223859 Stanley John Willis Royal Air Force 99 Squadron I was a rear gunner in 99 Squadron, RAF. I am still a survivor aged 90, I will be 91 in 2015.
I joined 99 Squadron at HCU RAF Kolar when they were converting from the Wellingtons to the Liberator B24. I crewed up with F/Lt Andy Anderton AFC in August 1944, then to Dhubulia where we operated from.
I completed my tour of operations on my 21st birthday, in May 1945, having completed 32 sorties – 305hrs.
On my tour of operations I flew twice with S/Ldr Webster, once with F/O Brown, once with F/O Hydman, and the rest with F/Lt Anderton AFC.
The Japanese War ended in August 1945 and until my demob in December 1946 I was posted to 681 Squadron in Hong Kong as a pay clerk, then moved to Seletar Singapore and finally to Palam Airport, New Delhi where I embarked to Bombay for my journey home.
The above details are taken from my log book that I still have.
My wife and I have attended many reunions of 99 Squadron at Newmarket where I met up with our late Squadron CO W/C Erocalani and many of our colleagues from Dhubalia. In recent reunions members from the present 99 Squadron from Brize Norton who fly the C17 transport joined us, young and old together. Unfortunately owing to ill health I am unable to attend the reunions and functions at Brize Norton.
|