207988 F/O Harold Gordon Bullock DFC.Royal Air Force 101 Squadron from:Kirkland Lake, Ontario My grandfather, F/O Harold Gordon Bullock, DFC known as Gordie, was a bomb aimer in 101 Squadron 101. In April of 1944 he was posted to #28 Operational Training Unit at Wymeswold in Leicestershire, England. At this time fifteen crews were formed and trained. In September 1944 he was posted to 101 Squadron RAF at Ludford Magna. This was a special duties squadron which carried a German speaking radio operator whose duty was to send messages to confuse the orders issued to enemy fighters. My grandfather and his crew sucessfully completed an operational tour consisting of 31 sorties in a Lancaster named W2. His tour started September 15, 1944 and 31 trips were completed on December 15, 1944. Finishing a tour in 90 days set a 101 squadron record. On ten separate occasions their aircraft was hit by enemy fire. Due to the Special Operations the ABC Lancaster and Squadron 101 suffered huge casualties. Of the fifteen crews that formed up at the Operational Training Unit in April his was the only one to complete a tour. The other fourteen crews were all lost on operations, 98 out of 105 men being shot down, a few were to become prisoners of war but most were killed in the line of duty.
Three Distinguished Flying Crosses were awarded to the crew of the W2 to the pilot Lyle James, navigator Robert Irvine and my grandfather.
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