rear gunner

bomber · 19-03-2008, 09:06 PM

Hi all, Being new to this i wondered if any body could give me some guidance. I am trying to trace my uncle Tom Page who served as Rear gunner in the RAF. He was one of only 2 rear gunners awarded the DFC or similar( I THINK) unusual as the medal was only given to pilots. As there were only 2 i thought it could be straight forward mmmm. At this point i do not have any further info but thought the medal and its importance would be enough.

Peter Clare · 19-03-2008, 09:36 PM

Hi bomber

Welcome to the forum.

A little more info would help, such as full name and service number. Did your uncle survive the war?

Owen · 20-03-2008, 01:12 AM

Welcome to the Forum, Bomber.
Didn't the DFC only go to Officers & Warrent Officers?
Would a rear-gunner be a WO?

WotNoChad? · 20-03-2008, 05:02 AM

Was he 65992 Sgt Wilfred Thomas Page?

Only Page I know of to get the DFC is Squadron Leader Vernon Douglas Page, DFC, of 601 Squadron

Owen · 20-03-2008, 08:46 AM

Just done a search on London Gazette for "65992 page"
Results show in 1941 he was granted Commision for duration of hostilities to Pilot Officer.
see 1st May 1941.
741246 Wilfred Thomas Page (65992 )

see rest of results here.
Search Results&

He gets a mention in despatches but no medal.
May not be right man.

Gotthard Heinrici · 20-03-2008, 10:36 AM

Hello Bomber and welcome. Hope to see you around the boards!

Peter Clare · 20-03-2008, 11:01 AM

Name:PAGE, WILFRED THOMAS Initials:W T Nationality: United KingdomRank: Squadron Leader Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Unit Text:126 Sqdn.Age: 29 Date of Death:16/11/1943 Service No:65992 Additional information: Son of William Richardson Page and Esther Olive Page; husband of Emma Edith Page, of Epsom, Surrey.Casualty Type:Commonwealth War DeadGrave/Memorial Reference:Panel 6, Column 1.Memorial:MALTA MEMORIAL

bomber · 20-03-2008, 04:52 PM

Thanks for all who have tried to find out infomation for me. It is not the chap mentioned though,My uncles name was Tom Page (Father Tom as well) he survived the war.He was a rear gunner, the medal may not be the DFC But whatever it was only 2 Rear gunners recived one during the war. For those of us who can remember the boys comic Victor covered a story of a rear gunner who won the medal, my uncle was the other. I desperatly need to get more info. Thank you all for your help

bomber · 20-03-2008, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Clare

Name:PAGE, WILFRED THOMAS Initials:W T Nationality: United KingdomRank: Squadron Leader Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Unit Text:126 Sqdn.Age: 29 Date of Death:16/11/1943 Service No:65992 Additional information: Son of William Richardson Page and Esther Olive Page; husband of Emma Edith Page, of Epsom, Surrey.Casualty Type:Commonwealth War DeadGrave/Memorial Reference:Panel 6, Column 1.Memorial:MALTA MEMORIAL

Hi Peter, sorry it is not him i`m` afraid. He was definately Tom Page as was his Father, no mum she died in child birth. He was rear gunner so he could not be squadron leader.Only 2 rear gunners recieved this medal obviously not the DFC!! and he servived the war. The old boys comic the victor ran a cover story on the other gunner and it was my mum who told me that the other was her brother. Me thinks i definately need more info. Thanks for your time and efforts though.

Peter Clare · 20-03-2008, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bomber

Hi Peter, sorry it is not him i`m` afraid. He was definately Tom Page as was his Father, no mum she died in child birth. He was rear gunner so he could not be squadron leader.Only 2 rear gunners recieved this medal obviously not the DFC!! and he servived the war. The old boys comic the victor ran a cover story on the other gunner and it was my mum who told me that the other was her brother. Me thinks i definately need more info. Thanks for your time and efforts though.

Hi Bomber

Good luck with your search, please get back to us if the need arises.

Regards
Peter

19-03-2008, 09:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
bomber Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 3	rear gunner Hi all, Being new to this i wondered if any body could give me some guidance. I am trying to trace my uncle Tom Page who served as Rear gunner in the RAF. He was one of only 2 rear gunners awarded the DFC or similar( I THINK) unusual as the medal was only given to pilots. As there were only 2 i thought it could be straight forward mmmm. At this point i do not have any further info but thought the medal and its importance would be enough.

19-03-2008, 09:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
Peter Clare Very Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Windsor UK Posts: 4,963	Hi bomber Welcome to the forum. A little more info would help, such as full name and service number. Did your uncle survive the war? __________________ On weald of Kent I watched once more Again I heard that grumbling roar Of fighter planes; yet none were near And all around the sky was clear Borne on the wind a whisper came 'Though men grow old, they stay the same' And then I knew, unseen to eye The ageless Few were sweeping by

20-03-2008, 08:46 AM	#5 (permalink)
Owen Top Moose Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Under the stairs Posts: 8,595	Just done a search on London Gazette for "65992 page" Results show in 1941 he was granted Commision for duration of hostilities to Pilot Officer. see 1st May 1941. 741246 Wilfred Thomas Page (65992 ) see rest of results here. Search Results& He gets a mention in despatches but no medal. May not be right man. Last edited by Owen; 20-03-2008 at 08:49 AM.

20-03-2008, 10:36 AM	#6 (permalink)
Gotthard Heinrici Ostfront is where its at! Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 3,468	Hello Bomber and welcome. Hope to see you around the boards! __________________ *"The Eastern front is like a house of cards. If the front is broken through at one point all the rest will collapse."* - General Heinz Guderian "With amazement and disappointment, we discovered in late October and early November that the beaten Russians seemed quite unaware that as a military force they had almost ceased to exist." - General Blumentritt "In all my years as a soldier, I have never seen me fight so hard." Lieutenant General Wilhelm Bittrich - Commander of II SS Panzer Korps - (Commenting on the British Paratroopers at Arnhem) - September 1944 "Had Clark given more heed to Juin's views...the savage battles of Cassino would probably never have been fought and the venerable house of St Benedict would have been unscathed" Rudolf Böhmler - 1st Fallschirmjäger Division - 1944 (After the bombing of Monte Cassino)

20-03-2008, 11:01 AM	#7 (permalink)
Peter Clare Very Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Windsor UK Posts: 4,963	Name:PAGE, WILFRED THOMAS Initials:W T Nationality: United KingdomRank: Squadron Leader Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Unit Text:126 Sqdn.Age: 29 Date of Death:16/11/1943 Service No:65992 Additional information: Son of William Richardson Page and Esther Olive Page; husband of Emma Edith Page, of Epsom, Surrey.Casualty Type:Commonwealth War DeadGrave/Memorial Reference:Panel 6, Column 1.Memorial:MALTA MEMORIAL __________________ On weald of Kent I watched once more Again I heard that grumbling roar Of fighter planes; yet none were near And all around the sky was clear Borne on the wind a whisper came 'Though men grow old, they stay the same' And then I knew, unseen to eye The ageless Few were sweeping by

20-03-2008, 01:12 AM	#3 (permalink)
Owen Top Moose Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Under the stairs Posts: 8,595	Welcome to the Forum, Bomber. Didn't the DFC only go to Officers & Warrent Officers? Would a rear-gunner be a WO?

20-03-2008, 05:02 AM	#4 (permalink)
WotNoChad? Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 137	Was he 65992 Sgt Wilfred Thomas Page? Only Page I know of to get the DFC is Squadron Leader Vernon Douglas Page, DFC, of 601 Squadron

20-03-2008, 04:52 PM	#8 (permalink)
bomber Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 3	Thanks for all who have tried to find out infomation for me. It is not the chap mentioned though,My uncles name was Tom Page (Father Tom as well) he survived the war.He was a rear gunner, the medal may not be the DFC But whatever it was only 2 Rear gunners recived one during the war. For those of us who can remember the boys comic Victor covered a story of a rear gunner who won the medal, my uncle was the other. I desperatly need to get more info. Thank you all for your help

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