For those who are interested in 50 and 61 Squadrons R.A.F. please note the following forum. squadronforum.freeforums.org • View forum - No 50 and No 61 Squadrons Association Forum
Hi David, Fantastic bit of posting, i normally check the site every morning, just in case of spammers, but very busy today. Nice photo's........ Alan.
Hi David, Fantastic bit of posting, i normally check the site every morning, just in case of spammers, but very busy today. Nice photo's........ Alan. Alan, if you come across anything on any of the following guys i would appreciate a heads up. Name: GLASSBROOK, GERALD Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Sergeant (Air Gnr.) Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Unit Text: 61 Sqdn. Date of Death: 03/06/1942 Service No: 649748 Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: 9. E. 18. Cemetery: REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY Lancaster R5562 Information Type Lancaster Serial Number R5562 Squadron 61 X1D QR-? Operation Essen Date 1 2nd June 1942 Date 2 3rd June 1942 Further Information 2/3Jun42-Lost. When lost this aircraft had a total of 64 hours. R5562 was one of two No.61 Squadron Lancasters lost on this operation. See: R5613. Airborne 0005 2Jun42 from Syerston. Cause of loss not established Crashed at Rees 19 km NW of Wesel. Those who died were first buried in the Norfriedhof (North Cemetery) at Dusseldorf. They have been subsequently re- interred in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. P/O E.R. Seibold RCAF KIA F/S A.W.Armstrong RCAF KIA Sgt W.C.Howell RCAF PoW F/S J.L.Tarran KIA Sgt W.Simons KIA Sgt G.Glassbrook KIA Sgt F.J.L.Hanson KIA Sgt W.C.Howell was interned un Camp L3, PoW No.420. " Widnes Weekly News Gerald Glassbrook, aged 18 (In 1940), son of Mrs Jane Glassbrook, living at 79 Travis Street and the late Mr James Glassbrook, Joined RAF in 1939, serving with the BEF. Educated at St Maries, employed at Messrs. J.W. Towers & Co Ltd. Attended St Maries R.C Church. Name: WORTH, MAURICE LEONARD Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Sergeant (Flt. Engr.) Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Unit Text: 61 Sqdn. Age: 20 Date of Death: 25/02/1944 Service No: 1623406 Additional information: Son of Leonard and Daisy Worth, of Widnes, Lancashire. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: 1. G. 3. Cemetery: CHOLOY WAR CEMETERY Lancaster LL775 Information Type Lancaster Serial Number LL775 Squadron 61 X1D QR-O Operation Augsberg Date 1 25th February 1944 Date 2 26th February 1944 Further Information "Serial range LL617 - LM296 This aircraft was one of 450 Lancasters ordered from Armstrong whitworth Aircraft Apr42 and delivered as 100 Mk.11 with Hercules XV1 engines and 350 Mk.1 with Merlin 24 engines initially installed. LL775 was a B.1 and was delivered to 61 Squadron Jan44. LL775 was one of two 61 Squadron Lancasters lost on this operation. See DV294. LL775 took part in the key operation against Leipzig 19/20Feb44. When lost this aircraft had a total of 72 hours. Airborne 1817 25Feb44 from coningsby. Crashed at Lagarde in the Parc Regional de Lorraine (Moselle), some 14 km s of Dieuze, France. Those killed are buried in Choloy War Cemetery. F/L Einarson gained his DFM 20Apr43 while flying with 44 Squadron. The award for F/S Rankin was Gazetted 17Aug43. F/L J.W.Einarson DFC DFM RCAF KIA Sgt M.L.Worth KIA P/O A.J.Collins RAAF KIA W/O P.R.Greatrex RAAF Evd F/S R.T.Gill RAAF KIA F/S P.L.Jones KIA F/S H.Rankin DFM KIA Name: HARDING, WALTER CECIL Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Sergeant (Obs.) Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Unit Text: 50 Sqdn. Age: 22 Date of Death: 27/06/1940 Service No: 580426 Additional information: Son of Reginald and Alice Harding, of Widnes, Lancashire. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: 4. A. 13. Cemetery: HANOVER WAR CEMETERY Hampden L4078 Information Type Hampden Serial Number L4078 Squadron 50 X1D VN-? Operation Hannover Date 1 26th June 1940 Date 2 27th June 1940 Further Information Airborne 2217 26Jun40 from Waddington to attack the aerodrome at Langen Hagen. All are buried in Hannover War Cemetery. P/O A.S.Luxmoore KIA Sgt W.C.Harding KIA Sgt G.Nichols KIA Sgt A.H.Smith KIA Widnes Weekly News – Friday 5th July 1940 - RAF Hero Missing Official intimation has been received by Mr and Mrs Harding of Fairmonte, Fairfield Road, Widnes that their son, Sergeant Observer Walter “Cecil” Harding is reported missing. The telegram giving the news was followed by a sympathetic letter from the commanding officer. Hopes are entertained that he may be safe in one or other of the coubtries now under control of the enemy. Sergeant Harding has made a name for himself in the flying operations and has taken part in quite a number of effectice raids. He was in the very first raid over Kiel and Heligoland right immediately after war was declared in September, he took part in the leaflet raids, was in the Sylt raid in the latter part of March when acting pilot in a Hampden bomber, his big disappointment was that he could not see the flash of the explosions as the bombs were released because that had to climb quickly into the clouds and a month ago he flew over Bergen with a formation that did damage to enemy shipping in that port. Educated at the Widnes Central School, Sergeant Observer Harding decided to enter the Royal Air Force as a career in life. A year before the outbreak of war and two days after he attained his 21st Birthday he was accepted for the RAF. So successful was he in his studies that in eighteen months he qualified as an observer and was promoted seargeant. It is a coincidence that in the day that he was officially reported missing, his elder brother Hubert Harding, responded to the call ro servce his country, and his younger brother Donald Harding will register shortly. Widnes Weekly News – Friday 23rd August 1940 – Widnes RAF Sergeant Crashes Word was received on Friday by Mr and Mrs Reginald Harding of Fairmonte, Fairfield Road, Widnes, from the International red Cross at Geneva that their son, Sergeant Observer Walter Cecil Harding of the Royal Air Force who had been reported missing from June, had been killed in action while flying over enemy territory. One of the Chaplins of the RAF who had made enquires regarding Sgt Harding wrote in the following terms. “Their can I think be no doubt at all about what happened. His machine was seen to crash in flames over the target somewhere in Germany. Earlier he had been with the C.O. but a change had been made and I Believe he was with an officer who was an exceedlingly charming man and a good pilot officer. Two machines crashed,. The one piloted by the C.O. fell, I believe over Dutch Territory, and slight hopes were entertained, but the one with Sgt Harding was apparently a complete loss. I am afraid there is no point in encouraging hope. “May I say that I knew Sergeant Harding. He was a good man and a first-class navigator and was probably on the eve of further advance. He was a popular man in the mess with his fellows, who feel his loss.” Sergeant Observer Harding was educated at the Widnes Central School and decided upon the Royal Air Force as a career. He entered the flying service a year befpre the outbreak of war and two days before he attained his twenty first birthday. In eighteen months he was so outstanding in his training that he had qualified as an observer and was promoted sergeant. His elder brother, Hubert Harding is now in service, and a younger brother, Donald Harding has this week been medically examined and accepted as an armourer with the RAF. Sergeant Harding is a member of a family connected with the Wesley Methodist Church, Widnes and with his brother Hubert and also Donald was associated with the scout movement at Farnworth. Sergeant Observer Harding was in the very first of the RAF Raids over Kiel and Heligoland right immediagtly after was was declared in September, he took part in the leaflet raids, was in the Sylt raid in the latter part of March when acting pilot in a Hampden bomber, his big disappointment was that he could not see the flash of the explosions as the bombs were released because that had to climb quickly into the clouds and a month ago he flew over Bergen with a formation that did damage to enemy shipping in that port. .JPG]
If it's details on their ops you're after, it'll be no problem apart from Harding, i only have the ORB from Jan 41 through to July 46. If you would like scans of all relevant pages, pm your email address to me. Regards.....Alan.
My father Reginald Brazzier served in 61 Squadron during World War II and I would like to advise anybody that knew him that unfortunately after a long illness he passed away on Wednesday 25th April.
Hello Pat and a very warm welcome. My condolences to you and your family on the loss of your father. Lesley
Alan, if you come across anything on any of the following guys i would appreciate a heads up. Name: GLASSBROOK, GERALD Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Sergeant (Air Gnr.) Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Unit Text: 61 Sqdn. Date of Death: 03/06/1942 Service No: 649748 Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: 9. E. 18. Cemetery: REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY Lancaster R5562 Information Type Lancaster Serial Number R5562 Squadron 61 X1D QR-? Operation Essen Date 1 2nd June 1942 Date 2 3rd June 1942 Further Information 2/3Jun42-Lost. When lost this aircraft had a total of 64 hours. R5562 was one of two No.61 Squadron Lancasters lost on this operation. See: R5613. Airborne 0005 2Jun42 from Syerston. Cause of loss not established Crashed at Rees 19 km NW of Wesel. Those who died were first buried in the Norfriedhof (North Cemetery) at Dusseldorf. They have been subsequently re- interred in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. P/O E.R. Seibold RCAF KIA F/S A.W.Armstrong RCAF KIA Sgt W.C.Howell RCAF PoW F/S J.L.Tarran KIA Sgt W.Simons KIA Sgt G.Glassbrook KIA Sgt F.J.L.Hanson KIA Sgt W.C.Howell was interned un Camp L3, PoW No.420. " Widnes Weekly News Gerald Glassbrook, aged 18 (In 1940), son of Mrs Jane Glassbrook, living at 79 Travis Street and the late Mr James Glassbrook, Joined RAF in 1939, serving with the BEF. Educated at St Maries, employed at Messrs. J.W. Towers & Co Ltd. Attended St Maries R.C Church. View attachment 51948 View attachment 51949 Name: WORTH, MAURICE LEONARD Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Sergeant (Flt. Engr.) Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Unit Text: 61 Sqdn. Age: 20 Date of Death: 25/02/1944 Service No: 1623406 Additional information: Son of Leonard and Daisy Worth, of Widnes, Lancashire. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: 1. G. 3. Cemetery: CHOLOY WAR CEMETERY Lancaster LL775 Information Type Lancaster Serial Number LL775 Squadron 61 X1D QR-O Operation Augsberg Date 1 25th February 1944 Date 2 26th February 1944 Further Information "Serial range LL617 - LM296 This aircraft was one of 450 Lancasters ordered from Armstrong whitworth Aircraft Apr42 and delivered as 100 Mk.11 with Hercules XV1 engines and 350 Mk.1 with Merlin 24 engines initially installed. LL775 was a B.1 and was delivered to 61 Squadron Jan44. LL775 was one of two 61 Squadron Lancasters lost on this operation. See DV294. LL775 took part in the key operation against Leipzig 19/20Feb44. When lost this aircraft had a total of 72 hours. Airborne 1817 25Feb44 from coningsby. Crashed at Lagarde in the Parc Regional de Lorraine (Moselle), some 14 km s of Dieuze, France. Those killed are buried in Choloy War Cemetery. F/L Einarson gained his DFM 20Apr43 while flying with 44 Squadron. The award for F/S Rankin was Gazetted 17Aug43. F/L J.W.Einarson DFC DFM RCAF KIA Sgt M.L.Worth KIA P/O A.J.Collins RAAF KIA W/O P.R.Greatrex RAAF Evd F/S R.T.Gill RAAF KIA F/S P.L.Jones KIA F/S H.Rankin DFM KIA Name: HARDING, WALTER CECIL Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Sergeant (Obs.) Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Unit Text: 50 Sqdn. Age: 22 Date of Death: 27/06/1940 Service No: 580426 Additional information: Son of Reginald and Alice Harding, of Widnes, Lancashire. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: 4. A. 13. Cemetery: HANOVER WAR CEMETERY Hampden L4078 Information Type Hampden Serial Number L4078 Squadron 50 X1D VN-? Operation Hannover Date 1 26th June 1940 Date 2 27th June 1940 Further Information Airborne 2217 26Jun40 from Waddington to attack the aerodrome at Langen Hagen. All are buried in Hannover War Cemetery. P/O A.S.Luxmoore KIA Sgt W.C.Harding KIA Sgt G.Nichols KIA Sgt A.H.Smith KIA Widnes Weekly News – Friday 5th July 1940 - RAF Hero Missing Official intimation has been received by Mr and Mrs Harding of Fairmonte, Fairfield Road, Widnes that their son, Sergeant Observer Walter “Cecil” Harding is reported missing. The telegram giving the news was followed by a sympathetic letter from the commanding officer. Hopes are entertained that he may be safe in one or other of the coubtries now under control of the enemy. Sergeant Harding has made a name for himself in the flying operations and has taken part in quite a number of effectice raids. He was in the very first raid over Kiel and Heligoland right immediately after war was declared in September, he took part in the leaflet raids, was in the Sylt raid in the latter part of March when acting pilot in a Hampden bomber, his big disappointment was that he could not see the flash of the explosions as the bombs were released because that had to climb quickly into the clouds and a month ago he flew over Bergen with a formation that did damage to enemy shipping in that port. Educated at the Widnes Central School, Sergeant Observer Harding decided to enter the Royal Air Force as a career in life. A year before the outbreak of war and two days after he attained his 21st Birthday he was accepted for the RAF. So successful was he in his studies that in eighteen months he qualified as an observer and was promoted seargeant. It is a coincidence that in the day that he was officially reported missing, his elder brother Hubert Harding, responded to the call ro servce his country, and his younger brother Donald Harding will register shortly. Widnes Weekly News – Friday 23rd August 1940 – Widnes RAF Sergeant Crashes Word was received on Friday by Mr and Mrs Reginald Harding of Fairmonte, Fairfield Road, Widnes, from the International red Cross at Geneva that their son, Sergeant Observer Walter Cecil Harding of the Royal Air Force who had been reported missing from June, had been killed in action while flying over enemy territory. One of the Chaplins of the RAF who had made enquires regarding Sgt Harding wrote in the following terms. “Their can I think be no doubt at all about what happened. His machine was seen to crash in flames over the target somewhere in Germany. Earlier he had been with the C.O. but a change had been made and I Believe he was with an officer who was an exceedlingly charming man and a good pilot officer. Two machines crashed,. The one piloted by the C.O. fell, I believe over Dutch Territory, and slight hopes were entertained, but the one with Sgt Harding was apparently a complete loss. I am afraid there is no point in encouraging hope. “May I say that I knew Sergeant Harding. He was a good man and a first-class navigator and was probably on the eve of further advance. He was a popular man in the mess with his fellows, who feel his loss.” Sergeant Observer Harding was educated at the Widnes Central School and decided upon the Royal Air Force as a career. He entered the flying service a year befpre the outbreak of war and two days before he attained his twenty first birthday. In eighteen months he was so outstanding in his training that he had qualified as an observer and was promoted sergeant. His elder brother, Hubert Harding is now in service, and a younger brother, Donald Harding has this week been medically examined and accepted as an armourer with the RAF. Sergeant Harding is a member of a family connected with the Wesley Methodist Church, Widnes and with his brother Hubert and also Donald was associated with the scout movement at Farnworth. Sergeant Observer Harding was in the very first of the RAF Raids over Kiel and Heligoland right immediagtly after was was declared in September, he took part in the leaflet raids, was in the Sylt raid in the latter part of March when acting pilot in a Hampden bomber, his big disappointment was that he could not see the flash of the explosions as the bombs were released because that had to climb quickly into the clouds and a month ago he flew over Bergen with a formation that did damage to enemy shipping in that port. View attachment 51951 View attachment 51952 View attachment 51953 I cant comment on the two gentlemen that are mentioned here, however my uncle Barney Greatrex was on LL775 with Maurice on the night it was shot down. Barney was the only survivor. He is now 92 and living in St Ives in Sydney Australia
Hi, Appreciate this thread / conversation was a while ago now, and that I'm new to this, (apologies for getting anything wrong), but just wanted to sincerely thank all on here for helping me locate my great uncle,.. Sgt F.J.L.Hanson 1270444, and his crew from Lancaster R5562 of 61 Squadron. I hope to post some of the limited details of what I (and the remaining family) know about him in near future,.. in meantime if anyone has any details on him, the crew, Lancaster R5562, the ops, or just wants a natter, then I'm all ears, and eager to learn / help where possible.. Thank you, and best wishes, Phil Ball philip_ball26@hotmail.com
Hi Phil, Attached is a 2 page letter from the RCAF to the family of J5794 P/O Elwood Raymond Siebold, RCAF. It contains a statement of events from sole survivor, J40352 F/Lt William Chesin Howell, RCAF. Aircraft crashed at Bienen bei Rees, crew first buried at Dusseldorf North Cemetery, concentrated to Reichswald 5 October 1948. Regards, Dave
Hi Dave, Thank you so very much for sharing this,.. words are failing me at this moment,.. so for now, just simply thank you,.. Forever grateful, Phil
