Author Topic: Bomber Command Losses - HCUs and Miscellaneous Units, 1939-1947  (Read 9818 times)

Offline andrewdwilliams

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Bomber Command Losses - HCUs and Miscellaneous Units, 1939-1947
« on: Tuesday 22 July 14 16:16 BST (UK) »
I happen to possess a copy of a book by W R Chorley called "Royal Air Force Bomber Command Losses Volume 8 - Heavy Conversion Units and Miscellaneous Units, 1939-1947". Basically, the book contains details about every recorded crash by HCU flights, which were what pilots destined for heavy bombers would fly for several weeks to get used to the feel of it. Other training and miscellaneous flights include station flights and group communications/training flights.

I am happy to do look-ups in this book for anyone who thinks their ancestor may have died on a conversion flight or crashed during one. The book is organised by date of crash, rather than the name of the flight. If you are interested in me doing a look-up, please give me as much detail as possible so I can confirm that I have found the correct entry.

Please note, operational training units are recorded in Volume 7, not Volume 8.

If you are looking for an ancestor that died in combat over France, for example, then the other appropriate books are linked below:

1939-1940 - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bomber-Command-Losses-Second-1939-40/dp/1906537402/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1406041842&sr=1-3
1941 - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bomber-Command-Losses-Second-World/dp/0904597873/ref=sr_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1406041842&sr=1-9
1942 - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bomber-Command-Losses-Second-World/dp/090459789X/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1406041842&sr=1-7
1943 - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bomber-Command-Losses-Second-World/dp/0904597903/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1406041842&sr=1-8
1944 - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bomber-Command-Losses-Second-World/dp/0904597911/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1406041842&sr=1-2
1945 - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bomber-Command-Losses-Second-World/dp/090459792X/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1406041842&sr=1-6
Operational Training Units - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Royal-Force-Bomber-Command-Losses/dp/1857801326/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1406041842&sr=1-4
Heavy Conversion Units and Miscellaneous Units - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Royal-Force-Bomber-Command-Losses/dp/1857801563/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1406041842&sr=1-5
Roll of Honour - http://www.amazon.co.uk/RAF-Bomber-Command-Losses-1939-1947/dp/1857801954/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1406041842&sr=1-1

Note: I realise some of these have ridiculous prices however it is possible to find them elsewhere on the web for much more reasonable prices.
SCOTT, WOOD, STEEL/STEELE, HOLMES, LEE, COLLEDGE, SHAKESHAFT/SHACKSHAFT, O'NEILL, SPINK, BAILEY

Offline Numpty75

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Re: Bomber Command Losses - HCUs and Miscellaneous Units, 1939-1947
« Reply #1 on: Saturday 07 July 18 21:47 BST (UK) »
Hi Andrew, my relation is Sgt Gilbert William Carter, 224 Squadron were based at Milltown, Scotland, and flew Liberators. Listed Runnymead Memorial, Surrey.
The Liberator, KG964, was posted as missing over the Skaggerak.
I see your links to the Chorley's Bomber Command
This is all i know. Would you be able to have a look and see what you can find, please?
Thank you Chris Wareham



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Online BushInn1746

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Re: Bomber Command Losses - HCUs and Miscellaneous Units, 1939-1947
« Reply #2 on: Monday 09 July 18 07:21 BST (UK) »
Hello Chris

There appears to be some discussion here ...

http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/showthread.php?2863-Coastal-command-lost-liberator

Does not seem to be listed by Chorley (my edition published 1998) 26/27th February 1945.

Be careful with any official use of the word "presumed".

I researched a crash involving my Grandfather in a Whitley where "presumed" was officially used in 1940 and the narrative was only part of truth. I discovered in files that the aircraft type had most likely not been modified.

In the Group records in AIR 25, there is also a claim that one aircraft on the 1940 Operation had been fired upon by another friendly aircraft, but not damaged. Apparently, the Air Ministry needed outright proof, e.g. visible bullet holes in the crashed aircraft, but if the aircraft was lost, or burnt out it couldn't be proven. The Signal in the Group records reporting the loss of my Grandfather's Whitley and the friendly fire incident is unfortunately missing.

One of the locals in Hampshire, UK, living opposite the crash site on the night, was told by RAF personnel that my Grandfather's aircraft had been hit by enemy fire, then hit the nearest balloon cable to their home.

When a further letter was sent to my family in 1940 about his death, it has the Service Number of another Pilot in the letter Reference, who was not on the flight. His Training Unit has night flying hours totals at the end of the month in their ORB, but no record of the night flights.

I'm afraid what the Air Ministry / Commands knew and recorded at the time and what they have decided to keep for the official loss record since, sometimes seems to differ.

Mark

Offline Regorian

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Re: Bomber Command Losses - HCUs and Miscellaneous Units, 1939-1947
« Reply #3 on: Monday 09 July 18 07:42 BST (UK) »
Excellent books, I have the 1939/40 one which details the loss of my fathers brothers HP Hampden 144 Squadron 10/11 August 1940 over Holland.

Only pilots body was recovered and buried with full military honours by SS VT Division.

If any one lost 1939/40 I can look it up for them.
Griffiths Llandogo, Mitcheltroy, Mon. and Whitchurch Here (Also Edwards),  18th C., Griffiths FoD 19th Century.


Offline Hornchurch

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Re: Bomber Command Losses - HCUs and Miscellaneous Units, 1939-1947
« Reply #4 on: Thursday 04 April 19 05:01 BST (UK) »

Hi Andrew, my relation is Sgt Gilbert William Carter, 224 Squadron were based at Milltown, Scotland, and flew Liberators. Listed Runnymead Memorial, Surrey.
 
The Liberator, KG964, was posted as missing over the Skaggerak.
I see your links to the Chorley's Bomber Command

This is all i know. Would you be able to have a look and see what you can find, please?
Thank you Chris Wareham
'


Hi Chris,  I have a fair bit of info', regarding KG.964 & her crew, but first, this...

As soon as I saw your post saying the words "Liberator" & "Skaggerak",
 I knew it wouldn't be Bomber Command.
I'm a lifelong fan of both the B.24 Liberator, Bomber Command & Coastal Command.

The RAF used the B.24 as a Bomber in the Adriatic & as a 100 Group Electronic-warfare "Jamming" aircraft.

Your B.24, serial-number KG.964 was operated by Coastal Command in the maritime recon' attack role.

They were painted in White undersides overall (3/4), whilst the top surface would be Extra Dark Sea Grey & Slate Grey camouflage (as is the Mk.VIII picture I'll try to submit), or, later in the war, just plain-jane Extra Dark Sea Grey over White.

 KG.964 wore the fuselage Squadron identity codes of  " XB-D " either side of the fuselage RAF roundel.
 (this would help you in future times "if" you were looking for pictures of the actual a/c, or it's sister-ships)

The Skaggerak is over near Denmark & both the Skaggerak & Kattegat were hotspots for German shipping.
 (Plus of course, no less than 72 U-Boats were sunk by Coastal Command B.24 Liberators, in part, or in full)

Here's the detail of KG.964's final mission which took place on the night of the 25th/26th Feb' 1945



25th/26th February 1945
No.224 Sqn.
Liberator Mk.VIII  - Serial  KG964 : Fuselage I.D. codes  =  XB-D

Took off 22:07 Milltown on the 25th, with a load of ten 250lb depth charges, detailed to carry out an anti-submarine patrol in the vicinity of the Swedish coast. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off,
and it did not return to base*.

144782 F/O (Capt./Pilot) Reginald William PONTING RAFVR +
1801251 F/Sgt (2nd Pilot) Ronald HADLOW RAFVR +
AUS420022 F/L (1st Nav.) Claude MAPLETOFT RAAF +
J/95233 P/O (2nd Nav.) Leslie Anwyl CHADWICK RCAF +
1064874 F/Sgt (Flt. Eng.) John James WILLIAMS RAFVR +
R/189573 F/Sgt (W.Op.[Air]) Thomas Edward MURPHY RCAF +
R/195678 F/Sgt (W.Op.[Air]) Joseph Leo GALLIPEAU RCAF +
658750 F/Sgt (W.Op.[Air]) Cyril JACKSON RAF +
1881845 Sgt (Air Gnr.) Maurice George BLISS RAFVR +
2209857 Sgt (Air Gnr.) Dafydd Cynfal DAVIES RAFVR + (listed on CWGC as No.244 Sqn.)
1899789 Sgt (Air Gnr.) Gilbert William CARTER RAFVR +

The remains of F/Sgt Gallipeau RCAF, were washed ashore at Varberg on the Swedish west coast and buried in Varberg Church New Cemetery. The remaining 10 crew members are commemorated on the
Runnymede Memorial.

* Liberator XB-P of the same squadron reported a loud explosion at 0304 hours, which may have been KG964 blowing up. The crew of XB-P also reported the presence of a so-called 'Sperr Brecher' (a ship equipped with ant-aircraft guns and other artillery) in the area, and reported light flak passing over their aircraft. This may have been what caused the the loss of KG964 (AIR27/1389)

See:
'Making For Sweden...' Part 1- The RAF 1939 to 1945.
Wegmann,Rolph & Bo Widfeldt.
Walton-on-Thames:Air Research Publications,1997.
pp.225-6

 Hope that helps.....
Am interested in N.W.Norfolk Hudsons in the Docking, Sedgeford, Heacham & Hunstanton regions,

Offline Numpty75

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Re: Bomber Command Losses - HCUs and Miscellaneous Units, 1939-1947
« Reply #5 on: Saturday 07 September 19 20:20 BST (UK) »
Hi, been away for a while and on checking i can't see if i replied to this post. My apologies and thank you very much for the information. Chris Wareham
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