My Grandfather (Sgt Jack Love) joined 101 Sq' when they were first equipped with the Mk1c Wellington variant (as they moved to join 7 Sq's Stirlings at Oakington, Cambridge); after a few months, they re-equipped with Mk111's and moved to Oakington's satellite airfield, Bourn, Cambs - and his story really takes hold when they were flying to Mannheim, May 20th, 1942, but suffered engine failure and were forced down in Mezieres, France. From there, the entire crew walked to the Swiss border (aided, naturally, by French partisans) - the pilot (Sgt John Beecroft) & front gunner (Sgt Henry Hanwell) swam to freedom, the W/O (Sgt Bradley) sadly drowned attempting to cross the river, and my Grandfather and the tail-gunner (Sgt Alec Crighton) were quickly caught by German border guards as they crept further along the banks, trying to find a shallower place to wade across, neither of them swimmers... They were to spend the rest of the war at Sagan (Stalag Luft 111, as I'm sure you'll know) and latterly elsewhere as the Allies closed in. The pilot and gunner, however, shared high adventure as they were smuggled back into France and down Deane-Drummond's famous escape line, to rendezvous with a trawler off Lyon, and thence home to England. I have the whole hand-written story, a publisher interested - and thereby hangs a wistful appeal...
Is it remotely possible that there might still be any other 101 aircrew/groundcrew survivors out there from this period? Or might someone possibly have any photographs from those days? I'd love to hear from anyone, regardless...
Nice quest. I hope you get more info. On this site I bet you will.
I have nothing but a couple of photos of my Uncle Ken, a Flight Lieutenant, DFC in 101 Squadron. He and his crew, I understand, came through safely. I'm not sure if the Wimpy one is 101 though.
I'm not very good at attaching photos, but, here goes.
Phil
It didn't work but I will try and send a pic to the site
The Lanc' crew pic is obviously after mt Grandfather's time on 101 (post late-42, at least?), but he might've had fun trying to ID the Wimpey crew. The barrack shot is really clear, eh? Sums up the time & atmosphere superbly!
Thanks for posting them up - very welcome...
'Manxix' - any connection with Ellan Vannin (Isle of Man, to the innocent!)?
1st Pic - 6 crew of 8. An extra was used as special radio operator on 101 1nd 102 squadrons. Ken -pilot-3rd from left. Supplier of photographs - navigator - 4th from left. 2nd pic/3rd pic - Thought you'd like this. Cartoons courtesy of Rex Polendine (bottom of cartoon). As seen in hangar display at East Kirkby. Ken's brother Bobbie was navigator on IX squadron and some of his effects are in the IX squadron display in the hangar at East Kirkby. 4th pic BIG VERSION of 1st pic ! Shows how good I am at this (NOT) 5th pic - Training crew at ? crew less Ken and 2 others. 6th pic - Luxury accommodation at ?
Thanks for the info' on the pix - you're doing incredibly well at uploading them (my missus can't - and she's fifty-odd! )
Absolutely love the Isle of Man - if I had the choice, I'd live there (mate of mine is refurbing a hotel off Cenral Promenade, Douglas - wish I was in with it...). I get over as often as possible & doss in that 'building site'!
My family had the Welbeck from 1947 and it is still going under new management and includes the 2 hotels above. All 3 in the block are now the Welbeck.
The Manningham (opposite Castle Mona) - it's currently semi-derelict, though he's owned it for the last six years (I introduced him to IoM, and he fell in love with the place & bought up the building for a project!). Trouble is, he's an Essex-based jobbing builder and gets very little time to do much more than sort out essentials and planning, etc. It'll get done, one day...
