115 Squadron, Witchford. Aircrew members 1944

Permalink · Date: Dec 18, 2009

115 Squadron, Witchford. Aircrew members 1944

DNG332 · Leading Aircraftsman

Being now an approved member of this most worthwhile forum may I clear the 'anonymous' tag.

John

alieneyes · Group Captain

Hi John,

I take it you have the names and crew positions of all eight aboard this Lancaster when she was lost?

Is it possible this is the "pilot G Noble" you are looking for?:

http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2667945

Regards,

Dave

DNG332 · Leading Aircraftsman

Hello Dave,

Thank you for your interest. The following is where I am at :

My uncle (F/Sgt John Fenwick) was a W.OP on 115 sqdn and his aircraft was shot down by an American ground battery whilst returning from a raid on Vohwinkel on 1st Jan 1945 with the sad loss of all (8) crew members. I have been fortunate to have made contact with the relatives of the pilot, 2nd Pilot and one of the Air Gunners (Sqdn Ldr Mills, RAF; Flt Sgt J Sterling RNZAF; F/Sgt J McLeod, RCAF) and have photos of six of the crew. My aim is to get photographs of the other crew members, and to make contact with surviving personnel (aircrew and groundcrew) who might remember my uncle and his pals and perhaps have such photos or associated memrobelia. I would welcome contact with the personnel or their relatives of those listed below all of whom served with 115 squadron during WW2.

The first three personnel shown below were crew members of my uncle and were therefore also lost on 1/1/45.

P/O Gordon Long (Navigator)RAAF, F/O Joseph Donald Booth (Air Bomber)RAF(VR) &, Sgt Charles David Bassett (Flt Engineer) RAF(VR).

Also, the following personnel flew as part of the crew on several occasions prior to but excluding that fatal flight.

Flt Sgt LJ Carter (Air Gunner); Flt Lt FJ Keddility (Pilot); Sgt G Noble (Pilot).

Regards, John

AW · Air Commodore

John,
Have you tried accessing Long's RAAF service file. It states he was from Hawthorne, Brisbane and shows his address at time. A search in the Aussie telephone directory for that district gives 4 Longs.
Alan.

-- Edited by AW on Sunday 20th of December 2009 04:57:42 AM

DNG332 · Leading Aircraftsman

Alan,

Thank you very much. I will certainly follow up on that.

Regards and Happy Christmas,

John

David Layne · Squadron Leader

My uncle was a pilot with 115 Squadron from July to December 1944. I am keen to learn more of his tour with this squadron and would appreciate any help.

DNG332 · Leading Aircraftsman

Hi there. First of all, my apologies for the length of time taken to respond to your message but I have not been on the site for ages due to pressure of work.

However, I would be happy to help if you are still 'asking'. A start would be to give me your uncles name and as much other info as you can. I have the 'diaries' which concerned my uncle and crew and should be able to spot your uncle there if that is any help.

Where do you live by the way? I ask this before 'rattling on' about sources of info!

John

Permalink · Date: May 18, 2013

Hello. My grandfather was part of squadron 115 Witchford. He was a flight engineer and his name was Raymond Turberville. Could anyone help with any information regarding this squadron and anyone who knows anyone else who might have known him or part of the same squadron? Many thanks.

DNG332 · Leading Aircraftsman

Hi, there are many sources of information available, this site of course, The National Archives at Kew (check website for a good overview of what they hold), the 115 sqn museum at what used to be RAF Witchford (http://wikimapia.org/2233548/Former-RAF-Witchford), Sgt Don Bruces website (http://www.darleys.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/dad/) are all good start points.

Should you choose to find out more about your grandfathers service, you will find that there are many people who will be happy to assist (God bless 'em!).

Good luck, regards, John

Permalink · Date: May 18, 2013

Thanks so much John. Its only when they're gone you wonder why you didn't ask them face to face while they were alive.

I will definitely look into the links you have provided.

Many thanks again.

Permalink · Date: May 29, 2013

My uncle, Felix Milton Burrows was a po (RAAF) in squadron 115 that came down in dortmund on November 15 1944. Anyone with information about this would be most welcomed.

Gavin Wilkinson

Perth Australia

Permalink · Date: Oct 7, 2013

Hello,

Whilst I can't comment directly upon your grandfather's time with bomber command, I did have the privilege of working with him (he was my boss) in the Home Office Prison Dept in the early to mid 1980s. He often talked of his time as a Lancaster flight engineer, and it was clear that it was a, if not the defining period of his working life - hardly surprising really. He had a healthy disrespect for petty, pompous authority, brought about, I imagine, by the fact that as a young man he had done more and taken far greater risks than some of those who now had authority over him.

He rarely talked about the operational nature of his missions, though I do recall some tale of being in an aircraft that was obliged to land without landing gear (that may not have been a Lancaster - possibly a Stirling?). Another tale that I recall was of him and a crewmate wrestling in the back of a Lancaster and someone nearly falling through the open bomb bay doors.

He also told great tales of the drinking exploits he and his crewmates got up to, in fact he probably talked at least as much about these as anything else. He was a jovial, amiable man, and forever teasing the long-suffering ladies of the typing pool who sat next door to us in the office, but at the same time commanded great respect for his unrivalled technical knowledge. Back in those days, one could go for a drink at lunchtime without it being frowned upon, and I can recall many jolly lunchtimes in the Devonshire Arms with Ray and others. He was one of those characters one encounters who are never forgotten, because they add colour to your life. I remember fondly the time I worked with him, and I'm very pleased to have known him.

adneycandy · Aircraftsman 1st Class

He often talked of his time as a Lancaster flight engineer, and it was clear that it was a, if not the defining period of his working life - hardly surprising really. He had a healthy disrespect for petty, pompous authority, brought about, I imagine, by the fact that as a young man he had done more and taken far greater risks than some of those who now had authority over him.