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Topics - Cornelius88

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1
World War Two / Bomber routes to Germany (Aachen)
« on: Thursday 15 December 22 12:11 GMT (UK)  »
I have obtained an aircraft loss card (Lancaster ND389) which shows several of what I think are navigational 'way points' which may indicate the route taken on a bombing raid to Aachen in April 1944. This was from RAF Wyton (83 Sqdn Pathfinder Base), to the Dutch coast, towards Cologne and then south past Aachen, swinging round to the south of the town and approaching it from the East.  At this point bombs would have been dropped and the aircraft would return towards the Dutch coast only to be shot down near Antwerp. 

The above is the result of a very rudimentary plot of the course.  Tthe internet based maps are of varying scales and multiple sheets which makes the gaining of an overall picture something of an impossibility.  In any event the 'way points' are few in number which leaves scope for much guesswork.  So far I've not been able to obtain a map of a reasonable scale such that a single sheet would cover the area I need - most cover way too far to the east

Full navigational details would have been given at operation briefing, but I wonder if there are any maps, official or otherwise, showing some of the more common routes taken?  Places to avoid would have been generally known by mid 1944, so there may have been some commonality to the routes which together with the loss card data might enable me to build up a clearer picture of the route taken in this case. 

Any information on how navigation worked would be appreciated.  My Grammar School maths teacher was a navigator with Bomber Command but like many who went through it, he said very little.

Co-ordinates on the loss card are not clear but my interpretation is:

Base   5242N  00:5W  (RAF Wyton Nr Huntingdon Cambs)
5200N 0330E
5044N  0610E
5200N  0330E
5100N   0620E

Aachen  LAT 50.766  LNG  06.0831

2
World War Two / Aircraft Loss Card
« on: Friday 23 September 22 09:40 BST (UK)  »
I have obtained a copy of the aircraft loss card for Lancaster ND389 of 83 Sdn PFF, which came down near Beerse in Belgium with the loss of all the crew.

The image is derived from microfiche so is not up to modern standards.  However it appears that a section deals with Equipment.  Can anyone offer any help with interpretation?

My first thought is that the plane was equipped with ? H2S, but can anyone help with the other items?

EDIT:  Having had another look I think it is Gee a navigation system, and H2S, which I believe was a ground radar used for bomb aiming, but I'm still unable to decipher the rest of the clip.

3
World War Two / Ops Record Book
« on: Sunday 04 September 22 15:18 BST (UK)  »
I have managed to find what appears to be a page from a record book which details all of the Ops that Bomber Command engaged in during WW2. 

Unfortunately this page has no attribution or any indication as to whether it is an official document or perhaps more likely one collated by a researcher.

It is a very long shot, but does anyone who may have carried out research into Bomber Command recognise it and could give me details of author/title/location etc?

Due to the forum file size limits a better quality copy may be viewed here:

https://ln5.sync.com/dl/34e6ecd90/8qcuqrvg-ivpms6zq-6pd2mwg2-wvfef9g3

Many thanks for any help.


4
World War Two / Daylight Saving in WW2
« on: Monday 29 August 22 11:12 BST (UK)  »
I am researching the death of a relative whilst on a bombing raid in early April 1944 and am uncertain about clock times - UK v European - during the War.

During WW2 I understand that in Spring 1941 British Summertime (BST) became GMT + 2hrs and that remained throughout the War.  Continental time is generally GMT +1 but I understand they may have had a similar system of daylight saving. 

I'm trying to sort out whether a +1hr daylight saving was applied throughout Europe making their clock times the same as ours for the duration of the War.

Thus, if a German aircraft is recorded as taking off from Sint Truiden (Belgium) at 22:08, this would effectively be the same time as in England, so when doing any calculations, no correction for time differences needs to be applied. 

Could someone confirm this is correct.

5
The Common Room / Same name across the generations
« on: Saturday 26 February 22 10:10 GMT (UK)  »
I have discovered that I am distantly related to a Richard Walker born in Mirfield in 1793.  His father is also Richard Walker.

Further researches have shown that Richard Walker is extremely common in that part of Yorkshire and that around 1900 or so there were more people with the surname Walker in the Wakefield area than any other part of the country.

The original Richard Walker was a Cordwainer, so there may be some apprenticeship papers hidden away somewhere but it's a long shot.  Migration would be common at that time.

A bit like searching for "Smith" or "Jones" but how have others managed to sort out the problem of repeat names across the generations, especially when the most common, and often the only source, is the Parish Register? 

6
World War Two / RAF Service Record - Jargon
« on: Monday 27 December 21 10:22 GMT (UK)  »
I have the service record of an RAF relative who was killed in WW2 whilst serving with the Pathfinders in Bomber Command.  Whilst there is a considerable amount of material at Kew under the WO and AIR references it's like looking for a needle in a haystack.

In an attempt to narrow down the are to look at I obtained the service record but much of this is in impenetrable RAF abbreviations and despite having a book of abbreviations I'm still at a loss.

Could someone familiar with the lingo have a look at the attached and let me have some idea of what was going on?  In partocular the 1662 conversion unit had two locations: one indecipherable and the other at Swinderby which I think was the main location for the unit. 

All help appreciated.

7
World War Two / RAF Terminology
« on: Saturday 20 November 21 15:02 GMT (UK)  »
I have a record of a transfer from one Squadron to another in WW2 as this:
"Posted from 61 Squadron w.e.f. 30.1.44 reported unit on 10.2.44 on ceasing to be attached to P.F.F.  N.T.U."

What was P.F.F.  N.T.U.?  P.F.F. would be the Pathfinder Force of Bomber Command, but N.T.U.?

8
Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition / Birth Certificate
« on: Saturday 09 October 21 10:58 BST (UK)  »
Under 'Mother's name' on a birth certificate is given "...McConnell, ....."  The rest looks something like, "...or mental J--se of 28...".  Since no father's name is given it appears that she was a single mother so McConnell is likely to be her only name.

The birth was in 1920 and the birth address is given as 211 New Kings Road which is Argyll House, one time home to the Duke of Argyll.

Argyll House is now Grade 2 listed.  Unfortunately I have not yet been able to discover anything regarding it's use/occupancy during the 1920s. It is not impossible it was requisitioned for use as a hospital during the Great War.  An alternative is that it was occupied by a prominent family and Ms McConnell was in service at the time.

First task is to decipher the handwriting, but if anyone has any knowledge of Argyll House I would be grateful.

9
Family History Beginners Board / Query re: Admon
« on: Tuesday 17 August 21 18:51 BST (UK)  »
I have obtained a copy of the Letters of Administration- dated 1936 - for someone and having described the Widow/administrator, there is at the bottom of the page, "Extracted by......"  The name is given with an address in Grays Inn - partially indecipherable.

Is the person who extraced the information someone acting on behalf of the Court which granted the Admon, or is this possibly a solicitor who is acting on behalf of the Widow/Administrator?


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