No.623 Squadron, Downham Market October 43

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smudgersmith218
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No.623 Squadron, Downham Market October 43

Post by smudgersmith218 »

Hello,

Was looking for a file on No.623 Squadron's C/O W/Cdr Milligan RAF when I chanced upon a old photo I had on the squadron in my collection. You don't see much on this squadron so I thought I'd post this squadron photograph with W/Cdr Wynne-Powel while C/O.

From a rather cold London.
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No.623 Squadron, RAF Downham Market October 1943
No.623 Squadron, RAF Downham Market October 1943
Squadron.jpg (217.75 KiB) Viewed 4174 times
No.218 (Gold Coast) Squadron 1918-1945
The Nomads
Theletterwriter
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Re: No.623 Squadron, Downham Market October 43

Post by Theletterwriter »

Before becoming CO of 623 Squadron, W/Cdr. GT Wynne-Powell served with 199 Squadron from at least January 1943 up to his transfer to 623 Squadron wef 4 September 1943. From the 199 ORB, as S/Ldr. GT Wynne-Powell, he flew Wellingtons and his operational record with 199 in 1 Group was as follows : -

14 January 1943 : Lorient (Artichokes) : Mining
29 January 1943 : Lorient
19 February 1943 : Wilhelmshaven
1 March 1943 : Lorient (Artichokes) : Mining
9 March 1943 : Location not stated : Mining
10 March 1943 : Frankfurt
16 March 1943 : Ludwigshafen
26 April 1943 : Duisburg
23 May 1943 : Dortmund
27 May 1943 : Essen
11 June 1943 : Dusseldorf

As 199 were leaving 1 Group and their Wellingtons to join 3 Group and Short Stirlings at Lakenheath from mid-June 1943, S/Ldr. Wynne-Powell transferred to 1657 HCU at Stradishall on 17 June 1943 to convert to Stirlings. He was “B” Flight commander with 199 from July 1943 and after converting to Stirlings, he operated on another four occasions with 199 until his transfer to 623 : -

1 August 1943 : Gironde River (Deodars) : Mining
16 August 1943 : Turin
23 August 1943 : Berlin
30 August 1943 : Munchengladbach

Douglas
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smudgersmith218
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Re: No.623 Squadron, Downham Market October 43

Post by smudgersmith218 »

Douglas,

Thank you for that, your details confirm what I already have. From my research into No.623 Squadron I can tell you that W/Cdr Wynne-Powell was not especially liked by a number of senior captains and crews. I interviewed two experienced 623 Squadron pilots in 2001 and both confirmed what I had already been told about this officer. :shock: From memory I believe he was a Canadian in the RAF. ?

Thanks again

Steve
No.218 (Gold Coast) Squadron 1918-1945
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K4KittyCrew
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Re: No.623 Squadron, Downham Market October 43

Post by K4KittyCrew »

Fantastic photo Steve, thanks for posting it.
John
K for Kitty Crew - Winthorpe, 1661 HCU's - stirlingaircraftsoc.raf38group.org/
630 Squadron - East Kirkby
" There is nothing glorious about war with the exception of those who served us so valiantly"
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