Air Force Index

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No. 61 Squadron Royal Air Force    No 61 Squadron formed at Rochford on the 24th of July 1917 as a Home Defence squadron covering the Thames Estuary. It was disbanded in 1919. The Squadron was reformed on 8th March 1937 at RAF Hemswell in Lincolnshire as a bomber squadron. In the two years before the war it was equipped with four different types of aircraft, but at the start of the war it was equipped with the Handley Page Hampden. Airfields No. 61 Squadron RAF flew from. RAF Hemswell, Lincolnshire. from 3rd Sep 1939 to 17th Jul 1941 Detachment to Coastal Command at Wick: November and December 1939. RAF North Luffenham, Rutland. from 17th Jul to 1st Nov 1941 RAF Woolfox Lodge, Rutland. from 1st Nov 1941 to 5th May 1942 RAF Syerston, Nottinghamshire. from 5th May to 14th Jul 1942 Detachment to Coastal Command at RAF St. Eval, Cornwall from 14th Jul to August 1942. RAF Skellingthorpe, Lincolnshire. from 16th Nov 1943 to 1st Feb 1944 and 15th Apr 1944 to 16th Jun 1945 RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire. from 1st Feb to 15th Apr 1944 RAF Sturgate, Lincolnshire from 16th June 1945   18th Sep 1939 Training 19th Sep 1939 Training 24th Oct 1939 Training November 1939 Coastal Command 25 December 1939 First op. 8th March 1940 First bombs dropped 12th March 1940 Airmen killed 15th April 1940 Aircraft missing 1st May 1940 Airmen killed 12th May 1940 First bomber raid on Germany 13th May 1940 Bombing raids to the Low Countries 15th May 1940 German troops attacked 23rd May 1940 Navigation error 10th June 1940 Aircraft lost 21st June 1940 Hampden lost 22nd June 1940 Hampden lost 28th June 1940 Shot down 30th Jun 1940 61 Squadron Hampden lost 11th July 1940 Raid 21st Jul 1940 61 Squadron Hampden lost 21st Jul 1940 61 Squadron Hampden lost 27th Aug 1940 61 Squadron Hampden lost 23rd Mar 1941 Bomber Command on Ops 8th Apr 1941 Aircraft Lost 18th Apr 1941 Aircraft Lost 2nd Jun 1941 Aircraft Lost 11th Jun 1941 Aircraft Lost 26th June 1941 Aircraft Lost 29th Jun 1941 61 Squadron Manchester lost 5th Jul 1941 Aircraft Lost 7th Jul 1941 Aircraft Lost 17th July 1941  Moved and re-equipped 24th Jul 1941 Aircraft Lost 30th Jul 1941 Aircraft Lost 8th Aug 1941 Aircraft Lost 29th Aug 1941 Aircraft Lost 2nd Sep 1941 Aircraft Lost 2nd Nov 1941 Aircraft Lost 5th November 1941 Short move 7th Dec 1941 Aircraft Lost 8th Jan 1942 Aircraft Lost 7th February 1942 Bombers lost on minelaying sortie 12th Feb 1942 Attack on the Scharnhorst 17th Feb 1942 61 Squadron Manchester lost 30th Mar 1942 61 Squadron Manchester lost 5th May 1942 Moved and re-equipped 14th July 1942 Coastal Command 17th October 1942 Operation Robinson 10th Jul 1943 61 Squadron Lancaster lost 15th Jul 1943 Aircraft Lost 18th Aug 1943 61 Squadron Lancaster lost 3rd Nov 1943 Bomber Command 16th November 1943 On the move 29th Dec 1943 Aircraft Lost 30th Dec 1943 61 Squadron Lancaster lost 1st February 1944 Relocated 30th Mar 1944 Aircraft Lost 15th April 1944 On the move 5th July 1944 Crash landing 24th Sep 1944 61 Squadron Lancaster lost 24th Sep 1944 61 Squadron Lancaster lost 15th Oct 1944 61 Squadron Lancaster lost 26th April 1945 Oil refinery bombed 6th May 1945 PoWs brought home If you can provide any additional information, please add it here. Logbooks Do you have a WW2 Flying Log Book in your possession? If so it would be a huge help if you could add logbook entries to our new database. Thank you. View Logbook entries Those known to have served with No. 61 Squadron Royal Air Force during the Second World War 1939-1945. Alford Bernard William. F/Sgt. Algar Alan. Sgt. (d.5th October 1940) Allen Thomas. Flt.Sgt. Allender Ronald James. WO2. Alston Eric Robert. F/O. (d.24th April 1944) Altmann DSO, DFC. Otto Reginald. Wing Cmdr. Ansell DFM Henry Thomas. Flt.Sgt. Aspinall DFM Harry. Flt/Sgt. (d.23rd April 1944) Aston Ron. Flt.Lt Attwood DFM, DFC. David Robert. F/O. Battersby. Ronald . Flight Sergeant Boakes Edward . Flight Sergeant Brown John William. Sgt. (d.24th Feb 1944) Burton Herbert Frank. Sgt. (d.13th Jan 1943) Campbell Ian Melville. F/O (d.23rd September 1944) Campbell Ian Melville. F/O. (d.23rd Sep 1944) Campbell Jack. Cannon William Arthur. Sgt. (d.5th October 1940) Chinery LH. Donald Robert. Flt.Sgt. Corewyn. William . Flying Officer D'Arcy-Wright Gerald. P/O (d.5th Oct 1940) Deaville Aurther Kenneth. Flt.Sgt. Donoghue Patrick. Sgt. (d.25th June 1944) Douglas. John . Sergeant Earl. Peter . Sergeant Elliott Newman Walter. Flt.Sgt. Etheridge Ronald. Sgt. (d.14/15th April 1940) Fletcher Alfred. Sgt. Forbes Douglas. Flt Sgt (d.8th March 1943) Gardiner Ernest Frederick. Sgt. Garrett Arthur Thomas. Flt Sgt. (d.25th Feb 1944) Gillett David Stapylton . F/Lt. (d.13th Jan 1943) Gough Maurice. Sgt. (d.2nd Mar 1942) Grantham William Edwin. F/Lt. (d.8th July 1944) Haden Albert Frederick. Sgt. (d.13th Jan 1943) Harrad John Henry. PO (d.20th August 1942) Hatt Ronald Henry William . P/O. (d.13th Jan 1943) Hoad John Norman. Sergeant (d.23rd September 1944) Ingram John Ogilvie. Flt.Sgt. (d.10th July 1943) Isaacs DFM/ George Arthur. F/Lt. James Sidney . Flight Sergeant Jordan Thomas William. Joslin Peter Clement Vellacot. P/O. (d.5th September 1942) Knight DFC Sydney Raymond. PO Lane William. Sgt. (d.21st March 1945) Lawrence Jack. Sqdr.Ldr. Lea H. Sergeant Macfie John. Sgt. (d.25th June 1944) MacKenzie Gordon William. Sgt. (d.3rd Aug 1943) Manning John. F/Sgt McCabe John. Sergeant (d.23rd September 1944) McConnell Victor. F/O. (d.11th Apr 1944) Morgan John Charles. F/Sgt. (d.13th Jan 1943) Mullins DFM. Alfred George. Ft Lt Mullins DFM Alfred George. Flt Lt Mullins DFM. Alfred George. Sgt. Norgate Kenneth . Sgt (d.29th Aug 1942) Northend John Edward. F/O. (d.13th Jan 1943) Owens Glyndwr. Sgt. (d.8th Jul 1941) Pennock Alec Wilfred. Flt.Sgt. Pritchard Peter Harold Howard. FO (d.11th June 1941) Rayment Walter Benedict. Sgt. (d.5th October 1940) Richardson Harnett Richard. Sgt (d.17th Dec 1940) Richardson Harnett Richard. Sgt. (d.17th December 1940) Richardson Harrnet Richard. Sgt. (d.20th Dec 1940) Richardson. Richard . Sergeant Roberts Edward. Sgt. (d.13th Jan 1943) Robinson DFC. Henry Francis. Sgt. Sargeant DFM John. Sgt Shannon Thomas Patrick. Flt.Sgt. Spencer Hubert Arthur. Flt.Lt Vine Eric. Sgt. (d.26 November 1943) Warburton William. (d.27th January 1944) Wickland Samuel Vernon. Flt/Sgt (d.23rd September 1944) Wonham DFM Federico Arturo Bruce Gibbing. Sqd/Ldr. Woodvine Arthur Bradley. Sgt. (d.11th Apr 1944) 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 Records of No. 61 Squadron Royal Air Force from other sources. 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. The Wartime Memories Project has been running for 25 years. If you would like to support us, a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting and admin or this site will vanish from the web. 18th Dec 2024 - Please note we currently have a huge backlog of submitted material, our volunteers are working through this as quickly as possible and all names, stories and photos will be added to the site. If you have already submitted a story to the site and your UID reference number is higher than 265120 your information is still in the queue, please do not resubmit, we are working through them as quickly as possible. Looking for help with Family History Research?   Please read our Family History FAQs The free to access section of The Wartime Memories Project website is run by volunteers and funded by donations from our visitors. If the information here has been helpful or you have enjoyed reaching the stories please conside making a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting or this site will vanish from the web. If you enjoy this site please consider making a donation. 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. 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. The Wartime Memories Project will give them a good home and ensure that they are used for educational purposes. Please get in touch for the postal address, do not sent them to our PO Box as packages are not accepted. World War 1 One ww1 wwII second 1939 1945 battalion Did you know? We also have a section on The Great War. and a Timecapsule to preserve stories from other conflicts for future generations. Want to know more about No. 61 Squadron Royal Air Force? There are:2071 items tagged No. 61 Squadron Royal Air Force 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. Jack Campbell 463 Squadron My Grandfather, Jack Campbell, is a Canadian Second World War veteran who served as a mid-upper gunner in 463 Squadron, RAAF, 61 Squadron RAF. At my grandfather's request, I have recently transcribed his memoirs where he details his wartime experience, and his time spent at Skellingthorpe, from 1942 to 1944. The Airbourne Years Robin Heron Add to this record. Flt.Sgt. Newman Walter "Bill" Elliott 61 Squadron My Father Newman "Bill" Elliott was a Rear Gunner, he trained at No.5 Lancaster Finishing School at Syerston, Nottinghamshire from July 29th to August 8th 1944. He then joined No. 61 Squadron at Skellingthorpe, Lincolnshire. His missions were all flown with F/O Cooksey. On August 10th - 29th 1944 his Logbook shows Lancasters flown in: MF 912, BJ183, EE17, PD266, ED8s60, PB434 R , Between September 10th - 27th 1944. PB434 R, Non specific 729 V, H, G, D. From October 1st to November 29th 1944. All operations LL843 R. From December 1st to 17th 1944. LL843 R, Non specific L. From January 12th - 27th 1945. All LL843 R From February 1st to 21st 1945. LL843 R, Non specific Q. March 1st to 11th 1945. LL843 R, Non specific O & Y. His tour expired 11th March 1945 when he had flown Thirty Six ops. I am researching further. Debbie Bloomer Add to this record. Sgt. John Macfie 61 Sqd. (d.25th June 1944) John Macfie was killed in action on the 25th of June 1944, aged 21. Buried in the Abbeville Communal Cemetery, Somme, France, he was the son of Andrew B. Macfie and Frances Macfie, of Glasgow s flynn Add to this record. Sergeant H Lea 61 Squadron My great uncle flew a Lancaster with 61 Squadron and was killed on the 23rd of September 1944. I'm trying to find info on the only survivor, Sgt H.Lea who was put into Stalag Luft 7. I'd like to know if he is still alive. The crew were: F/O Ian Melville Campbell RNZAF 426213 Sgt John Norman Hoad 1175274 23/09/1944 Sgt R.D.Cole F/S M.J.Milne RNZAF Sgt John McCabe 1348047 RAF Volunteer Reserve Flt/Sgt Samuel Vernon Wickland 640170 Sgt H.Lea Lancaster ED470 took off at 19:07 23rd Sep 1944 to bomb the Dortmund-Ems Canal at Ladbergen near Munster. It crashed at 23:30 at Wechte, 3km from Tecklenburg. Those killed are now buried in the Reichswald Forest War cemetery. Michael Smythe Add to this record. Flt/Sgt Samuel Vernon Wickland 61 Squadron (d.23rd September 1944) My great uncle flew a Lancaster with 61 Squadron and was killed on the 23rd of September 1944. I'm trying to find info on the only survivor, Sgt H.Lea who was put into Stalag Luft 7. I'd like to know if he is still alive. The crew were: F/O Ian Melville Campbell RNZAF 426213 Sgt John Norman Hoad 1175274 23/09/1944 Sgt R.D.Cole F/S M.J.Milne RNZAF Sgt John McCabe 1348047 RAF Volunteer Reserve Flt/Sgt Samuel Vernon Wickland 640170 Sgt H.Lea Lancaster ED470 took off at 19:07 23rd Sep 1944 to bomb the Dortmund-Ems Canal at Ladbergen near Munster. It crashed at 23:30 at Wechte, 3 km from Tecklenburg. Those killed are now buried in the Reichswald Forest War cemetery. Michael Smythe Add to this record. Sergeant John McCabe 61 Squadron (d.23rd September 1944) My great uncle flew a Lancaster with 61 Squadron and was killed on the 23rd of September 1944. I'm trying to find info on the only survivor, Sgt H.Lea who was put into Stalag Luft 7. I'd like to know if he is still alive. The crew were: F/O Ian Melville Campbell RNZAF 426213 Sgt John Norman Hoad 1175274 23/09/1944 Sgt R.D.Cole F/S M.J.Milne RNZAF Sgt John McCabe 1348047 RAF Volunteer Reserve Flt/Sgt Samuel Vernon Wickland 640170 Sgt H.Lea Lancaster ED470 took off at 19:07 23rd Sep 1944 to bomb the Dortmund-Ems Canal at Ladbergen near Munster. It crashed at 23:30 at Wechte, 3 km from Tecklenburg. Those killed are now buried in the Reichswald Forest War cemetery. Michael Smythe Add to this record. Sergeant John Norman Hoad 61 Squadron (d.23rd September 1944) my great uncle, flew a Lancaster with 61 Squadron and was killed on the 23rd of September 1944. I'm trying to find info on the only survivor, Sgt H.Lea who was put into Stalag Luft 7. I'd like to know if he is still alive. The crew were: F/O Ian Melville Campbell RNZAF 426213 Sgt John Norman Hoad 1175274 23/09/1944 Sgt R.D.Cole F/S M.J.Milne RNZAF Sgt John McCabe 1348047 RAF Volunteer Reserve Flt/Sgt Samuel Vernon Wickland 640170 Sgt H.Lea Lancaster ED470 took off at 19:07 23rd Sep 1944 to bomb the Dortmund-Ems Canal at Ladbergen near Munster. It crashed at 23:30 at Wechte, 3 km from Tecklenburg. Those killed are now buried in the Reichswald Forest War cemetery. Michael Smythe Add to this record. F/O Ian Melville Campbell 61 Squadron (d.23rd September 1944) My great uncle flew a Lancaster with 61 Squadron and was killed on the 23rd of September 1944. I'm trying to find information on the only survivor, Sgt H.Lea who was put into Stalag Luft 7. I'd like to know if he is still alive. > > The crew were: F/O Ian Melville Campbell RNZAF 426213 Sgt John Norman Hoad 1175274 23/09/1944 Sgt R.D.Cole F/S M.J.Milne RNZAF Sgt John McCabe 1348047 RAF Volunteer Reserve Flt/Sgt Samuel Vernon Wickland 640170 Sgt H.Lea > > Lancaster ED470 took off at 19:07 23rd Sep 1944 to bomb the Dortmund-Ems Canal at Ladbergen near Munster. It crashed at 23:30 at Wechte, 3km from Tecklenburg. Those killed are now buried in the Reichswald Forest War cemetery. Michael Smythe Add to this record. WO2. Ronald James Allender 61 Squadron Ron Allender served with 61 Squadron. Add to this record. Sgt. Herbert Frank Burton 61 Squadron (d.13th Jan 1943) Early in the morning of 13 January 1943 Lancaster bombers of No.61 Squadron, No.5 Group Royal Air Force were part of a force of 55 Lancasters from Nos. 1 & 5 Groups with target indication by 4 Mosquito aircraft from the Pathfinder Force, taking part in an attack on the Krupps works at Essen, one of the cities in the industrial heartland of Germany, the Ruhr. Herbert Burton was the Rear Gunner on Lancaster MkI W4192 QR-E which took off at 03:35hrs from RAF Syerston. It crashed at Mettman, 14 km ENE of Dusseldorf, where the crew, who were all killed, were buried in the Nordfriedhof on 18th Jan 1943. Their graves are now in the Reichswald War Cemetery. Add to this record. Recomended Reading. Available at discounted prices.

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