I am trying to put together a history of my family and am seeking help with some of the details of my father's and mother's history during their service during the war. My father, who passed away in November 2010, was Flight Sergeant Pilot Paul Michael Ashpitel, DFM, 1378365, RAFVR. He did two tours: with 40 squadron from October 1941 to August 1942, and; 514 squadron from its inception at Foulsham (then Waterbeach) in September 1943 until end-April 1944. He was also an instructor between these two tours and until being demobbed after his Lancaster tour. It was at RAF Waterbeach (514 squadron) that he met and married my mother, Dorothy Rose Jackson, who was a WAAF there. I would be very grateful for any information on his activities with either squadron. So far, 514 sqdn association have kindly provided me with ORB entries for some of his missions with 514. I have no ORB entries for 40 squadron. As I say, any information would be greatly appreciated.
http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/s49.html Found another site from the 40 Sqn. They might be able to give you some more personal details about your father.
http://www.wartimememories.co.uk/airfields/waterbeach.html This site has a lot of stories about the WAAF and a lot of pictures too.
Thank you again for your help. I've taken a look at both sites and will probably add 'my' story to each one. My next step is the 514 squadron museum at Waterbeach and possibly their reunion later this year.
My father flew with Michael Ashpitel on 40 Squadron. He is living in Wales has some record sheets and also a couple of photographs of Michael which would be of major interest to you. He would be very happy to send these to you if you could supply a postal address. My father's name is John Tipton and his email address is:
john.tipton@btinternet.com
He has tried to submit a post on this website but does not seem to have got through and so has asked me to have a go. My name is Anne Banks and my email address is banks@grapevine.com.au
I came across your post whilst looking for my birth father Louis Roche. Louis gave his address as 1 Inverness Gardens in London in the year that I was born, in 1949. According to the electoral roll of that year, your father Paul Michael Ashpitel was also living at that address that year. Unfortunately Louis himself was not registered as living there but gave this address on my birth certificate. He gives his profession as "garage mechanic".
At this point I must explain that he and my mother never married and that she never told anyone about who my father was. I have two photos of Louis, one of him as a very young man in uniform. After much searching I have found that this is a RAF uniform but without a squadron number I can't find him.
My question now is, could there be any information in any of your father's effects that might include this name.
As you can imagine, I would greatly appreciate your help.
Hi My 514squadronraf friend I am also tracking here. Maybe Tony Ashpitel could be contacted through is MP under is "Fleximaster" link above. He could be hold pictures or logbook is not it? As you know, HC Bryant was in his father's crew. Roger
