( T to W )

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=80 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="0c200500dvldtc.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="BauerBodni BT" ><B>113 SQUADRON</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B>     |    </B></FONT><B> </B><A HREF="home_of_113_squadron.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="WELCOME"><U><B>HOME</B></U></A></div> <div> <B> </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" >back to</FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" >  </FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#00FFFF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="113_squadron_personnel.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="SQUADRON PERSONNEL"><U><B>SQUADRON PERSONNEL</B></U></A></FONT></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=215 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="0c3d7c00dvldtc.gif"> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="09e4b640.gif" border=0 width="75" height="100" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> ~ HONOUR ROLL ~</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#po_l_a__tapp" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>P/O Lorne A Tapp</U></A> DFC</div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#fsgt_l_taton" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>F/Sgt L Taton</U></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >*</FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#sgt_taylor" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>Sgt Taylor</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#sgt_taylor_dfm" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>Sgt Taylor DFM</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#fo_m_w_taylor" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>F/O M. W. Taylor</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#sgt_j_taylor" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>Sgt J Taylo</U></A>r<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >*</FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#sgt_p_thacker" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>Sgt P Thacker</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#flt____theed" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>F/Lt ?? Theed</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#sgt_gerry_theobald" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>Sgt Gerald Theobald</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#sgt____thomas" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>Sgt ?? Thomas</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#fsgt_w__thompson" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>F/Sgt Walter Thompson</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#sgt___thompson" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>Sgt Tom Thompson</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#lt____thorne" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>Lt ? Thorne</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#sgt____thornicroft" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>Sgt ?? Thornicroft</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#sgt_frank_thornton" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>Sgt Frank Thornton</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#fs____tibbs" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>F/S ?? Tibbs</U></A>  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" >(45 Sqd)</FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#flt__allan_albert_tillott" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>F/Lt Allan A Tillott</U></A> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >Tollett ?</FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#lac_j__toner" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>LAC J. Toner</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#major_j_l_b__viney" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>Major J.L.B Viney</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#po_j__volners" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>P/O J. Volners</U></A>  see note</div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#po____wakelin" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>P/O Peter Wakelin</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#wo_lister_walker" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>W/O Lister Walker</U></A> DFC</div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#wcdr_e_l_a_walter_dfc" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>W/Cdr E.L.A Walter</U></A> DFC</div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#fsgt_les_ward" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>F/Sgt Leslie Ward</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#fsgt_joe_ward__" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>Sgt Joe Ward</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#po____ward" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>P/O ?? Ward</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#sgt_john_leith_watson" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>Sgt John L Watson</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#sgt_w_webster" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>F/Sgt W Webster</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#sgt____whittaker" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>Sgt ?? Whittaker</U></A> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" >(45 Sqd)</FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#sgt_len_white" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>Sgt Leonard A White</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#corp____white" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>Corp ?? White</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#flt_r__r__white" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>F/Lt R. R. White</U></A></div> <div> *<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id29_m.htm#fs_charles_a_whiteside" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>F/S Charles A Whiteside</U></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#flt_bill_whittlesey" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>F/Lt Bill Whittlesey</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#sgt___whyte" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>Sgt ? Whyte</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#sgt_peter_wilson" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>Sgt Peter Kenneth Wilson</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#sgt____wilson" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>Sgt John (Shorty) Wilson</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#lt_n__wilkin" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>Lt. N Wilkin</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#wo_williams" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>W/O Williams</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#fsgt_j_williams" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>F/Sgt James Williams</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#po____williams" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>P/O Phillip Williams</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#sgt_john_dg_wohlers" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>Sgt John Wohlers</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#sgt_norman_woodcock" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>Sgt Norman Woodcock</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#sgt_joseph_douglas_woodcock" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>Sgt Douglas Woodcock</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#sgt_ken_woods" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>Sgt Ken Woods</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#sgt_charlie_woods" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>Sgt Charlie Woods</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#lt_william_francis_woods_" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>William Francis Woods</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#sgt_g_woodroffe" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>Sgt Gordon Woodroffe</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#fo_pat_g_woodward" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>F/O Pat G Woodward</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm#sgt_errol_wright" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>Sgt Errol Wright</U></A></div> <bR> <div> 35</div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=400 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <bR> <div> <A HREF="personnel_of_113_squadron_raf.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="( A to A )"><U>(    A to A    )</U></A>   |   <A HREF="personnel_of_113_squadron_raf18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="( B to B )"><U>(    B to B    )</U></A>   |   <A HREF="personnel_raf_113_squadron.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="( C to C )"><U>(   C to C    )</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="( D to G )"><U>(    D to G    )</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="( H to K )"><U>(   H to K   )</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="( L to O )"><U>(    L to O    )</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id28.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="( P to S )"><U>(    P to S    )</U></A>   |   (    T to W    )   |   <A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="( X to Z )"><U>(    X to Z    )</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <U>PERSONAL  PROFILES</U></div> <div> <U>T to W</U></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="11c17090.gif" border=0 width="535" height="9" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> To navigate the Personnel section, all veterans are grouped alphabeticaly by the first letter of their last name. Click on the links listed above to take you to the correct alphabetical group.  Using the scroll bar on the left, scroll down through the list of names contained within this left border then click on the one you wish to see. Alternatively, you can use the scroll bar on the right and scroll down through all the personnel listed on this page. </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="11c17090.gif" border=0 width="535" height="9" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="53305930.jpg" border=0 width="261" height="403" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <U> <A NAME="po_l_a__tapp"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>F/Lt</U><U> Lorne Arthur Paul Tapp AFC DFC</U>  <IMG SRC="33223440.gif" border=0 width="35" height="68" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>F/Lt Lorne Arthur Paul Tapp AFC DFC,</B> J16189</div> <bR> <div> Lorne was born in Ottawa, Ontario Canada on May 16, 1920. At the time WWII broke out, the family lived in the Eastern Townships in Quebec, Lennoxville (near Sherbrooke) and Lorne was working in the mines up in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec. He raced home, finished his Matric in telescoped order, joined the RCAF 23/07/1940 and graduated as Sergeant Pilot on the 27/11/1940.  Leaving for England sometime in early 1941 he was then posted overseas on 24/03/1941.</div> <bR> <div> F/Lt Tapp (F/O at the time) followed the 113 Squadron through nearly every move and theater beginning with the disaster in Greece, through the deserts of North Africa against the Germans and Italians led by the famous General Rommel, on to India and then deep into the jungles of Burma against the Japanese. He was in the worst theaters of the war at the worst possible times from beginning to end, the odds of surviving such was near zero. Lorne was a superb pilot and was considered by many to be the best pilot on the squadron which undoubtedly was the key reason he survived, his exploits and stunts flying Blenheims made him a legend on the squadron.</div> <bR> <div> Having won the DFC he was repatriated home in Novemember 1944 (to Ottawa); where he married his wife Margaret.</div> <bR> <div> After the war, Lorne flew for Air Canada, then re-enlisted in the RAF, flew the Berlin Air Lift and won the Air Force Cross. Returning to Canada he transferred to the RCAF and eventually ended up working for Transport Canada in the Air Accident Division. He then retired and at age 65, on September 9, 1985, he died suddenly in his sleep. His wife Margaret died about 5 or 6 years later. </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <U>GAZETTE NOTICE</U></div> <div> TAPP, F/O Lorne Arthur Paul (J16189) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.684 Squadron - Award effective 14 November 1944 as per London Gazette dated 21 November 1944 and AFRO 1/45 dated 5 January 1945.  Born 15 May 1920 in Ottawa; home in Lennoxville, Quebec; enlisted in Sherbrooke, 23 July 1940.  Trained at No.2 ITS (graduated 30 September 1940), No.5 EFTS (graduated 27 November 1940) and No.3 SFTS (graduated 14 February 1941). Posted overseas, 24 March 1941;  commissioned 1942; repatriated 9 November 1944.  A press release stated he had "shared in the destruction of a 'l09 with F/O 'Bill' Connell".  Award presented at Government House.  Served in postwar RAF; awarded Air Force Cross (London Gazette dated 2 January 1950 for work with No.40 Squadron (Yorks) on Berlin Airlift.  RCAF again, April 1952 to December 1964.  Died in Manotick, Ontario, 10 September 1985. He was only 65.</div> <bR> <div> This officer has completed a large number of operational flights including many long range reconnaissance sorties over enemy territory.  On one occasion he completed a flight of over 2,000 miles in very adverse weather.  Flying Officer Tapp has invariably displayed courage and devotion to duty, and his determination to complete his mission, undeterred by adverse weather or enemy opposition, has been reflected in the splendid results achieved.</div> <bR> <div> According to J Chapman, P/O Lorne Tapp's  original crew on Ops, one of the original 18 crews who left the Middle East for Burma, were Sgt Bill Campbell, Canadian and Sgt Titch Taylor, English.</div> <bR> <div> Tapp was also identified in the memoirs of LAC Sgt Norman Say having been at Asansol in April 1942 where he was showing off by flying between buildings.</div> <div> <I>Corp Norman Say memoirs note : At Asansol we were billeted in a boy’s school, St. Vincent. It consisted of two three-storey buildings at right-angles to each other and about six feet apart. Now we had two pilots, Tapp and Tex, who were always attempting to outdo each other. One day Tex came back after a low level flight across the drome with grass cuttings in his engine nacelle. Tapp was determined not to be beaten and he dived into the square in front of the school, turned the plane on one side and flew between the two buildings. The only problem was that there was a water pipe joining the two buildings. He hit it and damaged the navigation lights, he was lucky that he didn’t crash. The CO immediately put a stop to these antics.</I></div> <bR> <div> J Chapman in a letter to Tony Day related an interesting story regarding Tapp with regards to S/Ldr Harpers dissapearance : "<I>On the subject of characters on our Squadron, we had a F/L whose name was Cliff Harper, a Canadian from Toronto. Cliff had done over 100 trips in the Middle and Far East. He was on a detail at Tezpur with Lorne Tapp. When Tapp ran up his kite, it sropped about 200 revs so he would not take it on the raid. Cliff went over to Tapp and said he would take the kite and Tapp could have his. That suited Tapp all right. They took off to bomb Myitkyina and the weather was a real monsoon. Heavy clouds,rain, cu-nim and all the rest. They ran into heavy cloud after bombing the runway at M. trying to get a Jap General who was called "the Tiger of Burma " ( likely means Malaya) They hit the runway, that was all. When Tapp came out of the cloud Cliff was no where to be seen. They later found his kite and body on the side of a mountain; a cloud with a hard centre". </I><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >Source: F/Lt Tony Day, from research material.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>The Orbs state:</B>  TEZPUR   18/06/1942  S/Ldr Harper and crew, F/Sgt Tapp and crew, and Sgt Hockney and crew, set off from DINJAN where they refuelled to bomb MYITKYINA. Target was bungalows on the river bank of the supposed H,Q of a Jap General and staff. Owing to very bad weather and 10/10 cloud on way to target, the formation Split and Sgt Hockney returned with engine trouble. F/Sgt Tapp proceeded on his own to the target and on reaching MYITKYINA decided to bomb the aerodrome as there were 4 large twin engined aircraft in it. The bombs fell in a stick at the North East of the runway about 5O yards from the twin engined aircraft. F/Sgt Tapp returned to TEZPUR. S/Ldr Harper who was only seen once after the formation broke up in the clouds was not  seen by F/Sgt Tapp over the target and failed to return. S/Ldr C.W.Harper and his Observer P/O A.L. Beauchamp RAAF posted missing as a result of active operations.</div> <bR> <div> In 1983 Lorne Tapp's address was River Road, Manotick, Ontario.  Sgt John Reid RAAF knew Tapp on the 113 Squadron at Asansol, as did Corp Norman Say, both report that Tapp was a bit of a daredevil. J Chapman states Lorne was over 6ft tall.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> NOTE:  The above brief profile and snips of information are temporary. F/Lt Tapp's family (brother & daughter) has been located (11/22/2005). Hopefully, in time, additional information and an in-depth profile of Lorne will follow.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>SOURCES: Charles W Tapp (brother)</B></div> <div> Sgt John Reid, Corp Norman Say, F/Lt Tony Day (Air War Over Arakan), F/Sgt John (Chappy) Chapman</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0df1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <U> <A NAME="fsgt_l_taton"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>F/Sgt L Taton</U>  <IMG SRC="3241d1d0.gif" border=0 width="29" height="29" ALT="poppy " ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>F/Sgt L Taton, </B>Home in the UK. Nickname "Darky"  On 12/09/1942  Z7985 Blenheim Mk? while taxing out at Argartala had two light bombs fall off and blow up. The aircraft was subsequently destroyed by fire.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" > *</FONT>F/Sgt M Foster , (Pilot), F/Sgt L. Tatton (Obs) badly burned, later died of injuries. WOp/Ag uninjured. <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#CC9900" FACE="Arial" >Source: Graham Warner & others</FONT></div> <bR> <div> In the late 1980's J Chapman commented on this incident in a letter to F/Lt Tony Day:  <I>Darky was an Englishman and a paricularly good friend of mine. On take off Foster lost control of the aircraft and swerved off the runway Darky was badly burned and left at the side of the runway. When I came back from the raid a couple of hours later Darky was still lying there where he had been left, I ran up to him and cradled him in my arms and he said "How did the raid go Chappy ?" and then died. </I>He added later in the letter that the Squadron M.O, (whose name was Fram possibly), was off the station as he had to go to China for some purpose.</div> <bR> <div> I have queried both Tony Day and Sgt John Reid who knew J Chapman personally and both feel it highly unlikely that F/Sgt Taton had been left by the side of the runway. It could be possible however that F/Sgt Taton being so severely injured and unconscious at the time, was left for dead while the rescuers tended to the other injured survivors. </div> <bR> <div> SOURCE: Tony Day, research material for Air War Over The Arakan.  Note that the above comment by Chapman has been edited and is not exactly as stated.<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >  </FONT></div> <bR> <div> *<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#CC9900" FACE="Arial" >Note: PWoodward records the pilots name as Folliett Forte, an American in the RAF, he also states they were heading to bomb Mandalay. page 11 PWoodward booklet. This has since been proven to be Mike Folliet Foster who despite the nickname Tex, was British.</FONT></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0df1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <U> <A NAME="sgt_taylor"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>Sgt Taylor</U></div> <div> <B>Sgt Taylor, RCAF * </B> Canadian</div> <bR> <div> On 25/05/1942 Z9741 Mk? belly landed short of fuel when all the airfields were closed due to bad storm. Sgt Taylor (RCAF) and crew were uninjured. This was one of two accidents this day for 113 crews, the other was serious. <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >(per G. Warner Blenheim book.)</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Sgt John Reid notes his log from this date: on 25/5/42 I flew Asansol - Dum Dum,( with bomb load). Then Ops to Kalewa and Chindwin River, bombed river craft and back to Dum Dum. Later set course Dum Dum for Asansol with Lt. Bodley but returned Dum Dum due thunderstorms. Two days later (27/5/42) flew Dum Dum - Asanol with Wilson / White as crew and Dumas and Gerloff as passengers.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0df1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <U> <A NAME="sgt_taylor_dfm"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>Sgt Taylor DFM</U>  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B><IMG SRC="33122460.gif" border=0 width="34" height="70" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Sgt Taylor DFM</B>, W/Op A/G  India - Burma  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >Per 1945 Farewell Dinner booklet</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Note their are six Taylors noted in various sources.  Two Taylors mentioned in the farwell booklet, this one a Sgt with DFM serving India / Burma and another listed below as being a Corp with an MM serving in Egypt. There is also a F/O M.W. Taylor RAAF noted below and also a J Taylor (POW 1940) that is listed in Losses per G Warner book. There is also another Sgt Taylor <B>(RCAF)</B> mentioned in G Warner book who crashed Z9741 25/05/1942.</div> <bR> <div> And yet another taylor reference from G Warner book: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" >On the 28/09/1942 Z7369 MkIV Collided with Z9749 halfway down runway at Asansol and destroyed by fire, Sgt Taylor and crew escaped. </FONT>This one is likely the Canadian Taylor given the dates.</div> <bR> <div> The following is the Orbs extract of this incident:</div> <div> Tezpur 28/09/1942  1500hrs,   F/Sgt Webster and crew, Sgt Taylor and crew, Sgt McLe1lan and crew, and Sgt Allen and crew were detailed to proceed in a formation of 60 Squadron to AGARTALA to refuel and spend the night  for an operation next morning. F/Sgt Webster and the 60 Squadron machines took off and proceeded toAGARTALA. Sgt McLellan and Sgt Taylor accidentally took off together and collided half way up the runway. Both aircraft immediately burst into fames and the crews scrambled out. Both aircraft exploded and blocked the runway preventing Sgt Allan taking off.  Sgt Mclellan received superficial injuries but the other 5 men were unharmed.</div> <bR> <div> The F/O M.W Talyor listed next below is likely this Sgt Taylor with the DFM.</div> <bR> <div> Bloody hell but another, </div> <div> According to J Chapman, P/O Lorne Tapp's  original crew on Ops, one of the original 18 crews who left the Middle East for Burma, were Sgt Bill Campbell, Canadian and Sgt Titch Taylor, English. Chapman also states Titch Taylor was killed on the squadron with a different crew. Again it is not known if this Taylor is any of those listed here but likely is one of them.</div> <bR> <div> On Nov 10 1942 during an antishipping strike in the afternoon there were two Taylors listed as being on this Op.</div> <bR> <div> <I>Note one of these Taylors is 45 Squadron having posted in on </I><I><B>27/10/1942</B></I><I> and back out </I><I><B>22/11/1942</B></I></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0df1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="277d7390.jpg" border=0 width="215" height="313" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B><U> <A NAME="fo_m_w_taylor"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U></B><B><U>F/O M W Taylor</U></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>F/O M. W. Taylor</B>,  RAAF.   Pilot,  Burma     </div> <div> Known to, or friends of F/Lt G.W.L Hanson. <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >(per Aus War Memorial Site)</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Known to have been on the 10/11/1942 shipping strike on Akyab.  Crew on this op was Pilot Sgt Taylor & F/S Patterson & Sgt King. <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >SOURCE: Air War Over The Arakan, Author Tony Day.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> A picture of both together is available from the Australian War Memorial web site. Details as follows:</div> <div> ID Number: SUK12426D</div> <div> Physical description: Black & white</div> <div> Summary: Burma. Flying Officer M. W. Taylor (left) and Flight Lieutenant G. W. L.Hanson, RAAF pilots serving with No. 113 Squadron RAF.</div> <div> Copyright: clear</div> <div> Related unit: 113 Squadron RAF; Royal Australian Air Force</div> <div> Related place: Burma</div> <div> Related conflict: Second World War, 1939-1945</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0df1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <U> <A NAME="sgt_j_taylor"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>Sgt J Taylor</U></div> <bR> <div> <B>Sgt J Taylor,  </B></div> <div> 29/06/1940  FTR from bombing raid to El Gubbi.  L8436, Blenheim Mk IV, flown by P/O D. Pike was damaged by flack while bombing El Gubbi and ditched into the sea. Two other Blenheims, L8447 and L8522 were also lost on this raid. Sgt J Taylor was captured and became a prisoner of war. Crew: pilot P/O D (Percy) Pike and Sgt R Lidstone were also captured and became POWs.<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >SOURCE: Graham Warner, other research</FONT></div> <bR> <div> F/Sgt Michael Shekleton noted in his diary: "<I>heard the full story today of the loss of  the Friar, Sgt. Knott and Percy Pike, during that awful show at Gubbi when the squadron ran into a flock of 42s and Bredas. Percy had with him Lidstone, his bomb-aimer, and Taylor, his. gunner. The Italians say he crashed on the beach just south of Bardia. The crew set fire to the kite then launched the dinghy and started to row for Egypt. An Italian torpedo-boat patrolling the bay intercepted them".</I></div> <bR> <div> *<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >A Cpl Taylor A.C.H  G/G served in Egypt is reported to have won the M.M per the 1945 farewell dinner booklet. This may not be the J Taylor as above.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> An LAC TAylor is recorded in S/Ldr Keily's log for Sept 1939. This makes sense, ACH to LAC to Cpl to Sgt</div> <bR> <div> ITALIANS RECORDED: At sunrise on 29 June nine Blenheims bombed the airfield of <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >Tobruk T2</FONT>. Three CR.32s of 93a Squadriglia, 8o Gruppo, 2o Stormo C.T. and three CR.42s of  77a Squadriglia, 13o Gruppo, 2o Stormo C.T. scrambled under the falling bombs to intercept them. Tenente Giulio Torresi of 77a Squadriglia reached the bombers at six-o'-clock and attacked the last Blenheim which, after three strafes, caught fire and fell. Then, avoiding defensive fire, he attacked another bomber and shot it down. Sottotenente Gian Mario Zuccarini of 93 Squadriglia and Sergente Maggiore Fausti shared a third Blenheim and then, following the formation out over the open sea, they claimed another two, one each. Another Blenheim was shared by the other pilots, which damaged two more.</div> <bR> <div> Torresi, Zuccarini (who was wounded in a leg) and Fausti were all awarded with the Medaglia d'argento al valore militare after this combat. </div> <div> NOTE: The above is presented as found and  has conflicts in several areas with the official records. </div> <div> Sources: http://www.dalnet.se/</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0de1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <U> <A NAME="sgt_p_thacker"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>Sgt P Thacker</U>  <IMG SRC="3241d1d0.gif" border=0 width="29" height="29" ALT="poppy " ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>Sgt P Thacker</B></div> <div> 31/08/1941 T2066 Mk IV FTR to LG14 from raid on Benghazi, Sgt. G Sulman, Sgt D Rhodes , Sgt P. Thacker KIA. Two aircraft and crews were lost this day.</div> <div>   </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0de1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <U> <A NAME="flt____theed"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>F/Lt ?? Theed</U></div> <bR> <div> <B>F/Lt ?? Theed</B>, </div> <div> Listed in S/Ldr Keily log as having flown with him Nov 1939</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0de1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="6d8f3590.jpg" border=0 width="243" height="345" ALT="Sgt Gerald Noel Theobald RAF" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <U> <A NAME="sgt_gerry_theobald"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>Sgt Gerald Noel Theobald</U>  <IMG SRC="3241d1d0.gif" border=0 width="29" height="29" ALT="poppy " ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>Sgt Gerald Noel Theobald, </B>1188169, RAF Sergeant (W. Op./Air Gnr.) Age 28, KIA 06/06/1943, Son of William Alfred and Helen Theobald, of Kingsclere, Hampshire; husband of Violet Theobald, of Kingsclere. MAYNAMATI WAR CEMETERY</div> <bR> <div> 06/06/1943 BA916 Mk V Crashed on overshoot near Comilla on return from aborted raid to Kalemyo. F/Sgt Les Ward , F/Sgt Ray Gilchrist , Sgt. Gerry Theobald KIA.</div> <bR> <div> According to W/O Jack Barnes the runway was under repairs at the time and </div> <div> that there were hundreds of natives on and around the strip carrying baskets of rubble on their heads. Pilot F/Sgt Ward was forced to go round several times before he could land, as Jack recalled the plane stalled and crashed in flames.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT> </div> <bR> <div> SOURCE: CWGS, Jack Barnes, Graham Warner</div> <div> Photo source: Jack Barnes, cropped from group photo, see Photo Album section for two group shots.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0df1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <U> <A NAME="sgt____thomas"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>Sgt ?? Thomas</U></div> <bR> <div> <B>Sgt Thomas</B>, </div> <div> Known to have been on the 10/11/1942 shipping strike on Akyab.  Crew on this op was Sgt Harmshaw & Sgt Wilson</div> <bR> <div> SOURCE Author Tony Day Air War over the Arakan</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0de1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <U> <A NAME="fsgt_w__thompson"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>F/Sgt Walter John Henry Thompson</U>  <IMG SRC="3241d1d0.gif" border=0 width="29" height="29" ALT="poppy " ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>( Bluie )</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>F/Sgt Walter John Henry Thompson,</B>  400263 RAAF Nickname Bluie</div> <div> On the 20/12/1942 Blenheim BA622 Mk V was shot down by ground fire at Magwe. Lt N. Wilkin SAAF,  F/Sgt Francis O'Neil,  F/Sgt ( Bluie ) Walter Thompson were all KIA, Commemorated panel 131 AWM</div> <bR> <div> Attended RAAF Graduation Dinner No 1 Wireless Air Gunners School Ballarat No 4 Course, Empire Air Scheme, per Graduate Listing on dinner menu of: 3 February 1941 03/02/1941</div> <bR> <div> Sgt John Reid:  We were close friends with Lt. Wilkins crew “Wilkie”;  “Danny” O’Neil and “Bluey” Thompson (red hair) who nicknamed Len White “The Tuan” which is Malay for headman or boss. Len was quite pleased with it until Bluey explained it was from rhyming slang “To and From” for POM. hence “Tuan”, as Len was the only POM among the 6 of us.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> J Chapman claims this was one of the original 18 crews that left the Middle East for Burma. He also state the crash took place 07/11/1042 but this is believed to be incorrect.</div> <bR> <div> Note also F/Lt Tony Day records F/Sgt F O'Neil as being F/O N Neil. Also a pilot Sgt Neil RAAF is indicated to have posted in from 45 Sqd on 27/10/1942 and back out on 22/10/1942. Note also there was a pilot F/S F E Thompson RCAF  from 45 Sqd for this same brief period as well.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0df1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <U> <A NAME="sgt___thompson"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>Sgt Tom Thompson</U>  </div> <bR> <div> <B>Sgt Tom Thompson,</B>  Wop/Ag, </div> <bR> <div> NOTE: In S/Ldr Keily's log it is recorded that an AC. Thompson flew with him in March 1939. AC likely means ACH aircraft hand</div> <bR> <div> Little is known of Sgt Thompson but it is known he regularly crewed up with F/Lt Bateson and P/O Michael Shekleton -Obs. There is a  good record of his operations in P/O Shekletons diary. Asked about Sgt Thompson he commented: <I>'Tommy' Thompson was OUR gunner but also flew once or twice with S/L Keily. One never got close to the sergeants. They lived in their Mess, we lived in ours. I only ever met Tommy at briefings and in the a/c. I'm pretty sure Tommy survived the War.(I remember he was slightly injured once when something hard and nasty hit the annular ring of his turret, but he was flying then with Dickie Squires.</I></div> <bR> <div> His name shows up in S/Ldr Keily's log on the date Keily won the DFC. It is recorded that the Air Observer was shot in the citation. Pilot S/Ldr Keily, Sgt Thompson and P/O John S Cleaver were crewed together this op.</div> <bR> <div> <B>CITATION Extract as follows:</B> On 28 July 1940 S/L Keily was the pilot of an aircraft detailed to carry out a special reconnaissance over Libya. The reconnaissance had to be carried out at a low altitude owing to clouds .He was attacked by five enemy aircraft but, displaying great skill , he destroyed one of them . During the engagement the <B>air observer</B> was hit by a bullet . Notwithstanding the handicap of having the air observer's body leaning against him, S/L Keily continued with the reconnaissance, returning with information of great value. He has invariably displayed exceptional leadership, courage and devotion to duty .</div> <bR> <div> <B>S/Ldr Keily's log entry reads:</B> "28 july  blenheim L8443 self    P/O Cleaver Sgt Thompson  Recco escorted by 1 blen. fighter.  2H45 "</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" >P/O Michael Shekleton has recorded in great detail the story behind this incident in his diary, curiously it is dated July 27/1940 and claims their were two Beaufighter escorts not a lone fighter Blenheim: </FONT><I>Group has apparently decided that as we have some fighters here temporarily – the Beaux from </I><I><B>30 squadron</B></I><I> – they might as well use them. It seems there is a certain Army unit in danger of being cut off and very low level recces are needed to size up the position and make a rescue plan. So before we turned in tonight a plan was devised. Two of our a/c would go in with a </I><I><B>pair of Beaux </B></I><I>on watch at 5000ft.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>At dawn the CO S/Ldr Keily (with our gunner, Tommy Thompson on loan) and Owen took off with four (?) of the fighters. By ten a.m. a little circle of us were standing outside the Ops Tent waiting for their return. Owen came in first, followed by the two fighters. Then for 10 minutes nothing. At last we spied a speck – It was Barney. His kite sounded pretty rough. “He’s flying on one,” said someone. But where were the other two fighters?</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>As the CO touched down another fighter appeared and went into the circuit. Good-o, but what’s that thing. It was a supply a/c.  So one fighter was missing. </I><I><B>(The story is confusing as at first the operation was said to be two Beaux, then he states four took off but only three returned as well as a supply aircraft. I understand this to mean 2 of the four Beaux had business elsewhere)</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I>In the Ops Tent we heard the whole story. Over the target there was a layer of stratus and Barney and Owen going down through it lost the Beaux. 32s and 42s swarmed up from Gubbi and Adem while they were making their photo runs Barney and Owen darted in and out of the cloud to lose them but they were very persistent. Owen said both he and his nav. got disorientated for a while. They finally darted for the border in cloud.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>The CO meanwhile was hotly engaged by a trio of 42s. One got in very close and gave him heavy burst. He saw John crumple in his seat. Just as the 42s overshot Tommy shouted triumphantly: “Got one, sir,” as Barney circled, still looking hopefully for a Beau, he saw the 42 flaming to the ground.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Meanwhile, a Beau had appeared and the CO’s tormentors turned their attention to it. He climbed back into the cloud and to his relief saw John was recovering, so he turned toward Bardia to finish the job in hand. But here another shock awaited him. New defences just south of Bardia, not previously seen,  opened up and he found himself the centre of a fierce pom-pom barrage. A terrific clonk hit the plane and the cockpit filled with fumes – a shell had gone through the well. John's tin hat parked under his seat was crunched! Weaving and twisting the CO managed somehow get out of the tangle and set out for home with the port engine leaking oil. He landed on one.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Owen, curiously, on the same sortie, though out of touch had a trouble free run.</I></div> <div> <I>(Just after the de-briefing the CO’s Flight-Sgt pulled up – he said a .5 explosive had ripped through a spar, then through the observer’s parked parachute pack and, finally spent, thumped John on the back. Curiously, it didn’t explode. John has it as a souvenir.)</I></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0df1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <U> <A NAME="lt____thorne"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>Lt  ? Thorne</U></div> <bR> <div> <B>Lt ? Thorne,</B> .</div> <div> SOURCE: Identified in Sgt Lister Walkers Log book as having flown 5594 August 1941<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0df1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <U> <A NAME="sgt____thornicroft"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>Sgt ?? Thornicroft</U></div> <bR> <div> <B>Sgt ?? Thornicroft</B>, </div> <div> Listed in S/Ldr Keily log as having flown with him Nov 1939</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0de1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <U> <A NAME="sgt_frank_thornton"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>Sgt Frank Thornton</U></div> <bR> <div> <B>Sgt Frank Thornton,</B> pilot</div> <bR> <div> Identified by Chapman as being one of the original 18 crews that came out from the Middle East to Burma. Crew on Ops reported to be Sgt Charnley, Sgt Dicketts  <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >SOURCE: Air War Over The Arakan, Author Tony Day.</FONT></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0df1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <U> <A NAME="fs____tibbs"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>F/S ?? Tibbs</U></div> <bR> <div> <B>F/S ?? Tibbs, (45 Squadron)</B> Observer</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Ex 45 Sqd, posted in 25/10/1942 Known to have been on the 10/11/1942 shipping strike on Akyab.  Crew on this op was pilot F/S Armstrong & Sgt Whittaker. F/S Tibbs posted back to 45 Squadron 22/11/1942.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> SOURCE: Air War Over The Arakan, Author F/Lt Tony Day & research.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>    <IMG SRC="0df1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <U> <A NAME="flt__allan_albert_tillott"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>F/Lt  Allan Albert Tillott</U></div> <bR> <div> <B>F/Lt Allan Albert Tillott </B> RAAF, NSW Born 1908</div> <bR> <div> Attended RAAF Graduation Dinner No 1 Wireless Air Gunners School Ballarat No 4 Course, Empire Air Scheme, per Graduate Listing on dinner menu of: 3 February 1941 03/02/1941. Listed as LAC AA Tillott</div> <bR> <div> According to J Chapman, Lt Hookey Russell's  original crew on Ops, one of the original 18 crews who left the Middle East for Burma, were Sgt Alan Tillott A/G, and possibly Sgt Keith Dumas Obo.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >NOTE POSSIBLE NAME MISSPELLING:</FONT> On the 21st of April, six Blenheims of 113, led by W/C Grey left Asansol on detachment to Loewing China.  His crew on this operation was, Sgt Barry - <B>Obs and Sgt Tollett</B><B> - WOp/Ag</B>.  (Source: Sgt Alan Bailes)</div> <bR> <div> Copies of the log diary and photos of F/Lt Tillott are available from the Australian War Memorial Web Site. Details as follows:</div> <div> ID Number: PR89/090 </div> <div> Title: Tillott, Allan Albert (Flight Lieutenant, RAAF, 113 Squadron RAF b: 1908) </div> <div> Maker: Tillott, Allan Albert</div> <div> Object type: Papers</div> <div> Date made: 1941-1945</div> <div> Measurements: 8 ITEMS</div> <div> Summary: FLYING LOG BOOK, DIARIES AND VARIOUS DOCUMENTS</div> <div> RELATING TO TILLOTT'S SERVICE IN INDIA AND LATER DISCHARGE FROM THE RAAF</div> <div> Copyright: External copyright; Commonwealth of Australia copyright</div> <div> Copying provisions: Status to be assessed</div> <div> Access: Open</div> <div> Related place: India</div> <div> Related conflict: Second World War, 1939-1945</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0df1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <U> <A NAME="lac_j__toner"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>LAC J. Toner</U> <IMG SRC="3241d1d0.gif" border=0 width="29" height="29" ALT="poppy " ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </div> <bR> <div> <B>LAC J. Toner,  </B>29/06/1940  FTR from bombing raid to El Gubbi.  L8522, Blenheim Mk 1, flown by 27-year-old Flight Sergeant Ralph Harry Knott  was shot down in flames by Italian fighters. Two other Blenheims, L8447 and L8436 were also lost on this raid. LAC J Toner KIA,  commemorated Alamein Libya.</div> <bR> <div> Crew: Sgt J Barber and pilot F/Sgt Ralph Knott also killed in action.</div> <div> SOURCE: Graham Warner</div> <bR> <div> EXCERPT FROM Corp Norman Say memoirs:<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" > The wireless operator/UT airgunner of our first fatality was Jas Toner and after we had auctioned his possessions the CO told us that he was an orphan who had been brought up in an orphanage, joined the airforce as soon as he was old enough, and trained as a wireless operator. Before he went on the raid he had filled in the will in his paybook and had left all his possessions to the members of ‘A’ flight. I forgot all about this, but about three months after I was demobbed I received a letter from the Air Ministry enclosing a cheque for a few pounds, this being my share of his will.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> At sunrise on 29 June nine Blenheims bombed the airfield of <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >Tobruk T2</FONT>. Three CR.32s of 93a Squadriglia, 8o Gruppo, 2o Stormo C.T. and three CR.42s of  77a Squadriglia, 13o Gruppo, 2o Stormo C.T. scrambled under the falling bombs to intercept them. Tenente Giulio Torresi of 77a Squadriglia reached the bombers at six-o'-clock and attacked the last Blenheim which, after three strafes, caught fire and fell. Then, avoiding defensive fire, he attacked another bomber and shot it down. Sottotenente Gian Mario Zuccarini of 93 Squadriglia and Sergente Maggiore Fausti shared a third Blenheim and then, following the formation out over the open sea, they claimed another two, one each. Another Blenheim was shared by the other pilots, which damaged two more.</div> <bR> <div> Torresi, Zuccarini (who was wounded in a leg) and Fausti were all awarded with the Medaglia d'argento al valore militare after this combat. </div> <div> NOTE: The above is presented as found and  has conflicts in several areas with the official records. </div> <bR> <div> Sources: http://www.dalnet.se/~surfcity/italy_ceoletta.htm++%22113+squadron%22&hl=en&ie=UTF-8 </div> <div> This is an excellent, well researched site detailing Ace Italian pilots.   </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0de1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="6c3fe3d0.jpg" border=0 width="254" height="317" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <U> <A NAME="major_j_l_b__viney"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>Major J.L.B. Viney</U></div> <bR> <div> <B>Major J.L.B.Viney,</B> SAAF May 1943 Comilla. Replaces F/Lt W.L. Jones DFC July 1943. Viney was a very long time member of the squadron.</div> <bR> <div> On 25/05/1943  having aborted a raid on Buthidaung in bad weather, BA675 MkV Blenheim crashed on landing at Chittagong due to a burst tire. The aircraft subsequently caught fire and was destroyed. Sgt J Wohlers <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >(Wrongly recorded by G Warner as being P/O J. Volners)</FONT> , <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >*</FONT>W/O Tom Barry<B> </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >(Wrongly <B>r</B>ecorded by G Warner as J Barry. (Note Chapman states as being Tom Barrie but Barry is correct spelling)</FONT>, and Major Vinney SAAF escaped before bombs exploded.</div> <div> SOURCE: Chapman, Graham Warner,<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>Also See :Reference Awards 1945 Farewell dinner booklet.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="62532110.jpg" border=0 width="306" height="273" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  <IMG SRC="6279cdf0.jpg" border=0 width="156" height="223" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Source: Sgt Ewan Brooking</div> <bR> <div> J Chapman claims this was one of the original 18 crews that left the Middle East for Burma. He also states Viney's crew on Ops were Sgt Tom Barry - Aussie, Sgt DG Wohlers - Aussie. It is also known that Sgt Ewan Brooking crewed with Lt Viney for a time.</div> <bR> <div> Note: Viney is recorded in Sgt Lister Walker log Dec. 1941 as being Lt at the time.  A Major Viney is pictured in Pwoodward book and  remembered by many Squadron members as a well liked pilot.</div> <bR> <div> Sgt John Reid recalls Viney: He was Captain Viney up to September 1942. Lister Walker’s Lt. Viney is obviously the same man. Viney was a rather aloof person who was quite conscious of his rank as indicated by his attitude to Bodley and Wilkin who were junior to him.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0df1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <U> <A NAME="po_j__volners"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>P/O J. Volners</U></div> <bR> <div> <B>P/O J Volners,</B>  On 25-05-1943  having aborted a raid on Buthidaung in bad weather, BA675 MkV Blenheim crashed on landing at Chittagong due to a burst tire. The aircraft subsequently caught fire and was destroyed. P/O J. Volners, W/O J. Barry, and Major Vinney SAAF escaped before bombs exploded.</div> <div> NOTE:<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" > As recorded by Graham Warner, this is believed to be an error and J Volner does not exist, rather it should read J (John) Wohlers. Also J Barry should be Tom Barry</FONT></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0df1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <U> <A NAME="po____wakelin"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>P/O Peter Wakelin</U></div> <bR> <div> <B>P/O Peter Wakelin</B>, </div> <div> Listed in S/Ldr Keily log as having flown with him Aug 1940 & is referenced in P/O Shekletons diary.</div> <bR> <div> First name Peter obtained from P/O Michael Shekleton diary</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0de1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2a9fb950.gif" border=0 width="251" height="405" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><IMG SRC="33223440.gif" border=0 width="35" height="68" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></FONT></div> <div> <U> <A NAME="wo_lister_walker"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#00FFFF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="113_squadron_w_o_lister_walker.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="W/O Lister Walker"><U><U>W/O Lister Walker</U></U></A></FONT>  DFC</div> <div> <B>(CLICK ON LINK FOR PERSONAL PAGE)</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>W/O Lister Walker DFC</B>, 627802 Enlisted 25/10/1933 as ACH (Aircraft Hand) General duties in the RAF and signed on for approx 22 years.</div> <bR> <div> On 24/06/1941 he was posted to 113 Squadron, <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >C Flight</FONT>. Aircraft Blenheim Mark IV and four days later on 28/06/1941 he met his permanent Aircrew members, P/O Lee (Nicknamed Dingle), Sgt Ken Brett Observer (Navigator). Their first operation came on the 09/07/1941 when they were sent to bomb Gazala. After 19 operations in North Africa 113 Squadron was posted en mass to Burma and were issued with new Blenheim MKIV's in Egypt. They departed for Burma on the 31/12/1941 via Habbanya (Iraq)  to Bahrain Island (Persian Gulf) to Silchar (Saudi Arabia) to Karachi India (Now Pakistan) to Alahabad (India) to Calcutta (Now Bangaladesh) to Toungoo (Burma) to Rangoon (Burma) (Mingaladon is the main aerodrome at Rangoon) all aircraft arriving safely on 07/01/1942.</div> <bR> <div> Finally after Sgt Walkers 35th opp on 04/03/1942 his plane Z7783 a Blenheim MKIV was shot down by 4 Jap zero fighter planes. The official report reads as follows:</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Extract from the ORB's. PRO reference AIR27/878 </B></I></div> <div> 04/03/1942 * Magwe 1500hrs    F/Lt Lee and crew, Sgt Brett (0), Sgt Walker (G) with three crews from 45 Squadron carried out a bombing attack in the Sittang river area. F/Lt Lee was flying in No 4 position. The formation was flying at approx 1,500 feet when attacked by enemy fighters, believed to be Navy "O" type.  F/Lt Lee left the formation and dived to ultra low level in an attempt to escape but was attacked by four enemy aircraft,  three astern and one in front. The pilot was hit by a bullet and the aircraft crashed west of the Sittang River, and 60 miles east of Pegu. The gunner, Sgt Lister Walker, climbed out and the pilot attempted to do the same but was fatally shot and fell back into the cockpit which was by then afire. The gunner attempted to pull F/Lt Lee out from the cockpit thinking he was wounded, but as the bullet wound was in the head he realized it was fatal. He then looked for Sgt Brett the Observer, whom he found 50 yards from the nose of the aircraft, dead, with his head smashed in. Sgt Walker was then obliged to shelter under the tail of the aircraft while the four enemy aircraft made four strafing attacks. Later hearing artillery fire to the N.E. he walked in the opposite direction & after two days with friendly Burmans arrived at Thamatpin, approx 15 miles east of Pegu. Reporting to Capt. Ince of the Burma Rifles, Sgt Walker was given transport to Army Brigade HQ and thence to  Rangoon, ultimately reporting to 113 Squadron. The aircraft was completely burnt out.</div> <bR> <div> Sgt Ewan Brooking remembered Lister well: <I>Lister Walker was known to all and sundry as "Yorky", probably because he came from Yorkshire. I knew "yorky" very well, though I dont remember going out on the rantan with him. Dont remember him in Greece, but definitely in the desert and Burma. I was there to listen to his account of the crash and walk out. I dont think he ever flew on "Ops" again, and was posted I think to the Communications Flight, based in Delhi.</I></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="113_squadron_w_o_lister_walker_wo_lister_walker.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="W/O Lister Walker"><U>COMPLETE PROFILE</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="113_squadron_w_o_lister_walker_photo_album_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="W/O Lister Walker"><U>PHOTO ALBUM</U></A></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0df1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <U> <A NAME="wcdr_e_l_a_walter_dfc"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>W/Cdr E.L.A Walter DFC AFC</U>  <IMG SRC="33223440.gif" border=0 width="35" height="68" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>W/Cdr E.L.A Walter DFC,</B> UK. </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" >New C/O India, Burma. July 31 1942 to </FONT>Oct 1942. <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" >Asansol. Left Squadron. Date is not correct as W/Cdr Walter was on the 10/11/1942 shipping strike on Akyab. His aircraft was fitted with the camera that took pictures of this operation. Crew on this op was Sgt Crossley & Sgt Gerloff. </FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >Source misc.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> From reading various autobiographys it is apparent that W/C Walter DFC was not the most popular with some of the crews when he first arrived in the Far East. A hardened veteran survivor from 2 Group in the UK he was a man who led by example and often led the crews on raids when in fact he wasn't required to. His attempts however to reestablish some of the civility and military discipline from back in the UK to his newly acquired band of missfits led to some amusing incidents.   </div> <bR> <div> At some point morning parades came back into being briefly, which is normal for a squadron in the UK but with a bunch of experienced worn out veterans of the Desert and the Retreat out of  Burma, perhaps not a good idea. On one of these occasions Chappy came on parade in his flight boots and when the Wingco asked him why "he said it was to wade through the bullshit". Not something one should say to the Wingco! Chappy was sent on a Discipline course for a couple of weeks up near Peshawar.</div> <bR> <div> Extract from Orbs: 30/08/1942  Walter & Webster briefed to attack a paddle steamer in Saratoygen creek on the island of Akyab. Due to bad weather they had to return to Chitters, but Walter had another try later and got through to find and attack the Steamer with 4 X 250 lb bombs. All were near misses. <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >(Source F/Lt Tony Day from Air War Over Arakan)</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Having done extensive research on 2 Group, I can completely understand W/C Walter's mindset. Few realize the dramatic differences between the home based Squadrons and those of the Middle / Far East. When W/C Walter first arrived to the East he would have been appalled by the chaos, lack of discipline and airmen running around in near rags. At home in Britain he would have seen extensive action and horrific losses, and was for certain a hardened veteran, but daily life between operations was much more civilized, billets being a real building versus tents or open air, and food, spare parts and materials were much more plentifull. The Boffins were also more plentifull and saw to it that the spit and polish regimen of the aircrews training days rarely wavered. Salutes were plentifull, uniforms were pressed, orders obeyed and they maintained a relative degree of civility despite a mortality rate which could be measured in weeks. Not so in the Desert and far East where beg borrow or steal was the order of the day to survive. Everything was scarce and everything was make do, the first thing to go, as it was both unnecessary and impossible to maintain, was the miltary doctrine that was preached at training. When AOC Donald 'the Butcher' Stevenson was shipped off to the East, one of his first encounters was with the 113 Squadron and he was quickly educated.  Ironically W/C Walter escaped from Stevenson back home only to find himself back under Stevenson in the Jungle. It must have felt like he was being followed by the grim reaper. </div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0df1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <U><IMG SRC="6a60c790.jpg" border=0 width="268" height="377" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></div> <div> <U> <A NAME="fsgt_les_ward"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>F/Sgt Leslie L Ward</U>  <IMG SRC="3241d1d0.gif" border=0 width="29" height="29" ALT="poppy " ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>F/Sgt Leslie L Ward</B> R/91945, RCAF, Age 29, Warrant Officer (Pilot). KIA 06/06/1943, Son of James and Alice Rose Ward, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.  MAYNAMATI WAR CEMETERY</div> <bR> <div> 06/06/1943 BA916 Mk V Crashed on overshoot near Comilla on return from aborted raid to Kalemyo. F/Sgt Les Ward , F/Sgt Ray Gilchrist , Sgt. Gerry Theobald KIA.  Les was known to Jack Barnes who was with him at 13 OTU and they were also in Comilla at the same time. </div> <bR> <div> According to W/O Jack Barnes the runway was under repairs at the time and  that there were hundreds of natives on and around the strip carrying baskets of rubble on their heads. Pilot F/Sgt Ward was forced to go round several times before he could land, as Jack recalled the plane stalled and crashed in flames. </div> <bR> <div> SOURCE: W/O Jack Barnes & Graham Warner</div> <div> Photo cropped from original of Jack Barnes, see photo album for 2 crew photos.</div> <div> NOTE: Joe Ward not to be confused with Les Ward 113 Sqd KIA June 1943 or Bill Ward who was 60 Sqd.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0df1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <U> <A NAME="fsgt_joe_ward__"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>F/Sgt (W/O) Joe Ward</U>  </div> <bR> <div> <B>F/Sgt Joe Ward, </B>RCAF. Pilot.  arrived on 113 Sqd in April 1943 when the Squadron was based at Chandina near Comilla. Flew the MkV Bisley. Crew on Ops were Sgt Bill Lewis, Navigator and Ken Burrows, Gunner. Both RAF.</div> <div> Joe made the transition from Blenheim to Hurricane & later was a W/O when he was flying Hurricanes up on the Central Front with 113.  </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="44df7280.jpg" border=0 width="503" height="296" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> F/Sgt Joe Ward and crew, along with possibly ground crew at Doharari</div> <div> Blenheim V   Source: <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" >F/Lt Tony Day</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Note the mud the Blenheim V is sitting in is entirely typical of the deplorable conditions these men flew in every day. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="44ff3580.jpg" border=0 width="499" height="344" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Inset from above photo.</div> <bR> <div> Norm Franks book "The Air Battle of Imphal" there is at least one photo of "Joe" Ward and F/S Curly Clement. <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" >(per F/Lt Tony Day)</FONT></div> <bR> <div> SOURCE: Research notes of Tony Day and excerpts of book Air War Over The Arakan</div> <div> NOTE: Joe Ward not to be confused with Les Ward 113 Sqd KIA June 1943 or Bill Ward who was 60 Sqd.</div> <bR> <div> F/Lt Chilton DFC recalls W/O Ward as being an older serious chap and believes he left the squadron in 1944</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0df1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <U> <A NAME="po____ward"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>P/O ?? Ward</U></div> <bR> <div> <B>P/O Ward</B>, </div> <div> Listed in S/Ldr Keily log as having flown with him June 1939, this is also likely the Ward referred to in P/O Michael Shekletons memoirs. Note it was a Ward who guided / followed Corp Ian Blairs aircraft back to base after P/O Reynolds was shot.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0de1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><IMG SRC="a2e7a9a0.jpg" border=0 width="122" height="154" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></I></div> <div> <U> <A NAME="sgt_john_leith_watson"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>Sgt John Leith Watson</U> </div> <bR> <div> <B>Sgt John Leith (Jock) Watson</B>, 531821 MT Section, 1937 to 1939.</div> <bR> <div> (contact with family made, more info to follow)</div> <bR> <div> SOURCE: Grandson, Steven John Leith Watson</div> <div> (see photo in photo section, people 4)</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0de1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <U> <A NAME="sgt_w_webster"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>F/</U><U>Sgt W Webster</U></div> <bR> <div> <B>F/Sgt W Webster,</B> pilot. Scotland</div> <bR> <div> Tezpur 28/09/1942  1500hrs - F/Sgt Webster and crew, Sgt Taylor and crew, Sgt McLellan and crew, and Sgt Allen and crew were detailed to proceed in a formation of 60 Squadron to AGARTALA to refuel and spend the night  for an operation next morning. F/Sgt Webster and the 60 Squadron machines took off and proceeded toAGARTALA. Sgt McLellan and Sgt Taylor accidentally took off together and collided half way up the runway. Both aircraft immediately burst into fames and the crews scrambled out. Both aircraft exploded and blocked the runway preventing Sgt Allan taking off.  Sgt McLellan received superficial injuries but the other 5 men were unharmed.</div> <div> Orbs extract per F/Lt Tony Day</div> <bR> <div> Assansol, 30/08/1942  Walter & Webster briefed to attack a paddle steamer in Saratoygen creek on the island of Akyab. Due to bad weather they had to return to Chitters, but Walter had another try later and got through to find and attack the Steamer with 4 X 250 lb bombs. All were near misses. <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >Orbs extract F/Lt Tony Day</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Identified by Chapman as being one of the original 18 crews that came out from the Middle East to Burma. Crew on Ops are unknown.</div> <bR> <div> W.D Webster Signed Farewell dinner menu for the Squadron Feni, August 16, 1943</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0df1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <U> <A NAME="sgt____whittaker"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>Sgt ?? Whittaker</U></div> <bR> <div> <B>Sgt ?? Whittaker  45 Squadron.</B> Wop/Ag</div> <div> Known to have been on the 10/11/1942 shipping strike on Akyab.  Crew on this op was F/S Armstrong pilot & F/Sgt Tibbs Obo. </div> <bR> <div> Armstrong and Tibbs posted in to 113 on 25/10/1942 from 45 Squadron. All three posted back to 45 Sqd on 22/11/1942</div> <div> SOURCE: Air War Over The Arakan & research  Author F/lt Tony Day.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>    <IMG SRC="0df1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <U> <A NAME="corp____white"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>Corp ?? White</U></div> <bR> <div> <B>Corp ?? White</B>, </div> <div> Listed in S/Ldr Keily log as having flown with him April 1939</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0de1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2f5566f0.jpg" border=0 width="86" height="111" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <U> <A NAME="sgt_len_white"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>Sgt Leonard Arthur White</U></div> <bR> <div> <B>Sgt Leonard Arthur White,</B> 1262420, RAF UK North Finchley. WOp/Ag. </div> <bR> <div> Len crewed with pilot John Reid and Peter Wilson. </div> <bR> <div> On 09/09/1942 V5589 Blenheim MkIV piloted by Sgt John Reid was shot down by flak in a joint raid with 60 Squadron over the Port of Akyab (near Oyster Island) while bombing ships in the harbour. The vessel Niyo Maru ( D/S Hafthor) was successfully sunk. Their aircraft ditched about four miles west of Akyab and Pilot Sgt Reid , Navigator Peter Wilson and WOp/Ag Len White were able to escape to their life raft.  Amazingly, despite being severely wounded & nearly blinded, Sgt White was able to launch the dinghy and they drifted away from the sinking aircraft, heading for shore. The plan was to head to Cox's Bazaar which was at that time "patrol territory", hoping they'd meet an Allied patrol before a Japanese one.  In all they covered 17 miles in 22 hours before Arakanese villagers alerted the Japs to their progress up the Mayu. Upon capture, the three crew members were bound together and taken back to Akyab where they were temporarily held in a building along with the survivors of the ship they sank. From here they could see the sunken ship in the harbour. Wilson was separated from the others but Sgt Reid and Sgt White remained together so that Sgt Reid could dress his wounds.  </div> <bR> <div> Later,  they were flown in a Japanese bomber on 30/9/42 to Rangoon Central Jail where they remained until released in 1945.</div> <bR> <div> Miraculously Len survived the Jap prison camps and despite his injuries which left him nearly blind, went on to become a very successfull physiotherapist.</div> <bR> <div> Sgt John Reid:  We were close friends with Lt. Wilkins crew “Wilkie”;  “Danny” O’Neil and “Bluey” Thompson (red hair) who nicknamed Len White “The Tuan” which is Malay for headman or boss. Len was quite pleased with it until Bluey explained it was from rhyming slang “To and From” for POM. hence “Tuan”, as Len was the only POM among the 6 of us.</div> <bR> <div> SOURCE: Sgt John Reid</div> <bR> <div> NOT COMPLETE</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0df1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <U> <A NAME="flt_r__r__white"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>F/Lt R. R. White</U></div> <bR> <div> <B>F/Lt White,</B>  nickname Chalky per 1945 Farwell Booklet.</div> <div> SOURCE: F/O Pat Woodward Book, picture page 19<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0df1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <U> <A NAME="fs_charles_a_whiteside"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>F/S Charles A Whiteside</U>  <IMG SRC="3241d1d0.gif" border=0 width="29" height="29" ALT="poppy " ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>Charles Alexander Whiteside</B> was born on 14th March,1919 son of Rev J.Whiteside of Derrytagh. He was a pupil at Lurgan College from 1st September, 1931 until 31st August, 1934, when he left to complete his education at Portadown College. During the war he served in 113 Squadron, R.A.F. Volunteer reserve, in which he was a Flight Sergeant. He saw service in India and Burma and it was there that Flt. Sgt. Whiteside died, on 18th August 1942. He is buried at Ranchi War Cemetery, India.</div> <bR> <div> Remembered on the Lurgan College memorial. The Memorial is situated in the entrance hall, beneath the bell tower, and consists of two stained glass windows, along with two brass plaques, containing the names of the dead. It is a custom of the school for a wreath to be laid at the memorial each Remembrance Day. </div> <div> SOURCE http://www.geocities.com/craigavonhs/rev/wilsonlurgancollegewar.html<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> *<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >NOTE: According to F/O Pat woodward book as derived from the Orbs, a P/O Whiteside died of a ruptured appendix on the 25th August 1942. I believe this to be one and the same person given the unlikely event that two Whitesides were on the same squadron and died within 7 days of each other. The fact that Charles has a known grave is another indication he died of an illness.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> NOTE: also, another man named / nicknamed Jock described in Sgt Norman Say's memoirs as a Scotsman, Corporal Signaller also died around this time of possible appendicitis. (3rd para, chapter 9)</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0df1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="90642000.jpg" border=0 width="322" height="512" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <U> <A NAME="flt_bill_whittlesey"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>F/Sgt (</U><U>F/Lt) Bill Whittlesey</U></div> <bR> <div> <B>F/Sgt (F/Lt) Bill Whittlesey,</B>  590853, 35th Entry, Born 27/05/1917. Born 27/5/17, Died 07/11/06. He always said "I WAS BORN IN MARCH BUT MY BIRTHDAY IS IN MAY" this often confused people and made them laugh when he explained MARCH is a town in Cambridgeshire...</div> <bR> <div> Enlisted RAF 25/04/34. Commissioned from Warrant Officer 01/12/1943. Released as Flight Lieutenant Admin & Special Duties, (Mechanical Transport) 20/10/1945. From one of his early letters we can determine that he started with 113 Squadron "B Flight" as an AC2 at Heliopolis and was promoted to Corporal shortly thereafter. In all, Bill served with the RAF 11 years, from nearly the dawn of modern aviation, through it's frantic prewar buildup and throughout the entire Second World war. It would be impossible to comprehend all that he has seen and this short profile of his life is but the tiniest glimpse. </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="918f43a0.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="314" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Hawker Hind K6734 Flying over the Giza Pyramids Egypt</div> <div> This is an incredible photo to be taken from an old bi-plane and crude home camera. Very likely it was snapped using a sophisticated RAF recon camera while the boys were doing a sightseeing detour during mapping of the desert at Maaten Bagush in 1939. Not most folks idea of fun, we must never forget these are very crude unreliable aircraft flying over the most inhospitable terrain on earth. Note the cracked wing strut that has been fixed with a stick and some tape.                     <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#CC9900" FACE="Arial" >SOURCE/COPYRIGHT: F/Lt Bill Whittlesey</FONT></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>  </div> <div> F/Lt Bill Whittlesey was with 113 sqdn in the early days at Heliopolis and flew in Hawker hinds. During his time in Egypt he was involved in all 3 of the famous advances and retreats in the desert against Gen Irwin Rommel and the German forces. When the Squadron left for Burma in November 1941, Bill remained for a few months in Egypt before he embarked for home in mid 1942.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="9125e000.jpg" border=0 width="350" height="512" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Sgt Bill Whittlesey, Egypt</div> <div> The title to this photo states: Going Home, but I don't think so. Note how young he is in this photo compared to the one below. Note also he has Sgt stripes on his sleeve and there is a badge just above these that looks like a crown, in which case he is a senior NCO Flight Sgt. I would guess he has just arrived at a transit camp in the desert and is saluting his comrades who remain on the train heading to other postings or perhaps vice versa.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#CC9900" FACE="Arial" >SOURCE/COPYRIGHT F/Lt Bill Whittlesey</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="91640560.jpg" border=0 width="320" height="342" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="1" VSPACE="1">In one of the stories he related to his family, he recalled a pilot flying a new blenhiem that shot shot up a german convoy and upon returning to heliopolis he complained about the engines running rough. Upon inspection the ground crew found that he had flown so low that the tips of both props had struck the ground and were bent up. He also recalled that when the 113 first received their Blenhiems the older pilots who were used to fixed undercarriages would forget to lower the landing gear and belly land.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> F/Sgt Bill Whittlesey (left) and friend sheltering from a desert Khamsin. </div> <div> A khamsin is a dry extremely hot wind storm, the dread of all who enter the desert it can suck the life out of any living thing. The word "khamsin" is derived from khamsa, meaning five fold. Thus fifty days of this wind can be expected during the year. There is an Arabic saying, "If the khamsin blows for three days in succession a man has the right to kill his wife; five days, his best friend; seven days, himself." </div> <div>  SOURCE/COPYRIGHT F/Lt Bill Whittlesey</div> <bR> <div> Bill served his tour of duty and returned home whereupon he was allocated to R.A.F blakehill farm Gloucs, and because of his experience of driving around with the long range desert group, was assigned to train drivers in convoys for the D day landings. It was here that he was very seriously injured on his motorcycle after being accidently run over by a tank transporter with tank on Birdlip Hill Gloucs. Thus ended his RAF career.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="90f67000.jpg" border=0 width="359" height="512" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> W/O (F/Lt) Bill Whittlesey aboard the troopship</div> <div> HMS Alexandria, on his way home.</div> <div> He seems weary. Perhaps now that he is safely on his way, all that he has been through has caught up with him. It appears as if he has the W/O badge on his left sleeve at the elbow.</div> <div> SOURCE/COPYRIGHT F/Lt Bill Whittlesey</div> <bR> <div> After being invalided from the R.A.F  he returned home to Cambridgeshire and retrained as a teacher. Here he  taught untill he retired in 1977. </div> <bR> <div> He was born and lived in March cambridgeshire and after getting married he moved to Chatteris some 4 miles away from his home town of March.  By amazing coincidence, the 113 reformed in the 1950s and was based in Mepal. His old squadron was only 3 miles away from home !  He often spoke of it.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="91d036d0.jpg" border=0 width="515" height="365" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> WTW's band of merry men of The Long Range Desert Group</div> <div> The sign says "Ex Western Desert Service Men, Spare a ???</div> <div> I believe they are pretending to be singing for pocket change. Note the clothes and stuff strewn all over the ground. Surely there is a great story behind this photo beyond their just clowning around. <B>LET US KNOW IF YOU THINK YOU RECOGNIZE ANYONE!</B></div> <div> SOURCE/COPYRIGHT F/Lt Bill Whittlesey</div> <bR> <div> SEE ALSO:</div> <div> - Photo albums</div> <div> -Tall Tales Section</div> <div> -The Story of The 113 Squadron</div> <div> - Air Crews and Losses - Hawker Hinds.</div> <bR> <div> SOURCE/Copyright: Martin Carter</div> <div> NOTE: The family of F/Lt Bill Whittlesey also has a recording of him speaking of his experiences.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0df1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <U> <A NAME="sgt___whyte"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>Sgt ? Whyte</U></div> <bR> <div> <B>Sgt ? Whyte</B></div> <div> It is known Sgt Whyte was on detachment to Loiwing China. Details as follows: On April 10, 16, 21 1942 flights were detached and sent to Loewing China. On the 21st a flight of six Blenheims led by W/Cdr Grey were sent, these listed in order of pilot, Obs, Wop/Ag were (Wcdr Grey, Sgt 'Bush' Barrey, Sgt Tollett) & (F/O Hammond, P/O Evans, Sgt Lord) & (P/O Griffiths, Sgt Davies, Sgt Dicketts) & (F/Sgt Hinds, F/Sgt Aitken, Sgt Alan Bailes) & (F/Sgt Symondson, Sgt Birley, Sgt Woodcock) & (Sgt Webster, <B>Sgt Whyte</B>, Sgt Cheshire) <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >SOURCE: Sgt Alan Bailes</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Note: See also name White as it is unknown if this is the correct spelling.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0de1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="6c1f5530.jpg" border=0 width="245" height="339" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <U> <A NAME="sgt_john_dg_wohlers"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>Sgt John (DG) Wohlers</U></div> <bR> <div> <B>Sgt John (DG) Wohlers,</B>  </div> <bR> <div> On 25/05/1943  having aborted a raid on Buthidaung in bad weather, BA675 MkV Blenheim crashed on landing at Chittagong due to a burst tire. The aircraft subsequently caught fire and was destroyed. Sgt J Wohlers <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >(Wrongly recorded by G Warner as being P/O J. Volners)</FONT> , <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >*</FONT>W/O Tom Barry<B> </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >(Wrongly <B>r</B>ecorded by G Warner as J Barry. (Note Chapman states as being Tom Barrie but Barry is correct spelling)</FONT>, and Major Viney SAAF escaped before bombs exploded.</div> <bR> <div> Humorously according to J Chapman, Sgt Wohlers was called DG Wholers and that the DG stands for Duff Gen, didn't say if these were actually part of his initials but it appears not.</div> <bR> <div> Chapman states Sgt Wohlers crew on ops were Lt J B Viney, & Sgt Tom Barrie (Barry correct) He also states this was one of the original 18 crews that left the Middle East for Burma.</div> <bR> <div> NOTE: A <U>J.E. Wohlers</U> Attended RAAF Graduation Dinner No 1 Wireless Air Gunners School Ballarat No 4 Course, Empire Air Scheme, per Graduate Listing on dinner menu of: 3 February 1941 03/02/1941</div> <bR> <div> Two crew photos are on the site, both with Major Viney in them but different Obo. Note the two pictures of Wohlers do not resemble each other much???</div> <div> Photo above cropped from crew photo of W/O Jack Barnes, see photo section</div> <div> Photo below cropped from crew picture of Sgt Ewan Brooking, see Lt Vinney or photo section.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="62890ce0.jpg" border=0 width="144" height="206" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0df1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <U> <A NAME="sgt_norman_woodcock"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>Sgt Norman Woodcock</U></div> <bR> <div> <B>Sgt Norman Woodcock</B></div> <bR> <div> It is known Sgt Woodcock was on detachment to Loiwing China. Details as follows: On April 10, 16, 21 1942 flights were detached and sent to Loewing China. On the 21st a flight of six Blenheims led by W/Cdr Grey were sent, these listed in order of pilot, Obs, Wop/Ag were (Wcdr Grey, Sgt Barry, Sgt Tollett) & (F/O Hammond, P/O Evans, Sgt Lord) & (P/O Griffiths, Sgt Davies, Sgt Dicketts) & (F/Sgt Hinds, F/Sgt Aitken, Sgt Bailes) & (F/Sgt Symondson, Sgt Birley, <B>Sgt Woodcock</B>) & (Sgt Webster, Sgt Whyte, Sgt Cheshire) <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >SOURCE: Sgt Alan Bailes</FONT></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0de1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <U> <A NAME="sgt_joseph_douglas_woodcock"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>Sgt Joseph Douglas Woodcock</U></div> <bR> <div> <B>Sgt Douglas Woodcock, </B>581010. RAF Navigator/Obs. Sgt Douglas Woodcock passed away on 23/11/2007. He joined the squadron in the North African desert on 12/09/1940.  Crew was Sgt Price -Pilot, unknown -WOp/Ag, Sgt JD Woodcock - Navigator/Obs. </div> <bR> <div> Sgt Woodcock served from 12/09/1940 to 14/02/1941 with 113 (B) Squadron in the Western Desert until being caught up in the disasterous Greek campaign from 06/03/1941 to 22/04/1941. Following his return to the North African desert on 30/05/1941, he remained with the squadron's (B) flight until being posted out to a Ferrying Squadron based at Takoradi on 30/06/1941.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> WESTERN DESERT-NORTH AFRICA</div> <div> In June of 1940 the Italians declared war and after a massive build-up moved across the Libyan border into Egypt. The 113 Squadron was in the thick of it from the beginning and flew operations from their base in Bir-Zimla (Ma'aten Bagush in the Western Desert. Sgt Woodcock and crew were primarily engaged in seeking out and bombing the Italian aerodromes and supply lines but  were often called on to bomb enemy shipping as well. The most fearfull  hazzards of these mission's were enemy fighters and at least twice on 22/10/1940 and 01/01/1941 Sgt Woodcock and crew were shot up by Italian CR42's. Of particular interest is the Jan 1941 attack as until now the Squadron under attack in this incident, and the RAF losses claimed by  the Italians could not be verified. </div> <bR> <div> On the first day of the new year 01/01/1941, the Italians reported that one of their pilots engaged 9 British Blenheims near Derna and shot down two. The Italian pilot Sergente Milella was credited with one kill and one probable. As Sgt Milella in his CR.42 was flying alone that day he was free to embelish his story or perhaps, as is often the case, he genuinely believed the aircraft were so badly damaged they couldn't possibly have made it back to base. In any event, neither of the aircraft he claimed were actually shot down as evidenced by Sgt Woodcock's log book. It should be noted that his log book covers a period where the official squadron records were lost so until now Sergente Milella's claim could neither be proven or disproved with absolute certainty. Regardless it was a brave deed by a lone pilot flying an outdated bi-plane to attack a large formation of Blenheims.</div> <bR> <div> The following is an excerpt from the Italian perspective and records. <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" >(QUOTE: The only combat of 1 January 1941 was apparently over Derna where the 366a Squadriglia, 151o Gruppo, formed a detached alarm section (the rest of the Gruppo was at Agedabia, where it was recovering efficiency). Pilots in the detached alarm section were Sergente Milella, Tenente Piero Veneziani and Maresciallo Giovanni Accorsi.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> At 13:20, Sergente Milella took off alone following a signal coming from the local flak and climbed to 5000 metres. From that height, he discovered under him a formation of nine British bombers and immediately attacked. One of the bombers was seen to catch fire and fell in the sea close to the coast and another bomber was hit in the right engine and left the formation on fire. With both guns jammed, Milella was forced to turn back, landing at 14:20 and being apparently credited with a confirmed and a probable after using 520 rounds of ammunition.</div> <bR> <div> The identity of the opposing RAF unit remains uncertain but it seems likely that it was 113 Squadron while it is reported in British sources that “The new year began with a display of pugnacity and courage by an Italian fighter pilot, who, flying a single CR.42, attacked nine Blenheims that had just taken off(!) from Derna and damaged five of them.” Derna suffered no damage from the raid. (ENDQUOTE) <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#CC9900" FACE="Arial" >SOURCE: http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/italy_milella.htm</FONT></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> GREECE</div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" >On 06/03/1941 he flew with his regular crew  to Greece in  Blenheim MkIV T2054 arriving in Menidi. Here he was initially involved photographing German installations and later attacking their aerodromes and supply lines. The weather conditions throughout were abominable and just leaving the ground was dangerous, add to that German air superiority and most mission's were doomed from the start. </FONT>(NOTE: It is confirmed by Sgt D Woodcock's log book that his crew ( pilot Sgt Price) arrived in Greece on March 6 1941 ( 06/03/1941 ) arriving in Menidi then on to Eleusis. It is likely for this reason that few are aware that the squadron was involved in the battle of Matapan against the Italian Fleet on 28/03/1941 as most of the squadron, particularly ground crew,  did not arrive in Greece until the 30th. The Battle of Matapan is not officially recognized on the Squadrons battle honours.)</div> <bR> <div> On the 28/03/1941 he and several unknown other aircraft from the squadron were dispatched on a suicide mission to attack the Italian fleet at what became known as "The Battle of Matapan". Survivors of this attack have said the AA fire was so accurate and heavy it was like a lead curtain surrounding the ships, indeed Sgt Woodcock notes heavy and accurate AA fire in his log. Given the official squadron records had been destroyed, this is the first "log book" proof that the 113 Squadron did in fact take part in this historic battle.</div> <bR> <div> Interestingly, the 12/03/1941 saw Sgt Woodcock ferrying none other than S/Ldr Pat Pattle the highest scoring ace in the RAF. Pattle's 80 squadron was stationed in Eleusis where he was picked up and undoubtedly this trip was delivering S/Ldr Pattle to Larissa to take up his new position commanding 33 Squadron.</div> <bR> <div> In another incident of note during this brief period, Sgt Woodcock and crew took off  in Blenheim T2168 on a solo night bombing raid 06/04/1941 to Petrich Bulgaria. Here they encountered AA fire which holed the fuselage in numerous places and not only were the crew lucky enough to escape being hit, they defied the odds again when the entire crew survived a crash landing back at base.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="9eac8eb0.jpg" border=0 width="456" height="235" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Blenheim T2168</div> <div> Crashed on landing at Niamata Greece 06/04/1941 after raid on Petrich. </div> <div> Note holes in fuselage to right of roundel. Also note the squadron code AD </div> <div> can be seen here also. <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>The ditch in the picture is not a canal, rather it was dug on both sides of the airstrip to drain the swampy ground. Several aircraft hit it. Some  ground crew report using the banks of the ditch for cover during the fatal attacks of 15/04/1941</div> <div> (Photo Source family of Sgt JD Woodcock)</div> <bR> <div> On the 15/04/1941 their luck ran out however when the Squadrons aerodrome at Niamata was raided by German ME109's and all of their aircraft were destroyed. At that, the Squadron was ordered back to Egypt by any means they could find and while this meant a perilous sea vovage for many, Sgt Woodcock was fortunate to get a lift out to Crete on 22/04/1941 in a Blenheim being piloted by Sgt McPherson. From Crete they arrived at Ma'aten Bagush the same day and then on to Heliopolis the next day in an ancient Valencia. (It is unknown where his crew was at this time but conceivably they became separated in the utter chaos of the evacuation from Greece)</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> BACK TO THE DESERT</div> <bR> <div> Following his return to Egypt on 30/05/1941, the squadron was ordered to report to Ramleh Palestine to re-equip. They would not become fully operational again until June, at which time Sgt Woodcock was posted out to a Ferrying Squadron based at Takoradi on 30/06/1941.</div> <bR> <div> SOURCE: Daughters Dawn and Joanna, log book of Sgt Woodcock</div> <bR> <div> Source: Excerpt of Italian records: http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/italy_milella.htm</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0de1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <U> <A NAME="sgt_ken_woods"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>Sgt Ken Woods</U></div> <bR> <div> <B>Sgt Ken Woods</B>,  WOp/Ag</div> <div> Operating from Ma'aten Bagush - LG15. Known to have been in the detachment to Malta 20/09/1941.  Crew on this op was P/O Cashmore pilot, Sgt Ken Woods WOp/Ag and Sgt Ewan Brooking Obs replacing Sgt Wally Kilgour who was off with Yellow Fever. </div> <bR> <div> Ewan Comment: Ken Woods and Charlie Woods. Two different people. Ken was Cashmore's gunner. Cashmore seems to have been posted away from 113 when we were in the desert, and wasn't in Burma. Ken however stayed with 113 and ended up in India.</div> <bR> <div> SOURCE: Sgt Ewan Brooking</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0de1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="780cb260.jpg" border=0 width="203" height="294" ALT="Sgt Charlie Woods 113 Squadron RAF" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <U> <A NAME="sgt_charlie_woods"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>Sgt Charlie Woods</U></div> <bR> <div> <B>Sgt Charlie Woods</B>,  WOp/Ag</div> <div> Operating from Ma'aten Bagush Satellite - Bir Zimla LG15. </div> <bR> <div> SOURCE: Sgt Ewan Brooking</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0de1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="98bb3c60.jpg" border=0 width="179" height="198" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <U> <A NAME="lt_william_francis_woods_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#00FFFF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id186.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lt William Francis Woods"><U><U>Lt William Francis Woods</U></U></A></FONT>     WW1</div> <div> (CLICK ON NAME FOR PERSONAL PAGE)</div> <bR> <div> <B>Lt William Francis Woods</B>,  Service  number 192462. Born 1896</div> <bR> <div> William Francis Woods was the first son of three to Harold and Margaret Woods, who were Lancastrians and who lived all of their lives in Lancashire, mostly near Liverpool at Sefton and Ormskirk. The family had been originally brewers but some of them later worked on the Liverpool Corn Exchange, [which went down in flames unfortunately in the `29/31 period that affected so much of the world], and in shipping out of Liverpool. William had two brothers, Albert and Joseph. William was born in 1896, Albert in 1897 and Joseph in 1908. William worked as a car salesman after leaving school up to the outbreak of the 1914 -18 War.</div> <bR> <div> William and Albert enlisted in the Liverpool `Pals' regiment at the start of the war. Albert was killed on the 1st July 1916  at the battle of the Somme, buried at Montauban, Picardy and although the grave was destroyed and lost through the constant ravages of the war, he is listed in the memorial at Thiepval [which was later built to the design of the architect  Edwin Lutyens]  William was later wounded in the leg and repatriated to the UK. On his recovery he transferred to the newly formed Royal Flying Corps and after his initial training travelled by train  with his squadron through France to Italy where they awaited transport, by ship presumably, to Egypt [Alexandria ?]. </div> <bR> <div> He flew in Palestine as an Observer but later trained and qualified as a pilot. He served in 113 Squadron. </div> <bR> <div> One of the high points in his long military career was meeting the legendary Lawrence of Arabia, his sons Peter and Michael recall that William mentioned that he flew gold bullion to Lawrence [<I>see  notes</I>] to support the Arabian tribes to encourage their substantial and finally successful sabotage of the Turkish army, and/or that he flew Lawrence on one sortie [ Peter recalls the bullion and Michael recalls the Lawrence flight - one is certainly right, possibly both ].</div> <div> <I>See also under notes Bell's reference to Lawrence's brother, who apparently was in the RFC, being killed in the area about 1917. </I></div> <bR> <div> In the early 1930s he married Arana Cathryn Rowlands, from Rhyl on North Wales, one of eleven children [<I>two of whom died early</I>] of Grandfather and Grandmother Rowlands. Grandfather served in the Police as an Inspector</div> <bR> <div> After the war William returned to the motor industry as a salesman. On the outbreak of the Second World War he rejoined the RAF and served as C.O.in Kirkby , then an RAF supply station in Lancashire [<I>Peter did his `boot camp' there!</I>]. At the end of the war he was transferred to St. Athens in South Wales near Cardiff and later to Lords Bridge near Cambridge. He transferred from active service to civilian staff in 1946 but still working for the RAF, until he left the RAF in 1947. </div> <bR> <div> In his later life, after the RAF, he continued as a car salesman in Cambridge, and later Welwyn, Hertfordshire until he retired. He died in 1971.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> ~</div> <bR> <div> SEE PERSONAL PAGE <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#00FFFF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id186.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lt William Francis Woods"><U>LT WILLIAM WOODS</U></A></FONT> FOR FULL DETAILS, MAPS and LETTERS</div> <bR> <div> SOURCE / COPYRIGHT: Michael Woods, Peter Woods, sons of Lt William Woods</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0de1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2f775900.jpg" border=0 width="117" height="144" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <U> <A NAME="sgt_peter_wilson"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>Sgt Peter Kenneth Wilson</U></div> <bR> <div> <B>Sgt Peter Wilson,</B> 1252303 Australian. RAAF Obs Navigator. Sgt Wilsons family owned a large sheep station in Australia when he left home to join the war effort. Although Peter was also a pilot, he was told there were no immediate vacancies in Air Crew so he joined as an AC2 (GD).</div> <bR> <div> Crewed with pilot Sgt John Reid and Sgt Leonard White.</div> <bR> <div> On 09/09/1942 V5589 Blenheim MkIV piloted by Sgt John Reid was shot down by flak in a joint raid with 60 Squadron on the Port of Akyab, while bombing ships in the harbour. The vessel Niyo Maru ( D/S Hafthor) was successfully sunk. Their aircraft ditched about four miles west of Akyab  and Pilot Sgt Reid , Navigator Peter Wilson and WOp/Ag Len White were able to escape to their liferaft.  Amazingly, despite being severely wounded & nearly blinded, Sgt White was able to launch the dinghy and they drifted away from the sinking aircraft, heading for shore. The plan was to head to Cox's Bazaar which was at that time "patrol territory", hoping they'd meet an Allied patrol before a Japanese one.  In all they covered 17 miles in 22 hours before Arakanese villagers alerted the Japs to their progress up the Mayu. Upon capture, the three crew members were bound together and taken back to Akyab where they were temporarily held in a building along with the survivors of the ship they sank. From here they could see the sunken ship in the harbour.</div> <div> Wilson was separated from the others but Sgt Reid and Sgt White remained together so that Sgt Reid could dress his wounds.  </div> <bR> <div> Later,  they were flown in a Japanese bomber on 30/9/1942 to Rangoon Central Jail where they remained until released in 1945.</div> <bR> <div> Peter survived the Jap prison camps and returned to his fathers ranch, eventually deleloping his own. Peter continued to fly following the war but sadly was killed in 1956 when his private aircraft crashed and burnt. An investigation suggested that Peters dog, who flew with him, may have caused the crash. </div> <bR> <div> SOURCE: Sgt John Reid </div> <bR> <div> NOT COMPLETE</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0df1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="6c7b1f30.jpg" border=0 width="177" height="243" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <U> <A NAME="sgt____wilson"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>Sgt Johnny (Shorty) Wilson</U></div> <bR> <div> <B>Sgt John Wilson</B>, RAAF, WOp/Ag</div> <bR> <div> Known to have been on the 10/11/1942 shipping strike on Akyab.  Crew on this op was Sgt Harmshaw & Sgt Thomas. (NOTE: This Wilson can not be Sgt Peter Wilson as he was shot down on the 09/11/1942)</div> <bR> <div> Friend of Sgt Jack Barnes from the late 1942, and 1943 era at Asansol and Feni. All photos of Sgt Wilson from Jack's collection.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="6c98c000.jpg" border=0 width="396" height="512" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Sgt Johnny (Shorty Wilson RAAF WOp/Ag   </div> <div> Asansol or Feni 1942/43</div> <div> SOURCE Author Tony Day Air War over the Arakan</div> <div> PHOTO SOURCE: Sgt (W/O) Jack Barnes. See also crew photo in Photo Album section</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0de1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <U> <A NAME="lt_n__wilkin"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>Lt N. Wilkin</U>  <IMG SRC="3241d1d0.gif" border=0 width="29" height="29" ALT="poppy " ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>Lt N. Wilkin,</B>  SAAF.  (Wilkie)</div> <div> On the 20/12/1942 Blenheim BA622 Mk V was shot down by ground fire at Magwe. Lt N. Wilkin SAAF, F/Sgt Francis O'Neil,  F/Sgt Walter (Bluie) Thompson were all KIA</div> <bR> <div> Sgt John Reid:  We were close friends with Lt. Wilkins crew “Wilkie”;  “Danny” O’Neil and “Bluey” Thompson (red hair) who nicknamed Len White “The Tuan” which is Malay for headman or boss. Len was quite pleased with it until Bluey explained it was from rhyming slang “To and From” for POM. hence “Tuan”, as Len was the only POM among the 6 of us.</div> <bR> <div> J Chapman claims this was one of the original 18 crews that left the Middle East for Burma. He also state the crash took place 07/11/1042 but this is believed to be incorrect.</div> <bR> <div> Note also F/Lt Tony Day records F/Sgt F O'Neil as being F/O N Neil. Also a Sgt Neil RAAF is indicated to have posted in from 45 Sqd on 27/10/1942 and back out on 22/10/1942</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0df1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <U> <A NAME="wo_williams"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>W/O Williams</U></div> <bR> <div> <B>W/O Williams,</B> Welfare Officer. Palel August 1944 brings musical instruments from Calcutta to Squadron.</div> <div> SOURCE: F/O Pat Woodward Book, page 19<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0df1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <U> <A NAME="fsgt_j_williams"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>F/Sgt James D.L. Williams</U>  <IMG SRC="3241d1d0.gif" border=0 width="29" height="29" ALT="poppy " ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>F/Sgt James Daniel Lawrence Williams</B>,  1375160 Flight Sergeant (Obs.) United Kingdom, Age 22, Died 10/11/1942 , Son of James Daniel Williams, and of Jessie Williams, of Edmonton, Middlesex.</div> <bR> <div> Shot down on the 10/11/1942 shipping strike on Akyab.  Crew on this op was Sgt Stanley Mintern WOp/Ag. RAAF and pilot Sgt Allen RCAF.</div> <bR> <div> NOTE: Their is some confusion regarding the date and serial of this aircraft as detailed by Graham Warner who records 11/10/1942 V6491 Mk? Shot down by flak in raid on Akyab. W/O Conan T. Allen  (Canadian) , F/Sgt J. Williams , Sgt S. Mintern KIA.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" >  </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >NOTE ALSO: THE CWGC HAS THIS CREW INCORRECTLY LISTED AS 133 EAGLE SQUADRON which was a fighter squadron & never in the ME. (Hard to fit a crew of three in a Hurricane). </FONT></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>  <IMG SRC="0df1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <U> <A NAME="po____williams"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>P/O Phillip Williams</U></div> <bR> <div> <B>P/O Phillip Williams</B>, </div> <bR> <div> Corp Stan Harrison / Jim Newton advise that P/O Philip Williams is likely to be 'Willie' [but not to his face] Williams, pilot and squadron armaments officer, he left the squadron before action started, father was a vicar.</div> <bR> <div> Listed in S/Ldr Keily log as having flown with him June 1939 and again as F/O in October.</div> <bR> <div> First name Phillip obtained from P/O Michael Shekleton diary</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0de1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <U> <A NAME="sgt_g_woodroffe"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>Sgt Gordon Burrows Woodroffe</U>  <IMG SRC="3241d1d0.gif" border=0 width="29" height="29" ALT="poppy " ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>Sgt Gordon Burrows Woodroffe</B> 404047 Age 30, RAAF Obs, Brisbane QLD. Married to Elva Margret Woodroffe. Parents Harold Burrows, and Clara Eliza Woodroffe.  Gordon's wife Elva was on the Nursing staff at the General Hospital Brisbane.  Commemorated on panel 132 AWM</div> <bR> <div> 09/08/1941 V5990, Mk IV FTR shot down by friendly RAF night fighter off Mersa Matruh and crashed into the sea at Mersa Matruh Hollow during raid on Bardia. Sgt Gordon Woodroffe OBS, Sgt Greenless WOp/ Ag KIA, Sgt Sands the pilot survived.</div> <bR> <div> If the pilot had not survived, would anything have been said? I have often wondered how often this really happened. Nonetheless it is a profoundly sad tradgedy, a young married man with a family. What a waste.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0df1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="69022c50.jpg" border=0 width="290" height="453" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <U> <A NAME="fo_pat_g_woodward"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>F/O Pat G Woodward</U></div> <bR> <div> <B>F/O Pat G Woodward,</B>  Born the son of a regular soldier in 1925. Attended Duke of York's Military school in Dover from which he was hurriedly evacuated in May 1940 at the time of Dunkirk. He later, at a very young age went to work in a war factory in Norwich, Boulton & Paul, where he recalls several times dodging Hitler's bombs both at work and at home. While he downplays this, it was far from a distant, one-time incident. The plant was subjected to several bombing raids which caused numerous deaths and destruction and he continued to work throughout. On February 4th 1941 one of these bombs, a 250 Lb, landed in the backyard of his home with the resulting miracle that his home remained intact and family unharmed.</div> <bR> <div> In Feb 1942, only two months before his father died at age 47, he joined the RAFVR and began inital training at 30 EFTS. From here, on Sept 15 1943, he was posted overseas to complete his training and left England aboard the SS Llangibby Castle bound for Port Said Egypt. Here he spent a month roughing it in a transit camp near the Suez - Cairo road before boarding the RMS Highland Brigade which docked at Durban two weeks later. From Durban it was on to Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) by train finally ending at 28 EFTS at Mount Hampden near Sailsbury (Harare). Here nearly a year after signing on to the RAF, he finally began flying on Christmas 1943. After over 300 hours flying time between EFTS and SFTS he was awarded his wings in Sept 1944 and in testimony to his skills, was immediately awarded a commission. This however only led to more training at 73 OTU and he headed back to Fayid in the Suez Canal Zone. Training now became serious and he was introduced to the Republic Thunderbolt, the largest, heaviest, fastest single pistoned engined aircraft of the war. Surprisingly there were few accidents and he was passed out with a good report. Then followed yet more training in Jungle survival and Acclimatisation. Finally, after another period of brief flying training, he was posted to 113 Squadron which was then stationed near Meiktila. Here he became operational in 1945 flying P47 Thunderbolts and saw action mopping up Japanese resistance. It was however, to be short lived, and after 10 op's representing 30 hours in a ground attack role the war ended with the dropping of the second Atomic bomb on Japan. At the time the squadron was just getting ready for the invasion of Malaya known as Operation Zipper. </div> <bR> <div> The squadron was disbanded at Zayatkwin, near Rangoon in September 1945. Pat modestly states his only claim to fame is that he is probably the youngest surviving member of the 113.</div> <bR> <div> For a period of time afterward F/O Pat Woodward kicked about the Middle and far East, including a short stint with 20 Squadron before returning home on September 5th 1946. His 21st birthday!  Hard to believe, toured the world, learned to fly sophisticated fighter aircraft, went to war and returned home, all by the age of 21. Almost too incredible to believe.</div> <bR> <div> That is as much as I could get out of him personally, or dare steal from other sources. There is a very good, detailed article about F/O Pat Woodward in the Feb 2005 issue of Flypast magazine. Pat is also the author of a well written and researched book on the 113 Squadron complete with pictures and inserts of various memorabalia. The time and effort he has put into this undertaking is difficult to imagine and entirely at his own cost.  It is a valuable historical reference document and he has made it freely available to the 113 veterans and their families. We all owe him a great deal for this selfless effort to keep the memory of the Squadron alive. His book has been a constant companion and of immense help in the development of this web site. </div> <bR> <div> Pat is also a founder of the 113 Web Site, his substantial contributions helping launch the site in 2004.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0df1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <U> <A NAME="sgt_errol_wright"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>Sgt Errol Wright</U></div> <bR> <div> <B>Sgt Errol Wright,</B>  SAAF, Pilot Blenheim's. Home Durban South Africa.</div> <bR> <div> Crew on Ops while with 113 Squadron were Sgt Keith Hansen and Sgt Jack Curtis. No other details known.</div> <bR> <div> Sgt Keith Hansen kindly provided the following: Errol Wright our pilot on 113Sqd was a South African and came from Durban, he was 21 years when we were first as a crew. When 113 broke up and went to India he joined a South African fighter Squadron. I met him once later when they were based on the landing ground in Egypt where Jack and I were based with 14Sqd. I know that he survived the war as when we had a reunion of Empire Air crew in 1980 at Perth Western Australia I met some South Africans who knew him and he was still flying.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0df1c1d0.gif" border=0 width="28" height="29" ALT="RAF Roundel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm" TITLE="( T to W )"><U><IMG SRC="22932320.gif" border=0 width="50" height="50" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id29_m.htm" TITLE="( T to W )"><U> </U></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id29_m.htm" TITLE="( T to W )"><U>BACK TO TOP</U></A></div> </td> </tr></table></body>