Guy Gibson VC & RAF Coningsby photo 106 squadron

Discussion in 'The War In The Air' started by Emanuel1940, Jan 7, 2013.

  1. Emanuel1940

    Emanuel1940 Member

    Can anyone name the men in this photo from the IWM collection ROYAL AIR FORCE BOMBER COMMAND, 1942-1945 | Imperial War Museums of Guy Gibson VC & 106 Squadron men on their return from the Thousand Bomber Raid? I'm particularly interested in the man smoking the pipe behind Gibson.

    I have a name but I may be way off the mark. I have 2 photos of W/O R F H Young, see attached & the man smoking the pipe looks a lot like him.

    Rodney Young was killed in 1942. See CWGC entry CWGC - Casualty Details and his obit in the Emanuel School Magazine, see attached.

    Many thanks.
     

    Attached Files:

  2. AlanW

    AlanW Senior Member

    Might be wrong but, i think they are not the same person. In his photo, he has a much "squarer" chin than the person behind Gibson, and also, the person behind Gibson has much deeper features when smiling, but.......
     
  3. Harry Ree

    Harry Ree Very Senior Member

    The tall chap with the moustache,middle right is Squadron Leader John "Dim"Wooldridge,one of Gibson's Flight Commanders."Dim" was a Sergeant Pilot in 1938 and in 1940 on No 61 Squadron at Hemswell and known for his charisma and qualities of leadership.

    He once pinched Gibson's aircraft for an op when 106 were at Syerston by declaring the aircraft u/s.Gibson records seeing him returning to base after the raid and was surprised to see his personal steed being flown by his Flight Commander...not recorded if Gibson made anything of the issue.

    When Gibson left No 106 Squadron to form No 617 Squadron at Scampton,"Dim" was promoted to Wing Commander and left to take charge of No 105 Squadron flying Mosquitos at Marham. At 105,Dim worked up expertise in low level precision daylight bombing.I think he was then seconded to a staff appointment and left the RAF after the war and undertaking 97 ops.

    It appears he was quite creative with music for the cinema screen and wrote the screenplay and score for the film Appointment in London,an account of a Lancaster squadron operating in 1943.The film made in 1953 at Upwood and had the advantage that there were adequate numbers of Lancasters available for filming.

    Tragically,Dim was killed in a road accident in 1958 at the early age of 39.I think his son was William Wooldridge who featured as a BBC presenter.

    Also said to be in the photograph is Donald Pleasence,later to become a successful postwar actor who served as a W/O in the RAF.I have not been able to recognise him.

    Pleasence also served on No 166 Squadron and was lost on 31 August 1944 on a raid to Agenville but survived as a POW.
     
  4. graham woollard

    graham woollard Junior Member

    Can anyone name the men in this photo from the IWM collection ROYAL AIR FORCE BOMBER COMMAND, 1942-1945 | Imperial War Museums of Guy Gibson VC & 106 Squadron men on their return from the Thousand Bomber Raid? I'm particularly interested in the man smoking the pipe behind Gibson.

    I have a name but I may be way off the mark. I have 2 photos of W/O R F H Young, see attached & the man smoking the pipe looks a lot like him.

    Rodney Young was killed in 1942. See CWGC entry CWGC - Casualty Details and his obit in the Emanuel School Magazine, see attached.

    Many thanks.
    If it is a photo of 3 or 4 officers stood around the dogs kennel with guy Gibson, the one with a pipe in his hand may have been my late father. Please send me the photo so that i can confirm it. graham@woollard.co.uk
     
  5. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

Share This Page