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Those known to have served at RAF Colerne during the Second World War 1939-1945. - Alston Ronald Earnest. LAC.
- Mills DFC. Kenneth Freeman. F/Lt.
- Pope DFC.. Percy William S. Sqd.Ldr.
- Port Dan D.. Cpl.
- Reynolds Frederick Thomas. F/Lt. (d.6th Mar 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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The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.
Announcements
- 1st of September 2024 marks 25 years since the launch of the Wartime Memories Project. Thanks to everyone who has supported us over this time.
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Want to find out more about your relative's service? Want to know what life was like during the War? Our
Library contains an ever growing number diary entries, personal letters and other documents, most transcribed into plain text. |
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Wanted: Digital copies of Group photographs, Scrapbooks, Autograph books, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters, postcards and ephemera relating to WW2. We would like to obtain digital copies of any documents or photographs relating to WW2 you may have at home. If you have any unwanted
photographs, documents or items from the First or Second World War, please do not destroy them.
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Did you know? We also have a section on The Great War. and a
Timecapsule to preserve stories from other conflicts for future generations.
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Want to know more about RAF Colerne? There are:84 items tagged RAF Colerne 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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Sqd.Ldr. Percy William S "Paul" Pope DFC. Air Gunner 13.28.51.78.234.578.Squs  Paul Pope enlisted in 1931 to be an engineer but became air gunner in India Wariston Campaign. He joined 51Sq in 1937. on 23rd Jan 1940 he transferred to 234Sq as an air gunner and flew during the Battle of Britain including 35 hours of fighter sorties over Dunkirk in 3 days. By April 41 he had completed 81 sorties and moved to 39MU Nightfighter Development unit at Colerne. He was involved in an interesting event publicised during Bath bombing when he took off in spare Defiant to defend city.
In June 1942 he joined 78Sq and November 1943 he returned to 51Sq. Completing 507 hours of combat flying. On the 14th of January 1944 he transferred to 578Sq.
After the war in October 1946 he joined the Diplomatic Corp in Denmark and became King Gustarv's buddy having to stay with him all times. Particularly during the King's pub crawling on his bicycle. They had a drinking bet and Paul won himself the Order of the White Elephant. He was Adjutant of 84Group HQ during the Berlin Airlift and was involved with rebuilding airfields. He retired 15.3.1954 and became a significant member of the Airgunners Association London Branch. He died in September 1981.
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F/Lt. Frederick Thomas "Eric" Reynolds 65 Squadron (d.6th Mar 1945)    Flight Lieutenant Frederick Thomas Reynolds joined the R.A.F.V.R. in 1938, his original Service Number was 742592, This changed to 86373 on or around 29th September 1940 when he was promoted to 'Pilot Officer' (on probation) Ref 'London Gazette No 34986 Tuesday 5th November 1940'. He served in RAF No 65 Squadron and we know from a letter to his family he was stationed in with them at RAF Turnhouse near Edinburgh in the period August-November 1940. We also know from another letter he was with RAF Squadron 256 stationed February - March 1941 at Colerne near Chippenham, he flew Hurricanes at this time, and that he was involved in the defence of Liverpool.
His sister (my mother) says she knew he destroyed a German aircraft in this period but we have no details, she also recalls he crashed his aircraft on Rhyl Beach but again we have no details.
In 1944/45 he was with 219 Squadron flying Mosquito NF30's under Wing Commander Peter Green based at Amiens-Glisy in France and he is recorded as destroying a Messerschmitt Me110 on night of 1-2 January 1945. He was killed when his Mosquito crashed in flames in the town of Amiens (eye witness account) on 6th March 1945. This was officially recorded as an Aircraft Accident but we do not know the cause or any details.
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F/Lt. Kenneth Freeman Mills DFC 219 Squadron Kenneth Freeman Mills DFC served in Bristol Blenheims, later converting to Bristol Beaufighters in 219 Squadron based at RAF Tangmere. He flew over 36 sorties and was involved in destroying a Heinkel He III. He then moved on to 264 Squadron flying Mosquitos from RAF Colerne, Wiltshire and RAF Predannack, Cornwall.
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LAC. Ronald Earnest Alston My husband Ronald Alston was ground crew at Colerne in WW2 he wrote his memoirs and I have published them. The book is titled
I Join the Fray it is very illuminating and may stir up some memories for your readers.
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Cpl. Dan D. Port No. 39 Maintenance Unit Whilst serving in the Motor Transport section of 39 MU at RAF Colerne, Dan Port met my mother.
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Recomended Reading.Available at discounted prices.
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I Join the FrayRonald Alston
The wartime memoirs of Ronald Alston RAF ground crew during World War II. This is an absolutely charming read and insight into wartime life for RAF ground crew. A much ignored facet of operations during WW2 - this is a worthy salute to those who were dedicated to making the victories of the Air Force possible.
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