Anyone know of these guys?

Justplanedave · Warrant Officer

Anyone know of these guys?

Linda · Air Commodore

Hi-Are these men RAF or RCAF?

Justplanedave · Warrant Officer

My apologies Linda, thanks. I had some problems posting the message so after retyping a few times, I guess I left out a few details.

Yes they are Canadian and RCAF. They may have served RAF overseas but I don't know. I have found out, not sure to what extent for sure, that this J.MELLON may have been an Instructor at several BCATP bases before going overseas, possibly in 1944 and flew the Spitfire - squadron unknown. I haven't ben able to trace anything by his service number.

I posted the request here as TRIBE was Navigator, RCAF unknown on what, when and where. Couldn't think of too many Navigator's serving in Fighter Squadrons!.

The last one R.S.A. MORTON, all I know is that he was a Sqaudron leader, and his unifrom did not have Canada flashes so he may have served on Canadian soil. His uniform is dated 1940 (the wings are missing too).

Any assistance would be appreciated, or information as to where else to attempt some research with this limited information would be very helpful.
Thanks,
Dave

Linda · Air Commodore

Hi Dave,
I think I have found Morton-actually born in UK in 1908(if it is him) but served in Canada
Could you e mail me and i will send you the page on him

Justplanedave · Warrant Officer

Sure Linda, but how do you send a PM on this site?

Justplanedave · Warrant Officer

Thanks for the help so far.
I have found out a bit more information that may help in finding out more about the service of these guys.
If you can provide any more information or steer me in the right direction now that I have Service Numbers for all of them, it would be much appreciated. I am hoping to find out Squadrons, service units etc. Pictures would be fabulous!!

Thanks,
Dave

F/O J. R. MELLON J.27775 was an Instructor in the BCATP until he went overseas to fly Spitfires - Squadron unknown. (Believed to have passed away in 2007). May have signed many logbooks during his days as an Instructor.
Hoping to find out what Squadron to track down the ORB's.

S/Ldr P.S.A MORTON (not R.S.A. as mentioned previously) C.3124 served in Canada - likely never went overseas - was in the Aeronautical Engineering Branch - (not sure if he was a pilot or not - no wings on uniform) (With an early service #, likely also passed away)

F/O E.A. TRIBE J.28910 - Navigator - served in Canada in the Special Reserve - I don't believe he went overseas. (Believed to have passed away in 2008)

P.S. Thanks Linda for the page of MORTON's you sent me. The guy I am looking in to has a number of C3124. The one you believed he may be has a number of J3649. I now have a list of RCAF staff up to Oct 1, 1944 - both these Mortons amonst many others are listed.

alieneyes · Group Captain

This might help you a bit:

S/Ldr P.S.A MORTON was a St Andrew's College old boy on active service in 1943

http://www.archive.org/stream/msstandrewscolle1943stanuoft/msstandrewscolle1943stanuoft_djvu.txt

http://www.sac.on.ca/

Founded the Philip S.A. Morton Scholarship at St Andrews

I am sure contacting the school will lead to some further information

F/ E.A. TRIBE, navigator:

http://www.canada411.ca/res/9056394663/E-A-Tribe/82561258/Map.html

Not saying it's him but without first names it's a bit difficult.

I could find no obituary for either Tribe or Mellon

Justplanedave · Warrant Officer

Alieneyes,

I owe you huge!!!
I have been trying to seek out some information of these guys just out of curiosity, and if I could speak with them great. Once I got word he had passed away, I guess I changed what I was looking for. Normally 411 is first on my list. I neglected. it this time. Anyway, I just got of the phone with Ed Tribe - obviously he hadn't passed away as I was told - he recently turned 93! I had to ask if the the man I was speaking to was E.A. Tribe the WW2 Veteran as he sounds like 60! I will be meeting with him next week to chat about his service.

Funny thing too - he worked with my dad many many years ago. (My dad is only 69 though) - guess my age is coming out now too.

Once again - my sincere thanks!

Dave.

Thank you all on this website. The information and the networking is great.

P.S. I got word from the author Ted Barris that MELLON had passed away. He indicated he would dig into his interviews with him to forward some information to me. I hope that will help settle my curiosity.

alieneyes · Group Captain

Dave,

Glad it panned out. Never underestimate the power of the phonebook.

I called a 98 year old Halifax gunner a few months ago. He asked me to write him a letter because his hearing was going.

And what a memory on him!

Dave

-- Edited by alieneyes on Saturday 17th of October 2009 01:40:36 AM

Date: Feb 12, 2013

No idea if this thread is still open, but regarding J Mellon I had the pleasure of meeting Jeff Mellon whilst visiting Canada back in 1993. If its of interest I'll dig out the letters and other papaerwork I had from him. From memory he was a professional baseball player before the war. He then did pilot training and was posted in Canada as an instructor. He is credited in the book 'Behind the Glory', which details the vital work of the Empire Training schools in Canada during WW2. In 1944 he was posted to Europe serving with (I think) 402 Squadron RCAF, flying Spitfire XIV's. Back in 1993 I purchased his Irvin flying jacket, and he kindly provided some copy photo's of him wearing it in Holland towards the end of the War, sitting in his Spitfire and standing by the prop. Happy to post these if they would be of interest. Cheers.

Justplanedave · Warrant Officer

Hello,

Been away from here for a while, just came back to this posting. Anonymous, if you have a photo of Jeff Mellon, I'd love to see on. I happen to have his Officers hat, which says Centralia inside so I assume this one may not have gone overseas with him, and if it did, it came home in pretty good shape.

Thanks,

Dave

RE: see below.....

No idea if this thread is still open, but regarding J Mellon I had the pleasure of meeting Jeff Mellon whilst visiting Canada back in 1993. If its of interest I'll dig out the letters and other papaerwork I had from him. From memory he was a professional baseball player before the war. He then did pilot training and was posted in Canada as an instructor. He is credited in the book 'Behind the Glory', which details the vital work of the Empire Training schools in Canada during WW2. In 1944 he was posted to Europe serving with (I think) 402 Squadron RCAF, flying Spitfire XIV's. Back in 1993 I purchased his Irvin flying jacket, and he kindly provided some copy photo's of him wearing it in Holland towards the end of the War, sitting in his Spitfire and standing by the prop. Happy to post these if they would be of interest. Cheers.

Date: Nov 29, 2015

Hi only just flicked back into this thread after some time. Will sort the photo's of Jeff out over Christmas as they are stored away. He's wearing his peaked cap in at least one of the wartime photo's, so it could well be the one you now have. Wartime economies being what they were I don't know if he could afford to have more than one.

Justplanedave · Warrant Officer

Thanks for the reply! I too had been away from this site, but after seeing your post several years latter, I have been checking everyday - with fingers crossed!

I would love to see some photos of him - if not too much trouble - might they be scanned in high res so I could print one off to frame and display beside his hat? Any chance you could post the photos of his jacket too?

Should you have a letter with his signature you may be able to part with, please let me know daveandmichele99@gmail.com

I have some scans of the ORB's listing his missions in 402 Sqn. Let me know if you are interested in those.

Glad to hear from you again.....

Date: Dec 2, 2015

Hi Dave, no problem at all I'll scan in anything I have from Jeff. My scanner was only bought last year, so hopefully the quality should be pretty decent. He kindly let me have 3 wartime copy photo's and I took one of him wearing the Irvin back in 1993 on the day it passed to me. I've never worn it, just kept it a s a treasured memento. As such its pretty much as I bought it from him. As well as the photo's I have a few letters from him (I was living in Canada at the time), providing snippets of his career, so I'll scan those in too. Good to see Jeffs memory is being preserved, albeit on different continents!....assuming of course you're in Canada. Cheers Tim

Justplanedave · Warrant Officer

Hello Tim, And thank you. Yes different Continents, living here in Canada.

Shoot me an email when you have a moment, in the meantime I will get going on scanning the 402 ORB's and email them to you - or mail hard copies if you like.

Dave

Date: Apr 19, 2017

Hi Dave, apologies for taking a time to sort this. I've tried attaching some photo's here of Jeff taken at Heesch Holland in 1945, but I can't get it to work. To note his spitfire Euphraeda was a mythical goddess of all things beautiful. I've also scanned a photo taken in 1993 just before I acquired Jeffs Irvin jacket. I will also send copies of Jeffs letters to your email.

johnpavvo · Aircraftsman 1st Class

hello everyone.
how are you.