Bomb-Aimer friends

manxix · Squadron Leader

RE: Bomb-Aimer friends

manxix · Squadron Leader

Missed a bit.

Following the debacle of the new Lancasters, the Station C.O. took them OFF OPS !
He made them train for quite a while, - possibly landings ?

Phil

Date: Oct 15, 2009

I've never heard of the term "Lindy" but from the date (June '45) and the place names referenced it would appear that this flight may have been what was usually referred to as a "Cook's Tour" wherein ground crew, etc. were taken on overflights of the Continent to see the results of their wartime efforts. Many of these sorts of flights were undertaken after V-E day well into the summer of '45. At least that's one possible explanation ...

Date: Oct 15, 2009

Harry Taylor Doniger was english, perhaps he had some relative in USA, but I do not know .
I must say that some relative of his crew came to the ceremony.Notably the brother of Duggan.
I remember too of Gerry Weightman who was at the time in 101 Squadron, he came with the C/O W/C Hollis.
Do you know them ?
and is Ken Fillingham still with us ???
Alain.

alieneyes · Group Captain

Phil,

Many thanks for the stories and the biographical details.

I see Ken was at 28 OTU. This is where he would have met up with the majority of his crew (Flight engineer came later). In June of 1943 28 OTU moved from Wymeswold to Ossington while cement runways were poured

I know of several crews (in the spring of 1944 timeframe) who left OTU and went to the next step in the process, the Heavy Conversion Unit, and because there weren't enough Lancasters to spare for training purposes, were converted on the Halifax.

Following that it was a one week stay at an LFS, Lancaster Finishing School, for actual time on the machines they were going to fly.

No. 1 LFS was at RAF Hemswell. It's from here that I see a vast majority of the 101 crews I've researched were then posted to 101 Sqn.

And just before his "Lindy" entry we see that he was at 1656 HCU which was at RAF Lindholme in Yorkshire. As aircrew who had finished their first tour I can see that he was perhaps sent here as an instructor.

Dave

-- Edited by alieneyes on Friday 16th of October 2009 06:21:59 AM

alieneyes · Group Captain

Hi Alain,

Yes, I know Gary Weightman quite well. While he still edits the 101 Squadron Association newsletter (101 Matters!) he no longer flies on the squadron out of Brize. I don't know a W/C Hollis. It seems there is a new OC 101 every year. I will ask Gary about this event.

I am told that Ken Fillingham is still alive but does not attend the 101 Squadron reunions. I have never met the man.

I do have a four page article from an Australian magazine written by P/O Adrian Marks, the ABC man on the Fillingham crew. It has photos of the entire crew and describes some of their hairier missions.if you are interested in seeing it I can email it to you.

My email is alieneyesATyahooDOTcom, replacing the obvious.

Dave

Date: Feb 15, 2010

Thank you for posting the information on F/O James Hubert Mason J14624, 1660 C.U., Swinderby crashed January 31, 1944, died February 1, 1944 along with his full crew. James was my uncle and my mother is the oldest sibling.

Any additional information would be greatly appreciated

tanlizard@hotmail.com

manxix · Squadron Leader

Hi
I've only just gone to the beginning of this forum, having joined in somewhat later.
You've probably thought of this, but, have you tried East Kirkby for the Panton you mention?
He just might be the brother of the 2 Panton farmers who have prepetuated his memory by restoring and running that wonderful Lancaster "Just Jane."

PhilC

manxix · Squadron Leader

That was supposed to have gone to the beginning of this forum as an answer to the first input!

Date: Apr 4, 2010

My uncle was F/O Stuart Marvin Preston who John Neal refers to in his post of 2009. He was a member of 431 Sqn and was indeed lost on his second operation on 12/13 May 44, the target was Louvain, Belgium. I would be very interested to contact John Neal. I can be reached at jdpresto@magma.ca

PBT · Corporal

Have just found this forum while looking for 101 squadron info.

My dad Keith Grahame Thompson DFC was Ken's navigator !!

Photo shows the full crew less the ABC operator, P/O Pete Skingley DFC & the engineer, F/Sgt Charlie Cole DFM
from left to right:
F/Sgt Joe Welsh DFM - Rear gunner
P/O Dick Gundy DFC - Bomb aimer
P/O Ken Corkill DFC - Pilot
P/O Keith Thompson DFC - Navigator
F/Sgt Les Swales DFM - Mid upper gunner
F/Sgt Charlie Manser DFM - Wireless operator

Don't know who's face it is just discernible in the tail gunners position.
I will sort out some of the other docs/photos that are in various boxes!

Paul

-- Edited by PBT on Thursday 12th of August 2010 03:42:25 AM

PBT · Corporal

Hi Parky,

Details of 23.5.43 Lanc A - Ops A/C Missing

are on this site http://www.lostbombers.co.uk/bomber.php?id=6630

http://www.bomber-command.info/101sc.htm lists 101 sqdn aircraft by their alpha codes

Paul

manxix · Squadron Leader

Dave

I've just recalled a little "story" told to me by Ken.
He was stationed somewhere near Brighton and one evening he was strolling the seafront when he heard glass crashing and lots of shouting. There were lots of heads sticking out of windows of one hotel and shouting, the main gist of this was "go on then y'barstard, fly!"
FROM THE FIRST FLOOR.
It turns out that an RAF guy had been "shooting a line" to a bunch of ?Aussies? in the bar and they had had enough and decided to see if the fellow was as good as his word about flying, only without his kite!
They didn't open the window first.
He got up and ran away.

Phil
Another line? He can't have been the only person to see this happen.

Date: Mar 19, 2011

My Nans husband was in squadron 101 who came down 1st Juliy 1944 in Massey. My mum and dad went to the 60th anniversary and went on to Saint Doulchard war graves. I have a post card from that anniverisary. My Nans husband was RB Daniels.

Date: Mar 19, 2011

There is an old gentleman called Bernard who wrote a book about the war. I believe he lived in Massey and saw the plane come down with his mother. On that 60th anniversary Bernard returned a cigerette box to my mother that belonged to her mother husband RB Daniels. Bernard saw this plane crash as a small boy and from what i gather the villagers went out to see the wreakage.

I have the translated part of the book that tells the story of what happen in Vierzon. My mother has lots of diaries and belongings of Dannys, from flight info to sketchs he draw of my nan, (he was an architect before joining the RAF).

It is very interesting to read these posts because i understood they were on secret mission so it is difficult to come across any information about there missions.

Date: Jul 2, 2011

My Uncle is SGT P G Eames that was on the Il fated flight as the Navigator, we do not have any of his history but are applying for records to see if we can find anything, My Parents visited the War cemetry where he is buried some years back but my sister and I have recently been searching for further information after my Father read some books relating to 101 Sqn, will let you know if we find anything relavent

Brian

Date: Jul 2, 2011

re prevous post it was in regard to SR-A w4919, the same arecraft as SGT J Park was in,

B

Date: Apr 14, 2014

Alain Charpentier, My wife is the niece of one of the Air Gunners on DV301 and was killed in action on 1 July 1944 when the plane crashed. Do you still have pieces of the wreckage.

Date: Apr 30, 2014

Mike: I only recently saw your post. I would love a pdf copy of a Bomb Aimer's Training Manual. If you wouldn't mind sending it to me at r-o-f-u-l @sympatico.ca (just eliminate the hyphens for the address proper. I'd very much appreciate it.

Date: Nov 27, 2018

I am trying to find out more about Ken Fillingham - I worked with him at Kidlington in the late 70's, early 80's

rfk787@gmail.com

alieneyes · Group Captain

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https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/10325993.Honour_at_last_for_RAF_crews/