Add Information to Record of a Person who served during the Second World War on The Wartime Memories Project Website
Add Information to Record of a Person who served during the Second World War on The Wartime Memories Project Website
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258603
LAC Edward Picton
Royal Air Force 35 Squadron
from:Tottenham, London
Dad, Ted Picton joined 35 Squadron in January 1941 as an aero-engine fitter on Halifaxes. A few things I remember him telling me, declining the invitation to be a rear gunner having seen the turrets being hosed-out of remains after missions, the base being bombed and one of the WAAF's being killed, losing a stripe after getting into a fist fight in one of the local pubs, being sweet on a girl at the Rowntree factory in York.
I took him to Linton on Ouse around Christmas time 1996, unfortunately we couldn't get on to the base as it was closed, but he chatted to one of the guards on duty. I'd hoped to get him to see the reconstructed Halifaxes at the Elvington Yorkshire Air Museum, but he died in 1998 before I could do so. With my wife and 3 children, I went there, and also paid a visit to Linton on Ouse, out of respect to him. It felt emotional walking around the base where he would have been for part of his wartime service.