Apologies Barnsley, I see one of my siblings has been in touch already - I did not know, if you still have the informaton you e-mailed to MW a copy would be appreciated.

Let me know about the Nordland notes.

Regards

Andrew

Sgt Wilkie was the WOP in the crew of F/Lt Mansfield. The crew arrived on 166 Squadron on the 27/02/1945 and flew at least 11 operations before the end of the war. I will send you an email. B

Dear John, 

I thought you may be interested to see this, perhaps you have a copy? It is a transcript (created myself) from the original of  Harry's last letter home prior to his plane going missing? 

Harry's letter home.... 25th November 1944

My dearest Mother and Father, 

It is hard to believe I think so much of you, and write so little, yet that I do think so very highly of you I'm sure you doubt not and that I write little is a well proven fact. 

Often my excuse for not writing you, has been I am busy doing 'this and that', but during these last two months, I cannot claim to have been too busy. What then, you will be wondering is the excuse this time!

This time, my Dears, there is no excuse, only a few words about the boy your reared. 

I am sure you will know that for sometime past, I have been doing a little to cause death and destruction in the 'Hinterland' indeed, like many "proud" parents, I fear you may be inclined to stick out your chest and say "Ah! Our Harry is knocking Hell out of them' but alas! Don't be proud, say nothing and pray. Yes! Honestly pray to God that such works of man, may be forgiven. 

Never have I failed to carry out any orders indeed, I anxiously await each coming trip, and I don't think I have ever been, what is generally described as being afraid, but sitting high in the air, watching Hell break loose thousands of feet below, I never fail to utter "God forgive us, for we know not what we do!"

Yes they are Germans and no doubt given the chance they would have done it to us, but unfortunately this is little compensation and certainly no satisfaction to my human feelings. 

Somewhere down there, there is a boy who must love his parents, brothers and sisters as I love mine, and somewhere also, is a man and woman married and as much in love as Betty and I. 

Is it right then to expect that besides doing the job as ordered, I should find great delight in it. How well Burns could have answered that!!

Some years ago, no, only a little over a year ago, I remember telling you Father that I could not understand people hating their parents. Your reply was "you don't understand that, because you never had a Mother and Father, only a big Sister and Brother" How often these words come back to me, each time more beautiful and significant, each time proven more true. 

Remembering all that has been, that day I was dragged back to school, the smacks I used to get which hurt the giver more than the receiver, the many trips I had in the 'wood lorry' the time the man 'murdered' David and the million and one other things - can I be expected to feel the glory of causing death and destruction to others who may or may not have enjoyed the comfort of being well loved and cared for. 

Am I soft hearted? Surely one is not soft hearted, merely because he has no desire to kill? 

Writing you, of late, has been a toss up between a lie and the truth. The truth has at last won, but my head is not bowed. 

Many there are who say "kill every man, woman and child in Germany" - how many, I wonder, would take hold of a German child and plunge a dagger into it's heart. Few, I am sure, I wish I could meet some of our handsome and brave types who feel so blood thirsty whilst drinking their nightly pint. 

Whatever people may say, whatever they may think enlighten them not, as to what your 'brave son' is doing. God knows there is too much to be forgiven. 

And why has man the will and power to make his fellows mourn?

God willing I will be going on leave a week come Tuesday, so you will be, at long last, having two more to feed for a few days. Two more did I say? Four more, as Riggs and Curley are coming too for their leave. 

You won't be able to give them a bed, but will you arrange for them to sleep somewhere, say at the Crowne and have their meals, all of them, at home. Now there is no use saying this and that, they know they will have to sleep out for two or three nights, so that is that. 

Betty won't be able to get all the time off so I expect we will arrive about Wednesday and leave again Saturday morning, still that, I'm afraid, will have to be arranged nearer the time. OH! Don't be surprised if we are a week late, Bomber Command have a peculiar habit of doing these things and there's nothing a mere Flying Officer can do about it. 

Betty has been telling me about her correspondence with Jean. I am pleased they write each other, on the one hand you get 'all the news about me or do you? On the other it is so good to think that my wife is so well liked. 

Betty has apparently been hearing from David. The glowing reports I have so far had about my Brother would make him really big headed if he heard them.  Oh! There are some snaps on the way of him - again the work of "her nibs".

I hope you are all well at home and for goodness sake, don't start rushing about because we are coming. Remember me?? I'm still the boy I was 10 years ago and more !

Give my love to Jean and look after yourselves, 

God Bless you Always, Your Loving Son Harry xxxxxx

Survivor: Sgt Richard Bertram Ross Kendall (1925 - 2002)

http://passages.winnipegfreepress.com/passage-details/id-71759/Richard_Kendall

MRES reports attached.

Regards,

Dave

RE: HARRY'S FINAL LETTER HOME NOVEMBER 1944

Whoever posted this letter would they please get in touch with me on mjc41uk@yahoo.co.uk 

Is this Harry, Harry Burgoyne? B.

Re-Harry Burgoyne last letter.

Good Evening Mark,

Thank you for the copy of my late uncle Harry's last letter to his parents, I have been going through my late mothers letters from various members of her family this letter was not among them. I have been contacted by Ailsa Tavares this letter may have come from her, as her Grandmother was also Harry's younger sister. I hope to get a reply from Ailsa soon. 

Regards,

John 

166 Squadron Clock

This was presented to Jim Wright, the secretary of the 166 Squadron Association in the early 1990s. His wife also played a large part in the administration of the association and organising the annual reunion. Jim Wright was a Wireless Operator on 166 Squadron in 1944/45.

See information on this page http://home.cogeco.ca/~dswallow4/IndividualsPage2.htm near end of page.

If I can be of any further help contact me through e-mail address on 166 Squadron home page.

I attempted to contact James widow in Midland, but did not receive any response.

Hello, Barnsley I am new to this forum and I am very grateful for its existence which I only discovered yesterday. I am also grateful for your kind offer of assistance.

I notice that my profile shows me as Aircraftsman 1st Class, but I have no idea how that has been added as I have never served in the RAF. It doesnt appear that I can edit that section of my profile.

My father James (Jim) HARLE was with 166 Squadron during the War and I am trying to find out as much about him as I can. He would never discuss anything about the War with me and sadly he died in 1980.

His number is 1597027 and I have always understood that he was a Rear Gunner. My sister has recently given me my dad's Flying Log book which unfortunately we had both scribbled in as very young kids and he has shown his "Duty" under the following various different titles, UT/AG, A/G and M.U.G. - none of those suggest Rear gunner to me but I may wrong.

As far as I can tell from his Log book he was at 11AGS Isle of Man, the NCO's school at Whitley Bay, 26 OTU at Leighton Buzzard, Sturgate, Lindholme Conversion Unit and then 166 Squadron at Kirmington.

One of the photographs I have which includes my dad is a long panoramic picture of the entire 166 Squadron at Kirmington with them all in front of an aeroplane which I have always believed to be a Lancaster Bomber. This picture has the number 29977 at the right hand side and is dated May 1945. I have recently seen that same picture on a Website which quite shook me. That website is http://home.cogeco.ca/~dswallow4/Kirmington.htm

I have another picture which is not very good quality but it shows my dad and nine other men standing below the front of a Lancaster Bomber. There is no date on this picture but I can see that on the side of the plane there is a letter B and also the words THE CHOPPER INN

(I think the last word is INN but the picture quality is not that good) There is also a joke Swastika with the words SEMPER IN EXCRETUM written below it.

I have no idea when my father joined the RAF, nor when he left the RAF so I would greatly appreciate any information given, especially clarification as to what duty he performed when flying.

Many thanks.

Hi Barnsley, I sent a reply to your email address on Tuesday 25/04/2017 - Did you receive it?

Cheers, and thanks. 

Many thanks, I've now sent it your correct address.

Cheers. 

Wellington HE922 AS-A

Crew.

Plt. Off. William Bryden McGinn  128888 - Pilot

Sgt. Raymond Hadley   658149 - A/B

Sgt. James Robert Whittaker  1080547 - Nav

Sgt. George T. Turnbull 1131177 - W/Op

Sgt. Ronald Henshaw  1311513 - R/G

Mission abandoned 3 miles north of Skegness 28.6.1943. All made successful parachute landing, except Sgt. Hadley who died.

Alf White Wireless Operator

Hi, your father was a Wireless Operator, not a Navigator. I have sent you a PM email. Best wishes, B.

Sgt Hadley

Hi, Sgt Raymond Hadley 658149 RAF was the Navigator in the crew on the 28.06.43. He baled out successfully. He was subsequently killed in action with the same crew on during a minelaying operation off France. I think you might have your Hadleys muddled up. Best Wishes, B.

SGT JAMES ROBERT WHITTACKER 

Hi Sgt Whittacker was killed when his parachute failed to open after his crew had to bail out 3 miles North of Skegness en route to Cologne (engine failure). The other crew members survived their parachute descents but were all killed on a subsequent operation. Please email me on mjc41uk@yahoo.co.uk for more info. B

Hi Florence,

The link below has some information regarding the loss of HE631

https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://memoiresetphotos.free.fr/Guerre%252039-45/Radbourne/Radbourne1.html&prev=search

Regards,

MikeH

F/Sgt Francis Howell Air Gunner

email me on mjc41uk@yahoo.co.uk  for further info. Cheers, Bransley.

Seeking information on my cousin F/Sgt Laurence Felix McGuire, 1670598.  All I know about his service is that he was lost 5 April 1945 in Lancaster ND 707 and is buried in Berlin.  Any other service information will be greatly appreciated.

Best regards.

Jim

Hi I'm new to the site i'm trying to find out

about Russell Boyde he was a flight Sargent on a  Lancaster

I'm a second cousin.

hope you can help

F/Sgt Russell Boyde 1479287 RAFVR Killed in action 24/03/44

Hi, your relative was the Air Bomber in a 166 Squadron Lancaster crew captained by Pilot Officer E. Brown. Here are the operations he flew;

18.03.44 Frankfurt

22.03.44 Frankfurt

24.03.44 Berlin- Failed to return

please email me on mjc41ukATyahoo.co.uk for more information.

Best wishes, B.

FLYING OFFICER FORBES CAMERON RAF KILLED IN ACTION NEUS RAID 23.09.44

Hi thanks for your post. F/O Cameron was the Air Bomber in an all RAF airmen Lancaster crew that was posted to 166 Squadron in the middle of July 1944 although they did not begin operating until the following month. The crew took part in roughly 16 operations before their final one. The targets they attacked included Pauillac Oil refinery 04.08.44, Douvai 11.08.44, Falaise 13.08.44, Stettin 25.08.44, Frankfurt 12.09.44 and Steenwuk Havetle 16.09.44. The precise cause of their loss is not known for definite but night fighters were very active during the Neuss raid of the 23.09.44 so this is a likely cause. The aircraft may have been lost over the sea.

Dear Barnsley,

Please could you help with any information about my father, Hugh Raymond Palmer, who died recently?

He was a Lancaster pilot - a Flight sergeant and then Pilot Officer - and did two tours.

Other than that I have little more information other than he was in 166 based at Kirmington.

In later years his memory was not too good but it is possible that he was known as "Red"

I would very grateful for any small additional information.

Regards

Ray Palmer

I am trying to find more information about a Flight Sergeant, James Jones who flew Lancasters in WW2. originally from Glasgow, still alive at 92 and we (my partner and i, his daughter) would like to learn more and possible some photos. We think he was with 166 Squadron

Regards

Shaun Mochan 

James Jones, Pilot 166 Squadron

AS requested I have sent you a PM. B

Denise I do hope you read this. My great uncle was on the plane that went down with pilot officer Boyce. It would be fantastic to have some form of contact. 

My email isryan.carter7884@googlemail.com