RAF Binbrook
RAF Binbrook in Lincolnshire opened in early 1940, home to 142 Bomber Squadron, No 12 Squadron arrived from Finningley in early July 1940 flying Fairy Battles, converting to Wellington bombers in November. In April 1941 12 Squadron sent 28 aircraft on the first of the 1,000 bomber raids the target being Cologne. In 1942 The station closed for a year whilst the concrete runways were constructed. No. 12 sqd moved to Wickenby and converted to Lancasters.(Returning to Binbrook on September 24th 1945)
On reopening, 14th May, 1943 it became the home to 460 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force, flying Lancaster bombers. 460 Squadron suffered higher casualties than any other unit of the Australian Army, Navy or Air Force in World War Two.
The station was also home to 1 Group Special Duties Flight.
After the war Binbrook became home to the first British jet bomber, the Canberra. In 1960 the station transferred to Fighter Command first flying the Gloucester Javelin and then the English Electric Lightning. The station closed in 1988. The movie 'Memphis Belle' was fimed at Binbrook. Today the base remains virtually intact with the residential quarters in use as a housing estate. The 460 Squadron Memorial situated on the hill above the old Marquis of Granby Pub, on the opposite side of the road looking towards the airfield.
Squadrons stationed at RAF Binbrook
- No: 460 Squadron RAAF from 14 May 1943 to Jul 1945
- No: 12 Squadron from Jul 1940 to Jul 1943 and Sep 1945 to Jul 1959
- No: 142 Squadron from Jul 1940 to Dec 1942
- 1481(B) Gunnery Flt from May 1943 to Feb 1944
3rd July 1940 Night bomber role
3rd July 1940 Replacement aircraft
29th July 1940 Aircraft Lost
4th August 1940 Crashed on night flying exercise
12th August 1940 Move
20th August 1940 Aircraft Lost
6th September 1940 Move back to Lincolnshire
13th Oct 1940 Aircraft Lost
16th Oct 1940 Operation Sealion
12th January 1941 Crash on take off
10th April 1941 New aircraft
18th Jun 1941 Aircraft Lost
16th Oct 1941 Aircraft Lost
21st Oct 1941 Aircraft Lost
22nd October 1941 Wellington missing
25th November 1941 Crash on training flight from new base
2nd Apr 1942 12 Squadron Wellington lost
12th July 1942 Attack Made
12th July 1942 Difficult Operations
12th July 1942 Attack Made
25th Sept 1942 Move
19th Mar 1943 460 Squadron Lancaster lost.
22nd Jun 1943 Aircraft Lost
1st Dec 1943 Orders Cancelled
2nd Dec 1943 Aircraft Lost
2nd Dec 1943 Operations
3rd Dec 1943 460 Squadron Lancaster lost.
18th December 1943 Flights
25th Feb 1944 Lancaster Lost
31st Mar 1944 Aircraft Lost
3rd Feb 1945 460 Squadron Lancaster lost.
If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
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Those known to have served at RAF Binbrook during the Second World War 1939-1945. The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please
Add a Name to this List
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Want to know more about RAF Binbrook? There are:32 items tagged RAF Binbrook available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War. |
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Sgt. William Francis Collister "Francie" Clague 460 Sq (RAAF) (d.30th May 1943) My Dad William Clague was Killed in action on the 30th May 1943 (over Wuppatal) For the first time I have been able to visit his grave in Rheinberg Cemetry, Germany. Grave no. 9 C 18. I notice he is stated as Air Gunner which was his description before Flight Engineer. There is no age on His grave. He was 33 years old. He flew with 460Sq(RAAF) from RAF Binbrook I have been trying to find out more about the crew he flew with. I met Margaret Russell, widow of the Pilot. T. P Russell and also met the two crew members (who were taken PoW) when they returned to U.K prior to demob. As I was only 8 years old then I have vague memories. I would like to make contact with anyone knowing of any crew members or descendants.
The PoW's names are George Andrew Kirk, 409057, born 1/2/1921 in Malvern, Victoria discharged 13/5/1946. Rank Warrant Officer.(460 Sq.)
Ron D Dunn (Navigator) I have not found anything for him except to know that he is Australian.
The other crew members who died were:
Tom Taylor 413803, Bomb aimer he was Australian.
Peter W. Findlay 1342595. Wireless Op. from Dundee.
Douglas B Gordon. 1349618 Air Gunner from Fochabers Morayshire and
Thomas P. Russell. 1347861 Pilot. from Ardrossan, Ayreshire.
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Maurice "Mo" Taylor rear gunner 458 Sqd. Mr Taylor is a very long standing family friend, he is now 86 yrs. old, over the years he has told me many things about his wartime years.
He joined the RAF in 1938 and served with various units - 458, 460, 150 and possibly others. Holme on Spalding Moor, Molesworth, Binbrook are bases he remembers in the early part, flying in Wellingtons as a rear gunner. At this point in time he was shot down to which even today he finds hard to come to terms with and at the same time I would not press him to talk about. Beyond this point he served in Ceylon on various sqd's until 1946. I would love to find out more as the tales he tells me never cease to amaze me
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Jim Simpson 460 Squadron I just came across your website and thought you may be interested in Jim Simpson's story. He was 19 years old when he was sent to fight the war and was shot down on his first mission and captured by the Germans. Jim is still alive, 92 years old, independent and living in his own home on his farm. His story regarding the knitting of a rug whilst a POW in Stalag IVb can be found on the following website:
http://www.manfromsnowyrivermuseum.com/home/rug.htm.
The Man from Snowy River Museum is currently raising funds to enable us to build a room to house Jim's rug and ensure it is preserved as best it can, to enable visitors to marvel at the resilience of the human spirit and what can be achieved in adverse conditions.
The crew of the 460 Sqd Lancaster were:
F/S E.J.Ellery RAAF
W/C R.A.Norman DFC RAAF
Sgt L.E.P.Wells
F/S D.S.Thomas
F/S J.O.Simpson RAAF
Sgt G.E.Cleverly
Sgt D.O'Donoghue
Sgt P.F.Kills
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Sgt. Edward Sullivan DFM. 9 Squadron I would like to hear from anyone who would remember me, from 9 Squadron. My
skipper was Squadron Leader J.N. Darbishire, my navigator was Ken Gill,
our radio operator was called Eric, bomb aimer was Tom Overend, the
mid upper gunner was Ted Cole and our rear gunner Fred Parsons.
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Sgt Ron Arnold 12 Squadron My Grandfather, Ron Arnold was the rear gunner with a crew which was shot down in 1942, in Wellington mkII W5442 PH-B of 12Sqn flying from RAF Binbrook.
The Raid:
Essen – 9 March 1942
187 aircraft took part - (136 Wellingtons, 21 Stirlings, 15 Hampdens, 10 Manchesters, 5 Halifaxes) – to continue the series of heavy Gee-guided raids to Essen. 2 Wellingtons and 1 Halifax were lost. Thick ground haze led to scattered bombing. Only 2 buildings were destroyed in Essen but 72 were damaged. Bombs also fell in 24 other Ruhr towns with particular damage in Hamborn and Duisburg. 10 people were killed, 19 were missing and 52 were injured in Essen; 74 people were killed and 284 injured in other towns.
W5442 took off at 20:39hrs from RAF Binbrook. Shot down by flak and crashed at 23:42hrs alongside a road known as the Kagerweg, near Beverwijk Noord Holland, 21 km NW of the centre of Amsterdam.
Crew:
- Pilot: P/O R.H. Buchanan 45419 - Inj
(P/O Buchanan was confined in Hospital due injuries then returned to UK)
- 2nd Pilot: Sgt P.G. Sanders 1380919
(Killed in action)
- Navigator: RNZAF Sgt R.A. Scragg nz/401413
(Killed in action)
- Front Gunner: Sgt H.M. Murdo 1060255
(Killed in action)
- Rear Gunner: Sgt R.A. Arnold 612589
(Initially reported as missing in action, on 26 March a call was received from Berlin advising that he was a PoW interned in Camp 8B/344/L4. No.24843)
- Wireless Operator: Sgt C.J.Chedd 923890,
(PoW No.24831)
Those killed are buried in the General Cemetery at Bergen
Camp:
Stalag VIII-B near Cieszyn (Teschen), Poland, a sub camp of Stalag 8b (later renamed 344) which was the main camp 3km from Lamsdorf.
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Sgt. Walter Maurice Rimscha (d.10th Dec 1942) Walter Rimscha is my only uncle on my father's side of my family. I have a photos of him as a young man and wish to know more of what may have happened to him during his flight over Marolles Sur Seine, France. I have his death and birth certificates, which I obtained GRO England. I live in New Zealand and I am interested in 9 Squadron where he served giving his life for his country. He was 21 years old when he went missing. Any information would be most appreciated.
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Eric James Rolfe Richer nav. 460 Sqd. Eric Richer was a Navigator on a Lancaster bomber based at RAF Binbrook. His aircraft AR-P ME326 was involved in a mid-air collision over France whilst on the return leg of an operation to Wiesbaden, on the 2nd of Feb 1945, but Eric survived as he was replaced as a navigator for that ops due to an eye sight test. He lost some good friends on that day.
The crew were:
- G/C K.R.J.Parsons RAAF
- Sgt W.T.Jeffries
- F/S F.J.Flattery
- Sgt J.H.Bull
- F/S W.A.Cunningham RAAF
- Sgt W.A.George
- F/S F.Human
ME326 was one of two 460 Sqd Lancasters lost on this operation. G/C Parsons took off from Binbrook at 20:45, by 11pm, they were home bound when the aircaft was involved in a mid-air collision at 19,000 feet with a No.626 Sqdn Lancaster (PD286), both aircraft crashed at St-Maxent Somme, 8 km south west of Abbeville. G/C Parsons survived, but the rest of the crew, including F/S Human who succumbed to his injuries, are buried in Abbeville Communal Cemetery.
Eric also flew with the Maxton Brothers Eric and Murray possibly on AR-D
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P/O Jack Donald Goulding Upper Mid Gunner 460 Sqd.
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F/O Charles Harrison 460 Squadron (d.28th May 1943) Charles Harrison was my mum's brother and volunteered to join up in 1940. He sailed on the Queen Mary to America where he did his pilot training. On returning home he was posted to Binbrook and flew Lancaster Bombers. We believe his last mission was in 1943, when he flew to Essen and that on the way home, his Lancaster was attacked by German fighters. Charlie and four of his crew were killed and are buried in Uden, Holland.
After the war, Charlie's family was visited by one of the Australian crew members who escaped the crash and was captured. He said that when their aircraft was hit, Charlie gave the order to jump, but remained in the aircraft to check if the rear gunner was OK. Apparently, when Charles finally jumped, his parachute opened but the explosion of the aircraft killed him. When the crewman found Charlie, he was dead, but didn't have a mark on him.
My mum has wondered over the years if he told them this out of kindness, or if it was really true. We would love to learn more. Charlie would have been 21, the month after he died.
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Sgt. James Douglas Clements WOP/AG 12 Sqd. My Dad, James Clements was a Wireless Operator Air Gunner and since my Dad's death in 2006 I have taken great interest in his service life. Binbrook is one of the airfields he often mentioned. I regret that I was not able to learn more about his service life while he was here but wonder how much he would have been comfortable with telling me.
This website has helped me hugely in piecing together where to start and how to find out more including journeys to Lincolnshire that have enabled me to understand the way it was. A recent visit to East Kirkby where some 12 Sqn memorabilia is held was very special for me and I can recommend a trip to this museum for any others who are undertaking such a trip down their own or their loved one's memory lane.
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Sgt. James Burke 460 Squadron (d.3rd Aug 1944) James Burke was a crew member of Lancaster PB125 AR-L, they took off at 11:38 on the 3rd of August 1944 from Binbrook to attack the flying-bomb storage site. I was told that when the crew bailed out they were shot and killed as they floated down, over St Maclou-De Folleville.
The crew where all are buried in the local churchyard alongside three airmen from 57 sqdn who were killed four weeks earlier. Some years later the graves were opened, over i.d. issues, and his signet ring with JB on, was returned to the family.
The crew were:
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F/O R.C.Fidock
- Sgt D.C.Stock
- F/S R.H.Jones
- F/S W.R.Hullett
- F/S K.F.Heidtman
- Sgt J.E.Trollope
- Sgt J.Burke
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Sgt. Geoffrey Louis McInerny 12 Squadron (d.22nd Oct 1941) This story is written to the best of my memory, as there are none of the family left from that time. Geoffrey McInerny was aged 23 when he was killed. On returning from a mission the aircraft crashed on the edge of the airfield. The only survivor was the tail gunner who, because of wounds, was unable to come forward as was apparently normal practice.
Geoffrey was the son of Augustine Aloysius and Louisa Marian McInerny, he is remembered with honour and lies in Binbrook (St. Mary) Churchyard.
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Act.Grp.Capt. William Robert Sadler 142 Squadron My late father, Group Captain William Robert Sadler, was posted to 142 Squadron RAF to command on 24/9/40 and remained with the squadron until 4/7/41 when he moved to HQ 1 Group. During his time with 142 Squadron, at Binbrook and Eastchurch, he oversaw the conversion to Wellingtons from Battles, the training of the squadron in night bombing, and then led it on raids on four occasions (flying Q for Queenie). When the Wellingtons arrived he found that no thought had been given to training captains of aircraft in how to captain a multi-crew aircraft where the crew was dispersed and members could only keep in touch by intercom. He, therefore, typed and carbon copied his own manual to all captains, and I believe Group later showed an interest in this and that it formed the basis for the official RAF manual. I still have a copy of his original, photos of him and his air and ground crews, some of the red, white and blue ribbon he flew from his wireless antenna, and his log books and clippings from newspapers about raids. My father survived the war, unlike sadly the rest of his crew who perished after his posting. After I was born in 1943, my father was posted to Turkey to teach at the Air Staff College, and to work to keep Turkey out of the war on the Axis side. After VE Day he returned to Binbrook as station commander, and I can remember being in my pram with Lancasters taking off overhead, and three German POWs working around the house; one gave me a wooden model of a Lancaster for my third birthday. My father then went to Copenhagen as Air Attache, to Andover as Deputy Chair of the RAF Officers Selection Board, and to Washington with the NATO Joint Chiefs of Staff Intelligence Group. He retired from the RAF in 1954 to devote the rest of my life to painting. He painted professionally and successfully for another 46 years, dying in 2001 a few weeks after his last exhibition. We try to have at least one exhibition of his paintings every year.
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Sgt Robert Robinson McGarvey 460 Squadron My late father, Bob McGarvey, was only 20 when he signed up as an RAF VR in Glasgow in May 1941. Based at Binbrook as a a WOP/AG, his Pathfinder Lancaster aircraft ED 658 crashed 8/9 October 1943 at Bahnof during Operation Hanover. All the crew became POWs. Dad was in Stalag Luft 6 and Stalag 357 until he was repatriated in 1945. Since I was only two when dad died, I would be interested to hear from any of the family of the crew or Bomber Command who included:
- Pilot F/O M C Caffyn (RAAF)
- Flight Engineer Sgt C W J Marshall (RAF)
- omb Aimer F/S N L Wulff (RAAF)
- Navigator F/O F Brown (RAAF)
- Air gunner A/G Sgt R N Cannon (RAF)
- Air Gunner F/S T A Richardson (RAF)
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WO. James Watson "Jock" Clelland My Dad, James Clelland, joined RAF in 1921 at Manston, I know he served on HMS Glorious. He also served at Shawbury, South Africa (Shalufa) Cranwell, Waddington, Binbrook, Watton and was discharged in 1955. I have a very rough, difficult to read record, his original service record I cannot find. He came from Hutchesentown in Glasgow hence his nickname (Jock). According to this record he received five good conduct badges. LS & GCM in 1941 (don't know which medal this is) Defence medal don't know the year. He lived in Lincoln all of his life when not serving but this is all I know. I have been to Duxford and seen the types of planes he worked on.
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Sgt. Jack "Mad Mac" McKenzie 460 sqd. (d.16th Dec 1943) My uncle, Jack McKenzie, flight engineer, was killed in action, together with all crew, on the 16th December 1943 at Market Stainton. They had been shot up over Berlin and circled Binbrook for 45 mins but were unable to find the drome, due to fog and low cloud. They stalled on the ammo dump at Market Stainton. At least Uncle Jack had celebrated his 21st birthday 6 days before he crashed. The crew were:-
- F A Randall (P),
- W K Halstead (N),
- H G D Dedman (B),
- H H Peterson (W),
- C G Howie (G),
- R A Moynagh (G).
They are all buried in a beautiful RAF cemetery in Cambridge. The 7 gravestones are grouped together. There were quite a few stones with the date 16th December 1943. His ops were with:- J. Goulevitch (11), J.D. Ogilvie(8) and F. A. Randall (2). All Jack wanted was revenge on the Germans for killing his uncle, mother and 2 brothers - maybe that's why he was known as 'Mad Mac'.
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Bernard Charles "Crasher" Lewis MID. 460 Squadron My dad, Bernard Lewis, nickname Crasher, served in the RAF at Binbrook in 460 Squadron during the war. He was a bomb loader. He was a Londoner, and met my mum in Woolworths in Cleethorpes. Then he saw her again at the Gaetey Dance Hall in Grimsby putting up balloons. Dad used to walk all the way to Binbrook from Grimsby after he taken mum out on a date, usually missing the transport back to base. He said he was mentioned in dispatches, I have to research that. Sadly I lost both my parents a couple of years ago, but how I wish I had asked them more questions. I went to Waddington Air Show recently, and I nearly had a fit when I saw my Dad's photo on a card, loading bombs. Obviously, I had to buy it. It's a brilliant photo. It would be nice to hear from anyone who knew my Dad. Bless all the men and women who never made it home, they will never be forgotten,
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Sgt. Douglas Howie McIntosh 103 Squadron Uncle Doug McIntosh was someone I heard of as a child. I still have his guitar and many stories. He was by all accounts, a big man who liked a joke, rowing and music. I always believed he was a tail gunner in a Lancaster but the official version was that he was an air bomber in a Wellington.
Wellington X9812 of 103 Sqn RAF took off from RAF Station Binbrook, at 2310 hours on the night of 25/26th June 1942, to attack Bremen, Germany.
The aircraft participated in the Third "Thousand Plan" attack of 1942, Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it did not return to base.
The Crew were:
- RAF Sqd Ldr Atkinson, Captain (Pilot).
- RAAF 403432 Sgt J.G.O'Sullivan, Observer. 1481 Flt RAF
- RAAF 407603 Sgt D.H.McIntosh, Air Bomber. 1481 Flt RAF
- RAAF 403495 Sgt A.N.Blackley, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner. 103 Sqd RAF
- RAF Sgt Waller, Air Gunner.
Following post war enquiries and investigations, it was established that the bodies of Sgt O"Sullivan (RAAF) and Sgt McIntosh (RAAF) were washed ashore at Vlieland and Terschelling respectively, and their remains are interred in the local cemeteries. These islands are two of the Friesian group of islands off the north west coast of Holland. It was presumed that the aircraft had crashed in the North Sea, and that the remaining missing members of the crew had lost their lives at sea. Their names are commemorated on the Memorial to the Missing at Runnymede, UK.
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Frank Christopher Wheldon 460 Squadron My father, Francis (Frank) Christopher Wheldon was a member of the 460 Squadron and flew out of Binbrook in the UK from 1943 until 1945.
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Wing Cmdr. Albert Golding DFC 12 Squadron (d.26th Mar 1942) The crew of a Vickers Wellngton, which was shot down near Andijk (The Netherlands) at the evening of 26th of March 1942 were:
- RAF Wg Cdr Golding, A DFC and Bar Captain (Pilot)
- RAAF 403431 Sgt F D McLeod, (2nd Pilot)
- RCAF Flt Sgt B A Doe, (Observer)
- RCAF Flt Sgt M Duncan, (Wireless Air Gunner)
- RAF Sgt W S Makin, (Wireless Air Gunner)
- RAF Flt Sgt P G Thorpe, (Rear Gunner)
It took off from Binbrook and was heading to Essen (Germany) to bomb the Krupp steel factories. The bomber was shot down by Egmont Prinze zur Lippe Weissenfeld of the German night fighters. We are investigating this in order to erect a monument at the place they crashed to honor and remember them. We are looking for all kind of information and specially pictures of the crew.
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Sgt. "Andy" Andrew 460 Sqd. Andy Andrews served as a Flight Engineer with 460 Squadron.
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Richard Bates 460 Sqd. Dick Bates flew as a rear gunner with 460 Sqd.
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F/O. Ivan Sydney Baudinette 460 Sqd. Ivan Baudinette flew as a Wireless operator air gunner with 460 Sqd.
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G. R. Beard 460 Sqd. G Beard flew as a bomb aimer with 460 Sqd.
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Frank Belfield 460 Sqd. Frank Belfield was a flight engineer with 460 Sqd.
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Sgt. "Ben" Bentham 460 Sqd. Ben bentham was a flight engineer with 460 Sqd.
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Roy Brough 460 Sqd. Roy Brough flew as a wireless operator with 460 Sqd.
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Gerry Brown 460 Sqd. Gerry Brown was a read gunner with 460 Sqd.
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LAC John Burrows 460 Sqd. John Burrows served with the ground crew of 460 Squadron.
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Harry Cherry Carter 460 Sqd. Harry Carter was a pilot with 460 Squadron
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Col Challis 460 Sqd. Col Challis flew as a mid upper gunner with 460 Squadron
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Glen Child 460 Sqd. Glen Child was a flight engineer with 460 Squadron
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Robert Compton 460 Sqd. Bob Compton served as a mid upper gunner with 460 Sqd.
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Robert Coveny 460 Sqd. Bob Coveny served as a wireless operator with 460 Sqd.
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Don Cummings 460 Sqd. Don Cummings served as a wireless operator with 460 Sqd.
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Tom Dally 460 Sqd. Tom Dally served as a rear gunner with 460 Sqd.
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F/Sgt. Jack R. Dodds 460 Sqd. I am searching for historical information
on F/Sgt J Murray and W/O Clarrie Taylor.
These two were crew members that my Great Uncle (my Dad's, mothers' brother )
F/Sgt Jack R Dodds (W/T operator ) flew with in 1943/44 in the 460 squadron
( 29 or 30 Op's all up and 19 or 17 in G for George ).
The other crew members were Sgt Ben Bentham (Engineer), W/O Tom Osbourne (Bomb aimer),
F/Sgt Owen Hodgen (Mid upper gunner) and F/Sgt Jack Kirby (rear gunner).
I have a flight log, medal citations and medals, personal correspondence
(letters to his mother and sisters), the telegram sent to his father explaining he hadn't
returned from an op's mission ( with the 156 Squadron - his 2nd tour after finishing
with the 460 squadron), and much more.
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Glen Douglass 460 Sqd. Glen Douglass flew as a rear gunner with 460 Sqd.
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Robert Duncan 460 Sqd. Bob Duncan served as a navigator with 460 Sqd.
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C. W. Erbage 460 Sqd. C. W. Erbage served as rear gunner with 460 Sqd.
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William Gourlay 460 Sqd. Bill Gourlay flew as navigator with 460 Sqd.
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F/Lt. Greenacre 460 Sqd. F/Lt Greenacre served as a pilot with 460 Sqd.
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Victor Grimmett 460 Sqd. Vic Grimmett served as a pilot with 460 Sqd.
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F/O. Jarratt 460 Sqd. F/O Jarratt served as a pilot with 460 Sqd.
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F/O. Alex Jenkins 460 Sqd. Alex Jenkins served as a pilot with 460 Sqd.
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Keith Harris 460 Sqd. Keith Harris served as a bomb aimer with 460 Sqd.
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Sgt. R. E. Haywood 460 Sqd. Sgt Haywood served as a bomb aimer with 460 Sqd.
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Norman Healy 460 Sqd. Norm Healy served as a mid upper gunner with 460 Sqd.
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Bert Hemming 460 Sqd. Bert Hemming served as a navigator with 460 Sqd.
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F/Sgt. Owen Hodgen 460 Sqd. Owen Hogden served as a mid upper gunner with 460 Sqd.
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F/Lt. John Cecil Holmes DFC. 460 Sqd. John Holmes served as a pilot with 460 Sqd.
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Cpl. Jack Hill 460 Sqd. Jack Hill served as an armourer with 460 Sqd.
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Doug Hodge 460 Sqd. Doug Hodge served as a mid upper gunner with 460 Sqd.
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Bruce Kelly 460 Sqd. Bruce Kelly served as a bomb aimer with 460 Sqd.
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F/Sgt. Jack Kirby 460 Sqd. Jack Kirby served as a rear gunner with 460 Sqd.
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Lomand Luhr 460 Sqd. Lomand Luhr served as a pilot with 460 Sqd.
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Jack McKay 460 Sqd. Jack McKay served as a wireless operator with 460 Sqd.
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Joe McNamara 460 Sqd. Joe McNamara served as a pilot with 460 Sqd.
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WO. Alwyn Oswald Thomas Mayne 460 Sqd. Alwyn Mayne served as an air gunner with 460 Sqd.
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Frank Mayor 460 Sqd. Frank Major served as a mid upper gunner with 460 Sqd.
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Peter Milton 460 Sqd. Pete Milton served as a mid upper gunner with 460 Sqd.
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Victor Neale K2 "Killer" 460 Sqd. Vic Neale served as a pilot in 460 Sqd.
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Peter Odell 460 Sqd. Peter Odell served as a flight engineer with 460 Sqd.
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W/O. Tom Osbourne 460 Sqd. Tom Osborune served as a bomb aimer with 460 Sqd.
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Edward Owen 460 Sqd. Ted Owen served as a pilot with 460 Sqd.
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Royce Pearce 460 Sqd. Royce Pearce served as a wireless operator with 460 Sqd.
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Gordon Peters 460 Sqd. Gordon Peters served as a navigator with 460 Sqd.
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Charles "Blue" Roberts 460 Sqd. Charles Roberts was a wireless operator with 460 Sqd.
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P. Robinson 460 Sqd. P. Robinson was a wireless operator with 460 Sqd.
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Ronald Tardent 460 Sqd. Ron Tardent served as a pilot with 460 Sqd.
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WO. Clarence Taylor 460 Sqd. Clarrie Taylor served as a navigator with 460 Sqd.
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Jack Thompson 460 Sqd. Jack Thompson served as a bomb aimer with 460 Sqd.
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Walter Thorburn DFC. 460 Sqd. My Father, Walter F Thorburn DFC, was stationed at RAF Binbrook. He was a member of the RCAF and on loan to the RAAF. He was a rear gunner in a Lancaster piloted mostly by F/L Greenacre. Dates of service at RAF Binbrook as taken from his flight log are June 1943 to December 1943.
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Jos Trimmer 460 Sqd. Jos Trimmer served as a bomb aimer with 460 Sqd.
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Jim Tuchen 460 Sqd. Jim Tuchen served as a mid upper gunner with 460 Sqd.
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Steven Turner 460 Sqd. Steve Turner served as a wireless operator with 460 Sqd.
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William Valance 460 Sqd. Bill Valance flew with 460 Sqd as a rear gunner.
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Robert Webb 460 Sqd. Bob Webb flew with 460 as a navigator.
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Frank Williams 460 Sqd. Frank Williams flew with 460 as a navigator.
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Edward Williamson 460 Sqd. Ted Williamson served with 460 Sqd.
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Bruce Woods 460 Sqd. Bruce Woods was a pilot with 460 Sqd.
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J. Young 460 Sqd. Sgt Young served as a flight engineer with 460 Sqd.
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William Young 460 Sqd. Bill Young served with 460 Sqd.
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Flt.Sgt. Albert George Bosanquet 142 Sqdn. Dad, Albert Bosanquet was stationed at RAF Binbrook as ground crew, working on Fairey Battles and Vickers Wellingtons. He used to talk of looking after the CO's Wellington, Q for Queenie. I have attached a photo that I believe is from this time and is, perhaps, of Q for Queenie.
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Dorothy Farrow Bomber Command My mother, Dorothy Farrow, served as a WAAF radio operator in Bomber Command from 1941 to 1945. She served at Elsham Wolds, Binbrook, Scampton and Bawtry Hall. I believe she trained at Blackpool.
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Cpl. Thomas Arthur Wilson My father-in-law, Thomas Arthur Wilson, was born in Sunderland on 29th December 1915. He moved to Penrith around 1936 to take employment as a postman, where he indulged his hobbies of fell walking, mountaineering and cycling.
He joined the RAF in 1941 as a driver, and in December 1941 he was posted to RAF Habbaniya in Iraq. At some point during his time there he was promoted to Corporal. In Sept 1944 he returned to Britain to RAF Binbrook. There he met WAAF Marjorie Croft, a bomb-loader, and they were married in Grimsby in 1945 shortly before he was demobbed. He returned to Penrith where he resumed his employment as a postman and later Postal Inspector. He died in 1962
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Sgt. Robert Francis Shorthouse 12 Squadron (d.14th July 1942) Sergeant (Wireless Op./Air Gunner) Bobby Shorthouse was the son of Harry Robert and Maud Annie Shorthouse of Eltham, London.
He was aged 20 when he died and is buried in the Oksby Churchyard in Denmark.
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Sgt. Guy H. Rainville 12 Squadron  My uncle Guy Rainville was in his mid twenties when he started training as a gunner in 1940. He was based in Binbrook. We have his log book and one story he told. The story was about him being suspended by his feet to unlock the landing gear.
He tells about firing his guns in the back turret to relieve tension as they were coned and flaked for twelve minutes and there was a riot on the intercom, starting with the young pilot screaming "Where am I?".
He flew first in the R for Robert plane, a Wellington that bore the letters PS. R was his initial and PS those of his fiancee, Peggy. He considered this lucky and it was.
He married Peggy between tours and sold Victory bonds. Back in England, he stayed clear of his regular watering hole, the bar at the Strand Hotel in London. But he continued to be a patron at his favorite restaurant, La Belle Meuniere.
He flew 19 missions on that second tour, the last four in different Lancasters. On his 49th mission, then, fate struck. The 50th mission is the last in a flying man career. You are given an earthbound job after that. Only ten to fifteen percent of aviators made it in WWII. My uncle does not say he was looking forward to it.
14th of January 1944. The M Lancaster was a new plane, not tested. Guy is Rear Gunner. The target is a German town in the industrial valley of the Ruhr. A night flight, as always. The log entry reads "Ops Brunswick - Missing. Pilot is F/Lt Wales.
Instruments faulty over the sea, No climb above 19000ft. Over target incendiary bomb dropped (friendly from above) on Johnny Aplin's head in astro hatch (astrodome) Fatally wounded. Burst of flak cut petrol line. Bombs dropped on target. Motor catching fire. Return, One hour from target Bale out 1st twenty kms West of Rheine. Two killed W/Op & Mid-Upper Gunner Hutchinson. Walked all night. Hid all day. Walked again next night. Gave self WP at farmhouse on outskirts of Rheine. Escape impossible." He asked the farmer for a glass of milk and to call the police. He spent the next sixteen months in a POW camp.
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Rodrick McCaviar Findlay My grandfather, Rod Findlay, was based at RAF Binbrook. I'm not sure what he did but my grandmother and their six children lived in a caravan just outside the RAF base. He was also based in Hong Kong and Malta.
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