Looking for information on Stirling Aircraft & Crews ?

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AlanW
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Re: Looking for information on Stirling Aircraft & Crews ?

Post by AlanW »

Jonathon,
I do have the 161sqdn ORB, but not the other two, and would gladly sort out the pages that refer to ops carried out by the Eddy crew. The ORB only gives the pilots name for each op (unlike others, that give full crew details) and i will look through and sort out all relevent pages and get back to you.Can you confirm that their first op was in Sept 43 and last op was 4th Jan 44.
Alan.
There is no paralell in warfare, to such courage and determination in the face of danger, over so long a period. Such devotion, should never be forgotten.
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antonioitalia
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Re: Looking for information on Stirling Aircraft & Crews ?

Post by antonioitalia »

I sent a 'PM' to Max, from the Lancaster-archive forum, being that he is a wizz on accessing data from Australian govt. site and so on.
wildman10
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AG Sgt EFW Booth 636621, killed with all his crew in a 149 Sqn Stirling on 8/9th June 1942

Post by wildman10 »

I'm looking for information related to AG Sgt EFW Booth 636621, killed with all his crew in a 149 Sqn Stirling on 8/9th June 1942.

Thank you to the 149 Sqn facebook page for the following: Stirling N6082 coded OJ-C on Operation to Essen. Buried Reichswald Foprest Cemetery, Germany. Aircraft came down at Gelsenkirchen-Hasel. There are no claims by Nachtjagd units, so it may be assumed that the aircraft was brought down by Flak.

I have the following data for his crew taken from the National Records Air 29 ORB records:
Source Take Off time Take Off date Landing Time Landing Date Target Code Tail Pilot 2nd Pilot Observer Flight Engineer Wireless Operator AG (FG) AG (RG)
P13 May 1942 ORB Records of Events 23:03:00 17 May 1942 02:27:00 18 May 1942 Boulogne A R9163 Sgt Davies Plt Off Mansell Plt Off Phillips Sgt Peake Sgt Whittle Sgt Rosher Sgt Ward
P15 May 1942 ORB Records of Events 23:28 19 May 1942 05:40 20 May 1942 St Nazaire C N63844 Sgt Davies Plt Off Mansell Plt Off Phillips Sgt Peake Sgt Whittle Sgt Rosher Sgt Ward
P20 May 1942 ORB Records of Events 23:50 29 May 1942 05:42 30 May 1942 Fresian Islands Mining C N6084 Sgt Davies Plt Off Mansell Plt Off Phillips Sgt Peake Sgt Whittle Sgt Ward Sgt Booth
P25 May 1942 ORB Records of Events 23:40 30 May 1942 03:53 31 May 1942 Cologne C N6084 Sgt Davies Plt Off Mansell Plt Off Phillips Sgt Peake Sgt Whittle Sgt Booth Sgt Ward
P7 June 1942 ORB Records of Events 23:40 01 June 1942 03:37 02 June 1942 Essen C N6084 Sgt Davies Plt Off Mansell Plt Off Phillips Sgt Peake Sgt Whittle Sgt Booth Sgt Ward
P12 June 1942 ORB Records of Events 23:28 05 June 1942 03:35 06 June 1942 Essen C N6084 F/S Davies Plt Off Mansell Plt Off Phillips Sgt Peake Sgt Whittle Sgt Booth Sgt Ward
P15 June 1942 ORB Records of Events 23:47 06 June 1942 02:12 07 June 1942 Essen C N6084 F/S Davies Plt Off Mansell Plt Off Phillips Sgt Peake Sgt Whittle Sgt Booth Sgt Ward
P17 June 1942 ORB Records of Events 08 June 1942 09 June 1942 Essen C N6084 F/S Davies Plt Off Mansell Plt Off Phillips Sgt Peake Sgt Whittle Sgt Booth Sgt Ward
The ORB Summaries have Plt Off Mansell (an Australian service number) and Plt Off Phillips transferred to 149 Sqn from Waterbeach on 24 April 1942 but I can find nothing on the rest of the crew.

I don't know why Sgt Rosher took Sgt Booth's place on the first 2 operations and another 3 with other crews in May 1942; I can only assume that by also by deputising with other crews when his own crew weren't flying he was trying to get his tour over quickly. He was later shot down and killed on a Lancaster in Jan 1944. Roger on the 514 Sqn Facebook page kindly took the time and effort to give me the following:
155354 (901620) F/O Frank George Rosher DFM - Rear G.posted from 1651 Conv. Unit to 514 Squadron on 25/11/1943. DFM gazetted 11/06/1943 whilst Gunnery instructor at no.1651 Conv.Unit, P/O 14/07/1943, F/O 14/01/1944. KIA 14-janv-1944 Lancaster II LL685 A2-G - Hanover War Cemetery, Germany. As all crew members, four operations at 514 Squadron from 29/12/1943 to 14/01/1944, all with the Ernest Frank Sly's crew. They were all posted together at the same date from 1651 Conv. Unit except J.A. Sneddon believed either the same day or on 28/11/1943.

As the 2 officers in his crew came from Waterbeach I presume that they, Sgt Booth and the rest of the crew were on 1651 HCU. My searches throw up nothing digitised on the National Archives that may give me any info.

I know I can apply for Sgt Booth's service records in return for £30, but I think that will take some time.

Can anyone help me with any relevant info?

Thanks in advance for any help.
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GuyMassey
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Re: Looking for information on Stirling Aircraft & Crews ?

Post by GuyMassey »

Hello all!

I have not been very active with my research in recent years, following life took a few unexpected changes of direction. Some dreadful and some amazing. So apologies to my contacts on here for my long silence.

With the 75th anniversary of D-Day just past, and other anniversaries to come, I have picked up my notes again and started to reacquaint myself with my library. Then yesterday a relative (Philip Mollett) contacted me with the following information.

"My father was a Parachute Pathfinder in the 21st independent parachute company and they were flown in 30 minutes before the main assault to set up the eureka beacons etc. They took off in 12 Stirling’s from RAF Fairford at 10.25am on Sunday the 17th September 1944. They jumped out at Arnhem at 12.40hrs. The bombers were converted for Para drop use and he distinctly remembered that his plane had a picture of a stork carrying two babies in nappies painted on it and under it was the wording “ Double Trouble “ . I have searched for years trying to find a picture of his plane. If only I’d know about your father's service prior to his passing. To think that they were on the same mission is amazing. Both of them Hero’s along with their friends and colleagues."

I have searched through my books and records, and have conducted a search on line, but can find no record of this aircraft. I have however discovered that it must have been part of the 620 sdn force that took off from Fairford on that day. The ORB lists those aircraft but not the troops.

Can anyone help me add to the information that Philip already has? There is one well known picture of the 21st paras assembling by Stirlings featured in "The Stirling Story" that I have already passed on.

Regards to all

Guy Massey
"The purpose of life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave with a well-preserved body, but rather to Slide in Sideways, completely used up, yelling and screaming, what a ride!" anon.
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