Crew Information

floydhayden · Leading Aircraftsman

Crew Information

Date: Aug 27, 2008

Hey, mate,

You can obtain you fathers ORB's (Operational Records Book ,ie: each and every operation and flight crew detail from the National Archives in Kew, England.

You can obtain these details online, they will quote you a fee but keep in mind, if the fee is 200 dollars instead of, say 30 dollars, like with any government orginisation, just ring back and try someone else. ( trust me, from what I've heard, this happens ) All you need to do is give them your fathers approx: start date and finish dates, if known.

I believe its well worth it.

Best of Luck,
John

Date: Aug 27, 2008

Have you access to 'The East Moor Experience' 1942-1946 by Brian Shields ISBN 1 900604 01 9 ?

pp276 lists a crew of F/O V Johnston (Buckley - nav , Smith - bomb aimer , Titus - w/op , Wilburn - m/u , Scarffe - r/g and Gibson - f/e) .

Although Shields has chosen not to list all crew members by operation he names crew captains - Johnston - and identifies a/c serial number and squadron i/d . For example Johnston flew NP695 'K' when East Moor despatched 32 Haifaxes to Bremen 18 August 1944 .

Does this fit in with the details you already have ?

jettisoning

floydhayden · Leading Aircraftsman

Thanks very much for your quick response. These names confirm the ones that I have: Verdun Johnston, Jim Buckley, Bob Smith, Bruce Scarff, "Shorty" Wilburn, Pete Gibson and my Dad, John S. Titus. I got the names from a squadron photo that I purchased on eBay that once belonged to the pilot. Quite remarkable that it ended up in my hands!

Is it possible to find out whatever happened to these men?

I just recently read about "The East Moor Experience" that you mentioned. Will have to find a copy somewhere. My Dad's last log book entry with 432 Squadron was August 5, 1944, so he was not in on the Bremmen op that you cited in your example. There are a few entries in September 1944 at 24 OTU Honeybourne, one of which as an instructor. I am guessing he finished his tour and came home shortly after that.

Another question ... My Dad spent several months (May to August 1943) at 21 Squadron Oulton and September 1943 at 21 Squadron Hartford Bridge. His pilot at that squadron was Sgt. Bristow. Does anyone have any info on him and/or the crew that Dad flew with from that squadron?

I should probably order the ORB's from that squadron, too!

Thanks very much for your help!!

Date: Aug 29, 2008

i went back to 'East Moor Experience' to see what i could find .

did your father fly with other pilots whilst with 432 Sq ??? F/O V Johnston did not fly a complete tour of ops with your father apparently .

F/O V Johnston seemingly continues to fly to the end of September 1944 at least .

one of the first mentions of his name is related to D-Day ops 06 06 44 in MZ660 'J' - was your father on this one ?

on another occasion 17 06 44 whilst flying in LW596 'D' 'F/O Johnston and crew had the experience of being fired on by another Halifax crew which was at the time flying approximately fifty yards ahead of LW596' .

is this kind of information at all useful ?

floydhayden · Leading Aircraftsman

Hi ... Yes, according to his logbook, he was in on both of the ops that you mentioned. The D-Day op was to Coutance, and the 17 06 44 was to Oisemont.
I didn't realize the crew was fired upon by another Halifax! It is nice that this book contains the aircraft serial number, as Dad's logbook only shows the letter.

No, he didn't fly a full tour with F/O Johnston. By my count, he flew 19 missions at 432 Squadron with him. Dad had spent time with 21 Squadron in 1943, and flew a number of ops with Sgt. Bristow as pilot.

Have ordered the the East Moor book from Amazon and am waiting for an estimate from the National Archives regarding the ORB's from both squadrons.

Thanks to everyone for their help!

floydhayden · Leading Aircraftsman

Just a follow-up...

When dealing with the National Archives in the U.K., has anybody ever received this response:

"This item could not be copied: Document not available for estimate"

This is a little disappointing. Do I just keep trying?

Or is there some place in Canada where these can be viewed/ordered?

ALLYOOP · Flight Lieutenant

Hello,
Save your money, I mistakenly had the 432 squadron microfilm scanned to Tiff's this past January (I thought the film number was 434 microfilm), costly error.
I just went through DVD and have at least 30 of your father's missions (ORB's) very good legible condition.
"Contact me" at this web site www.rcaf434squadron.com

Alan

-- Edited by ALLYOOP at 15:30, 2008-09-13

-- Edited by ALLYOOP at 15:31, 2008-09-13

Natalen · Flying Officer

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