective, RAF Stradishall
18 August 1943 - 29 March 1944 214 Squadron, RAF Stradishall
(and satellite RAF Chedburgh)
Rank: F/SGT Sergeant (23 March 1944)
29 March 1944 - 12 August 1944 No.6. Observer Advanced Flying Unit, RAF Moreton Valence, Gloucestershire
No.3 Observer Advanced Flying Unit, RAF Bobbington, Staffs
12 August 1944 - 23 September 1944 No.1 Air Armaments School, RAF Manby, Louth, Lincolnshire
Special Qualifications: Attended No. 39 A/B 1 Senior Supervisor's Course from 13 August 1944 - 23 September 1944 80.2%
23 September 1944 - 08 January 1945 No.3 Observer Advanced Flying Unit, RAF Bobbington, Staffs
08 January 1945 - 19 January 1945 (Not Clear) RAF East Kirby(??), Lincolnshire
Special Qualifications: Attended No. 14. Trade Training Special Bombing Analysis Course
09 January 1945 - 18 January 1945 97%
19 January 1945 - 15 August 1945 No.3 Observer Advanced Flying Unit, RAF Bobbington, Staffs
15 August 1945 - 16 November 1945 No. 7 Squadron Flight (Parachute?) Training School, RAF Oakington, Cambridgeshire
16 November 1945 No. 102 Personnel Dispatch Centre, RAF Cardington, Bedfordshire.
RELEASED

Edmund Wrigglesworth died on 6 July 1971 in Holderness Yorkshire

Source : Nightjar Newsletter Spring 2004 and www.Ancestry.com and Chorley and www.rafcommands.com and 214 Squadron ORB

Date record last updated : 28 April 2023



WRIGHT, A

Flt/Lt Anthony 'Tony' Wright, Captain

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Victor Mark I - 3 point tanker XA927 (May-1969)

Took part in the Transatlantic Race in May 1969.

Source : Flt/Lt (Ret) Stewart L Waring

Date record last updated : 13 August 2023



WRIGHT, D

Flt/Lt David Wright, 3500684, Pilot

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Valiant (model unknown) XD812

Husband of Joyce Wright

RAF Aircraft flown: Harvard, Meteor, Canberra, Valiant, Vulcan, Britannia

It is with much sadness that we report the passing of Flt/Lt David Wright, co-pilot to Sqn Ldr John Wynne (1957-59) and then captain on No. 214 (Valiant) Sqn, initially under the command of Wg Cdr Michael Beetham and later Wg/Cdr Peter Hill.
On retiring from the RAF, Captain David Wright successfully pursued a career in civil aviation (mainly at Gatwick), besides becoming a much-admired member of the Guild of Aviation Artists.

The funeral was held at the St. Richards Chapel, The Surrey and Sussex Crematorium, Crawley on Monday, 18th May 2015 - just a few hundred yards from Gatwick runway which, in many ways , seems quite appropriate!

Source : Judi Wright (daughter of Flt/Lt David Wright) and Eric Macey

Date record last updated : 26 July 2015



WRIGHT, E A

Sgt Ernest Albert Wright, 526692, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 5 March 1943

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark III BK662 BU-K

Named on the following Memorial : RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL Panel 170.

Pauline Hearn writes :
' His brother Frederick Terence (my father) also flew in Lancasters as an ariel photographer and then as ground crew as an instrument technician. He survived the war and died in 1960.'

Source : Nightjar Newsletter and CWGC and Chorley and Pauline Hearn (niece of Sgt Ernest Albert Wright)

Date record last updated : 22 December 2017



WRIGHT, G L

Wright_George_Llewelyn

Wright_George_Llewelyn_2

Wright_George_Llewelyn_medals

Flt/Lt George Llewelyn Wright DFC, 1320233, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB774 BU-G

Born 27 March 1922

Born in Chaplin Road, Wembley, Middlesex

Son of Commander C S & Mrs Wright, husband of Hazel Mary Holifield

Educated at Watford Grammar School. Very keen on sport, particularly swimming, rugby and ice skating.
At the outbreak of WW2 he joined the LDV until he joined the RAF on 29 September 1941. His initial training took place at Bournemouth. He was then selected for air crew training and was sent to No6 British Flying Training School at Ponca City, Oklahoma USA in June 1942.
In January 1943 he returned to England via Monckton, Canada as a Sergeant Pilot and was posted to a conversion unit at Stradishall until eventually being attached to 214 Squadron on 2 October 1943.
George flew 36 operations over Europe with a crew of eight in a Fortress MK111 at the age of 21 in many different aircraft, but the majority of the flights were on HB774 BU-G.
Is listed on Battle Orders for 22 August 1944 with HB774
Is also listed on returning operational aircrew on 31 August 1944 with HB774.
At the finish of his tour of operations he married Hazel on 28 November 1944 at St John's Church, Wembley. After a 10 day honeymoon he returned to his Squadron.
George was awarded the DFC for the special work done on the Fortresses.
He volunteered for the RAF Transport Command hoping for flights around Europe and the chance of more married life. Unfortunately the Far East was still at war and George converted to Dakotas in January 1945, transferring to 238 Squadron serving in India and then in Australia. Two of his original crew, Fred Mullenger (navigator) and Johnny Bates (wireless operator) went with him.
George returned from Australia in February 1946 on the ship Stirling Castle, after having completed 1,800 flying hours. After a bit of leave he was posted as Commandant at a POW camp in Suffolk. The inmates were Italians.
He was demobbed in late 1947, joining KLM in October 1947 as Operations Officer.
Daughter Jennifer was born in April 1948.
George left KLM to join Air Traffic Control in 1953, working first at Northolt, then Bovington and then Heathrow.
Daughter Liz was born in December 1950.
Son David was born in February 1956.
In 1975 George decided to come off operational Air Traffic Control and joined Ops 2, retiring 31 March 1982.
On 1 May 1982 he climbed Mount Everest.

AIRCRAFT FLOWN:

1657 CU at Stradishall:

Stirling Mark I and Mark III

BF452
BF342
BF332 (Mark III)
BF404
BF468 (Mark III)
BF517 (Mark III)
N3708
N3758
N6089
R9297
W7510 Q
W7570
W7574

214 SQUADRON Stradishall
Stirling Mark I

R9251
R9269 K
R9273 L
R9277 H

214 SQUADRON Downham Market
Stirling Mark III

EF199
EF271
EF291
LJ477 K

BOMBER COMMAND
8th Air Force Aircraft for training B17s

42-30241 F
42-30970 F
42-31031 G
318
451
833

B17C (Fortress Mark I)

AN520

B17Fs (Fortress Mark II)

SR377 M
SR378 D
SR379 O
SR380 Y
SR381 F
SR382 B
SR383 F
SR384 A
SR386 N
SR388 H
SR389 P

B17Gs (Fortress Mark III)

HB763 T
HB765 B
HB767 A
HB772 Q
HB774 G
HB779 K
HB780 C
HB785 A
HB787 J
HB788 B
HB793 S
HB796 T
HB802 O
HB803 L
HB818 H

Whilst with 238 Squadron he flew numerous Dakota IV aircraft

His son David has all of his RAF documentation and can be contacted via the website administrators.

See Roland Williams personnel page for his memories of flyng with George Wright.

Source : David Wright (son of Flt/Lt George Wright) and George Mackie and Roland Williams

Date record last updated : 5 August 2009



WRIGHT, J

John Wright, Engine Mechanic

Shared a tent with David Haylett and Peter Brown while out in Shallufa, Egypt in 1951

Source : Nightjar Newsletter May 2013

Date record last updated : 25 January 2015



WRIGHT, L G

Sgt L G Wright, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I R9163 BU-C

Source : Nightjar Newsletter Spring 2004

Date record last updated : 7 July 2009



WYNN, H R

Sgt Hamer Rex Wynn, 1625511, Navigator, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, KIA 22 September 1943

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I R9258 BU-W

Buried in HANOVER WAR CEMETERY. Reference : Coll. grave 10. D. 5-8.

Source : CWGC

Date record last updated : 13 August 2017



WYNNE, J G

Wynne_John_2

Wynne_John_take_it_easy_in_colour
Colour restored by Johny Wynne and Leslie Bostock

Wg/Cdr John Gwynedd Wynne DFC, 117666 / 1320233, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress (model unknown) ??Wynne
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB799 (14-Mar-1945) BU-K

From the cockpit of his B-17 Flying Fortress John Wynne could see through the clear night the oil tanks 22,000ft below him exploding into flames.

Although only 23, Flight Lieutenant Wynne was already a veteran bomber pilot. As he swung the nose of his aircraft towards home, he was confident the mission had been a success: the Nazis had suffered another punishing blow. It looked 'bloody good', Wynne thought. Now his task was to get his nine-man crew safely back to Britain in time for an early breakfast. Although German fighters and anti aircraft fire would harass them much of the way, this was a gauntlet the cool-headed young RAF pilot had run many times before.

On this occasion, however, the return journey was to be brutally interrupted. For five of the men men on board, it was not merely fear that loomed, but death - or more accurately, calculated murder of the most savage kind. Captured by German forces, they were to become the victims of one of World War 2's final atrocities, whose grim details would remain hidden for many years to come, even from their own skipper.

The target that Wednesday night, March 14, 1945, was the oil refinery at Lutzendorf, a few miles south of Leipzig. Although Germany was by now only months away from defeat, the Allied bombing campaign was continuing unabated, in the hope of hastening the end. On this raid, however, Wynne's bomb-bay was empty. His task was not to drop high explosives on the oil refinery but to fly above the main wave of 244 Lancasters, jamming the enemy radar.

As Wynne well knew, after a raid like this 100 or more enemy night-fighters would have been directed towards the bomber stream, seeking to exact revenge. So the whole force, including the B-17, rapidly dropped to 3,000ft. At such a low level, the echo from the ground confused the German fighters' radar, even though it did make the lumbering bombers easier targets for the ack-ack batteries below. In two hours' time they should be across the Rhine and over territory held by the Allies. Ahead of him, Wynne saw two bombers hit by ground fire. He altered course, dodging the flak that was coming up at them 'like ping-pong balls'. 'We were doing very nicely,' he remembers. 'Then suddenly a shell hit the port landing wheel, ricocheted and exploded. There was a bang and then a flash and some of the hot fragments hit the inner port engine.' For a while it seemed the damage wasn't serious. 'One was used to being hit,' says Wynne. Then the oil pressure plummeted in the stricken engine. Even so, they reckoned the aircraft could probably be nursed across the Rhine to the emergency Allied airfield at Rheims. That hope was short-lived. Fire broke out in the engine, the pistons seized up and soon the whole aircraft was shaking furiously, with gauges and light fittings breaking loose and flying about the plane. They were only 1,000ft above the ground. 'Amazingly, no one shot at us,' says Wynne. 'With that bonfire on the wing they could have hit us with a rifle'.

Once they had crossed the Rhine, he ordered the crew to put on their parachutes and open the escape hatches. When the vibration became so severe it seemed that the whole plane was about to disintegrate, he told them to jump.

With remarkable bravery, Wynne had decided to stay at the controls to the last possible moment, perhaps the aircraft could be saved, he hoped, and his conscience was now clear as far as the safety of his men was concerned. They would be landing in friendly territory, after all. In fact, five of them would never be seen again.

John Wynne managed to fly the crippled B-17 all the way back across the Channel single-handed. It was an astonishing feat. Trapped by the pipe supplying oxygen to his mask, he had piloted the plane for much of the journey standing up, and then landed it safely at RAF Bassingbourn with his port landing wheel shot away.

Then a very remarkable thing happened. A retired pastor from what was then East Germany came to live in the village. Dr Heinemann-Gruder, a former army officer, was a man of immense moral rectitude. When he learned about the murder of the RAF men, he resolved to put up a memorial at the place where they had died. Against strong local opposition, he got his way, contacted relatives of some of the British airmen, and in November 1992 a simple plaque was erected on the wall of the church. It bore the names of the victims and the words 'Father, forgive'.

From this brave act of expiation flowed an extraordinary series of events, beginning with the confession of one of the murderers at the dedication service itself. The by now-elderly man broke into sobs. "I was one of the boys who killed them" he said. The widow of one of the murdered men, Harold Frost, then quite unexpectedly stepped forward to address them with great dignity, assuring them of her forgiveness. The reconciliation process was under way.

Upon hearing this story, a newspaper reporter tracked down John Wynne, now a hill farmer In Wales, and told him of the ceremony in Huchenfeld. Wynne was astonished. Nearly half a century on from that desperate night In March 1945, this was the first he had heard about the dreadful fate of his missing crewmen. Greatly moved, he commissioned a Welsh artist to make a wooden rocking
horse that he and his wife Pip donated to the kindergarten at Huchenfeld in 1994. The horse was called Hoffnung, the German word for 'hope', and bore the inscription: "To the children of Huchenfeld, from the mothers of 214 RAF Squadron:" It was the start of a close relationship between the Wynnes and the villagers.

February 2008
A packed church saw the unveiling of the plaque by the Lutheran pastor of Huchenfeld Herr Pfarrer Jorg Geisler in the presence of the Mayor of Huchenfeld and Members of both communities. The plaque was the final ceremony of the act of the twinning of the village of Llanbedr with that of Huchenfeld and marked the climax of a process of reconciliation and friendship begun in 1992 when a plaque commemorating the names of the British airmen was placed on the wall of Huchenfeld Church and unveiled in the presence of the widow of one of the victims and two of their colleagues who survived.

The link with Huchenfeld originated through the pilot of the Flying Fortress Bomber whose crew were killed. Flight Lieutenant (latter Wing Commander) John Wynne DFC has fostered relations with Huchenfeld in an act of reconciliation for that tragic event. Wing Commander Wynne presented the Kindergarten of Huckenfeld with a Rocking Horse which they named Hoffnung (Hope). Since that time Welsh school children go to Huchenfeld every other year and local families host children from Huckenfeld on alternate years as part of this process of reconciliation and growing friendship between the two communities.

Wynne_John_3

John is still alive in 2014 aged 93. John has been awarded the Guernica Peace and Reconciliation Prize 2014. He was unable to travel to Guernica to receive the award on 26 April 2014. His son Ben and daughter-inlaw Jenny travelled to Spain to receive the reward on John's behalf. The prize has been awarded in recognition of John's work in bringing friendship and reconciliation between his village of Llanbedr in North Wales and Huchenfeld, a village near Pforzheim in Germany.

John has said that, unlike the Nobel prize, there is no monetary award which would have helped with his Llanbedr/Huchenfeld Children's Friendship Fund, which helps to pay for children from each village to visit each other.

John's wireless operator Tom Tate, and the only other crew member to survive the incident is now 97 and has visited Huchenfeld on 13 occasions over the years since 1992.

John attended a train naming ceremoney to honour the RAF Centenary on Anglesey.
See link https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-45268585

Sadly John died on 19 November 2018 just 11 days after the accidental death of his son Ben.

Report of John's death from the German town of Huchenfeld in Germany.

See link https://www.pz-news.de/pforzheim_artikel,-Vom-Kriegsgegner-zum-Freund-der-Huchenfelder-John-Wynne-gestorben-_arid,1263736.html

Translation:
From the enemy of the war to the friend of the Huchenfelder: John Wynne died.
Pforzheim-Huchenfeld. The Citizen Medalists and Peaceworkers Renate Beck-Ehninger and Gotthilf Ehninger called it "a cornerstone for peace and reconciliation" - and will remember it, like many Huchenfelder, as such: John Wynne. Now the Welshman died at the age of 97 - just a few days after the accidental death of his son Ben.

The former Wing Commander of the Royal Air Force had been in World War II pilot of the machine, which was shot down at Bühl. The crew had jumped and been lynched a little later in Huchenfeld and Dillweißenstein. Wynne had made it across the English Channel in the burning plane. Several times Wynne visited the district - the first time in 1994: Since he brought to the joy of children the rocking horse with the evocative name "Hope" (Hope). Every year he made a donation to the Protestant kindergarten - always on the birthday of his son Ben.

Supplement to London Gazette 23 July 1943
Flying Officer John Gwynedd WYNNE (117666), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 40 Squadron. This officer has completed many sorties, including numerous air operations over Tunisia. He has .invariably displayed outstanding determination, setting an example worthy of emulation. This was amply demonstrated during the outward flight on an operational mission, in May, 1943, .when engine trouble developed and Flying Officer Wynne was compelled to return to base. Whilst over the airfield, the engines began to function properly. Thereupon, Flying Officer Wynne again set course for his target and bombed it succesfully. Owing to shortage of petrol on the 'return route he made a landing at another airfield. Flying Officer Wynne displayed great devotion to duty.

John Wynne is also mentioned in the 2nd Supplement to the London Gazette 4 November 1947.

Please click on this link to see a document produced by the Squadron Association regarding this crew and the reconciliation between former enemies

Source : John Wynne and John & Carol Edwards (family connection to Flt/Lt Sidney C Matthews) and Fred Foskett of Llanbedr and various newspaper reports and Leslie Bostock and Nightjar Newsletter August 2014 and Jim Taylor (nephew) and London Gazette

Date record last updated : 13 January 2023



WYVER, K

Wyver_Kenneth

Wyver_Kenneth_at_the_controls
Flt/Lt Ken Wyver at controls of a B17 Flying Fortress. Ken is in the left hand seat and the flight engineer is in the right hand seat. Photo taken by Fg/Off Alec McLelland while on operations.

Wyver_Kenneth_2

Flt/Lt Kenneth 'Ken' Wyver DFC, 116006, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB785 (7 January 1945) BU-A
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB790 (14-Jan-1945) BU-Q
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB793 (02-Jan-1945) BU-S
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB793 (28-Jan-1945) BU-S
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB801 (27-Nov-1944) BU-U
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB820 (14-Feb-1945) BU-P
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III KJ107 (21-Feb-1945) BU-N
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III KJ107 (05-Jan-1945) BU-N
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III KJ107 (06-Jan-1945) BU-N
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III KJ110 (01-Feb-1945) BU-B

Joined 214 Squadron from 31 Base on 1 September 1944. He was from Denbigh.

First Operation was on 7 October 1944.
Last operation was on 21 February 1945.
Posted to 10 OTU 12 March 1945

31 Fortress operations were flown from October 1944 to February 1945. These are actual operational take offs, but do not disregard aborted operations, early returns etc.

After the war Kenneth moved to Australia and applied for a commission in the RAAF.

DFC award in the London Gazette dated 6 Apr 1945 :
Kingsland_Desmond_George_and_Wyver_Kenneth_gazette_6_Apr_1945
Extract from the London Gazette 6 Apr 1945
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37018/supplement/1849

Source : Ian Hunt and Roger Mills (son of John Tudor Mills) and John McCall (son of Keith McCall) and Sqn/Ldr John McLelland (Rtd) (Son of Fg/Off McLelland) and 214 Squadron ORB and London Gazette

Date record last updated : 17 April 2020




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