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RAF Melbourne
RAF Melbourne was situated in Yorkshire, 12 miles south east of York and six miles west of Market Weighton. The base was as a 4 Group Bomber Command station opeining in 1940 and was one of the few to be fitted with FIDO, a fog dispersal system based on burning petrol which was installed in January 1944. This made Melbourne and ideal place to land when the Vale of York was fog bound. No. 10 was the only bomber squadron to be based at Melbourne and flew 300 raids with the loss of 128 Halifax bombers.
The airfield closed in 1945 and today is used for agriculture.
Squadrons stationed at RAF Melbourne
19th August 1942 On the move
17th Jun 1944 Halifax Lost
25th June 1944 Bombs fall on bomber
28th Oct 1944 Halifax Lost
May 1945 Transfer to Transport Command
If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
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Those known to have served at RAF Melbourne during the Second World War 1939-1945. - Ashton J. . Sgt (d. 3rd Feb 1945 )
- Baldwin DFC.. Jack. F/Lt.
- Beales Fred. Sgt. (d.10th June 1944)
- Booth AW. Sgt. (d.1943-06-29)
- Bradshaw Reginald Eric. P/O (d.1943-06-29)
- Britton Maurice Henry. Sergeant (d.20th December 1943)
- Britton Maurice Henry. Sergeant (d.20th December 1943)
- Brown David D. Sgt (d.1943-06-29)
- Buckner Ronald George Edwin. Flight Sergeant (d.20th December 1943)
- Buckner Ronald George Edwin. Flight Sergeant (d.20th December 1943)
- Cameron Robert. P/O. (d.3rd Nov 1943)
- Chell L. H. . F/S (d. 3rd Feb 1945 )
- Cook Eric T.. Sgt. (d.16th July 1943)
- Cook P. . F/O
- Cross Herbert Ernest. P/O (d.1943-06-29)
- Davenport Bob . P/O. (d.5th March 1945)
- Davis Kenneth Charles. Sgt.
- Elsome. Doug . Flight Sergeant
- Entwistle Clifford C. Flt/Sgt. (d.1943-06-29)
- Fearnley Fred . Flt Sgt. (d.5th March 1945)
- Fisher Frank Oldfield. LAC
- Geddes Roy Hamilton. P/O (d.1943-06-29)
- Gibbs. R. A. . F.O. (d. 3rd Feb 1945 )
- Grant DFC.. Robert Bickerton. F/Lt.
- Griffiths. Harry . Sergeant
- Hayes Peter Mill. Flight Sergeant (d.20th December 1943)
- Hayes Peter Mill. Flight Sergeant (d.20th December 1943)
- Hodgson Steve . Flt Eng
- Jackson Bernard. Sgt. (d.5th Jan 1945)
- Kinney J R. Flight Officer
- Kinney J R. Flight Officer
- Lawrence. Doug . Flight Sergeant
- Lear Kenneth Seymour. Flying Officer
- Lear Kenneth Seymour. Flying Officer
- Marshall. Allan . Flying Officer
- McClements Robert. Flt.Lt.
- Moss Desmond . Flt Lt
- Muldoon Jock . Flt Eng.
- Mullinex George Arthur. WO.
- Norton K R. Sergeant (d.20th December 1943)
- Norton K R. Sergeant (d.20th December 1943)
- Parham W. P. . F/O (d. 3rd Feb 1945 )
- Paxton. Fraser . Sergeant
- Priest Cyril. Pilot Officer (d.20th December 1943)
- Priest Cyril. Pilot Officer (d.20th December 1943)
- Seabridge. William Henry . (d. 3rd Feb 1945 )
- Shannon R. Sgt
- Smith T. C. . Sgt (d. 3rd Feb 1945 )
- Tasker John . (d.5th March 1945)
- Thornley. Jack . Sergeant
- Tuck. Reg . Sergeant
- Turner Harry.
- vanStockum. Willem Jacob . (d.10th Jun 1944)
- Webster Lindsay . W/O. (d.5th March 1945)
- White Robert Stirratt. Sgt (d.1943-06-29)
- Whitmarsh DFM. Alan Walter. Light Lieutenant (d.20th December 1943)
- Whitmarsh DFM. Alan Walter. Light Lieutenant (d.20th December 1943)
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.
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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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Did you know? We also have a section on The Great War. and a
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Want to know more about RAF Melbourne? There are:5 items tagged RAF Melbourne 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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LAC Frank Oldfield Fisher My grandad, Frank Oldfield Fisher, was leading air craftsman on Halifax bombers at Melbourne then at Seaton Ross. Does anyone have any photos of him during the war years? He was an air frame mechanic and would have repaired shot down planes to fly again. I would love to get replies or hear from some of his pals.
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Sgt. AW Booth 10th Squadron (d.1943-06-29) My father's cousin, Sgt A.W Booth, was stationed at Melbourne. He was an air gunner and flew with the 10th Squadron from Melbourne on the raid on Cologne on the 28th of June 1943. The Halifax was shot down near Limburg in the early hours of the 29th. The only survivor was Flt Sergeant Shannon who was captured. The dead are buried at Jonkerbos War Cemetery in Holland. I would be very interested to find out if anyone is still around who may have known Sgt Booth.
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Light Lieutenant Alan Walter Whitmarsh DFM 10 Squadron (d.20th December 1943) My husband's father, F/O Kenneth Seymour Lear, served in WW2 and flew in a Halifax bomber. We were told by my husband's mother, who is now deceased, that her husband was stationed at Marston Moor. I am trying to find out any history for him as he was reported missing in action and I think in the end declared dead on the 20th December 1943. My husband, like so many born during the war, never knew his father. We don't even have any photos of him. How can I find out if he was stationed at Marston Moor and if he was, if anyone has any pictures of him. He did also go to Canada for training. Can anyone help? We also don't have a date of birth for him but know he was 20 when he died.
Information from lostbombers.co.uk:
Halifax HX164, Operation Frankfurt, airborne 1637 20th December 1943 from RAF Melbourne. Cause of loss not established. Crashed near Dahlen, where those killed were buried. Their graves are now located in the Rheinberg War Cemetery. F/L Whitmarsh gained an Immediate DFM, Gazetted 31Aug43 for his outstanding airmanship during a raid that same month to Mannheim.
Flight Lieutenant Alan Walter Whitmarsh DFM KIA
Sgt P.M.Hayes KIA
P/O C.Priest KIA
F/O J.R.Kinney RCAF PoW (confined in hospital due injuries)
F/O K.S.Lear KIA
F/S R.G.E.Buckner KIA
Sgt M.H.Britton KIA
Sgt K.R.Norton KIA
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Flight Sergeant Peter Mill Hayes 10 Squadron (d.20th December 1943) My husband's father, F/O Kenneth Seymour Lear, served in WW2 and flew in a Halifax bomber. We were told by my husband's mother, who is now deceased, that her husband was stationed at Marston Moor. I am trying to find out any history for him as he was reported missing in action and I think in the end declared dead on the 20th December 1943. My husband, like so many born during the war, never knew his father. We don't even have any photos of him. How can I find out if he was stationed at Marston Moor and if he was, if anyone has any pictures of him. He did also go to Canada for training. Can anyone help? We also don't have a date of birth for him but know he was 20 when he died.
Information from lostbombers.co.uk:
Halifax HX164, Operation Frankfurt, airborne 1637 20th December 1943 from RAF Melbourne. Cause of loss not established. Crashed near Dahlen, where those killed were buried. Their graves are now located in the Rheinberg War Cemetery. F/L Whitmarsh gained an Immediate DFM, Gazetted 31Aug43 for his outstanding airmanship during a raid that same month to Mannheim.
Flight Lieutenant Alan Walter Whitmarsh DFM KIA
Sgt Peter Mill Hayes KIA
P/O C.Priest KIA
F/O J.R.Kinney RCAF PoW (confined in hospital due injuries)
F/O K.S.Lear KIA
F/S R.G.E.Buckner KIA
Sgt M.H.Britton KIA
Sgt K.R.Norton KIA
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Pilot Officer Cyril Priest 10 Squadron (d.20th December 1943) My husband's father, F/O Kenneth Seymour Lear, served in WW2 and flew in a Halifax bomber. We were told by my husband's mother, who is now deceased, that her husband was stationed at Marston Moor. I am trying to find out any history for him as he was reported missing in action and I think in the end declared dead on the 20th December 1943. My husband, like so many born during the war, never knew his father. We don't even have any photos of him. How can I find out if he was stationed at Marston Moor and if he was, if anyone has any pictures of him. He did also go to Canada for training. Can anyone help? We also don't have a date of birth for him but know he was 20 when he died.
Information from lostbombers.co.uk:
Halifax HX164, Operation Frankfurt, airborne 1637 20th December 1943 from RAF Melbourne. Cause of loss not established. Crashed near Dahlen, where those killed were buried. Their graves are now located in the Rheinberg War Cemetery. F/L Whitmarsh gained an Immediate DFM, Gazetted 31Aug43 for his outstanding airmanship during a raid that same month to Mannheim.
Flight Lieutenant Alan Walter Whitmarsh DFM KIA
Sergeant Peter Mill Hayes KIA
Pilot Officer Cyril Priest KIA
F/O J.R.Kinney RCAF PoW (confined in hospital due injuries)
F/O K.S.Lear KIA
F/S R.G.E.Buckner KIA
Sgt M.H.Britton KIA
Sgt K.R.Norton KIA
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Flight Officer J R Kinney 10 Squadron My husband's father, F/O Kenneth Seymour Lear, served in WW2 and flew in a Halifax bomber. We were told by my husband's mother, who is now deceased, that her husband was stationed at Marston Moor. I am trying to find out any history for him as he was reported missing in action and I think in the end declared dead on the 20th December 1943. My husband, like so many born during the war, never knew his father. We don't even have any photos of him. How can I find out if he was stationed at Marston Moor and if he was, if anyone has any pictures of him. He did also go to Canada for training. Can anyone help? We also don't have a date of birth for him but know he was 20 when he died.
Information from lostbombers.co.uk:
Halifax HX164, Operation Frankfurt, airborne 1637 20th December 1943 from RAF Melbourne. Cause of loss not established. Crashed near Dahlen, where those killed were buried. Their graves are now located in the Rheinberg War Cemetery. F/L Whitmarsh gained an Immediate DFM, Gazetted 31Aug43 for his outstanding airmanship during a raid that same month to Mannheim.
Flight Lieutenant Alan Walter Whitmarsh DFM KIA
Sergeant Peter Mill Hayes KIA
Pilot Officer Cyril Priest KIA
Flight Offficer J.R.Kinney RCAF PoW (confined in hospital due injuries)
F/O K.S.Lear KIA
F/S R.G.E.Buckner KIA
Sgt M.H.Britton KIA
Sgt K.R.Norton KIA
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Flying Officer Kenneth Seymour Lear 10 Squadron My husband's father, F/O Kenneth Seymour Lear, served in WW2 and flew in a Halifax bomber. We were told by my husband's mother, who is now deceased, that her husband was stationed at Marston Moor. I am trying to find out any history for him as he was reported missing in action and I think in the end declared dead on the 20th December 1943. My husband, like so many born during the war, never knew his father. We don't even have any photos of him. How can I find out if he was stationed at Marston Moor and if he was, if anyone has any pictures of him. He did also go to Canada for training. Can anyone help? We also don't have a date of birth for him but know he was 20 when he died.
Information from lostbombers.co.uk:
Halifax HX164, Operation Frankfurt, airborne 1637 20th December 1943 from RAF Melbourne. Cause of loss not established. Crashed near Dahlen, where those killed were buried. Their graves are now located in the Rheinberg War Cemetery. F/L Whitmarsh gained an Immediate DFM, Gazetted 31Aug43 for his outstanding airmanship during a raid that same month to Mannheim.
Flight Lieutenant Alan Walter Whitmarsh DFM KIA
Sergeant Peter Mill Hayes KIA
Pilot Officer Cyril Priest KIA
Flight Offficer J.R.Kinney RCAF PoW (confined in hospital due injuries)
F/O K.S.Lear KIA
F/S R.G.E.Buckner KIA
Sgt M.H.Britton KIA
Sgt K.R.Norton KIA
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Sergeant K R Norton 10 Squadron (d.20th December 1943) My husband's father, F/O Kenneth Seymour Lear, served in WW2 and flew in a Halifax bomber. We were told by my husband's mother, who is now deceased, that her husband was stationed at Marston Moor. I am trying to find out any history for him as he was reported missing in action and I think in the end declared dead on the 20th December 1943. My husband, like so many born during the war, never knew his father. We don't even have any photos of him. How can I find out if he was stationed at Marston Moor and if he was, if anyone has any pictures of him. He did also go to Canada for training. Can anyone help? We also don't have a date of birth for him but know he was 20 when he died.
Information from lostbombers.co.uk:
Halifax HX164, Operation Frankfurt, airborne 1637 20th December 1943 from RAF Melbourne. Cause of loss not established. Crashed near Dahlen, where those killed were buried. Their graves are now located in the Rheinberg War Cemetery. F/L Whitmarsh gained an Immediate DFM, Gazetted 31Aug43 for his outstanding airmanship during a raid that same month to Mannheim.
Flight Lieutenant Alan Walter Whitmarsh DFM KIA
Sergeant Peter Mill Hayes KIA
Pilot Officer Cyril Priest KIA
Flight Offficer J.R.Kinney RCAF PoW (confined in hospital due injuries)
Flying Officer Kenneth Seymour Lear KIA
Flight Sergeant Ronald George Edwin Buckner KIA
Sergeant Maurice Henry Britton KIA
Sgt K.R.Norton KIA
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Sergeant Maurice Henry Britton 10 Squadron (d.20th December 1943) My husband's father, F/O Kenneth Seymour Lear, served in WW2 and flew in a Halifax bomber. We were told by my husband's mother, who is now deceased, that her husband was stationed at Marston Moor. I am trying to find out any history for him as he was reported missing in action and I think in the end declared dead on the 20th December 1943. My husband, like so many born during the war, never knew his father. We don't even have any photos of him. How can I find out if he was stationed at Marston Moor and if he was, if anyone has any pictures of him. He did also go to Canada for training. Can anyone help? We also don't have a date of birth for him but know he was 20 when he died.
Information from lostbombers.co.uk:
Halifax HX164, Operation Frankfurt, airborne 1637 20th December 1943 from RAF Melbourne. Cause of loss not established. Crashed near Dahlen, where those killed were buried. Their graves are now located in the Rheinberg War Cemetery. F/L Whitmarsh gained an Immediate DFM, Gazetted 31Aug43 for his outstanding airmanship during a raid that same month to Mannheim.
Flight Lieutenant Alan Walter Whitmarsh DFM KIA
Sergeant Peter Mill Hayes KIA
Pilot Officer Cyril Priest KIA
Flight Offficer J.R.Kinney RCAF PoW (confined in hospital due injuries)
Flying Officer Kenneth Seymour Lear KIA
Flight Sergeant Ronald George Edwin Buckner KIA
Sergeant Maurice Henry Britton KIA
Sgt K.R.Norton KIA
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Flight Sergeant Ronald George Edwin Buckner 10 Squadron (d.20th December 1943) My husband's father, F/O Kenneth Seymour Lear, served in WW2 and flew in a Halifax bomber. We were told by my husband's mother, who is now deceased, that her husband was stationed at Marston Moor. I am trying to find out any history for him as he was reported missing in action and I think in the end declared dead on the 20th December 1943. My husband, like so many born during the war, never knew his father. We don't even have any photos of him. How can I find out if he was stationed at Marston Moor and if he was, if anyone has any pictures of him. He did also go to Canada for training. Can anyone help? We also don't have a date of birth for him but know he was 20 when he died.
Information from lostbombers.co.uk:
Halifax HX164, Operation Frankfurt, airborne 1637 20th December 1943 from RAF Melbourne. Cause of loss not established. Crashed near Dahlen, where those killed were buried. Their graves are now located in the Rheinberg War Cemetery. F/L Whitmarsh gained an Immediate DFM, Gazetted 31Aug43 for his outstanding airmanship during a raid that same month to Mannheim.
Flight Lieutenant Alan Walter Whitmarsh DFM KIA
Sergeant Peter Mill Hayes KIA
Pilot Officer Cyril Priest KIA
Flight Offficer J.R.Kinney RCAF PoW (confined in hospital due injuries)
Flying Officer Kenneth Seymour Lear KIA
Flight Sergeant Ronald George Edwin Buckner KIA
Sgt M.H.Britton KIA
Sgt K.R.Norton KIA
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Light Lieutenant Alan Walter Whitmarsh DFM 10 Squadron (d.20th December 1943) My husband's father, F/O Kenneth Seymour Lear, served in WW2 and flew in a Halifax bomber. We were told by my husband's mother, who is now deceased, that her husband was stationed at Marston Moor. I am trying to find out any history for him as he was reported missing in action and I think in the end declared dead on the 20th December 1943. My husband, like so many born during the war, never knew his father. We don't even have any photos of him. How can I find out if he was stationed at Marston Moor and if he was, if anyone has any pictures of him. He did also go to Canada for training. Can anyone help? We also don't have a date of birth for him but know he was 20 when he died.
Information from lostbombers.co.uk:
Halifax HX164, Operation Frankfurt, airborne 1637 20th December 1943 from RAF Melbourne. Cause of loss not established. Crashed near Dahlen, where those killed were buried. Their graves are now located in the Rheinberg War Cemetery. F/L Whitmarsh gained an Immediate DFM, Gazetted 31Aug43 for his outstanding airmanship during a raid that same month to Mannheim.
Flight Lieutenant Alan Walter Whitmarsh DFM KIA
Sgt P.M.Hayes KIA
P/O C.Priest KIA
F/O J.R.Kinney RCAF PoW (confined in hospital due injuries)
F/O K.S.Lear KIA
F/S R.G.E.Buckner KIA
Sgt M.H.Britton KIA
Sgt K.R.Norton KIA
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Flight Sergeant Peter Mill Hayes 10 Squadron (d.20th December 1943) My husband's father, F/O Kenneth Seymour Lear, served in WW2 and flew in a Halifax bomber. We were told by my husband's mother, who is now deceased, that her husband was stationed at Marston Moor. I am trying to find out any history for him as he was reported missing in action and I think in the end declared dead on the 20th December 1943. My husband, like so many born during the war, never knew his father. We don't even have any photos of him. How can I find out if he was stationed at Marston Moor and if he was, if anyone has any pictures of him. He did also go to Canada for training. Can anyone help? We also don't have a date of birth for him but know he was 20 when he died.
Information from lostbombers.co.uk:
Halifax HX164, Operation Frankfurt, airborne 1637 20th December 1943 from RAF Melbourne. Cause of loss not established. Crashed near Dahlen, where those killed were buried. Their graves are now located in the Rheinberg War Cemetery. F/L Whitmarsh gained an Immediate DFM, Gazetted 31Aug43 for his outstanding airmanship during a raid that same month to Mannheim.
Flight Lieutenant Alan Walter Whitmarsh DFM KIA
Sgt Peter Mill Hayes KIA
P/O C.Priest KIA
F/O J.R.Kinney RCAF PoW (confined in hospital due injuries)
F/O K.S.Lear KIA
F/S R.G.E.Buckner KIA
Sgt M.H.Britton KIA
Sgt K.R.Norton KIA
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Flying Officer Kenneth Seymour Lear 10 Squadron My husband's father, F/O Kenneth Seymour Lear, served in WW2 and flew in a Halifax bomber. We were told by my husband's mother, who is now deceased, that her husband was stationed at Marston Moor. I am trying to find out any history for him as he was reported missing in action and I think in the end declared dead on the 20th December 1943. My husband, like so many born during the war, never knew his father. We don't even have any photos of him. How can I find out if he was stationed at Marston Moor and if he was, if anyone has any pictures of him. He did also go to Canada for training. Can anyone help? We also don't have a date of birth for him but know he was 20 when he died.
Information from lostbombers.co.uk:
Halifax HX164, Operation Frankfurt, airborne 1637 20th December 1943 from RAF Melbourne. Cause of loss not established. Crashed near Dahlen, where those killed were buried. Their graves are now located in the Rheinberg War Cemetery. F/L Whitmarsh gained an Immediate DFM, Gazetted 31Aug43 for his outstanding airmanship during a raid that same month to Mannheim.
Flight Lieutenant Alan Walter Whitmarsh DFM KIA
Sergeant Peter Mill Hayes KIA
Pilot Officer Cyril Priest KIA
Flight Offficer J.R.Kinney RCAF PoW (confined in hospital due injuries)
F/O K.S.Lear KIA
F/S R.G.E.Buckner KIA
Sgt M.H.Britton KIA
Sgt K.R.Norton KIA
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Flight Officer J R Kinney 10 Squadron My husband's father, F/O Kenneth Seymour Lear, served in WW2 and flew in a Halifax bomber. We were told by my husband's mother, who is now deceased, that her husband was stationed at Marston Moor. I am trying to find out any history for him as he was reported missing in action and I think in the end declared dead on the 20th December 1943. My husband, like so many born during the war, never knew his father. We don't even have any photos of him. How can I find out if he was stationed at Marston Moor and if he was, if anyone has any pictures of him. He did also go to Canada for training. Can anyone help? We also don't have a date of birth for him but know he was 20 when he died.
Information from lostbombers.co.uk:
Halifax HX164, Operation Frankfurt, airborne 1637 20th December 1943 from RAF Melbourne. Cause of loss not established. Crashed near Dahlen, where those killed were buried. Their graves are now located in the Rheinberg War Cemetery. F/L Whitmarsh gained an Immediate DFM, Gazetted 31Aug43 for his outstanding airmanship during a raid that same month to Mannheim.
Flight Lieutenant Alan Walter Whitmarsh DFM KIA
Sergeant Peter Mill Hayes KIA
Pilot Officer Cyril Priest KIA
Flight Offficer J.R.Kinney RCAF PoW (confined in hospital due injuries)
F/O K.S.Lear KIA
F/S R.G.E.Buckner KIA
Sgt M.H.Britton KIA
Sgt K.R.Norton KIA
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Pilot Officer Cyril Priest 10 Squadron (d.20th December 1943) My husband's father, F/O Kenneth Seymour Lear, served in WW2 and flew in a Halifax bomber. We were told by my husband's mother, who is now deceased, that her husband was stationed at Marston Moor. I am trying to find out any history for him as he was reported missing in action and I think in the end declared dead on the 20th December 1943. My husband, like so many born during the war, never knew his father. We don't even have any photos of him. How can I find out if he was stationed at Marston Moor and if he was, if anyone has any pictures of him. He did also go to Canada for training. Can anyone help? We also don't have a date of birth for him but know he was 20 when he died.
Information from lostbombers.co.uk:
Halifax HX164, Operation Frankfurt, airborne 1637 20th December 1943 from RAF Melbourne. Cause of loss not established. Crashed near Dahlen, where those killed were buried. Their graves are now located in the Rheinberg War Cemetery. F/L Whitmarsh gained an Immediate DFM, Gazetted 31Aug43 for his outstanding airmanship during a raid that same month to Mannheim.
Flight Lieutenant Alan Walter Whitmarsh DFM KIA
Sergeant Peter Mill Hayes KIA
Pilot Officer Cyril Priest KIA
F/O J.R.Kinney RCAF PoW (confined in hospital due injuries)
F/O K.S.Lear KIA
F/S R.G.E.Buckner KIA
Sgt M.H.Britton KIA
Sgt K.R.Norton KIA
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Flight Sergeant Ronald George Edwin Buckner 10 Squadron (d.20th December 1943) My husband's father, F/O Kenneth Seymour Lear, served in WW2 and flew in a Halifax bomber. We were told by my husband's mother, who is now deceased, that her husband was stationed at Marston Moor. I am trying to find out any history for him as he was reported missing in action and I think in the end declared dead on the 20th December 1943. My husband, like so many born during the war, never knew his father. We don't even have any photos of him. How can I find out if he was stationed at Marston Moor and if he was, if anyone has any pictures of him. He did also go to Canada for training. Can anyone help? We also don't have a date of birth for him but know he was 20 when he died.
Information from lostbombers.co.uk:
Halifax HX164, Operation Frankfurt, airborne 1637 20th December 1943 from RAF Melbourne. Cause of loss not established. Crashed near Dahlen, where those killed were buried. Their graves are now located in the Rheinberg War Cemetery. F/L Whitmarsh gained an Immediate DFM, Gazetted 31Aug43 for his outstanding airmanship during a raid that same month to Mannheim.
Flight Lieutenant Alan Walter Whitmarsh DFM KIA
Sergeant Peter Mill Hayes KIA
Pilot Officer Cyril Priest KIA
Flight Offficer J.R.Kinney RCAF PoW (confined in hospital due injuries)
Flying Officer Kenneth Seymour Lear KIA
Flight Sergeant Ronald George Edwin Buckner KIA
Sgt M.H.Britton KIA
Sgt K.R.Norton KIA
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Sergeant Maurice Henry Britton 10 Squadron (d.20th December 1943) My husband's father, F/O Kenneth Seymour Lear, served in WW2 and flew in a Halifax bomber. We were told by my husband's mother, who is now deceased, that her husband was stationed at Marston Moor. I am trying to find out any history for him as he was reported missing in action and I think in the end declared dead on the 20th December 1943. My husband, like so many born during the war, never knew his father. We don't even have any photos of him. How can I find out if he was stationed at Marston Moor and if he was, if anyone has any pictures of him. He did also go to Canada for training. Can anyone help? We also don't have a date of birth for him but know he was 20 when he died.
Information from lostbombers.co.uk:
Halifax HX164, Operation Frankfurt, airborne 1637 20th December 1943 from RAF Melbourne. Cause of loss not established. Crashed near Dahlen, where those killed were buried. Their graves are now located in the Rheinberg War Cemetery. F/L Whitmarsh gained an Immediate DFM, Gazetted 31Aug43 for his outstanding airmanship during a raid that same month to Mannheim.
Flight Lieutenant Alan Walter Whitmarsh DFM KIA
Sergeant Peter Mill Hayes KIA
Pilot Officer Cyril Priest KIA
Flight Offficer J.R.Kinney RCAF PoW (confined in hospital due injuries)
Flying Officer Kenneth Seymour Lear KIA
Flight Sergeant Ronald George Edwin Buckner KIA
Sergeant Maurice Henry Britton KIA
Sgt K.R.Norton KIA
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Sergeant K R Norton 10 Squadron (d.20th December 1943) My husband's father, F/O Kenneth Seymour Lear, served in WW2 and flew in a Halifax bomber. We were told by my husband's mother, who is now deceased, that her husband was stationed at Marston Moor. I am trying to find out any history for him as he was reported missing in action and I think in the end declared dead on the 20th December 1943. My husband, like so many born during the war, never knew his father. We don't even have any photos of him. How can I find out if he was stationed at Marston Moor and if he was, if anyone has any pictures of him. He did also go to Canada for training. Can anyone help? We also don't have a date of birth for him but know he was 20 when he died.
Information from lostbombers.co.uk:
Halifax HX164, Operation Frankfurt, airborne 1637 20th December 1943 from RAF Melbourne. Cause of loss not established. Crashed near Dahlen, where those killed were buried. Their graves are now located in the Rheinberg War Cemetery. F/L Whitmarsh gained an Immediate DFM, Gazetted 31Aug43 for his outstanding airmanship during a raid that same month to Mannheim.
Flight Lieutenant Alan Walter Whitmarsh DFM KIA
Sergeant Peter Mill Hayes KIA
Pilot Officer Cyril Priest KIA
Flight Offficer J.R.Kinney RCAF PoW (confined in hospital due injuries)
Flying Officer Kenneth Seymour Lear KIA
Flight Sergeant Ronald George Edwin Buckner KIA
Sergeant Maurice Henry Britton KIA
Sgt K.R.Norton KIA
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Harry Turner 10 Squadron My dad, Harry Turner, was in 10 Squadron until his demob in 1945/6. Unfortunately, Dad died 15 years ago but I still have his demob card and flying log books, and a few crew photos. Does anybody out there remember him?
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F/Lt. Jack Baldwin DFC. 10 Squadron Jack Baldwin's log book, with added commentary, became a small book 'Jack Baldwin's War', a copy of which was presented to the Allied Air Forces Memorial at Elvington in 2011. Jack was a bomb-aimer, navigator in a crew piloted by Canadian Ivan Scott DFC, with Syd Butler DFC as Flight Engineer, Ivan Aram DFC as, I think, radio operator and a small guy nicknamed Titch as rear gunner. One of Jack's best stories concerned Titch and a device that triggered an alarm when enemy aircraft approached from the rear. The alarm sent the skipper into immediate and dramatic evasive action. Having been hurled about several times in a short time with no sign of enemy aircraft around, Scotty sent Jack back to see if anything was amiss. Turned out that Titch was so short, he had a box to stand on to see out , but every time he stood on it, the alarm went off! On another occasion, just off the south coast, the Halifax became tough to handle, yawing away. Scotty asked Jack to look out and check the port inner engine. It was not there! 'It was there when you left' commented their mechanic when they eventually, some days later, returned to Melbourne.
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P/O. Robert Cameron Pilot 10 Squadron (d.3rd Nov 1943)  Pilot Officer Robert Cameron was a cousin of my late mother, Christina Hunter Currie (Mrs J. McClure). The family lived in Lindsay Drive, Glasgow. Robert joined the RAFVR in the late 1930's and trained as a pilot. I have no details of his service in the early years of the war but by 1943, he was a pilot flying Halifaxes with Number 10 Squadron at R.A.F. Melbourne.
On 3rd November 1943 at 16.52 he took off in Halifax serial number HX179 on a raid to Dusseldorf. Returning from the raid, the aircraft crashed at 21.16 and was burnt out at Park Farm, 1 mile north of Shipham Airfield in Norfolk. Mr Ernest Bowman, a member of the local Home Guard, dragged one of the crew, Sergeant Winstanley from the wreck. For this act of bravery Mr Bowman was awarded the BEM. Sadly Sergeant Winstanley died from his injuries two days later. The other members of the crew were killed in the crash.
Aboard HX179 were:
- P/O Robert Cameron,
- Sgt. S, Eyre,
- F/S R.A. Tann,
- F/L R. J. Fielder,
- Sgt J Hutton,
- Sgt A.N. Williamson,
- Sgt J Winstanley
Robert was commemorated in New Kilpatrick Cemetery, Bearsden, near the home of his parents, Charles and Christina Hunter (m/s Currie) Cameron in Glasgow. There were two other Halifaxes lost on that operation.
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Sgt. Eric T. Cook 10 Squadron (d.16th July 1943) My great uncle Eric Cook was a flying spanner for the 10th Squadron and he never returned from a mission 16 July 1943. I am trying to trace the history of my great uncle Eric T. Cook or Cooke. Any images of the period and time at Melbourne would make my day and help my family trace the life of this man who died at the age of 21 in service of his country. If you have any information on him or just have any images of life at Melbourne that you could share. Anything at all would be gratefully received.
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P/O. Bob Davenport 10 Sqd. (d.5th March 1945) 
Wing Commander Ralph Frederick Davenport aged 32 of Belleville, Ontario.Pilot of 431 squadron, RCAF & commanding officer
Wendelin Rink, air bomber, aged 21 from Kendal,Saskatchewan.,431 squadron RCAF.jpg
Clarence Lecky, aged 28 air gunner 431 squadron RCAF of Port Arthur,Ontario.jpg
These photos are part of the crew of the Davenport crew. Wing commander Ralph Davenport was only a commanding officer at Croft between jan 14th 1945 to March 11th 1945,when he and his crew ,flying Lancaster KB853 SE-A,were shot down over Essen. They took off at 11.42 from Croft & crashed in the target area. All were laid to rest in the Sud-West Friedhof. Six are now buried in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, while P/O gunner Clarence Lecky was exhumed by an American Graves inspection team & interred on 17th May at Hargraten. Since then his remains have been recovered to Venray War Cemetery. The other crew members who also did not survive this mission were Navigator Donal Kevin Joseph Hector aged 24,a graduate of the University of Toronto & from Toronto,Canada. Wireless operator Charles William Fraser,aged 24 from Windsor,Ontario,Canada. P/O & M/Upper gunner Hubert (Bertie) Bishop,aged 30 from Glace Bay,Nova Scotia.& P/O Flight engineer Arthur Clifford Pettifor aged 29 from Beaver Mines,Alberta,Canada. On the Essen raid on 11/3/1945 only 3 crews were shot down-The Davenport crew of 431 squadron. The Fern crew of 434 squadron who also flew out of Croft. & the Gibbins crew of 153 squadron.
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Flt Lt Desmond Moss 10 Sqd My Mother Evelyn Brown (nee Ross) has a photograph of a halifax crew of 10 squadron whom she and her older sister (Cath) knew during the early 1940's when they lived at Canal Head near Pocklington.
From what names my mother gave me I think the list below was the full aircrew.
From what I have managed to find out they crashed over Germany on 5th March 1945 and sadly only the first three on the list survived.
As I could find no records of what happened to the survivors I have not been able to trace if any of them are still alive.I am sure my mother would love to know what happened to them,so if any information is available it would be greatly appreciated.
- Flt Lt Desmond Moss
- Flt Eng Steve Hodgson
- Flt Eng Jock Muldoon
- P/Off Bob Davenport
- Flt Sgnt Fred Fearnley
- Airc John Tasker
- W/O Lindsay(Buzz) Webster
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William Henry Seabridge. 10 Sqd. (d. 3rd Feb 1945 ) My Uncle, William Henry Seabridge flew with 10 Squadron from RAF Melbourne in Yorkshire
I do not have a photo of my Uncle, but I do have a photo of his F.O.
R.A. Gibbs. Their Halifax was shot down over Holland and only one member of
the crew survived. Date of crash was 03/02 1945.
Update: Their aircraft was Halifax RG443
X1D ZA-Q and their target was Wanne-Eickel. The crash was west of the Maas between the villages of
Haelen (Limburg) and Nunhem, 17 km E of Weert. Three of the crew are buried in the
Jonkerbos War Cemetery and three in the Venray War Cemetery, F/O P.Cook survived the incident and was confined in Hospital due injuries until the liberation.
- F/O R.A.Gibbs
- Sgt J.Ashton
- F/S L.H.Chell
- F/O P.Cook
- F/O W.P.Parham
- Sgt T.C.Smith
- Sgt W.H.Seabridge
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F/Lt. Robert Bickerton Grant DFC. 10 Squadron My father, Flight Lieutenant Bob Grant was a young Canadian pilot who flew out of Melbourne, Yorkshire. I'd love to hear from anyone who remembers him.
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WO. George Arthur Mullinex 10 Squadron My father, George Mullinex, was stationed at RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire, from 24th of November 1943 as a wireless operator with 10 Squadron. He flew 36 operations in Halifax bombers and has written several stories about his time as a crew member. My father is now aged 89 and considers himself to have been extremely lucky. He still has his flight log.
>He was a Flight Sergeant at that time. When he finished his tour of duty, he was posted to Stanton Harcourt, Oxfordshire, as a wireless operator/instructor, flying in Vickers Wellingtons.
Next he was promoted to Warrant Officer, posted to Castle Bromwich in
Birmingham as a control operative.
Just this weekend (5th March, 2010) my brother and I took Dad to Elvington, to the Yorkshire Air Museum (located on 20 acres of parkland, site of the former WW2 RAF Bomber Command Station). Dad donated the following items of uniform that had been stored in the back of his wardrobe:
inner flying suit; helmet with mouthpiece, comms cord and jack plug;goggles with sun visor; undress uniform and kitbag.
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Sgt. Fred Beales 10 Squadron (d.10th June 1944) My uncle Fred Beales served in 10 Squadron at RAF Melbourne during WW2.
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Sgt. Kenneth Charles "Tally" Davis 10 Squadron Sergeant Kenneth Davis known as Tally served with 10 Squadron, Bomber command, at RAF Melbourne. On ops to Bochum he was shot down 4-5th of Novemember 1944. His aircraft was a Halifax and he was taken as a Prisoner of War.
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Sgt. Bernard Jackson 10 Squadron (d.5th Jan 1945) Sgt Bernard Jackson served with 10 Squadron, on the 5th of January 1945 his Halifax took off at 16:49 from RAF Melbourne. Their target was the industrial areas of Hanover. Nothing was heard from aircraft after setting course from base. All these brave people are laid to rest in Hanover War Cemetery, RIP.
- P/Off Sifton 183797 pilot
- Flg.Off W.E. Bransgrove 187774 navigator
- Flt Sgt D.A. Bullock 1274943 wireless operator
- Sgt B. Jackson 1592815 mid upper gunner
- Sgt W. Bainbridge 189455 engineer
- Sgt N. Freshwater 3030186 tail gunner
- Flt Sgt D.I.Coates 1592713 gunner
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