463 squadron bomber command book

More than 56,000 british and commonwealth aircrew and 600,000 germans died in the course of the rafs attempt to win the war by bombing. Raaf 463 squadron paint their lancaster before a raid during. The squadron itself was originally formed from b flight, no 57 squadron at east kirkby near spilsby, lincolnshire, on 15th november 1943. We specialise in publishing and selling books about raf bomber command in the second world war and related topics. The opening of the bomber command exhibition at the shrine of. Having spent six months at church broughton derbyshire at 27 operational training unit wally signed up for a second tour and was posted to 1661 conversion unit at winthorpe and 5 group lancaster finishing school at syerston where he crewed up with six australians. One of the squadron veterans was a member of the killara golf club in whats usually described as sydneys leafy north shore, and suggested that the. While the inspectors were here, the 773rd squadron ran a full scale mission which duplicated as closely as possible the conditions in a theatre of combat. Liz farmer on ww2 raf bomber command30th january 1944 berlin. This volume, the result of research undertaken at the australian war memorial, contains summaries of raaf 463 squadron fatalities in date of death order. Binbrook 1943 home of 460 squadron bomber command ww2. Im currently having a fairly close look at the activities of 463 and 467 squadrons for the time that the crew of b for baker.

On 20 june 1943, 467 was the first bomber command squadron to participate in the shuttle service where aircraft would leave the united kingdom, bomb a european target, and then fly on to an airfield in north africa. The ultimate book on 466 squadron by stan parker and john mcmanus dfc available new through the facebook group, kindle ebook version available here links. No 44 rhodesia squadron was based at waddington from june 1937 to may 1943, equipped with the handley page hampden and the avro lancaster, and again from august 1960 until december 1982 with avro vulcan mks 1 and 2. This mission involved laying mines along germanys north sea coast, an activity that would become one of the mainstays of the squadrons activities in ensuing months. Australian bomber squadrons were formed including 455 squadron,halifaxes, and 460,463. The squadron often flew with cameramen from the rafs. Like 467 squadron, 463 was equipped with lancaster heavy bombers and formed part of 5 group of raf bomber command.

Having spent six months at church broughton derbyshire at 27 operational training unit wally signed up for a second tour and was posted to 1661 conversion unit at winthorpe and 5 group lancaster finishing school at. It flew main force operations until it was disbanded in september 1945. Formed in november 1942 as an article xv squadron in britain, the squadron was notionally an australian squadron under the command of the royal air force, and consisted of a mixture of personnel from various commonwealth nations. Bomber command books mention the wars online book store. Bomber command, it flew its first operational mission on january 1943. The squadron was formed in the united kingdom on 25 november 1943 from personnel and aircraft allocated from no.

Royal air force bomber command allied air forces battle of normandy no 1 group bawtry hall. Indeed the mustering and service number of individual aircrew were not disclosed in the operations record book until march 1944, except for crews of missing aircraft, and even then only in part during the wellington era. Join this heritage tour to the sites in the uk where our raaf squadrons served as they flew those dangerous missions over europe. Bomber command books is the sales site for mention the war ltd. The squadrons primary operational focus, however, was the strategic. Pd337 was specially converted for filming bomber command operations, being fitted with a number of camera positions and used by cameramen of the royal air force film and photographic unit. He has provided permission to allow us to send higher def copies to any relative free of charge. Below is a copy of wallys log book showing his 51 sorties, night raids are shown in red. After i had visited jack jarmy last summer, i came across a website for 218 squadron. The squadron was reformed in 1936 as a heavy bomber squadron. Even on the australian bomber command squadrons, which began. Tribute to the men of 463467 lancaster raaf squadrons in australia, continuing the bond, friendship and honouring our veterans. Crews posted to 462 squadron raaf, bomber command, uk.

Although intended as an australian squadron under article xv of the empire air training scheme, the majority of its personnel were originally british. Mar 10, 2019 wayne smith on ww2 raf bomber command pilot fsgt roy fennell a letter home. High degree of reader involvement in supplying information. It was here that my crew and i were to complete the 30 missions of our first tour. The squadron was equipped with avro lancaster bombers and flew its first raids on germany immediately after being formed.

The squadron began operations the night after its formation with an attack on berlin. Research based site with hundreds of thousands of data points on pilots, crew and ground crew associated with flying, particularly ww11. Sep 23, 20 bomber command s air offensive against the cities of nazi germany was one of the most epic campaigns of world war ii. Sep 29, 2017 raaf 463 squadron paint their lancaster before a raid during world war ii. Don charlwood, journeys into night, burgewood books, warrandyte, 2005, p. Bomber command books is a community site from mention the war publications, a specialist in publishing and selling. Upon formation, the squadron was established at raf waddington, in lincolnshire, and its first commanding officer. Following the war, the squadron evacuated allied prisoners of war from europe until it was disbanded in late 1945.

Clarence keith bruhns flying log book for observers, air gunners and wireless. At the canberra bomber command weekend a few years ago, don southwell made an offhand comment about how he wanted to redo the squadron histories. We would like to thank barbara shotliffe relative of my bill and ian hutt, my bills nephew of william harry meager and also to andy smith from raf bomber command web site for recommending that barbara contacts us with the article. The lancasters of 460 squadron and their home in binbrook binbrook was the home of 460 squadron from 1943 until the end of the war. The australian contribution to the raf bombing campaign europe. Formed in november 1942 as an article xv squadron in britain, the squadron was notionally an australian squadron under the command of the royal air force, and consisted of a mixture of personnel from various commonwealth. During this period the lancaster was just one of a number of aircraft used by bomber command, important amongst them the wellington, the stirling and the halifax. Sdf means other squadron planes and crews who flew with 460 squadron to carry out special target marking duties for no 1 group, bomber command. One week after arriving at drane field, third bomber command inspectors arrived to observe the group in action and to check on the various training requirements. Raf bomber command during the second world war imperial war.

Its first commanding officer was wing commander rollo kingsfordsmith, the nephew of the famous australian aviator sir charles kingsfordsmith. Largest collection of luftwaffe pilot data in the world. Paul on raf bomber command happy memories of frank law the count of elsham wolds and his crewmates. Perhaps not an obvious connection, based on the title of this post, however there is a strong one. Bomber commands assault on german oil production took no. Raaf 463 squadron paint their lancaster before a raid. First tour 12 squadron wickenby may to october 1943. These are royal air force raf operations record books orbs, though the. Bomber command books from mention the war publications, merthyr tydfil. The squadron was formed in the united kingdom in late 1943 from personnel and aircraft allocated from no.

Bomber command books from mention the war publications home. Bomber command books from mention the war publications. Raaf airmen attached to australian bomber squadrons nos 460, 462, 463, 466. In addition to germany, the squadron also attacked targets in france, italy, norway and czechoslovakia. Bomber commands air offensive against the cities of nazi germany was one of the most epic campaigns of world war ii. Tribute to the men of 463467 lancaster raaf squadrons in australia, continuing the. Within it, there was a visitors book, so i registered and left a message just letting everybody know that jack, who. The most disappointing thing about the timing of that was that 463 squadron stalwart bill purdy was unable to lead the planned tiger moth flypast, open cockpits and rain not being particularly good bedfellows. In his recently published book lancaster men the aussie heroes of bomber. Wayne smith on ww2 raf bomber command pilot fsgt roy fennell a letter home. Royal air force operations record books 19111963 the national. Our growing list of titles focuses on the aircraft, squadrons and above all the men and women who shaped the legend that endures to this day. It was here that my crew and i were to complete the 30 missions o.

Second tour completed giving a total of 51 sorties 111 hours 15 mins day time flying and 324 hours 5 mins. The author, the crews rear gunner describes with some degree of realism the fears and dangerous encountered by a bomber command crew. The bomber command war diaries, by matrin middlebrook and chris everitt. This book looks at the early career of the avro lancaster. A compelling book that describes with some skill the daytoday dangers and perils of operational flying.