I would like to learn more about this aircraft, its' squadron and crew. The only other info I have is the flight engineer was Clifford Abbott, age 20, buried Svino, Denmark. Any information gratefully received.

Hi,

I can only add a few details to what Alan has posted.

Stirling MkIII BF467 received from Short & Harlands 13/3/43. 

It was lost on it's 8th operation, and Plt/Off Thompson and crew flew that aircraft on all it's ops except the first one. 

The O.R.B. has the following;

28 April 43. Operational Flying. Mining In The Kiel Bay.
Eight aircraft were detailed to carry out the above operation with mines of 1500 lbs. One of these aircraft returned early owing to it's compass being faulty and four failed to return. The remaining three aircraft successfully dropped their mines in the allotted area and the parachutes were seen to open. A.A. Fire co-operating with searchlights was encountered which is believed to have come from an A.A. ship in the mining area. No enemy aircraft were seen. Visibility was fairly good, with scattered cloud, in the mining area. Navigation was very good. Stirlings Mk.1 R9290 - Sgt A. Lewis, Stirling W7513 - Sgt K. Haliburton, Stirling BF467 - P/O D. Thompson, Stirling Mk.III BK664 - P/O D. V. Hamer, failed to return.

Cheers,

Wayne.

Barry,

50sqdn Lancaster W4382, lost without trace, on ops to Soltau, 18/19th Dec 42.

F/Lt J.C. Atkinson, DFM.

Sgt F. Martin.

F/O P.W. Rowling, RAAF.

Sgt J.C. O'Neill, RAAF.

Sht H.W. Smith, DFM, RAAF.

F/O C.W. Walker, RAAF.

Sgt J.C. Reilly.

Just a couple of points to clear, if i may.........

His DFM, was awarded whilst with 207sqdn, before joining 50sqdn, but announced in the London Gazette in May 42.

The action, on 12th Feb 42, was flown in Hampden AT125, not a Manchester, he flew Hampdens until being posted to a Conversion Unit to fly Lancasters.

50 and 61 squadron's info can be accessed on their forum at www.squadronforum.freeforums.org  i hear the chap who runs it, is very helpful over there, for details on operations carried out  

Alan.

-- Edited by AW on Sunday 16th of June 2013 12:41:47 AM

-- Edited by AW on Sunday 16th of June 2013 01:53:14 AM

-- Edited by AW on Sunday 16th of June 2013 02:14:56 AM

I agree, the chap that runs the 50/61 squadron site is really helpful

Just to add a little more detail of Clifford Abbott, he seems to have flown a lot of ops with Flt/Lt Sandeman and crew whilst on 75 Squadron.

9/10 Dec 42. Turin. F/L Sandeman

16/17 Dec 42. Mining. F/L Sandeman

15 Jan 43. Lorient. Plt/Off McCullough

13 Feb 43. Hamburg. F/L Sandeman

4 Feb 43. Turin. F/L Sandeman.

5 Feb 43. Mining. F/L Sandeman.

7 Feb 43. Mining. F/L Sandeman.

16 Feb 43 Lorient. F/L Sandeman.

18/19 Feb 43. Mining. F/L Sandeman.

25 Feb 43. Nuremburg. F/L Sandeman.

26/27 Feb 43. Cologne. F/L Sandeman.

28 Feb 43. St. Nazaire. F/L Sandeman.

1/2 March 43. Berlin. F/L Sandeman.

3/4 March 43. Hamburg. F/L Sandeman.

8/9 April 43. Duisburg. Plt/Off Thompson.

10 April 43. Frankfurt.  P/O Thompson

14/15 April 43. Stuttgart. P/O Thompson

16/17 April 43. Ludwigshaven. P/O Thompson.

20/21 April 43. Rostock. P/O Thompson.

22/23 April 43. Mining. P/O Thompson.

26 April 43. Duisburg. P/O Thompson.

28/29 April 43. Mining Kiel Bay. P/O Thompson. (Crew Missing).

That's all I have at the moment.

Wayne.

Barry,

           If you contact me via the 50/61 forum, i can go through the Operations Record Book, and let you know of his operations with 50sqdn. Yes, i was jokingly referring to myself in the earlier post, about the helpful chap on the forum.

Alan

Flight Clifford Abbott was my brother born March 1921 so just 21 years old. I have info on his whole life including much on his RAF raids also been to Svino for the annual Church Service. I would be pleased to give you the story of his life.