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Post Info TOPIC: Mystery flight to High Wycombe -Oct 24, 1944
Coffey


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Mystery flight to High Wycombe -Oct 24, 1944
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Hoping for some insight into an odd, single line entry in my Dad's pilot's logbook.

   Dad was a pilot with 405 Squadron, Gransden Lodge. On Oct 24th, 1944 his logbook notes that he flew, as a passenger, in a Percival Proctor from Wyton ( PFF HQ) to High Wycombe (  Bomber Command H.Q.) , a 30 minute flight. The pilot was a Flt.Lt Holland.

    Dad had been awarded a bar to his DFC a month earlier, so my conjecture is that he was asked to attend HQ to be presented with it, and that Flt. Lt. Holland perhaps was on his way there as well? But was it usual for aircrew to attend HQ for presentation of a (no offence Dad wink) fairly common decoration? What other reason might have caused Dad to be summoned to High Wycombe?

   I can't find any record of a Canadian named Holland receiving a decoration at that same time , but goodness knows, he could have been R.A.F. , or an Aussie or .....? Or perhaps a staff officer at Wyton, up for a jaunt to HQ, as Dad wasn't familiar with the Proctor. 

  Any input, suggestions, info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Clint. 



-- Edited by Coffey on Monday 18th of January 2016 10:08:30 PM

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alieneyes


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Clint,

Presuming your dad was J86050 F/Lt Jesse Ray Coffey I'm afraid what I have just adds more questions. From Hugh Halliday's Honours and Awards:

COFFEY, F/O Jesse Ray (J86050) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.405 Squadron - Award effective 2 October 1944 as per London Gazette dated 13 October 1944 and AFRO 2637/44 dated 8 December 1944. Born in Czar, Alberta, 16 April 1921. Home in Provost, Alberta (farm labourer, trucker); enlisted Edmonton, 15 May 1942 and posted to No.3 Manning Depot. To No.7 ITS, 30 August 1942; graduated and promoted LAC, 23 October 1942; to No.6 EFTS, 7 November 1942; to No.4 SFTS, 9 January 1943; graduated and promoted Sergeant, 30 April 1943. To Y Depot, 14 May 1943; to RAF overseas, 26 May 1943. Commissioned 30 April 1944. Repatriated 19 December 1944. Released 6 February 1945. Postwar employed by Hudson Bay Company in Northwest Territories to 1958. Award sent by registered mail.

COFFEY, F/L Jesse Ray, DFC (J86050) - Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross - No.405 Squadron - Award effective 5 February 1945 as per London Gazette dated 16 February 1945 and AFRO 563/45 dated 29 March 1945. Public Records Office Air 2/8830 has recommendation dated 20 November 1944 when he had flown 54 sorties (261 hours 45 minutes), 10 November 1943 to 9 November 1944.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36942/supplement/934/data.pdf

It appears both his awards were after the flight to High Wycombe in October 1944.

I suppose the answer may lie in the Gransden Lodge Station ORB, depending on the whim of whomever filled it out in October, 1944: http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C4098322

Regards,

Dave



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Coffey


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Hi Dave, thanks for your input. That is indeed my Dad . But perhaps I am misunderstanding you? The first DFC was awarded Oct 2, 1944 and the flight to High Wycombe 3 weeks later on Oct 24th.....? I am not familiar with difference between " award effective", "London Gazette" and "AFRO" dates...can you explain?
I did download the Gransden Lodge squadron records , but nothing about Dad on this date, just a lot of detail about the weather.
Thanks Dave,
regards, Clint.

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alieneyes


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Hi Clint,

AFRO is Air Force Routine Order. These are available in the AIR/2 series of files at Kew.

"Award effective 2 October, 1944" means, in Air Force bureaucrat-ese, that that was when it was decided he was to be awarded the medal, not when he received it. I presume he wasn't awarded the medal by King George VI as he had already returned to Canada, arriving in Montreal 27 December 1944. Hence, it was posted to him.

You'll see on various posts here and elsewhere the term "wef" which means "with effect". So a Squadron ORB might say "P/O Bloggs and crew posted in wef 12/12/1943" but that wasn't the day they arrived, just the day the paper trail started.

I think you downloaded the ORB for No. 405 Sqn (something like 3 quid per month?). That was for the squadron, but each station had their own ORB as well. These haven't been digitized by Kew yet. If this flight's reason is written anywhere, it will be here.

If you haven't already done so I'd recommend you get a copy of your dad's service file. They're held at the Library and Archives in Ottawa. Go here: http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/Pages/obtain-copies-military-service-files.aspx and scroll down to: How to Send an Inquiry Concerning Your Own or Another Individuals Records

Regards,

Dave



-- Edited by alieneyes on Wednesday 20th of January 2016 12:13:20 AM

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Coffey


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Thanks Dave, great info ! Yes I did get a disc from the Govt of Canada, with 245 pages of documents ....fascinating stuff!

   I guess the flight to HQ will have to remain a mystery for now. I suppose it could have been something as simple as Dad hitching a ride with Holland just to see High Wycombe out of curiosity.

Thanks for clarifying, best regards, Clint.



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mcurtis


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Clint,

My grandmother was Ida Faye Coffey from Czar AB and I believe she was your father's sister. My Dad (Herbert Curtis) was only 7 years younger than your father and even though he is now 87, he still remembers when Jesse was awarded the two DFC's and how proud the family was of his accomplishments. I am a retired U.S. Marine and would be very interested in learning more about your father's WWII medals and the aircraft he flew.

Thanks,

Mark

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Coffey


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Hi Cousin Mark, it's great to hear from you! I don't believe I ever met your Grandfather or Grandmother , at least that I can remember. Please email me and we can connect. clint.coffey(at symbol)gov.bc.ca
Dad did have an amazing story , I have been researching it now for two years, including tracking down the families of all 6 members of his crew. Looking forward to hearing from you Mark !

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