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211 Squadron personnel rolls
While the extent of this partial record of personnel has advanced since its first appearance, the rolls are still very much a set of snapshots at very particular points in the Squadron’s service. The rolls do not attempt to represent a complete list of Squadron personnel. Additional material will be added as time, sound source material and opportunity allow.
This page shows rolls for COs, for aircrew at various dates from 1937 to 1939, for groundcrew at December 1941, and rolls for New Zealand, Canadian, Rhodesian and South African personnel. Further rolls are to be found on the these pages:
- Honour roll of the Squadron’s war dead from 1939 to 1945
- Gallantry awards roll of awards to 211 Squadron personnel in World War II
- RAAF personnel rolls for 211 Squadron as 72 OTU in 1941, of Far East 1942 aircrew survivors and of aircrew lost 1942 to 1945
- CFR Clark Aircrew in Greece: rolls of aircrew and losses in Greece and Syria, 1940 to 1941
- The Far East Far East Tung Song evacuees, PoW losses and survivors, 1942 to 1945
- India and Burma aircrew losses and gallantry awards, 1943 to 1945
To search for a name on this page, try your browser’s Edit/Find on this page function. To find all occurrences of a name across the whole site, try the Site search page.
Final farewells
A roll of those 211 Squadron survivors known to have passed away since 2001. This seemed a more fitting place than the Site updates page. I shall need your help to keep the roll up to date.
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Name
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Date
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Remarks
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Eric Bevington Smith
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2001
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Observer 1940–1941
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George WP Blake
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2 February 2002
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1942 FEPoW
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Patrick Burnett DSO DFC
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27 March 2004
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Pilot 1939–1940. Daily Telegraph obituary. Air of Authority bio
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Alan Carter
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15 November 2003
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Navigator/W 1944–1945
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John “Neville” Chamberlain
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October 2004
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Corporal 1939–1940
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George Checketts
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17 October 2005
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Wireless Operator/Air Gunner 1941
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Gordon “Chig” Chignall
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11 July 2004
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Wireless Operator/Air Gunner 1940–1942
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Cyril “Nobby” Clark
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30 September 2003
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Observer 1940–1941
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Len Cooper
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7 July 2003
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Fitter II (Engine) 1939–1942. FEPoW 1942.
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Ken Daft
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16 December 2001
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1938–1940
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Ron “Mick” Dudman
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27 January 2004
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Fitter II (Engine) 1939–1942 ME & FE. Tung Song evacuee.
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Jim Fryatt
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19 July 2008
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Armourer 1940–1942 ME & FE. Tung Song evacuee.
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E “Garry” Garrad-Cole
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5 January 2003
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Pilot 1940. PoW 1941. Home run 1943. The Times Obituary
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MJC Haakenson
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26 February 2006
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Pilot 1944. FEPoW Rangoon Gaol 1944, 1945.
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Bob Hay
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September 2003
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Observer 1941
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Geoffrey L Hoyes
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12 July 2003
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Wireless Electrical Mechanic 1938–1940
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Bob Livesey
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21 March 2003
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Fitter IIE, 1940-1941
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George Manderson
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December 2001
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Navigator/W 1944
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Lloyd George Moffatt
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March 2005
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RCAF Pilot 1944
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RGA Moore
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2002
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Groundcrew Sumatra, Java. FEPoW 1942
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GA “Jimmy” Riddle
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12 January 2004
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Observer 1940–1942
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GR “Sandy” Sanderson
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2001
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ACH/GD 1941–1942
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John Gerard “JG” Sharratt
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27 March 2007
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Wireless Operator/Air Gunner 1939–1941
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WB “Bill” Stack
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December 2003
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Observer 1940–1941
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TD “Tom” Taylor
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early 2004
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Pilot 1944
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Ray Williams
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January 2001
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Cpl, ACH/GD 1941
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Steve Woodhouse
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August 2001
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Fitter II (Airframe) 1943–1945
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“It is something to have wept as we have wept:
It is something to have done as we have done.”
The Great Minimum GK Chesterton 1874-1936
211 Squadron Commanding Officers 1937–1945
A roll of 211 Squadron COs in chronological order, compiled from Air Force Lists, the Operations Record Book and individual logbooks. Six of these 24 men did not survive the war, four of them dying in the course of duty with the Squadron.
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Name
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Theatre
|
Dates
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Remarks
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P/O DG Boehm
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UK
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24 June 1937 to
4 July 1937
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Air Cadet RAAF Pt Cook January 1936
Selected for RAF SSC exchange
Senior officer in command, 1937
KIA 84 Squadron 1 April 1941
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S/Ldr RJA Ford
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UK
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5 July 1937 to
28 March 1938
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Born 1 July 1904
W/Cdr 1940
Gp Cpt 1941
Retired Gp Cpt CBE 1 July 1954
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S/Ldr SH Ware
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Middle East
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29 March 1938 to
26 February 1939
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Born 12 November 1898
Gp Cpt 1941
Retired A/Cdr 15 March 1948
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S/Ldr JWB Judge
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Middle East
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27 February 1939 to
23 July 1940
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Born 27 Aug 1910
RAAF enlistment May 1928
Air Cadet 1 FTS Pt Cook July 1931
Selected for RAF SSC exchange July 1932
Gp Cpt 1944
Retired Gp Cpt RAF 15 November 1952
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S/Ldr ARG Bax
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Middle East
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23 Julyt 1940 to
9 September 1940
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Born 23 March 1913
PoW 4 Sep 1940
Retired W/C 10 September 1955
Deceased 1999
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S/Ldr JR Gordon–Finlayson DSO DFC
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Middle East,
Greece
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9 September 1940 to
mid-March 1941
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Born 19 August 1914
Retired AVM 1 August 1967
Deceased 3 March 1990
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F/Lt GD Jones DFC
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Greece
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January 1941,
March 1941
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Born 30 Dec 1916
W/C CO of 97 Squadron October 1942 to July 1943 and awarded DSO
Retired Gp Cpt 8 Dec 1958
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S/Ldr Nedwill AFC
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Greece
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mid-March to
26 March 1941
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Born Christchurch NZ 2 June 1913
RAF SSC April 1934
KAO 26 March 1941
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S/Ldr AT Irvine
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Greece
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March 1941 to
13 April 1941
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14 Squadron June 1940 Sudan
KIA 13 April 1941
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F/Lt WP Griffin
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Greece
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14 April 1941
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|
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F/Lt KCVD Dundas DFC
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Greece,
Palestine
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14 April 1941 to
11 May 1941
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KIA 10 February 1942
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F/Lt Austin
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Palestine
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12 May 1941 to
16 May 1941
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|
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S/Ldr ASB Blomfield DFC
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Palestine,
Sudan
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17 May 1941 to
18 July 1941
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Later of 199 Squadron
KAO 7 October 1943
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W/C DR McDonald
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Sudan
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21 July 1941 to
November 1941
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|
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W/C RN Bateson DFC
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Far East
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January 1942 to
13 March 1942
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Born 10 June 1912
Previously CO 113 Squadron
11 Squadron CO May 1942
613 Squadron CO 1944
April 1958 to March 1960 ADC to HM Queen Elizabeth II
SASO Fighter Cmd 1963
AVM RN Bateson CB DSO & Bar DFC retired 1 Aug 1967
Deceased 6 March 1986, Devon
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F/O Grieg
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India
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14 August to
2 October 1943
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“subordinate commander”
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A/g S/Ldr JES Hill
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India
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3 October to
5 October 1943
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Later CO of 177 Sqdn as W/Cdr, shot down 5 October 1944
PoW Rangoon Gaol - survived
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W/Cdr PE Meagher DSO DFC
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India
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6 October 1943 to
18 August 1944
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W/Cdr 1941
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S/Ldr JSR Muller–Rowland DSO DFC & Bar
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India
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19 August 1944 to
22 October 1944
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Born 27 Nov 1921
Previously of 60 Squadron
Later RAE test pilot, killed 15 February 1950 in DH108 accident
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S/Ldr HE Martineau DFC
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India
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22 October 1944 to
13 December 1944
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P/O 1940
F Lt 1942
A/g S/Ldr DFC May
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F/O EL Wood
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India
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13 December 1944 to
15 December 1944
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|
|
S/Ldr RN Dagnall
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India
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15 December 1944 to
10 January 1945
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KIA 13 January 1945
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|
W/C RCO Lovelock DFC
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India
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10 January 1945 to
21 August 1945
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Born 7 April 1912.
RAF SSC May 1936
204 Squadron 1937: Saro London flight to Australia 2nd pilot.
S/Ldr CO 461 Squadron RAAF May 1942
CO 119 Squadron Jan 1943
W/C appointed to RAuxAF April 1951, 622 Squadron Flight Commander.
Commission relinquished F/Lt R Aux AF 1 October 1953.
Queen’s Commendation for Bravery awarded December 1952 following 2-engine out forced-landing of an Air Work HP Hermes carrying 54 troops and 6 crew to Malta on 23 July 1952, destroyed by fire but without loss of life.
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|
W/C DL Harvey
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India
Thailand
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21 August 1945
to 15 March 1946
Squadron disbanded
|
Born 22 September 1920
Retired W/C 3 August 1966
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No. 72 Operational Training Unit Commanding Officers 1941
Grp Cpt LR Stokes CO No. 72 Operational Training Unit (at 30 November 1941)
W/Cdr DR McDonald (OC Training Wing, 72 OTU November–December 1941)
Personnel rolls 1937 to 1939
These early nominal rolls, from mid 1937 to early 1939, are taken directly from the Squadron tables of the Air Force List at the dates shown. The January 1939 Air Force List was the last issue to include such details, which were excluded from wartime publication.
The entries show the date of the Air Force List, the RAF Station where the Squadron was then based, and a list of officer aircrew by rank, name and date of posting to the Squadron. In official publications like the Air Force List and the London Gazette, it was not then the custom to list airmen by name on posting or promotion, although decorations to officers and airmen alike were notified in the Gazette.
July 1937
Station: RAF Mildenhall, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. Group: No 3 (Bomber) Group
Personnel
Squadron Leader
RJA Ford
October 1937
Station: Grantham, Lincolnshire. Group: No. 5 Bomber Group
Personnel
Squadron Leader
RJA Ford (5 July 1937)
Pilot Officers
GD Jones (1July 1937)
GO Mills (28 June 1937)
JT Bouwens (28 June 1937)
GG Storey (1July 1937)
AT Irvine (7 August 1937) Squadrron CO March 1941 KIA 13 April
DG Boehm (24 June 1937)
DA Cameron (24 June 1937)
JH Williams (7 August 1937)
CS Kearey (30 June 1937)
JCG MacNab (30 June 1937)
GR Magill (30 June 1937)
Acting Pilot Officer DF Rixson (4 September 1937)
4 Airman Pilots
January 1938
Station: Grantham, Lincolnshire (det Aldergrove, Northern Ireland). Group: No. 5 Bomber Group
211 Squadron ‘B’ Flight detachment Grantham January 1938 (Guy Black collection)
From the unknown Airman’s Album and fully discussed there. Front row of officer pilots: P/O GR Magill, P/O GO Mills, P/O DG Boehm, F/Lt EM Withy, P/O DA Cameron, Acting P/O RA Couchman, P/O AL Farrington. Rear row (airmen): Flight Sergeant Thorne on the far left, Corporal Barnes is sixth from the left.
Personnel
Squadron Leader
RJA Ford (5 July 1937)
Flight Lieutenants
EM Withy (28 October 1937)
Pilot Officers
GD Jones (1 July 1937)
GO Mills (28 June 1937)
JT Bouwens (28 June 1937)
GG Storey (1 July 1937)
AT Irvine (7 August 1937)
DG Boehm (4 June 1937)
DA Cameron (24 June 1937)
CS Kearey (30 June 1937)
JCG MacNab (30 June 1937)
GR Magill (30 June 1937)
JH WIIliams (7 August 1937)
AL Farrington (27 November 1937)
DF Rixson (4 September 1937)
Acting Pilot Officer RA Couchman (23 October 1937)
4 Airman Pilots
Flight Sergeant Thorne
Corporal Barnes
Aircraftmen
Collison, Cox, Goodeve, Jenkins, Long, Malyon, Marshall, Martin, Waghorn, Wood.
April 1938
Station: Grantham, Lincolnshire. Group: No. 5 Bomber Group
211 Squadron Grantham March 1938 (Crown copyright via Grierson collection)
Original caption painted on the image, from Geoff Grierson’s collection. Of the Squadron's 16 officer pilots, 15 are present, in all 84 men. Fifth from the left is P/O Couchman, sixth from the left is P/O Allan Farrington. Eighth from the left in the front row in dress cap is P/O Bill Edwards. Between them, P/O DG Boehm wearing a forage cap. The officer in the centre, the first with his left leg crossed, is S/Ldr JA Ford. Third from the left, back row: LAC Grierson. In the middle row, centre, the shortest airman is AC1 Hoyes.
Mike Grierson sent me fine high resolution copies of this shot. Allan Farrington kept two mounted prints which passed first to Alison Legge (Allan Farrington’s widow) and then to their son John, who with great generosity gave one to me: it hangs in the study where this story is being researched.
Personnel
Squadron Leader
RJA Ford (5 July 1937)
Flight Lieutenants
E M Withy 28 Oct 37
D P Barclay 13 Jan 38 KIA 45 Squadron S/L 28 Apr 1941
Flying Officers
Antony Thornburn Irvine 36090 (7 Aug 1937) (Returned as Squadron Leader in 1941 to be KIA 13 April 1941 Easter Sunday raid)
Pilot Officers
Graham Danson Jones 37265 (1 July 1937) (later F/Lt, in Greece "Potato" acted as S/Ldr for several periods)
Garth Oliver Mills 37520 (28 June 1937) KIA 39 Squadron 5 May 1941
George Gerard Storey 37615 (1 July 1937) KIA 49 Squadron 17 Jun 1943
Charles Sydney Kearey 39234 (30 June 1937)
James Crawford Gibb MacNab 39235 (30 June 1937)
Graham Reese Magill 39236 (30 June 1937) NZ, on RAF SSC
John Howel Williams 39358 (7 August 1937)
Denis Fenn Rixson 39393 (4 September 1937)
Donovan Gerhard Boehm 39453 (24 June 1937) KAO 84 Squadron 1 April 1941
Richard Alan Couchman 39501 (23 October 1937)
William Henry Edwards 40045 (8 January 1938) to 107 Squadron, DFC and PoW 12 May 1940
Alan Leonard Farrington 40046 (27 November 1937) to 582 Squadron, S/Ldr, KIA 29 August 1944.
4 Airman Pilots
November 1938
Station: Helwan, Egypt, Middle East
211 Squadron Helwan October 1938 (Crown copyright via Grierson collection)
In shot, 12 of the officers and 147 airmen of 211 Squadron. As a mobile unit bound for Middle East service, their strength in personnel had been somewhat increased to three Flights plus HQ Flight. Regathered at Helwan after the Palestine detachments, the Squadron was to be made up to its authorised establishment of 13 officers and 180 airmen. Here all are in No 1 dress, medals worn—hinting that this might be after presentation of the Squadron badge, on 19 October, by the HE the British High Commissioner, Sir Miles Lampson.
In the centre of the first seated row, decorated S/Ldr SH Ware. For some reason he does not appear in the nominal rolls of the Squadron in the Air Force Lists of the period, however, the annual Squadron rolls in the Operations Record Book show that he was appointed to command from 29 March 1938, taking up his post in 4 April. Others in the first seated row are pilots Bill Edwards (11 from the left), Couchman (11 from the right) and Allan Farrington (12 from the right). Among the airmen, Geoff Hoyes is the shortest man, centre, rear, and Geoff Grierson is standing on the right, in the last row but one.
From the counts in these four photos and the July 1938 Operations Record Book discussion of the Palestine detachment, the form of the Squadron at this date in the Middle East is now clear: ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ Flights, each of around 30 personnel, plus an HQ Flight of 70-odd. All except ‘A’ Flight are now recorded here.
211 Squadron HQ Flight Helwan October 1938 (Crown copyright via Hoyes collection)
The Squadron CO and his HQ Flight, five officers and 69 airmen in all. AC1 Hoyes, WOp/Mech, centre rear. Of the officers, the CO and three others are decorated, these latter as non-pilots.
211 Squadron ‘B’ Flight Helwan October 1938 (Crown copyright via Grierson collection)
Fifth from the left in the front row is the F/Lt in command (either DP Barclay or RH Spencer), and sixth from the left is P/O Couchman. Three officers and 22 airmen, including two Sergeant pilots (second from the left and third from the right in the front row). LAC Geoff Grierson is third from the left, back row. The airman last on the right in the middle row is a familiar face from the Airman’s Album.
211 Squadron ‘C’ Flight, Helwan, October 1938 (Crown copyright via RAAFA Aviation Heritage Museum Image P003650)
Three officers and 24 airmen. Flying Officer DG Boehm 4th from the left, seated next to a very experienced Aircraftman, his tunic much medalled. 5th from the left is the Flying Officer in command of the Flight, either F/O GD “Potato” Jones, or F/O AT Irvine (later KIA with the Squadron in Greece, on Easter Sunday 13 April 1941).
Personnel
Squadron leader
SH Ware
Flight Lieutenants
DP Barclay (13 January 1938)
RH Spencer (5 April 1938)
Flying Officers
GD Jones (1 July 1937)
GO Mills (28 June 1937)
GG Storey (1 July 1937)
DG Boehm (4 June 1937)
Pilot Officers
AL Farrington (27 November .1937)
RH Couchman (23 October 1937)
WH Edwards (8 January 1938)
Acting Pilot Officer CPR Collier (10 September 1938)
December 1938
Station: Helwan, Egypt, Middle East
Personnel
Flight Lieutenants
DP Barclay (13 January 1938)
RH Spencer (5 April 1938)
Flying Officers
GD Jones (1 July 1937)
GO Mills (28 June 1937)
GG Storey (1 July 1937)
DG Boehm (4 June 1937)
P Burnett (Jan 1939)
Pilot Officers
AL Farrington (27 November .1937)
RH Couchman (23 October 1937)
WH Edwards (8 January 1938)
Acting Pilot Officer CPR Collier (10 September 1938)
Warrant Officers
A Justice (30 September 1938)
WH York (30 September 1938)
F Butler (30 September 1938)
JBK Chapman (26 April 1938)
January 1939
Station: Helwan, Egypt, Middle East
Personnel
Commanding Officer:
W/Cdr SH Ware
Flight Lieutenants
DP Barclay (13 January 1938)
RH Spencer (5 April 1938)
Flying Officers
GD Jones (1 July 1937)
GO Mills (28 June 1937)
GG Storey (1 July 1937)
DG Boehm (4 June 1937)
P Burnett (Jan 1939)
Pilot Officers
AL Farrington (27 November .1937)
RH Couchman (23 October 1937)
WH Edwards (8 January 1938)
Acting Pilot Officer CPR Collier (10 September 1938)
Warrant Officers
A Justice (30 September 1938)
WH York (30 September 1938)
F Butler (30 September 1938)
JBK Chapman (26 April 1938)
Wartime rolls
72 OTU Movement Order No 2/1941 19 December 1941
The double-column layout of the original and its trade groups showed personnel more-or-less by rank and seniority. Some details in the archive copy (notably some trade group/mustering titles and service numbers) were either obscured in the margin or illegible, shown here by the underscore, _. Otherwise, the roll which follows is a verbatim copy, original errors and all. Any comments of mine are shown in the usual way, [thus].
Officer in Charge: F/Lt KCVD Dundas DFC
Adjutant and Baggage Officer: F/Lt FW Chadwick (to return to 72 OTU)
Ration and Messing Officer: F/O NAW How (to return to 72 OTU)
Airmen of the party
_61545 W/O Fogg DM - W/O Armament
_64143 F/Sgt Rance AE - Fitter I
_06198 F/Sgt Cumming JR - Metal Rigger
_08886 F/Sgt Goodall CA - DMT
__H/GD [Aircrafthands/General Duties]
__0074 Sgt Roberts SV
__9616 Sgt Howcroft FB
__5750 Cpl Harnett L
__3559 LAC Betts WE
__7386 LAC Baker EG
__0704 LAC Morgan J
__8869 LAC Pettit WJ
__6386 LAC Whittaker R
__2637 LAC Magowan J
__5001 LAC Scott RS
__9172 LAC Sanderson G
__0196 LAC Onions H
__0202 AC1 Dumas R
_03848 AC1 Bickley GA
__4107 AC1 Ben-David J
__4750 AC1 Rot J
__5831 AC1 Melamed A
__3052 AC1 Alster R
__4746 AC1 Sabbah M
__4205 AC1 Yakar, T
528219 Sgt Rowley, J
546375 Cpl Kerswill W
623168 Cpl Williams R
630718 LAC Davey, W
623308 LAC McKendrick G
630239 LAC Paxton A
624123 LAC Wade G
637297 LAC Preece SG
541533 LAC McConnell WM
940710 LAC Fulwood A
546266 LAC Handley TA
940203 LAC Crabb C
940696 AC1 Birch CF
999992 AC1 Murray L
774584 AC1 Ehrmann L
775825 AC1 Kremin I
774575 AC1 Kisin, A
774586 AC1 Abraham H
775309 AC1 Malka J
__H/GG [Aircrafthands/Ground Gunners]
___452 LAC Clark L
___389 LAC Fisher TWS
___9164 AC1 Collins S
1175158 AC1 Cole EF
___9863 AC1 Gosling V
__09572 AC1 Richards DA
___0209 AC1 Clater RFR
994691 LAC Williams E
988714 LAC Dunne RN
1109808 AC1 Bell E
1309534 AC1 Jenkinson GW
1326199 AC1 Middleton N
1309567 AC1 Mendy HJ
1283499 AC1 Storey SJ
___/SP
___150 Cpl Constable PR
1005926 LAC Hunt A
629621 Cpl Chalmers JS
___/DMT
___291 AC2 Weiss N
ACH/PP
544403 Cpl Fowliss D
ACH/Telephone Operators
533175 Cpl Heywood S
940195 LAC Wellar AL
622234 LAC Nicholson DG
940706 LAC Davis TG
Armourers
534461 Sgt Callison H
525718 Cpl Woosey SR
701873 LAC Broadbent H
628781 Cpl Slaughter FK
701778 LAC Barber KC
624652 AC1 Kellett _J
626543 AC1 Kinsella T
621609 AC1 Sanderson R
534599 Cpl Hale G
542599 Cpl Hodgson
628120 LAC Henderson TW
701730 LAC Crawford J
631210 AC1 Fryatt JE
625002 AC1 Holden A
545706 AC1 Revett HJ
Armourers Bomb
950409 LAC Simmons J
1020646 AC1 Mahoney
917767 AC1 Dalby JE
964885 AC1 David I
1111777 AC1 Collie
1063301 AC1 Moffatt
1054114 aC1 Devine J
Fitter Armourers Bomb
623795 AC1 Wilson S
Clerk Accounts
590868 Cpl Robertson C
Clerks General Duties
634172 Cpl Owen HJ
1152228 AC2 Smith J
775024 AC1 Strahilevitz J
Cooks & Butchers
631860 Cpl Langford L
633465 Cpl Mawdesley J
621841 LAC Pulley HJ
955817 LAC Dudley J
774150 LAC Munk HW
775505 AC1 Lichenstein R
631481 Cpl Gent WC
633896 Cpl Muckle T
940652 LAC Stanford FW
946913 LAC Holleran J
775598 LAC Ickovics E
775518 AC1 Schimansky J
Carpenters
1095028 AC2 Clift P
Drivers Mechanical Transport
526653 Cpl Hutton K
527248 Cpl Young T
541777 LAC Hood J
541109 LAC Roden F
647676 LAC Tout REG
650750 LAC Valentine P
701890 LAC Green R
940629 LAC Smart A
646961 LAC Morgan R
940191 LAC Cole PW
774869 AC2 Hirchfeldt A
5337693 Cpl Bishop J
702080 LAC Clark A
539095 LAC Millar PR
648877 LAC Budrey J
637894 LAC Thompson A
645332 LAC Jamieson J
642537 LAC Ward J
940573 LAC Stephens JS
940694 AC1 Taylor R
940201 AC1 Stearn A
Electrician I
541488 Cpl Stephens HG
541041 Cpl Walton R
638733 LAC Blake G
Electrician II
639604 LAC Anderson W
623880 LAC Shackleton A
632161 LAC Davidson JE
907011 LAC Westgarth LA
960946 AC1 Smith B
1181899 AC1 Stubbs P
916051 AC1 Skewes EM
1189203 AC2 Simmons CH
1367343 AC2 Muir TH
968707 LAC Simpson C
640632 LAC Townsend
938222 LAC Stanyer E
1293927 AC1 Allen DW
989327 AC1 Stuart R
1169108 AC1 Southall HC
635194 AC1 White WS
1100099 AC2 Sim LR
Equipment Assistants
527609 Cpl Trotter JA
946718 LAC Barber DW
949543 AC1 Plattern KA
612508 LAC Minshull
907342 AC1 Stadding
1068851 AC2 Marriott GH
Fabric Workers
633088 LAC Shaw CE
Fitters II
567170 Sgt Bewley EWC
567975 Cpl Brown H
569266 LAC Gilbert TJH
566285 Sgt Prior JG
568367 Cpl Cains CA
Fitter IIA
546674 Cpl Fox J
537229 Cpl Sudbury JW
525386 LAC Marsh WA
572767 LAC Crutchley BR
546840 LAC Dunbar G [See also “Dunbar” under Flight Mechanic Airframe, below]
622386 AC1 Lee W
1171745 AC1 Sinclair R
1014949 AC1 Hunter
518462 LAC Head E
1055869 AC2 Jefferies JP
522467 Cpl Hillman WG
542063 LAC Fearon JH
642454 LAC Brett C
979816 LAC Robson CW
1106425 AC1 Robson JR
1059747 AC1 Humphries WG
1059726 AC1 Robertson JS
523351 LAC Turner C
639082 AC2 Chase J
917817 AC2 Brown M
Fitter IIE
521550 Sgt Evetts LR
520961 Cpl Cox CW
530031 LAC Croston T
638527 LAC Leach CR
541445 AC1 Murray D
522412 AC2 Morris RV
526244 Cpl Burns K
528978 LAC Kelling
572463 LAC Owens JL
649399 LAC Wildish CW
1013042 AC1 Gamble J
927430 AC2 Baker SJ
Fitters Aero Engine
522456 Cpl Peakman RG
564645 Cpl Hind JF
525736 Cpl Hamshaw F
Metal Riggers
565794 Sgt Venning RE
539948 Cpl Rowlands BL
539918 Cpl Taylor JH
563780 Sgt Gore JA
539946 Cpl Sainsbury RMJ
539814 Cpl Montgomery JW
Flight Mechanic Airframe
624016 LAC Byford GA
611073 LAC Jones FW
543945 LAC Leonard L
540781 LAC Blacher RC
619147 LAC Walker E
611617 AC1 Beaver G
1066972 AC2 Gibbs FG
1196742 AC2 Williams AE
1272208 AC2 Baines EJ
522519 LAC Bridgen K
646070 LAC Fraser JS
622380 LAC McMorland WW
546670 LAC Dunbar G [Here the Adjutant Office clerks made a slip. Dunbar was already correctly listed, in the Fitter IIA group. Here his name has been inadvertently repeated against the service number of 546670 LAC Derrick David Ray, whose name does not otherwise appear. Both men went with 211 Squadron to the Far East. The roll call as they boarded the train may well have been briefly interrupted as the error was sorted out. Both men were to fall captive in Java in March 1942. Dave Ray did not survive. He lies in Ambon War Cemetery. ]
940755 AC1 Stephens
1152386 AC1 Morris L
1067598 AC2 Clee JH
964788 AC2 AC2 Waterhouse J
931023 AC2 Skedge MH
Flight Mechanic Engine
530498 Cpl Sutton AB
633997 LAC Bates RH
624563 LAC Dudman RG
624097 LAC Horan M
529829 LAC Quarmby L
649416 LAC Gurney AW
649395 LAC Pierce FJ
523578 LAC Moyers LJ
626461 LAC Flynn JJ
649417 LAC Evans G
649538 LAC Billington HG
645752 AC1 Mason G
918780 AC1 Collery WJ
985534 AC1 Evans MJ
814176 AC2 Burton G
1057549 AC2 McCormack T
649388 LAC Cox RL
541905 LAC Cooke CT
936431 LAC Emmonds FG
649419 LAC Langford TW
654746 LAC Williams T
649400 LAC Hill GW
644059 LAC Runnacles GI
515273 LAC Knight T
649539 LAC Liversey R
643462 LAC Clark J
943231 LAC Charlton MB
1151966 AC1 Cooke ND
977705 AC1 Morris CI
633923 AC2 Owens J
1023188 AC2 Burns E
Instrument Repairers I
624374 LAC Gibbons DA
623414 Cpl Lewis TA
640513 AC1 McDonald JL
632633 Cpl Cochrane R
1269719 AC1 Grove G
Instrument Repairers II
924830 AC1 Clark DT
Mechanical Transport Mechanics
1105367 LAC Taylor F
1171890 AC2 Myers J
1015634 LAC Ward W
1015634 [sic: 1019069] AC2 Jones O
Nursing Orderlies
635477 Cpl Barrett DG
1156482 AC2 Price BA
970298 LAC Bayley G
977016 AC1 Davis WL
1236651 AC2 Fairless T
Metal Worker
560888 Cpl Cook
Motor Cyclists
912627 LAC McKellar GA
908080 LAC Holman RF
Photographers
______ Sgt Mc Dermott
615342 LAC Abbs LW
552256 LAC Baldwin RJ
1261326 LAC Richards RB
552272 Cpl Gibson W
902187 LAC Orson AR
1260784 LAC Smith AJ
Wireless Operators
639927 Cpl Ninnis ER
640785 Cpl Graham WF
1262179 AC1 Jones WI
944334 AC1 Simpson GA
977552 AC1 Morris JA
1073444 AC2 Leece DH
1118455 AC2 Arthur N
640149 Cpl Beavis VF
641845 Cpl Marsh EA
774094 LAC Gavigan EP
925199 AC1 Worrell FG
1195232 AC2 Sims E
1202564 AC2 Morley AI
1198371 AC2 Parker RC
Wireless Operator Mechanics
637389 LAC Eaglebott RA
639131 AC1 Topliss AW
637291 AC1 Baker RBE
Wireless Electrical Mechanics
574174 AC1 Smith G
In summary, there were 292 airmen of the Squadron in the above party, under command of the experienced F/Lt Dundas with two 72 OTU officers assisting for the duration of the journey North. The airmen covered the gamut of ground trades from Fabric Worker upwards, of every rank, comprising a single Warrant Officer, three Flight Sergeants, 10 Sergeants, 47 Corporals, 120 Leading Aircraftmen, 79 Aircraftmen 1st Class and 32 Aircraftmen 2nd Class.
The odds are that the majority of these men remained with the Squadron to depart Helwan on 16 January 1942 and embark HMT Yoma of the Stepsister convoys bound for the Far East. Some few will have been with the air party leaving Helwan on the four days 25 to 28 January 1942. A sadly high proportion of them will also be found in the Far East PoW roll and in the Honour Roll.
Dominion aircrew rolls
From the outset in June 1937, pilots from around the Commonwealth were strong presence among the Squadron aircrew. The Australians have been listed separately for obvious reasons.
Canadian and RCAF personnel 1939–1945
All the personnel of Canadian origin known to have been associated with 211 Squadron over the course of the war were pilots. The two from the Middle East period, Dundas and Marshall, enlisted in the RAF. While Dundas had prior service in the RCAF as an airman, Marshall although of Canadian birth had arrived in the United Kingdom as a child and joined the RAF in 1932. While Marshall survived, Dundas was lost in the first Far East campaign.
In the Burma period, 10 RCAF men were members when the Squadron resumed operations in January 1944, representing about half the Squadron’s Pilot strength. The Canadians, with two RAAF pilots and one South African Air Force pilot, made up the strong Dominion character of the Squadron (which it pretty well retained throughout). There are published accounts that report the entire pilot strength of 211 Squadron as Canadian: in this they are mistaken.
Over the course of the Burma campaign from January 1944 to May 1945, 19 RCAF men served in 211 Squadron, of whom ten were lost in action or in accidents (recorded in Beaufighter losses, the India and Burma page and on the Honour Roll).
Of the 21 men of Canadian origin who served in 211 Squadron from 1939 to 1945 there were thus just 10 survivors.
|
Name and No
|
Service
|
Rank,
mustering
|
211 Squadron from
|
Remarks
|
|
Adamson, William George R118406/J85700
|
RCAF
|
P/O
|
January 1944
|
Missing 24 March 1944
|
|
Barlow, Cyril Oscare J26409
|
RCAF
|
F/O
|
November 1944
|
KIA 11 December 1944
|
|
Copeland JM J86611
|
RCAF
|
P/O
|
November 1944
|
|
|
Cruickshank Donald Ian J12883
|
RCAF
|
F/O
|
March 1944
|
Missing 14 March 1944
|
|
Cuddy AK J16295
|
RCAF
|
F/O
|
Aug 1943/Jan 1944
|
|
|
Depew, Neil Francis J86437
|
RCAF
|
P/O
|
January 1944
|
Missing 11 March 1944
|
|
Dundas, Kenneth Crispin Vivian Douglas 41000 DFC
|
RAF
|
S/Ldr
|
June 1939
|
KIA 10 February 1944
|
|
Edgar, John Robert J8141
|
RCAF
|
F/Lt
|
December 1943
|
KAO 27 December 1943
|
|
Fitzpatrick, John Edward R168763
|
RCAF
|
WO2
|
February 1945
|
Missing 8 February 1945
|
|
Haakenson MJC J12845
|
RCAF
|
F/Lt
|
March 1944
|
Missing 13 June 1944, PoW Rangoon Gaol freed 30 April 1945.
|
|
Hall, Warren Douglas R109174 J86784
|
RCAF
|
P/O
|
January 1944
|
Shot PoW 7 May 1944
|
|
Holtan FE J24377
|
RCAF
|
F/O
|
December 1944
|
|
|
Jackson, William, J14842
|
RCAF
|
F/O
|
May 1944
|
KIA 11 June 1944
|
|
O'Mara RJ R127623 DFC
|
RCAF
|
F/Sgt
|
January 1944
|
|
|
Marshall, John Roy 515903 DFM
|
RAF
|
F/Sgt
|
July 1940
|
|
|
Moffatt LG J16307
|
RCAF
|
F/O
|
January 1944
|
|
|
Strumbos WP J22871
|
RCAF
|
F/Lt
|
April 1945
|
|
|
Thomson DL R122381/J86788
|
RCAF
|
P/O
|
January 1944
|
Wounded 16 February 1944
|
|
Vaughan, Ross George, J88656
|
RCAF
|
P/O
|
January 1944
|
KIA 1 August 1944
|
|
Waddell, George Alfred J16291
|
RCAF
|
F/O
|
January 1944
|
Missing 27 March 1944
|
|
White FTH R168713
|
RCAF
|
F/Sgt
|
March 1945
|
|
JE Fitzpatrick
Born in Saskatchewan on 12 February 1922 and enlisted in the RCAF at Calgary on 12 June 1942. From 7 ITS Saskatoon 27 September 1942 to 27 December 1942, then to 6 EFTS Prince Albert to 20 February 1943 and 7 SFTS Macleod to 25 June 1943. On qualifying as a pilot Fitzpatrick was made Sergeant on 11 June 1943 and thence to 1 GRS Summerside 26 June 1943 to 11 September 1943. Embarked for the UK at Halifax 14 September 1943.
To 20 (P) AFU 19 October 1943. Attached 1521 Beam Approach Training Flight at Wymeswold 21 December 1943 to 4 January 1944 (then affilliated to 20 (P) AFU). Posted to 5 PDC 25 April 1944 for embarkation to the Middle East 4 May 1944, where he remained until 25 September 1944. Posted to 224 Group ACSEA on 13 January 1945 and on to 211 Squadron 14 January 1945. Lost in action Beaufighter LZ399 ‘V’ on 8 February 1945 with his navigator F/Sgt Lock.
New Zealand and RNZAF personnel 1939–1945
Magill, later highly decorated, was the first to join the Squadron at Grantham in June 1937, remaining until perhaps April 1938. Four New Zealanders served with the Squadron in the Middle East and/or Greece (Buchanan DFC, Campbell, Fabian and the unfortunate Nedwill AFC, so briefly in command of the Squadron at Paramythia). Fabian, had trained as a pilot in World War I.
In the first Far East action in early 1942, three more stepped forward (Bryant, Cummins and Foreman). Bryant the LAC had been born in New Zealand, later returning to the UK with his English mother and sister after the death of his father.
Not unlike the Australians and Canadians, several were direct entrants to the RAF, while three served in or later transferred to the RNZAF, and one transferred to the RAAF. Four of the seven survived the war.
|
Name and no
|
Service
|
Rank,
mustering
|
211 Squadron from
|
Remarks
|
|
Bryant, Ernest William 1185504
|
RAFVR
|
LAC groundcrew
|
1942-1945
|
Born in New Zealand in 1915, son of Harry and Annie Maria Bryant.Taken PoW March 1942 Java. Held Java, Sumatra (Railway). Died Sumatra (Railway) 29 June 1945, aged 30 years
|
|
Buchanan, Lindsay Basil “Buck” 40885 DFC
|
RAF
|
F/Lt
Pilot
|
May 1940 to April 1941
|
Born Palmerston North 4 November 1917.
Joined RAF April 1938 on SSC. Decorated London Gazette 8 April 1941.
KAO 13 Apr 41
|
|
Campbell, Robert Douglas “Bobby” 41373
|
RAF
|
F/Lt
Pilot
|
July 1939 to January 1941
|
Born Hamilton 7 July 1918. RAF October 1938 on SSC, Uxbridge. To 4 FTS Abu Sueir then to 211 Squadron July 1939. Shot down and PoW Valona raid 6 January 1941. Escaped 1943, transferred to RNZAF December 1943 serving until 1969. Died Hastings 31 August 1994.
|
|
Cummins, Peter Lindly Dick “Arch” 580469 & 51283 MBE
|
RAF
|
Sgt Observer
|
December 1941 to
February 1942
|
Born Dunedin 13 January 1917. RAF 17 January 1938 to 1 January 1944. Served with 230 Squadron RAF Middle & Far East early 1939 to June 1941. Instructor, 70 OTU Kenya 1941. 211 Squadron RAF from December 1941, evacuated from Java February 1942. To RNZAF 1 January 1944 to 14 January 1972, MBE 1969. Died Palmerston North, 7 February 1993 .
|
|
Fabian, Alexander James Muir "Curly"
RAF 60164 RAAF 257621
|
RAF
|
F/O
IC Stores
|
19 Jan 1941 to 26 April 1941
|
Born Wellington 23 October 1898. Royal Aero Club Aviators Certificate, NZ, 2 December 1918. Joined RAF November 1940. Transferred to RAAF July 1941, discharged S/Ldr 22 May 1945. Deceased late 1967.
|
|
Foreman, William Charles Wadsworth 403770
|
RNZAF
|
P/O Observer
|
December 1941 to March 1942
|
Born Portsmouth, England 1 January 1912. Enlisted RNZAF at Levin as AP u/t 29 September 1940. After tour with 107 Squadron, to 211 Squadron 14 January 1942. Evacuated from Java aboard Tung Song 2 March 1942. Returned to NZ May 1942 serving with 1 Squadron RNZAF, to RNZAF Reserve 1945. Died late1970 possibly at Puahue, near Hamilton.
|
|
Magill, Graham Reese 39236
|
RAF
|
Pilot Officer
|
1937-1938
|
Born Te Aroha, Cambridge, 23 January 1915; electrical engineer; joined RAF 31 August 1936. 47 Squadron 30 April 38, F/O 28 February 1939, transferred to RAF 31 August 1940. Later commanded 180 Squadron 1943; Operations Staff, No. 2 Group, 1943–45. AVM 1 Jan 1964, retd AVM GR Magill CB CBE OBE DFC and bar, GD 29 Jan 1970. Deceased 1 December 1998
|
|
Nedwill, Richard John Courtney 34169 AFC
|
RAF
|
S/Ldr Pilot
|
March 1941
|
Born Christchurch 2 June 1913. Joined RAF March 1934 on SSC. Awarded the AFC for his long efforts in flying training at 4FTS, 1941. Served in 112 Squadron 1941. Posted as CO to 211 Squadron c22 March 1941. KAO Paramythia 26 March 1941 in 112 Squadron Gladiator II N5910.
|
South Africa & South African Air Force
Kearey, Charles Sydney 39234 Pilot Officer (30 June 1937–April 1938)
MacNab, James Crawford Gibb 39235 Pilot Officer (30 June 1937–April 1938)
Donaldson 778767 Sgt WJ, pilot, Burma January 1944, F/Sgt February 1944. KAO 24 February 1944
Southern Rhodesia
All three were 211 Squadron pilots of the Greece campaign:
P/O JC Jack “Pip” Cox (Nov 1940-1941)
P/O Jeffry Campbell Ross “John” Hooper SR 89777 DFC (from 23 Jan 1941). Later of 11 Squadron c Jun 1941, then the Strategic Reconnaissance Unit ME, wounded in action 6 December 1941 in Maryland II AH370, Sgt Observer Len Page taking over control and later assisting Hooper to land - earning a bar to Page’s DFM and Hooper an immediate DFC.F/Lt Feb 1943, completed a tour on Mosquitos over Europe. F/Lt Air Force List October 1945, “John” Hooper died in Tiger Moth accident post-war.
P/O John Gower Martin “Jack” Hooper SR 89778 DFC (from 23 Jan 1941) later Squadron Leader (see Lucas Out of the Blue 1984), in Zimbabwe Jack Hooper survived until c2004.
Sources
This partial record of 211 Squadron personnel from 1937 onwards is drawn mainly from the official sources noted below, with some reference to individual narratives and logbooks. In the case of the New Zealanders, I am indebted to the Errol Martyn for access to material from his forthcoming third volume of For Your Tomorrow, recording the fates of NZ airmen since 1915. For the service history of the Canadian Fitzpatrick I am grateful to Hugh A Halliday, RCAF researcher.
72 Operational Training Unit Operations Record Book TNA AIR 29/686
211 Squadron Operations Record Book 1937 TNA AIR 27/1302, TNA AIR 27/1303
Air Force List, Air Ministry (HMSO various dates) issues for July 1937, October 1937, January 1938, April 1938, November 1938, December 1938, January 1939
Allison and Hayward They Shall Grow Not Old (CATP Museum, Canada)
London Gazette issues 1939-1965 HMSO
Lucas Out of the Blue (Hutchinson 1985)
Pitchfork Men Behind The Medals Flypast Jan 1996
Thomson New Zealanders With the RAF Vol I, II, III
www.211squadron.org © DR Clark & others 1998–2008
Site created 15 Apr 2001, last updated 31 Jul 2008. Page created 23 Feb 2005, last updated 31 Jul 2008
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