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General => Armed Forces => World War Two => Topic started by: Dannemois on Tuesday 18 July 23 18:39 BST (UK)

Title: 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron - Lost Lancaster Bomber Crew
Post by: Dannemois on Tuesday 18 July 23 18:39 BST (UK)
I am researching Sgt Wilfred Charles DIGBY who lost his life with the crew names below when their aircraft Lancaster Mk1 W4110 KM-K failed to return from operation flight on 13/14 May 1943.   

Crew: Lancaster I bomber W4110 of No. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron piloted by 23-year-old Flying Officer William Rail, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve from Vumba, Southern Rhodesia was shot down by night fighter pilot Karl-Gustav Pfeiffer of IV/NJG 1 and crashed into the North Sea west of Den Helder, the Netherlands. The aircraft had been returning to RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire, England, after a raid on Pilzen, Czechoslovakia. All seven of the crew were killed and were later named on the Runnymede Memorial on Cooper's Hill in Runnymede, Surrey, England.

Pilot F/O. W.D. Rail 80131 RAF (Southern Rhodesia)
Flight engineer Sgt. N.K. Underwood 1000940 (Driffield, Yorkshire)
Navigator Sgt. A.T.C. Bromwich 1392030 (Fleet, Somerset)
Bomb aimer Sgt. W.C. Digby 1315999 (Nelson, Glamorgan)
Wo ag Sgt. R.C. Boardman 1028039 (Tyldesley, Lancashire)
Air gunner Sgt. R.S.A. Walker 1085432 (unknown)
Air gunner Sgt. G. Batty 1415510 (Swansea, Wales)

Prior to joining 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron at RAF Waddington, this crew was posted to South Africa for training under the "Joint Air Training Scheme," possibly about September 1942.  Back in the UK this crew was posted to Waddington from No1654 conversion unit on 9 March 1943. Sgt Digby was on his 12th operation with this crew when he lost his life. 

That is the extent of my knowledge. I would appreciate any help building background details on Sgt Digby and his fellow crew members.

PS I have copies of the Operations Record Book for the operations this crew carried out,
Title: Re: 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron - Lost Lancaster Bomber Crew
Post by: sgf28 on Tuesday 18 July 23 19:50 BST (UK)
Merthyr Express 22nd August 1942

HOME FROM AFRICA - During the weekend Sergt. Observer Wilfred C Digby, R.A.F., - son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Digby, Station Road, Nelson, arrived home on short leave after spending seven months in South Africa. Sergt. Digby , prior to joining the Forces, was an officer in the Nelson Company of the Home Guard, and was Chairman of Nelson and District Wheelers. He looks the picture of health and fitness, and was warmly welcomed by his numerous friends.
Title: Re: 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron - Lost Lancaster Bomber Crew
Post by: sgf28 on Tuesday 18 July 23 19:58 BST (UK)
Merthyr Express 24th October 1953

WATCHED THE UNVEILING

Among the thousands of people at Runnymede on Saturday when the Queen unveiled a memorial to the 20,000 men of the Forces who have no known grave, were four from Nelson. They were Mr. and Mrs. Charles Digby, of Station Road, parents of Sgt. Observer Wilfred Digby, who was killed on an operational flight, and Sgt. Digby's brother and sister, Mr. Leonard Digby and Mrs. Amy Bowen.
Title: Re: 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron - Lost Lancaster Bomber Crew
Post by: Keitht on Tuesday 18 July 23 21:22 BST (UK)
Wilfred Charles Digby was born on 29 Jan 1916at Nelson, Glamorgan to Charles Leonard Gwynne Digby (1876-1960) and Julia Wintle (1888-1971). He had two brothers Ronald Henry (1919-1920) and Leonard Gwynne (1913-1986), as well as two sisters, Irene Maud (1921-1995) and Amy Valerie (1921-2001).
On the 1939 Register, living at 13 Station Terrace, Nelson, he is described as a general mechanical engineering draughtsman.
He is commemorated on he Runnymede War Memorial, Part IV, Panel 147.
Title: Re: 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron - Lost Lancaster Bomber Crew
Post by: daretodiscover on Tuesday 18 July 23 23:45 BST (UK)
Richard Samuel August Walker b. Pontypridd in the March 1920 Qtr.

Parents were Alexander and Dorothy M (nee Clarke) Walker. There was a Henrietta E. born in the December 1921 Qtr, also at Pontypridd, who may have been a sibling.

Married Mary B. Goddard at Bedwellty in the June 1943 Qtr. No children.

DTD

Title: Re: 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron - Lost Lancaster Bomber Crew
Post by: Dannemois on Wednesday 19 July 23 09:14 BST (UK)
Hi DTD

Thanks for that.  There was no next of kin on CWGC site so you have done well there.
Title: Re: 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron - Lost Lancaster Bomber Crew
Post by: Dannemois on Wednesday 19 July 23 09:17 BST (UK)
As of yesterday, I have covered all Merthyr Express publications from his school days through to 1953.   
Title: Re: 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron - Lost Lancaster Bomber Crew
Post by: daretodiscover on Thursday 27 July 23 17:44 BST (UK)
Where were they before No. 1654 Conversion Unit?

DTD
Title: Re: 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron - Lost Lancaster Bomber Crew
Post by: Dannemois on Friday 28 July 23 13:58 BST (UK)
Hi DTD

Sorry, other than South Africa, I don't know.  There are three similar photographs identifying Boardman, Batty and Digby on IBCC,  please see attached photo. 


 
Title: Re: 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron - Lost Lancaster Bomber Crew
Post by: rafcommands on Saturday 29 July 23 07:00 BST (UK)
Apply for a copy of his service record using the online system.

This will tell you all his dates and postings.

Add the phrase "informal review of mustering section with view to publication please" to get the section that is usually redacted automatically.

https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-service-records/apply-for-someone-elses-records

Last group I asked for a couple of months ago were returned within 4 weeks of application

Ross
Title: Re: 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron - Lost Lancaster Bomber Crew
Post by: Dannemois on Saturday 29 July 23 15:31 BST (UK)
Hi Ross
I opened the link and applied for Digbys records but I could not see where I could add the phrase "informal review of mustering section with view to publication please"

Regards, Roy
Title: Re: 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron - Lost Lancaster Bomber Crew
Post by: rafcommands on Saturday 29 July 23 15:47 BST (UK)
Big Green Button at bottom of page

Start Now

Application is mostly ticking the box to move to the next question.

RAF

Yes - died in service

First name, last name , year of birth are the only mandatory on the next page.

Continue until you get the box Other info and add the phrase there.

Really is easy

If it got away from you before adding - you will get an email reply from the case officer with a case reference - just send it then - my experience is the staff at RAF Cranwell disclosures will go out of their way to help.


Ross
Title: Re: 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron - Lost Lancaster Bomber Crew
Post by: Dannemois on Sunday 30 July 23 08:47 BST (UK)
Hi Ross
I found the site okay and made the selection page by page and sent it off, in fact I also applied for his home guard records.
Thanks for your help, Roy
Title: Re: 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron - Lost Lancaster Bomber Crew
Post by: rafcommands on Sunday 30 July 23 09:01 BST (UK)
Great stuff.

Home Guard service records are out of my skill set but for the RAF one I'm happy to talk you through it when it comes

Ross
Title: Re: 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron - Lost Lancaster Bomber Crew
Post by: Dannemois on Saturday 13 January 24 16:17 GMT (UK)
Hi Ross

Just to say I have finally received a copy of Wilfred Digby's record
Title: Re: 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron - Lost Lancaster Bomber Crew
Post by: Dannemois on Saturday 13 January 24 16:20 GMT (UK)
Ross

I attach two snippets of the Form 543 for your interest
Title: Re: 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron - Lost Lancaster Bomber Crew
Post by: Dannemois on Saturday 13 January 24 17:11 GMT (UK)
Hi Ross

Do you have any info on 'Oxford Reserve' please
Title: Re: 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron - Lost Lancaster Bomber Crew
Post by: rafcommands on Saturday 13 January 24 17:37 GMT (UK)
From Oxford to Reserve.

Oxford was the Combined Recruiting Centre that he attended for interview and attesting.

RAF Training scheme by that time had learned from the Post Munich problems of induction without purpose.

So at Oxford CRC he passed interview and medical for Observer/WOp and was accepted into the RAF but then sent back to civi life with a lapel badge to await a space on the Observer/WOp training scheme. Did not have to wait long (come 1944 six months on reserve was norm).

This was done to prevent other services poaching the bods.

From there he went into the scheme - period at RC (recruit centre) for full medical/kitting/basic drill training/ to ITW (Initial Training Wing) to bring his academic level up to that required for trade training and basics of aircrew training in classroom before going to OTU.

Did you get the mustering section of trades and dates? would help decide the sequence next.

He starts on the Observer/Navigator training but is recoursed at either OTU or Air School to Bomb Aimer.

This is also the time where RAF is ramping up numbers in aircrew training and have decided that UK weather is a bottleneck so training is moved to Commonwealth and Dominion to pass the numbers through.

In his case he attends two South African Air Schools before returning to the UK and getting used to operations in UK weather before No.44 Squadron.

Ross
Title: Re: 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron - Lost Lancaster Bomber Crew
Post by: rafcommands on Saturday 13 January 24 17:42 GMT (UK)
Sign up to a free account at The National Archives if you have not yet done so and download for free these Air School ORBs

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C17370781

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C6361542

Ross

Title: Re: 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron - Lost Lancaster Bomber Crew
Post by: rafcommands on Saturday 13 January 24 20:13 GMT (UK)
The date on your photo confirms taken at No.1654 CU.

As an aside just look at the dates in general.

2 years from entry to operational.

by 1944 this had been cut to 1 year.

A recent talk by RAF medical branch compared flying hours to take a 20year old from civi street to pilot in command of a Lancaster (50 flying hours) to similar age and experience today to become operational on the Typhoon jet (48 hrs).

Medic said limit was motor skills and repetitions to get muscle memory so was confident that training in both eras was as refined as possible.

By 1944 aircrew replacement was seemless - on one night in Nov 1944 Bomber Command lost more aircrew on one raid than Fighter Command lost in the whole 3 months of the Battle of Britian. In three days Bomber Command had replaced all the lost crews and aircraft and were back to full operational strength on the squadrons.

Ross
Title: Air-54
Post by: Dannemois on Sunday 14 January 24 15:19 GMT (UK)
Hi Ross

You asked if I got the mustering section of trades and dates? I'm not sure what this looks like.
 
I have attached another small section of the form I received and that's all of it.

Thanks for the links to AIR-54 - 172 and 182.  I've gone through both but have not found any mention of Digby by name or service number.   

Regards, Roy
Title: Re: 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron - Lost Lancaster Bomber Crew
Post by: rafcommands on Sunday 14 January 24 15:58 GMT (UK)
Mustering - that's the section.

I was trying to figure out when his trade was changed from Observer to Bomb Aimer.

You can see from the dates he was Observer/WOp AG for the duration of his training but at CU he is reclassified as Navigator/Bomb Aimer.

This followed a change in RAF title for the pre-war trade of Observer to the rename Navigator. So he remained as trained just the title that changed.

His secondary duty of WOp AG changed to Bomb Aimer and it was the duty he was assigned to on the Operational Squadron.

Must have had too many Navigators at CU and not enough Bomb Aimers to form the crews.

Ross
Title: Re: 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron - Lost Lancaster Bomber Crew
Post by: Dannemois on Sunday 14 January 24 17:37 GMT (UK)
Ross, sorry to be a pain but can you explain what the two postings 1ACR? and ACDC (A) are all about.

I presume the abbreviation ACDC (A) is Air Crew Despatch Centre but unsure what (A) means.

Thanks in advance
Roy
Title: Re: 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron - Lost Lancaster Bomber Crew
Post by: rafcommands on Sunday 14 January 24 17:48 GMT (UK)
No.1 Aircrew Receiving Centre - Lords Cricket Ground

https://www.stjohnswoodmemories.org.uk/content/amenities/clubs-societies/lords-cricket-ground/royal_air_force_in_st_johns_wood_in_the_2nd_world_war

A usually means attached - rather than being posted here for duties or RAF induction it was more a large scale unit with space for accomodation and messing until he was sent to the convoy massing area for trooping to South Africa.

Ross
Title: Re: 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron - Lost Lancaster Bomber Crew
Post by: Dannemois on Monday 15 January 24 14:11 GMT (UK)
Hello Ross

I really appreciate your help with Digby's records and I can not thank you enough. 

Kind Regards
Roy
Title: Re: 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron - Lost Lancaster Bomber Crew
Post by: Dannemois on Thursday 18 January 24 12:13 GMT (UK)
RAF Recruitment:  Having passed the interview and medical to join the RAF VR in 1941, a civilian was accepted into the RAF, placed on reserve then sent back to civilian life with a lapel badge to await a space on the appropriate training scheme.

Can someone please give a description or show a photo of the badge?

Thanks
Title: Re: 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron - Lost Lancaster Bomber Crew
Post by: rafcommands on Tuesday 23 January 24 19:51 GMT (UK)
https://heartsanddaggers.co.uk/british-and-commonwealth-militaria/3099-ww2-royal-air-force-volunteer-reserve-rafvr-lapel-badge.html

Ross
Title: Re: 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron - Lost Lancaster Bomber Crew
Post by: Dannemois on Wednesday 24 January 24 11:58 GMT (UK)
Thank you Ross, much appreciated.