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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.
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Those known to have served with No. 221 Squadron Royal Air Force during the Second World War 1939-1945. - Corlett Ian Campbell Dee. F/Lt.
- Daley Carol James. Flt.Sgt. (d.4th Jan 1944)
- Few Frederick John. Cpl. (d.9th May 1942)
- Jones William Ivor. Flt.Sgt.
- MacIntyre DFC. Gordon Leslie. F/Lt. (d.29th April 1943)
- Saunders John. F/Lt.
- Stewart Alan Richard. P/O. (d.8th Nov 1943)
- Woods Stephen Linton. Sgt.
- Wright John Charles.
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. 221 Squadron Royal Air Force from other sources.
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The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.
Announcements
- 1st of September 2024 marks 25 years since the launch of the Wartime Memories Project. Thanks to everyone who has supported us over this time.
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Want to find out more about your relative's service? Want to know what life was like during the War? Our
Library contains an ever growing number diary entries, personal letters and other documents, most transcribed into plain text. |
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Wanted: Digital copies of Group photographs, Scrapbooks, Autograph books, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters, postcards and ephemera relating to WW2. We would like to obtain digital copies of any documents or photographs relating to WW2 you may have at home. If you have any unwanted
photographs, documents or items from the First or Second World War, please do not destroy them.
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.
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Did you know? We also have a section on The Great War. and a
Timecapsule to preserve stories from other conflicts for future generations.
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Want to know more about No. 221 Squadron Royal Air Force? There are:2000 items tagged No. 221 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. |
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P/O. Alan Richard Stewart 221 Squadron (d.8th Nov 1943)  Alan Stewart enlisted on 21st of December 1940, at Harewood, Christchurch, NZ and was initially employed on ground duties, as an Aircrafthand 2nd Class. He was posted on 25th of May 1941, to Initial Training Wing, Levin, NZ and
on 26 May 1941, was promoted to the rank of Leading Aircraftman.
On 5th of July 1941 he was posted to to No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School, Taieri, Dunedin, NZ
to commence flying training. He embarked on 4th of September 1941 for Canada
to complete flying training under the Empire Air Training Scheme and was posted on 1st of October 1941 to No. 6 Service Flying Training School at Dunnville, Ontario, Canada. 2nd of January 1942 he was awarded the Flying Badge, and promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Alan embarked on 11th of January 1942 from No. 1 Y Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, for the UK
Arriving on 10th of February 1942 at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth and transferred on 24th of March 1942, to No. 3 (P) Air Flying Unit, at South Cerney, Gloucestershire
to commence advanced flying training. He was then
posted on 7th of August 1942, to No. 3 (C) Operational Training Unit at RAF Cranwell, Lincolnshire
where he completed his Wellington bomber pilot training. He was posted in late October 1942, to No. 1443 Ferry Training Flight, at RAF Harwell, Berkshire and then via Gibraltar and Mersa Matruh, Egypt.
He arrived on 5th of December 1942, at a landing field in the Western Desert,
before completing a torpedo course at No. 5 Middle East Training School, Shallufa, Egypt.
Posted on 23rd of April 1943 to 221 Squadron, RAF Coastal Command at RAF Luqa, Malta, He was promoted on 1st of May 1943, to Flight Sergeant. He received his Commission on 16th of September 1943, as Pilot Officer. Alan flew from both Luqa, Malta, and Protville in Tunisia, he
undertook 24 operational flights, 14 anti-submarine & escort flights, and
10 enemy shipping strikes.
He lost his life on 8th of November 1943 in the Mediterranean Sea, out from Malta,
aged 22. He was awarded posthumously the
1939/45 Star,
Italy Star,
Africa Star, with North Africa 1942-43 clasp
Defence Medal,
War Medal 1939-45 and
NZ War Service Medal.
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Sgt. Stephen Linton Woods No. 221 Squadron Prior to posting to the Middle East, Sgt. Stephen Woods had a "fitness for tropical service" medical examination in Andover. On leaving the medical unit and whilst climbing into the back of an RAF lorry, an American jeep sliding across the wet road hit the lorry's tailboard smashing Sgt. Woods' left leg. The Americans took him to a cottage hospital but neglected to inform his unit. In consequence, RAF military police turned up at his parent's house in Yorkshire. Sgt. Woods spent over one year in hospital. To promote healing, several metal plates were screwed into his leg, where they remained until his natural death at 87 years in 2006.
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F/Lt. Gordon Leslie MacIntyre DFC. 221 Squadron (d.29th April 1943)   F/Lt. Gordon Leslie MacIntyre (was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross while serving with No.221 Squadron, as per London Gazette dated 18th of September 1942.
He was born in Arnprior, Ontario, 1915, educated there and served in Canadian militia. He was appointed Acting Pilot Officer on Probation with the RAF on the 18th of September 1939 and confirmed as Flying Officer on 20th of April 1941, confirmed as Flight Lieutenant, 20th of April 1942. He completed two tours with Bomber and Coastal Command and was killed in action on 29th of April 1943. AFRO 925/43 dated 21st of May 1943 reporting his death, identified him as a Canadian in the RAF.
His DFC citation reads: For gallantry and devotion to duty in the execution of air operations.
This officer is a captain of outstanding courage and ability. Although engaged on operations almost continuously since the war began he has never shown signs of tiredness or wanting enthusiasm. He has completed many hours of operational flying involving patrols over various areas. This officer has always displayed exceptional skill and determination.
Public Record Office Air 2/9596 has a letter dated 6th of August 1942 from Group Captain W.J.M. Akerman, Headquarters, Royal Air Force, Middle East, to Air Ministry, recommending a non-immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Cross:
This officer is a captain of aircraft of outstanding courage and ability. He has been operating continuously since the war began and has never shown signs of tiredness or waning enthusiasm, being eager to undertake any job and has never left it until successfully completed. He has completed many hours operational flying involving patrols over the North Sea, the Atlantic during the Battle of the Atlantic from England, Northern Ireland and Iceland. On two occasions he has succeeded in locating and attacking enemy submarines, the second occasion being almost certainly successful. Throughout this officer has displayed exceptional skill and determination which has earned for him the confidence and admiration of the squadron.
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F/Lt. Ian Campbell Dee Corlett 221 Squadron Ian Corlett was my dear dad!
I know he started by flying the Halifax before going on to Wellingtons, commencing as a rear gunner, moving to wireless operator then finishing his RAF career as Flight Lieutenant.
I know he served in Malta and Egypt and the one of the Wellingtons he was in was shot down and written off.
He contracted Pulmonary TB (Airman's Disease) and I still have a copy of his hilarious account (albeit somewhat harrowing) of the resulting thoracoplasty operation.
He died of heart failure as a result of this many years later in 1996.
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John Charles Wright 221 Squadron My dad, John Wright, was a navigator, in 221 Squadron. Looking at his log book he flew with many different pilots.
Does anyone have any photos?
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Flt.Sgt. William Ivor Jones 221 Squadron Bill Jones was my Dad. Not much of his time in WW2 was spoken about. On the time he did, he recalled seeing his mate's parachute not open over Italy,
aborted missions when they came into contact with Luftwaffe over the Adriatic,
Greek communists shooting up the bar they frequented in Athens,
the intense heat in Shaibah RAF base with men dying from heat exhaustion,
spending two weeks on the piss in Shaibah,
his memories of Alexandria and Cairo,
the Palestinian airfield and landing strip being mortared by the Irgun just as they were landing.
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Flt.Sgt. Carol James Daley 221 Squadron (d.4th Jan 1944) Carol Daley flew in the 221st Squadron and flew Wellingtons. He was killed over Sicily on the 4th of January 1944. His aircraft was attacked by a group of ME 110 Twin engine Fighters, and his Wellington was destroyed, with everyone on board. I have wanted to find out the history of my great uncle, I have been trying to find photos of him, and his aircraft.
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Cpl. Frederick John Few 221 Squadron (d.9th May 1942) My husband's uncle Fred Few lost his life in 1942. We are trying to find out how he died, we know it was in Malta but not any more than that. Unfortunately other family members who have information have all died.
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F/Lt. John Saunders 221 Squadron My Dad, John Saunders was a bomber navigator on Wellingtons. He told me the story of how he was asked one time to fly a mission and would only be given the co-ordinates at the last moment. They flew 2 men to Crete to talk to the Germans. They stopped at the end of the runway with German guns on them, stayed there for a few hours and then the 2 men got back on the plane. They where not allowed to discuss the mission for 25 years I think he said. Can any body help me with this?
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