426 Squadron Photo Gallery Added

matt · Air Vice Marshall

426 Squadron Photo Gallery Added

Pigeonbird · Air Commodore

Hey Matt, what a surprise you gave me with those pictures of the S/L Hamber crew. When the crew was formed up at Dishforth over Christmas of 1943, I was the Bomb-Aimer of the Hamber crew. We went to #419 "Moose" Squadron at Middleton-St-George where we proceeded to do 9 operations together. After a trip to Le Mans, I was fed up with the actions and language of Hamber and asked to be let out of the crew. Went as a spare B/A for the next 3 operations, when I was shot down over Laon in L'Aisne.

Although I regret not staying on to complete my tour, the split gave me the adventure of my life with the French Resistance.

I have met Sid Philp since the war, but have never seen any of the other members. Sid lived in Kingston, Ont. the last time I saw him. I tried to look up Eric Hamber in Vancouver later, but he had recently died. Our first pilot, Chester McClure, lives somewhere in the Toronto area.

Have you any spare crew photos that I can have? There was one with me taken at MSG but it has never come to light.

John

matt · Air Vice Marshall

John,

I am utterly floored that you were a part of the Hamber crew, I had no idea that he had flown with 419 squadron prior to joining 426.

I looked it up in the 419 sqn ORBs and found the entry for the OP to Magdeburg Jan 21/22 which you flew with him. Was that your first op with 419?

Here is what the ORB states you encountered that night...

"Target identified by red and green TI, red flares with green stars. Green TI on ground in B/S. Fires burning well much smoke coming up. Caught in predicted flak for 2 1/2 minutes over Hannover, sustained about 85 holes all over a/c, avoided subsequent flak by evasive action. Starboard inner out for half a minute, probably due to bank of a/c. Petrol tanks hit but lost no petrol in air. A/C landed at Lakenheath."

Its amazing how something seemingly unrelated can end up not being that way at all.

I've sent you an email.

Matt

Date: Dec 31, 2006

Sid Philp 426 Squadron

Index434 · Squadron Leader

RE: 426 Squadron Photo Gallery Added

Pigeonbird · Air Commodore

Dear Matt:

To give you a little background. we crewed up at Wellesbourne (with Chester McClure as our Pilot), H.C.U. at Topcliffe, then Croft on #434 "Bluenose" Squadron. Chester went missing as a Second Dickie over Mannheim, and the rest of the crew went to Dishforth where we were assigned Eric Hamber as our Pilot. Our first trip was indeed Magdeburg where we returned to England with over 100 holes in the plane. Thankfully, nobody was wounded or killed but the plane was a washout.

Our second trip was to Berlin, and I guess the 1st trip had gotten to Eric. Still 75 to 100 miles from the target, he ordered me to drop my bombs, but I refused and made him fly on to the target. We returned safely to England, but I believe that this caused him to want me out of his crew. Sometime after I left, they were transferred to #426 Squadron, Eric as C.O.

Eric had served the first years of the war in Ferry Command, and now he wanted a tour of operations in Bomber Command for his record. He was Nephew to a former Lt. Governor of B.C. and I had to assume, at the time, he was trying to follow in his Uncle's footsteps. Don't think he succeeded.

Eric was one Hell of a good Pilot, but I was a bit of a Rebel when it came to being pushed around.

John

Pigeonbird · Air Commodore

Hello Bill:

Thank you for the news from Sid Philp's daughter. Sorry to hear about his death last Spring and I would have sent my condolences had I known his address. Sid and I were best friends during the days we were in the crew, and we put a few away together (we were the only two Junior Officers in the crew).

If his daughter is interested in part of her Dad's story, I had my story published about 10 years ago under the title of "The Lucky Pigeon", and Sid is mentioned a lot, once we had arrived in Wellesbourne. If she will send me her address, I will send her a copy.

I would also be interested in knowing if there are any other survivors among the crew. Jim Hope was quite a Character as I remember, and was the only casualty when we pranged at Wellesbourne. Johnny Loyst was quite a Gunner, and shot down a JU-88 during our Magdeburg trip (he got a second one later I heard). Sid and I were both Montrealers; he from the better side of the tracks.

As Bob Hope said, "Thanks for the Memory"

John

Pigeonbird · Air Commodore

Hi Index:

I;m not certain if websites or forums like this one do anything for the history of the Veterans. There are only a limited number of Veterans like myself who are online to join in these discussions and submissions. Those without computers have to depend on other methods.

I was more fortunate than most by finding out what a computer was almost on the day of my retirement 20 years ago. So, to keep from going bonkers, I bought one, and haven't stopped since. Writing stories, including your own, is a magnificent career, and I highly recommend it.

For those not so inclined, there are many sources that would be glad to write your story for history. Forums like this one are useful, but are new, and have missed out on most of the action. But there are many people out there who love to record the stories, but they have to be found first.

What more can I say? Try the Legion, the Air Force Association, the Aircrew Association, Military Museums, etc., etc.

My second book is "Bless You, Brother Irvin", the story of the Caterpillar Club.

John

Pigeonbird · Air Commodore

Index, further to your last question of me, I have since browzed the website www.memoryproject.com which is quite active in recording the stories of Veterans.

John

stansgrandson · Leading Aircraftsman

hello Gramps was mid upper gunner for Roger coulombe crew 426 thunderbirds