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Those known to have served at RAF Metheringham during the Second World War 1939-1945. - Ashman Graham Leslie. F/O. (d.2nd Dec 1943)
- Baker Frank Ernest. P/O. (d.12th Mar 1945)
- Barratt Elgar. F/O (d.16th Dec 1944)
- Bell Sidney. Sgt.
- Blanchard James William. Sgt. (d.22th June 1944)
- Boivin Leslie Claude William. F/O (d.30th Aug 1944)
- Brinson Bruce. W/O.
- Bryce-Taylor Kenneth Roland. Flt.Sgt.
- Bryson William Sutherland. Sgt. (d.30th Aug 1944)
- Bullen DFC. Peter Gadsby. FO
- Calvert Clive Percival. Flt. Sgt. (d.16th Dec 1944)
- Carter Donavan Yukin. Flt. Sgt. (d.12th Mar 1945)
- Carter Henry William T.. Flt. Sgt. (d.30th Aug 1944)
- Chatwin Rex Joseph. Sgt. (d.19th Sep 1944)
- Clarke Robert Barclay. P/O (d.30th Aug 1944)
- Coates Maxey Croxford . Sgt.
- Collins Ernest Lewis. F/S (d.30th Aug 1944)
- Day Raymond Edward Buckenham. Sgt. (d.16th Dec 1944)
- Day Raymond Edward Buckenham. Sgt. (d.16th Dec 1944)
- Dyer John Harold. Sgt. (d.2nd Jan 1944)
- Edge Eric. Sergeant (d.2nd January 1944)
- Edge Eric. Sergeant (d.2nd January 1944)
- Elsworthy Alexander E .
- Elsworthy Alexander E .
- Emerson John Frederick Wallace. Sgt. (d.16th Dec 1944)
- Evans Donald Angus. F/Lt.
- Fletcher Edward Eric. F/O (d.30th Aug 1944)
- Forster Douglas. Sgt. (d.30th Aug 1944)
- Garnett Frederick Horace. (d.2nd January 1944)
- Garnett Frederick Horace. (d.2nd January 1944)
- Gibson VC, DSO, DFC. Guy Penrose. Wg. Cdr. (d.19th Sept 1944)
- Green Berry Arnold. Flt. Sgt. (d.16th Dec 1944)
- Green Percy Edward. Sgt. (d.16th Dec 1944)
- Hargill Allen. Sgt. (d.30th Aug 1944)
- Huggins Albert George. F/Lt.
- Jeffrey Charles Colin. Sgt. (d.30th Aug 1944)
- Lloyd William B..
- Mann Willaum George. Flt Sgt. (d.30th Jan 1944)
- Mann William George. Sergeant (d.30th January 1944)
- McKechnie GC.. William Neil. Grp Cpt. (d.30th Aug 1944)
- McLean David. Sergeant (d.2nd January 1944)
- McLean David. Sergeant (d.2nd January 1944)
- McLean Robert Hudson. Flt. Sgt. (d.30th Aug 1944)
- McPhail William Stevenson. Flt.Sgt.
- McRobb David Pow Blyth. Cpl.
- North Kenneth. F/Sgt
- O'Brien George John Patrick. F/Sgt. (d.12th March 1945)
- Parker Edward George Lancelot. (d.30th Aug 1944)
- Pease Ernest Montague John. Sergeant (d.2nd January 1944)
- Pease Ernest Montague John. Sergeant (d.2nd January 1944)
- Read Aubrey. (d.26th Nov 1943)
- Rogers Donald Desmond William. Flt.Sgt.
- Smith Walter. Flt.Sgt.
- Thomas Theophilus John. Flight Sergeant (d.2nd January 1944)
- Thomas Theophilus. Sergeant (d.2nd January 1944)
- Thomas Theophilus. Sergeant (d.2nd January 1944)
- Thomas Theophilus John. Flight Sergeant (d.2nd January 1944)
- Towle Edward George. Flt. Sgt. (d.16th Dec 1944)
- Withington John Alfred. Sergeant (d.2nd January 1944)
- Withington John Alfred. Sergeant (d.2nd January 1944)
- Worthy Edward. F/O
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 Metheringham? There are:41 items tagged RAF Metheringham 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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F/O Leslie Claude William Boivin pilot 106 Sqd. (d.30th Aug 1944) F/O Boivin lost his life on the 30th of August 1944 when his Lancaster ND331 was lost on ops.
The crew were:
- F/O L.C.W.Boivin
- Sgt S.Bell
- Sgt W.S.Bryson
- F/S J.P.Nicol
- F/S R.H.McLean
- Sgt E.G.L.Parker
- Sgt H.Hargill
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Sgt. Sidney Bell flight eng. 106 Sqd. Sidney was taken as a Prisoner of War on the 30th of August 1944 and was held in Stalag Luft 7.
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Sgt. John Frederick Wallace Emerson flt eng. 106 Sqd (d.16th Dec 1944) Avro Lancaster ND682 of 106 Sqn. coded ZN-K, took off at 00:45 15th Dec 1944 from Metheringham. OP: Gardening and was shot down by a night fighter.
The remains of Flt. Engr. Sgt John F. W. Emerson were retrieved from the sea 8 miles south of Anholt harbour on 6/3-1945. He was laid to rest by the Wehrmacht in Anholt cemetery on 7/3 1945, he was 24 years old.
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F/O Elgar Barratt pilot 106 Sqd (d.16th Dec 1944) Avro Lancaster ND682 was shot down by a night fighter at 03:54 hours while flying at 2300 metres in the southeast part of the sea of Kattegat by a German JU 88 night fighter of 3./NJG 3.
The JU 88 was piloted by Hauptmann Eduard Schröder with the crew of Hessenmüller, Zeinert and Brunsendorf.
The body of Pilot F/O Elgar Barratt was found washed ashore at Kulla Gunnarstorp north of the Swedish town Hälsingborg and was laid to rest in Hälsingborg Municipal Cemetery.
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Sgt. Raymond Edward Buckenham Day mid upper guner 106 Sqd (d.16th Dec 1944) Raymond Day was the Mid Upper Gunner of Avro Lancaster ND682 and lost his life when it was shot down by a night fighter at 03:54 hours on the 16th of December 1944 over the southeast part of the sea of Kattegat by a German JU 88 night fighter of 3./NJG 3. He has no known grave and he is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. He was 34 years old and was married. His brother Norman also lost his life whilst serving with 114 Squadron.
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Sgt. Raymond Edward Buckenham Day mid upper guner 106 Sqd (d.16th Dec 1944) Raymond Day was the Mid Upper Gunner of Avro Lancaster ND682 and lost his life when it was shot down by a night fighter at 03:54 hours on the 16th of December 1944 over the southeast part of the sea of Kattegat by a German JU 88 night fighter of 3./NJG 3. He has no known grave and he is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. He was 34 years old and was married. His brother Norman also lost his life whilst serving with 114 Squadron.
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Sgt. Percy Edward Green rear gunner 106 Sqd (d.16th Dec 1944) Percy Green was the Rear Gunner of Avro Lancaster ND682 and lost his life when it was shot down by a night fighter at 03:54 hours on the 16th of December 1944 over the southeast part of the sea of Kattegat by a German JU 88 night fighter of 3./NJG 3. He has no known grave and he is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. He was 39 years old and was married.
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Flt. Sgt. Berry Arnold Green navigator 106 Sqd (d.16th Dec 1944) Arnold Berry was the Navigator of Avro Lancaster ND682 and lost his life when it was shot down by a night fighter at 03:54 hours on the 16th of December 1944 over the southeast part of the sea of Kattegat by a German JU 88 night fighter of 3./NJG 3. He has no known grave and he is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
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Flt. Sgt. Edward George Towle bomb aimer 106 Sqd (d.16th Dec 1944) Edward Towle was the Bomb Aimer of Avro Lancaster ND682 and lost his life when it was shot down by a night fighter at 03:54 hours on the 16th of December 1944 over the southeast part of the sea of Kattegat by a German JU 88 night fighter of 3./NJG 3. He has no known grave and he is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
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Flt. Sgt. Clive Percival Calvert w/op 106 Sqd (d.16th Dec 1944) My Great Uncle, Flt Sgt Clive Percival Calvert (RAAF)flew with 106 Squadron as Wireless operator of ND682 Avro Lancaster. Below is some information I found on a Danish website
The aircraft belonged to RAF 106 Sqn. Bomber Command and was coded ZN-K.
T/o 00:45 15th Dec 1944 from Metheringham. OP: Gardening
The Lancaster is believed to have been claimed at 03:54 hours while flying at 2300 metres in the southeast part of the sea of Kattegat by a German JU 88 night fighter of 3./NJG 3.
The JU 88 was piloted by Hauptmann Eduard Schröder with the crew of Hessenmüller, Zeinert and Brunsendorf.
The body of Pilot F/O Elgar Barratt was found washed ashore at Kulla Gunnarstorp north of the Swedish town Hälsingborg and was laid to rest in Hälsingborg Municipal Cemetery.
The remains of Flt. Engr. Sgt John F. W. Emerson were retrieved from the sea 8 miles south of Anholt harbour on 6/3-1945. He was laid to rest by the Wehrmacht in Anholt cemetery on 7/3 1945.
W/Op F/S Clive P. Calvert RAAF, Mid Upper Gunner Sgt Raymond E.B. Day, Tail Gunner Sgt Percy E. Green, Navigator F/S Arnold Berry and Bomb Aimer F/S Edward G. Towle have no known grave and are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
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Alexander E Elsworthy 106 Squadron I am researching my great-uncle John Alfred Withington who died during the Second World War. He was a gunner in a Lancaster bomber with the 106 Squadron; all but one of the crew died on the 2nd of January 1944. The remaining crew member Alexander Elsworthy is shown to have been in prisoner of war camps Stalag4B and Stalag Luft3.
My father was told that his uncle, John Withington, helped an injured crew member when their plane was hit. John helped open the other crew members' parachutes but his own then failed. The surviving crew member apparently came back to tell the tale and I am assuming this must be Alexander Elsworthy. Any details on Alexander would be very gratefully received. I know that his POW number was 269841, he lived in Chelsea and was born 1921.
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Sergeant David McLean 106 Squadron (d.2nd January 1944) Lancaster JB642 bomber with the 106 Squadron on operation to Berlin, lost on the 2nd of January 1944. JB642 was one of two No.106 Sqdn Lancasters lost on this operation. Airborne 0020 2nd January 1944 from Metheringham. Outbound, crashed at Hoya, a town straddling the Weser, 14 km SSW of Verden. Those killed are buried in Hannover War Cemetery.
At 18, Sgt Withington was amongst the youngest to die on air operations in Bomber Command. P/O F.H.Garnett KIA Sgt D.McLean KIA F/S T.J.Thomas KIA Sgt E.M.J.Pease KIA Sgt E.Edge KIA Sgt J.A.Withington KIA Sgt A.A.E.Elsworthy PoW was interned in Camps 4B/L3, PoW No.269841.
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Frederick Horace Garnett 106 Squadron (d.2nd January 1944) Lancaster JB642 bomber with the 106 Squadron on operation to Berlin, lost on the 2nd of January 1944. JB642 was one of two No.106 Sqdn Lancasters lost on this operation. Airborne 0020 2nd January 1944 from Metheringham. Outbound, crashed at Hoya, a town straddling the Weser, 14 km SSW of Verden. Those killed are buried in Hannover War Cemetery.
At 18, Sgt Withington was amongst the youngest to die on air operations in Bomber Command. P/O F.H.Garnett KIA Sgt D.McLean KIA F/S T.J.Thomas KIA Sgt E.M.J.Pease KIA Sgt E.Edge KIA Sgt J.A.Withington KIA Sgt A.A.E.Elsworthy PoW was interned in Camps 4B/L3, PoW No.269841.
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Flight Sergeant Theophilus John Thomas 106 Squadron (d.2nd January 1944) Lancaster JB642 bomber with the 106 Squadron on operation to Berlin, lost on the 2nd of January 1944. JB642 was one of two No.106 Sqdn Lancasters lost on this operation. Airborne 0020 2nd January 1944 from Metheringham. Outbound, crashed at Hoya, a town straddling the Weser, 14 km SSW of Verden. Those killed are buried in Hannover War Cemetery.
At 18, Sgt Withington was amongst the youngest to die on air operations in Bomber Command. P/O F.H.Garnett KIA Sgt D.McLean KIA F/S T.J.Thomas KIA Sgt E.M.J.Pease KIA Sgt E.Edge KIA Sgt J.A.Withington KIA Sgt A.A.E.Elsworthy PoW was interned in Camps 4B/L3, PoW No.269841.
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Sergeant Theophilus Thomas 106 Squadron (d.2nd January 1944) Lancaster JB642 bomber with the 106 Squadron on operation to Berlin, lost on the 2nd of January 1944. JB642 was one of two No.106 Sqdn Lancasters lost on this operation. Airborne 0020 2nd January 1944 from Metheringham. Outbound, crashed at Hoya, a town straddling the Weser, 14 km SSW of Verden. Those killed are buried in Hannover War Cemetery.
At 18, Sgt Withington was amongst the youngest to die on air operations in Bomber Command. P/O F.H.Garnett KIA Sgt D.McLean KIA F/S T.J.Thomas KIA Sgt E.M.J.Pease KIA Sgt E.Edge KIA Sgt J.A.Withington KIA Sgt A.A.E.Elsworthy PoW was interned in Camps 4B/L3, PoW No.269841.
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Sergeant Ernest Montague John Pease 106 Squadron (d.2nd January 1944) Lancaster JB642 bomber with the 106 Squadron on operation to Berlin, lost on the 2nd of January 1944. JB642 was one of two No.106 Sqdn Lancasters lost on this operation. Airborne 0020 2nd January 1944 from Metheringham. Outbound, crashed at Hoya, a town straddling the Weser, 14 km SSW of Verden. Those killed are buried in Hannover War Cemetery.
At 18, Sgt Withington was amongst the youngest to die on air operations in Bomber Command. P/O F.H.Garnett KIA Sgt D.McLean KIA F/S T.J.Thomas KIA Sgt E.M.J.Pease KIA Sgt E.Edge KIA Sgt J.A.Withington KIA Sgt A.A.E.Elsworthy PoW was interned in Camps 4B/L3, PoW No.269841.
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Sergeant John Alfred Withington 106 Squadron (d.2nd January 1944) I am researching my great uncle John Alfred Withington who died during the Second World War. He was a gunner in a Lancaster bomber with the 106 Squadron, all but one of the crew died on the 2nd of January 1944. My father was told that his uncle, John Withington helped an injured crew member when their plane was hit. John helped open the other crew members parachute but his own then failed.
www.lostbombers.co.uk reports the crash:
Lancaster JB642 bomber with the 106 Squadron on operation to Berlin, lost on the 2nd of January 1944. JB642 was one of two No.106 Sqdn Lancasters lost on this operation. Airborne 0020 2nd January 1944 from Metheringham. Outbound, crashed at Hoya, a town straddling the Weser, 14 km SSW of Verden. Those killed are buried in Hanover War Cemetery.
At 18, Sgt Withington was amongst the youngest to die on air operations in Bomber Command. P/O F.H.Garnett KIA Sgt D.McLean KIA F/S T.J.Thomas KIA Sgt E.M.J.Pease KIA Sgt E.Edge KIA Sgt J.A.Withington KIA Sgt A.A.E.Elsworthy PoW, was interned in Camps 4B/L3, PoW No.269841.
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Sergeant Eric Edge 106 Squadron (d.2nd January 1944) Lancaster JB642 bomber with the 106 Squadron on operation to Berlin, lost on the 2nd of January 1944. JB642 was one of two No.106 Sqdn Lancasters lost on this operation. Airborne 0020 2nd January 1944 from Metheringham. Outbound, crashed at Hoya, a town straddling the Weser, 14 km SSW of Verden. Those killed are buried in Hanover War Cemetery.
At 18, Sgt Withington was amongst the youngest to die on air operations in Bomber Command. P/O F.H.Garnett KIA Sgt D.McLean KIA F/S T.J.Thomas KIA Sgt E.M.J.Pease KIA Sgt E.Edge KIA Sgt J.A.Withington KIA Sgt A.A.E.Elsworthy PoW, was interned in Camps 4B/L3, PoW No.269841.
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Alexander E Elsworthy 106 Squadron I am researching my great-uncle John Alfred Withington who died during the Second World War. He was a gunner in a Lancaster bomber with the 106 Squadron; all but one of the crew died on the 2nd of January 1944. The remaining crew member Alexander Elsworthy is shown to have been in prisoner of war camps Stalag4B and Stalag Luft3.
My father was told that his uncle, John Withington, helped an injured crew member when their plane was hit. John helped open the other crew members' parachutes but his own then failed. The surviving crew member apparently came back to tell the tale and I am assuming this must be Alexander Elsworthy. Any details on Alexander would be very gratefully received. I know that his POW number was 269841, he lived in Chelsea and was born 1921.
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Frederick Horace Garnett 106 Squadron (d.2nd January 1944) Lancaster JB642 bomber with the 106 Squadron on operation to Berlin, lost on the 2nd of January 1944. JB642 was one of two No.106 Sqdn Lancasters lost on this operation. Airborne 0020 2nd January 1944 from Metheringham. Outbound, crashed at Hoya, a town straddling the Weser, 14 km SSW of Verden. Those killed are buried in Hannover War Cemetery.
At 18, Sgt Withington was amongst the youngest to die on air operations in Bomber Command. P/O F.H.Garnett KIA Sgt D.McLean KIA F/S T.J.Thomas KIA Sgt E.M.J.Pease KIA Sgt E.Edge KIA Sgt J.A.Withington KIA Sgt A.A.E.Elsworthy PoW was interned in Camps 4B/L3, PoW No.269841.
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Sergeant Theophilus Thomas 106 Squadron (d.2nd January 1944) Lancaster JB642 bomber with the 106 Squadron on operation to Berlin, lost on the 2nd of January 1944. JB642 was one of two No.106 Sqdn Lancasters lost on this operation. Airborne 0020 2nd January 1944 from Metheringham. Outbound, crashed at Hoya, a town straddling the Weser, 14 km SSW of Verden. Those killed are buried in Hannover War Cemetery.
At 18, Sgt Withington was amongst the youngest to die on air operations in Bomber Command. P/O F.H.Garnett KIA Sgt D.McLean KIA F/S T.J.Thomas KIA Sgt E.M.J.Pease KIA Sgt E.Edge KIA Sgt J.A.Withington KIA Sgt A.A.E.Elsworthy PoW was interned in Camps 4B/L3, PoW No.269841.
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Sergeant David McLean 106 Squadron (d.2nd January 1944) Lancaster JB642 bomber with the 106 Squadron on operation to Berlin, lost on the 2nd of January 1944. JB642 was one of two No.106 Sqdn Lancasters lost on this operation. Airborne 0020 2nd January 1944 from Metheringham. Outbound, crashed at Hoya, a town straddling the Weser, 14 km SSW of Verden. Those killed are buried in Hannover War Cemetery.
At 18, Sgt Withington was amongst the youngest to die on air operations in Bomber Command. P/O F.H.Garnett KIA Sgt D.McLean KIA F/S T.J.Thomas KIA Sgt E.M.J.Pease KIA Sgt E.Edge KIA Sgt J.A.Withington KIA Sgt A.A.E.Elsworthy PoW was interned in Camps 4B/L3, PoW No.269841.
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Sergeant Ernest Montague John Pease 106 Squadron (d.2nd January 1944) Lancaster JB642 bomber with the 106 Squadron on operation to Berlin, lost on the 2nd of January 1944. JB642 was one of two No.106 Sqdn Lancasters lost on this operation. Airborne 0020 2nd January 1944 from Metheringham. Outbound, crashed at Hoya, a town straddling the Weser, 14 km SSW of Verden. Those killed are buried in Hannover War Cemetery.
At 18, Sgt Withington was amongst the youngest to die on air operations in Bomber Command. P/O F.H.Garnett KIA Sgt D.McLean KIA F/S T.J.Thomas KIA Sgt E.M.J.Pease KIA Sgt E.Edge KIA Sgt J.A.Withington KIA Sgt A.A.E.Elsworthy PoW was interned in Camps 4B/L3, PoW No.269841.
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Flight Sergeant Theophilus John Thomas 106 Squadron (d.2nd January 1944) Lancaster JB642 bomber with the 106 Squadron on operation to Berlin, lost on the 2nd of January 1944. JB642 was one of two No.106 Sqdn Lancasters lost on this operation. Airborne 0020 2nd January 1944 from Metheringham. Outbound, crashed at Hoya, a town straddling the Weser, 14 km SSW of Verden. Those killed are buried in Hannover War Cemetery.
At 18, Sgt Withington was amongst the youngest to die on air operations in Bomber Command. P/O F.H.Garnett KIA Sgt D.McLean KIA F/S T.J.Thomas KIA Sgt E.M.J.Pease KIA Sgt E.Edge KIA Sgt J.A.Withington KIA Sgt A.A.E.Elsworthy PoW was interned in Camps 4B/L3, PoW No.269841.
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Sergeant Eric Edge 106 Squadron (d.2nd January 1944) Lancaster JB642 bomber with the 106 Squadron on operation to Berlin, lost on the 2nd of January 1944. JB642 was one of two No.106 Sqdn Lancasters lost on this operation. Airborne 0020 2nd January 1944 from Metheringham. Outbound, crashed at Hoya, a town straddling the Weser, 14 km SSW of Verden. Those killed are buried in Hanover War Cemetery.
At 18, Sgt Withington was amongst the youngest to die on air operations in Bomber Command. P/O F.H.Garnett KIA Sgt D.McLean KIA F/S T.J.Thomas KIA Sgt E.M.J.Pease KIA Sgt E.Edge KIA Sgt J.A.Withington KIA Sgt A.A.E.Elsworthy PoW, was interned in Camps 4B/L3, PoW No.269841.
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Sergeant John Alfred Withington 106 Squadron (d.2nd January 1944) I am researching my great uncle John Alfred Withington who died during the Second World War. He was a gunner in a Lancaster bomber with the 106 Squadron, all but one of the crew died on the 2nd of January 1944. My father was told that his uncle, John Withington helped an injured crew member when their plane was hit. John helped open the other crew members parachute but his own then failed.
www.lostbombers.co.uk reports the crash:
Lancaster JB642 bomber with the 106 Squadron on operation to Berlin, lost on the 2nd of January 1944. JB642 was one of two No.106 Sqdn Lancasters lost on this operation. Airborne 0020 2nd January 1944 from Metheringham. Outbound, crashed at Hoya, a town straddling the Weser, 14 km SSW of Verden. Those killed are buried in Hanover War Cemetery.
At 18, Sgt Withington was amongst the youngest to die on air operations in Bomber Command. P/O F.H.Garnett KIA Sgt D.McLean KIA F/S T.J.Thomas KIA Sgt E.M.J.Pease KIA Sgt E.Edge KIA Sgt J.A.Withington KIA Sgt A.A.E.Elsworthy PoW, was interned in Camps 4B/L3, PoW No.269841.
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Sergeant William George Mann 106 Squadron (d.30th January 1944) I am trying to trace my brother-in-law William George Mann. He was 19 years old and stationed at Metheringham with No 106 Squadron, RAF. On the 30th Jan 1944 he took off for Berlin and never returned.If you could find the crew that he was flying with or photos I would very pleased to hear from you.
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Flt Sgt. Willaum George Mann 106 Squadron. (d.30th Jan 1944) My brother Willaum Mann was stationed at Metheringham, he took off on raid to Berlin and went down on 30th Jan 1944. I would would like to know what crew he was with.
Update:
Willaum's aircraft was Lancaster ND336, ZN-Q, it crashed into the North Sea and all the crew were lost. Only one body was washed ashore, that of P/O Kirkland, he was found on the northern shores of Vlieland in the Frisian Islands on the 5th of March 44 and laid to rest there. The rest of the crew are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
The crew were:
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P/O K.H.Kirkland, RAAF
- Sgt W.G.Mann
- Sgt K.W.Barry
- F/O J.Inston
- Sgt D.Naylor
- Sgt R.J.Winfindale
- Sgt R.J.Charters
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F/O Edward Worthy 106 Sqd. My uncle, F/O Edward Worthy, served with 106 Sqn at Methringham from the end of November 1943 to December 1943. He was a wireless operator/air gunner, his Lancaster jb593 zn-y was on operational duty the night of December 30/31 1943. They were to bomb the big city (Berlin). They took off on time and bombed on time over Berlin without any trouble, but on their return journey when they were near Bremen they were hit by an enormous explosion. The aircraft dived from 22,000 ft to below 9,000 ft. the pilot pulled out with help from the bomb aimer. Sadly the flight engineer was killed and my uncle was badly wounded. Both outboard engines were u/s and both turrets out of action, the main electrical conduit that sat above my uncle was damaged. Both gunners tended to my uncle, the rest of the crew jettisoned all excess weight to maintain height. They flew on over the North Sea but could not make Methringham. They diverted to Coltishall and landed without joining the circuit. They flew straight in flying under a Halifax coming the other way. It was established later that they had been hit by one of the first missiles made by the Germans. After hospital my uncle wanted to return to 106 but was deemed now unfit for flying duties. He remustered as an air control officer, thus maintaining contact with aircrews. Sadly as a footnote the rest of the crew returned to active duty with two replacements but were shot down in February 1944 with the pilot being killed and the rest made POWs.
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Sgt. John Harold Dyer 106 Squadron (d.2nd Jan 1944) John Dyer was my fathers brother, he joined the RAF as a wireless operator air gunner in 1942 going through training in 1943 on a variety of types - Dominies, Proctors, Bothas and Wellington all appear in his log book.
He moved on to Manchesters and finally Lancasters in August 1943 at 1661 Conversion Unit at Swinderby and then to 106 Squadron Metheringham in September 1943 flying on his first operation to Mannheim on the 23/9/43.
He was on his sixteenth op to Berlin when the whole aircraft and crew were lost on the 2nd January 1944, he was 21 years of age. The aircraft was JB 645 one of two lost on the same night
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F/Lt. Donald Angus Evans 106 Squadron My father, Donald Angus Evans, was was born in 1919 in a tiny farming community called Oxbow in the Province of Saskatchewan, Canada. He was just 20 when he joined the RCAF and had never been off the farm. He came of age during the depression and they were greatly affected by the dust bowl that blew away the soft soil, and he lived through some very difficult times. My father used to tell me that in those days you were considered a man at 15! Anyways off he went to join RCAF and as I look at his pictures in uniform at that time, and know the feats he was to perform as a Navigator Officer in the Lancaster I am amazed! Of my father it could truly be said he was so young, so handsome, and so brave! He was selected to become a navigator. He did also train as a pilot and soloed but they decided his greatest skill set lay in navigating. Men selected as pilots and navigators trained much longer than for the other positions. Pilots and navigators trained for two years. In 1941 Dad completed his training and joined Bomber Command.
He was stationed somewhere else before 106 Squadron which was based in Metheringham - but I don't think he ever told his children the name. He told me many details of his life there. Since he spent almost all his time with the crew of his Lancaster, he developed a deep attachment. Although I don't know exactly how long each mission took but my father indicated that by the time you got briefed on your mission, flew deep into Germancy to bomb the industrial targets and then got home, were debriefed and went to bed - that most of the day was used up. That breakfast (with always some crew missing from the mission) was a bit sad since you didn't know if they had parachuted safely or not. Then you would sleep, get up prep for the day and then start all over again with briefing.
Days off were welcome and one tended to stay with your own crew of whom it could be said you became as attached as if they were your brothers. Either you went to a comrade's home if they were English or went into London with your comrades for something called a "Bash". Which, I think since young men don't change that much, we can imagine involved liqueur and meeting young women at dancehalls etc. I have the coolest picture of my Dad in full officer uniform with his arms around (he in the middle) 2 other officers that appear to be the pilot and co-pilot, it's a street photo taken in London. They are all officers and look happy & perhaps feeling no pain!
Dad lasted in Bomber Command from 1941 through to June 1945 - an amazing length of tour of duty considering casuality rates were about 55 percent! He backup bombed on D-Day in June 1945 and then on a mission later that month was shot down over occupied France. Three out of four engines were on fire but the pilot managed to keep the plane in the air long enough for all 7 crew members to parachute to safety! As an officer Dad was either the third or second to last out. The bombadier named Jack Kingston broke both ankles. He had a bad habit of leaving his heavy combat boots untied and loosened and as he floated to earth they both fell off! The pilot also broke his leg. Immediately Nazis with dogs came to capture them. My father alone escaped detection and was not imprisoned. I believe he told me that he cut his chute and rolled in a dirty ditch to disguise himself and ran! He was afterall a country boy. At any rate after walking at night and hiding in the woods in the day, he realized would have to approach someone for help. He chose a French couple driving a wagon. He approached and as luck would have it they were members of the French underground. He was then hidden in a place in Gourney, Brittany until liberation. I have since read the following stats on RCAF Lancaster crews - 55% killed, 29% survived 14% captured, 2% parachuted to safety and evaded capture. He was only 26 and had been on active combat duty for 5 years.
A toast to my father and all those brave, brave young men who gave their lives so we would live in freedom! Let us NEVER forget them. My Dad died 5 years ago at age eighty-seven. The WW2 vets are getting very old! We must honour them while they still remain and value their courage!! I am proud to be the daughter of a brave and wonderful man - a true warrior Donald Angus Evans.
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Flt.Sgt. Walter Smith 106 Sdq. My Father, Walter Smith, originally signed up in 1941 and was sent to the Isle of Islay to train as an electrician. Whilst he enjoyed the summer, he was not keen to stay the winter in such a cold climate, so decided to volunteer for flying training instead. He did his air crew training in Bridlington in 1942 and qualified in early April 1943 as an air gunner. Originally based at Syerston, he then moved base to Metheringham.
He flew on 30 operations between August 1943 and April 1944. On his 30th and last operation on 27th April 1944, his report book confirms that, on the way back from Schweinfort, his Lancaster was intercepted by a night fighter whose fire set light to a fuel tank. One of the crew, Sgt. Jackson, got out onto the wing to try and put out the fire. He was later awarded the V.C. for his bravery. The remainder of the crew abandonded the plane, with all but two surviving. The captain of the plane 'Miff' Mifflin of course remained until last and was one of the two who did not survive, along with Flt. Sgt. Johnson. My Father insists that 'Miff' was the bravest amongst them all. My Father gave himself in to the Germans three days later and spent the rest of the war as a POW. I am a very proud daughter.
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Sgt. James William Blanchard 106 Squadron (d.22th June 1944) Sgt James Blanchard was the flight engineer onLancaster LM570 (call sign ZN-Z) when it left RAF Metheringham at 23:15 on the evening of 21/22 June 1944. The mission was to carry out the bombing of a synthetic oil plant (Buer) at Gelesenkirchen, Germany. Whilst airborne, the aircraft was shot down by a German night fighter and crashed at Rossum (Gelderland) on the bank of the Waal, approx 12Km SW of Tiel. All the crew were killed. Seven of the crew are buried in the Uden War Cemetary between Eindhoven and Nijmegen. Sgt Scott is buried in the Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetary.
The crew were:
- FO Bellingham, K G Captain (pilot)RAF
- Sqn Ldr A J Loughborough (pilot)RAF
- Sgt James William Blanchard (flight engineer)RAF
- Flt Sgt H Gavin (navigator) RAAF
- Flt Sgt L Toomey (air bomber)RAAF
- Sgt A Goodacre (wireless air gunner) RAF
- Sgt S J Malaband (mid upper gunner)RAF
- Sgt C E Scott (rear gunner)RCAF
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Sgt. Rex Joseph Chatwin 106 Squadron (d.19th Sep 1944) Uncle Rex was my mother's brother who died on 19th September, 1944. He was 19 years old. He was based at RAF Metheringham and was "tail end charlie" gunner on a Lancaster bomber that was shot down either on the way or on the way back from a night bombing raid to Rheydt. The plane crashed at Elmpt.
We believe of the 7 occupants, 6 were killed but this has not been confirmed.
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Flt.Sgt. William Stevenson "Mac" McPhail 106 Squadron My Father, William Stevenson McPhail, was Flight Engineer on Lancaster LL 975 ZN-H, in 106 Squadron based in Metheringham.
On June 24th 1944, on a bombing mission over Pommereval attacking a rocket construction site, his Lancaster was shot down. Only he and the Bomb Aimer, Bill Knaggs managed to bail out.
Bill Knaggs was picked up by the resistance and spent the rest of the war as an evader.
My Father, however, was picked up by the Germans, found hanging by his parachute in trees surrounding the target.
After interrogation by the Gestapo, he was transferred to Stalag Luft 7, from where he escaped, returning the the UK via Poland and Russia.
Before his death, Bill Knaggs wrote a short book, The Easy trip, recounting his evader exploits.
My Father died in 1984 and Bill Knaggs in 2007.
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William B. Lloyd 106 Squadron My grandfather, William B Lloyd, served as both a Rear and Mid-Upper Tail Gunner in World War II. He was trained at No. 3 B & G school in Macdonald' Manitoba. Then embarked from Halifax to go overseas in October of 1943. He was staying in Bournemouth for a few months and was in and out of the hospital due to severe bronchitis.
From his logbook it states that he was at No. 17 O.T.U Turweston from December 14 1943 - February 20 1944 and was in the hospital again for the rest of Feb and March of '44. In April - May 1944, he was stationed at No. 1661 Heavy Conversion Unit in Winthorpe and then at the end of May and June 1944 at RAF Syerston where he started with the following crew:
- Pilot Jack Netherwood
- Navigator H S Wyatt
- Bomb Aimer Glen Hendry
- Wireless A.G L.J Lucas
- Mid Upper A.G A.R Parisani
- Rear A.G - W.B Lloyd
From June of 1944 through to February of 1945 he was stationed at RAF Metheringham in Squadron 106. He completed 13 Ops with his original crew and then became grounded from flying due to bursting his ear drums and severe colds while the rest of his crew finished their tour. Once cleared to fly again he completed 6 Ops as a "Spare Bod" gunner flying with any crew that needed him. The next 11 Ops he completed with an Australian crew and Skipper by the name of Gord Laidlaw.
In March of 1945 he and the Australian crew were stationed at RAF Coningsby as part of the Pathfinder Force, Squadron 83. They completed 3 Ops there. In total my grandfather completed 18 OPS as a rear gunner, and 15 as a Mid Upper. A total of 33 trips.
I was fortunate enough to conduct an interview with him about his time in the war a few years before he passed away. As well he kept his flying logbook in great condition and his mother kept all the letters he wrote home to her as well. With these documents I have spliced together his war time experience. I am honoured to have a grandfather who was proud to fight for his country and freedom and survive as well. I hope my contributions to this website are insightful in some way.
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F/Sgt Kenneth North Kenneth North flew from RAF Metheringham
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Flt.Sgt. Kenneth Roland Bryce-Taylor 106 Sqdn After forty-five years of searching I located my estranged father, Kenneth Roland Bryce-Taylor, I was re-united with his family, and my half brother and sister who told me that he had served with 106 Squadron based at RAF Metheringham. I have records of missions as rear gunner to Tonsburg and the Lutzkendorf Oil Refineries. I also have a list of crew who flew with him.
He left 106 Sqadron after the war, but stayed on the extra two years in the RAF to help others get back to the UK. He survived the war and died in 2008.
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F/O. Graham Leslie Ashman 106 Squadron (d.2nd Dec 1943) My Uncle Graham Ashman was killed during a bombing operation on Berlin in December 1943. The crew of Lancaster ED874 which left Metheringham at 1640 were:-
- Pilot: Pilot Officer Ronald Frederick Neil
- Bomb Aimer: Flying Officer Graham Leslie Ashman
- Flt.Eng: Sgt. Malcolm James Sheryn
- Sgt: John Frederick Harmes
- W.Op. Flt.Sgt Thomas Jack Robertson
- Air Gunner: Sgt.Raymond Price Prothero
- Air Gunner: Sgt. George Henry Stubbs
All except Sgt Harmes are buried at the Berlin 1939-45 War Cemetery. Sgt Harmes who has no named grave and is remembered at Runnymede.
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W/O. Bruce Brinson 106 Squadron Bruce Brinson , my father, sadly passed away in 2015 after bravely fighting his last battle. He was so proud of his service during the War - though he rarely spoke of this time. He spoke about his time as a radio operator/signaller with 106 Sqdn at Metheringham and left his Service and Release book, medals and his Flying Log Book and photos to me, his elder daughter.
Christine Janse Van Rensburg
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Aubrey Read 106 Sqdn (d.26th Nov 1943) My uncle Aubrey Read was a WOP/AG with 106 Squadron. His regular Lancaster was ED593 ZN-Y - which was previously Guy Gibson's 'Admiral Prune II'.
On 26/11/43 my uncle's crew volunteered for a raid on Berlin using JB592 (ZN-W) and failed to return. I believe this was 106 squadron's first day of operations from Metheringham following their move from Syerston. Sad to say my uncle never returned.
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Wg. Cdr. Guy Penrose Gibson VC, DSO, DFC 627th Sqd. (d.19th Sept 1944) 109 Squadron is showing a Mosquito loss in 1944. In 1943 109 Sqn was merged to 627 Sqn. The loss of the Mosquito in 1944 you have is incorrect. The Mosquito loss in 1944 is one of the most famous and was September 18/19 1944. The Pilot Wing Commander Guy Gibson DFC DSO his navigator was Sqn Ldr Jim Warwick. They were on an operation as Pathfinder and Gibson was MASTER BOMBER when they crashed on the way home in Holland at Steenbergen where there is a memorial at the crash site and in a local park.
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Cpl. David Pow Blyth "Mac" McRobb 106 Squadron David McRobb served as a General Armourer. He transferred in August 1944 from RAF Port Reath, Cornwall and served at Metheringham until early 1946.
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F/Lt. Albert George Huggins 106 Sqdn. My father, Albert Huggins signed up in November 1942 and after two years of training, was assigned to the 106 Squadron based at Metheringham Airfield where he flew as Navigator on the Lancaster Bomber. His wartime crew included:
F/O C. Runge, Captain (Australia)
F/S M. Seed, Flt. Engineer
F/O A. Huggins, Navigator
F/S H. Roberts, Air Bomber
Sgt. W. Sandbrook, W/Operator
Sgt. D. Rogers, M/U Gunner
Sgt. T. Roberts, Rear Gunner
In June 1945, he joined another aircrew replacing Mo Young, a Canadian navigator, who had returned to Canada. This crew included:
F/O K. Richardson, Captain
Sgt. R. Breeze, Flt. Engineer
F/O A. Huggins, Navigator
Sgt. A. Lovett, Air Bomber
Sgt. A. Wilson, W/Operator
Sgt. R. Trinder, M/U Gunner
Sgt. J. Venables, Rear Gunner
His aircrew joined 50 Squadron in March 1946 after the 106 Squadron disbanded. He was released from the RAF in January 1947. He immigrated to Canada in May 1948. He passed away in December 2011.
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FO Peter Gadsby Bullen DFC 77 Squadron  My father, Peter Bullen DFC, was a very proud man who we know lied about his age to get in to the RAF. He was one year younger than the age for recruitment. On 16th September 1941, he enlisted in the ranks of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and was mobilised on 9th March 1942. On 12th November 1944 he was granted an emergency commission in the general duties branch of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve as a pilot officer on probation. He was promoted to the war substantive rank of Flying Officer and confirmed in his appointment of Flying Officer Bullen.
I am aware that he flew in a Lancaster Bomber and was awarded the DFC at some stage. I also understand that he flew an incredible 36 missions which I am lead to believe is more than the average.
Dec 1943 Feb-1944 A.F.V. West Freugh, Wigtown, Scotland. Sergeant.
Feb 1944-June 1944 21 OTU Moreton-in-the Marsh, Glos. Sergeant.
July 1944-Aug 1944 1664 HCU Dishforth, Yorks. Sergeant (later Flight Sergeant).
Aug 1944-March 1945 77 Squadron (Bomber Command) Full Sutton, Yorks. Flight Sergeant (later Pilot Officer).
April 1945 - Air crew Re-Allocation Centre, Catterick, Yorks. Flying Officer.
May 1945-Nov 1945 RAF Metheringham, Lincs (intelligence). Flying Officer.
Nov 1945-March 1946. 8301 AD wing RAF, BAFO, BAOR (intelligence). Flying Officer.
March 1946-May 1946. 8501 AD wing RAF, BAFO, BAOR (DG Administration). Flying Officer.
May 1946. 5355 wing RAF, BAFO, BAOR (DG Administration). Flying Officer.
At present, this is the only information I have found but the search goes on. He went on to have a very successful career and family life. He sadly passed away in 2005 without really telling his family much about his days in the RAF. Miss him so very much.
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Flt.Sgt. Donald Desmond William Rogers 106 Squadron My Uncle, F/Sgt Donald Rogers, was an Air Gunner with 106 Squadron at RAF Metheringham. This wonderful site has a photograph of him under a submission entitled F/Lt Albert George Huggins 106 Squadron. The second photo with the 6 crew members, Don is the first of the crew on the left. It was submitted by F/Lt Huggins' daughter.
I have no other pictures of Don in his wartime outfit, and to see him with his whole crew is amazing. He passed away 2 years ago now aged 90, and sometimes spoke of the crew and in particular the Australian captain who he said kept them all safe on their first operation, when they nearly went down.
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F/Sgt. George John Patrick O'Brien 106 Squadron (d.12th March 1945)  George O'Brien, was a Flight Sergeant in the Royal Australian Air Force. He was killed on the 12th March 1945 with 106 Squadron
when Lancaster I RA503 ZN-B took off from Metheringham at 1330 to bomb Dortmund and was lost without trace. Aged 21 he was the son of Mr and Mrs H J O'Brien of Petersham, New South Wales, Australia.
Part of a force of 1108 aircraft, 748 Lancasters, 292 Halifaxes and 68 Mosquitoes, tasked to attack Dortmund. In what was to be the final raid on this target by Bomber Command.
This force surpassed the previous days record for most aircraft dispatched, as well as eclipsing the previous single bomb tonnage record to be dropped on a single target. Bombing once again through heavy cloud and using sky marking some 4,851 tones of bombs and incendiaries feel on the center and southern districts of the city. Local reports are not available and it is possible that none were submitted. A British post war investigation team researching the bombing in Dortmund,recorded in volume three of the Official History that 'This final raid stopped production so effectively that it would have been many months before any substantial recovery could have occurred.
Two aircraft, were lost, 2 Lancasters. The aircraft was lost without trace. All of the crew have no known graves and are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
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P/O. Frank Ernest Baker 106 Squadron (d.12th Mar 1945) Frank Baker died in action just two years before I was born so he was the uncle I never met.
Frank was the pilot of Lancaster RA508, flying from RAF Metheringham, which was the only aircraft lost without trace in the bombing raid on Dortmund on 12th of March 1945 in which more than a thousand aircraft took part.
The loss card for RA508 merely refers to radio contact having been lost over the North Sea. However, the log of another pilot involved in the raid refers to a Lancaster, which could only have been RA508, being hit by a bomb dropped from another aircraft in cloud and a passage in the book, Tail End Charlies, refers to an identical incident in the same raid. RA508 was destroyed over Dortmund in an accident due to poor visibility that would now be called a blue on blue incident.
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Sgt. Maxey Croxford Coates No. 106 Squadron I have dad’s two log books. He was in the No. 2 Air Gunnery School at RAF Dalcross on 8 April 1944. He was later assigned to a Lancaster bomber that was part of 106 Squadron, which flew out of RAF Metheringham. These were members of his bomber's aircrew in November 1944:
- Pilot – Capt. Pechey, C.P.C. (no. 72872), DFC
- Flt. Eng. – Sgt. Gilbert, J.M.
- Nav. – Sgt. Rotherham, W.
- Bomb. – F/Sgt. Thomas, K.
- W/Op. – F/Sgt. Mercer, J.
- Top Gnr. – Sgt. Champion, F.
- Rear Gnr. – Sgt. Coates, M.C.
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