I recently picked up a fantastic "short snorter" and have been busy trying to identify all who signed it. I am posting here for some help with a man who signed as a member of the RAAF. I can tell you that the American pilot who collected these signatures flew almost exclusively top military brass and staff, government officials, and US and foreign diplomats. Flights were from the US to Britain, sometimes via Newfoundland. The signature likely dates from late 1942 into 1943. This signature appears to be for a Dom Collie with the Royal Australian Air Force. He would have to have been of senior rank or importance to have been on one of the flights and/or to be asked to sign the "snorter." I am aware Collie is a somewhat common name in Australia. However, the WW2 Nominal Roll (all Aussies who served except with foreign countries) does not show any man named Dom or variant thereof. There is a listing for an Ian C. Collie, a squadron leader in the PTO, but I do not believe this is his signature. Do we have any Australian members or researchers of the RAAF in WWII who might have a source for identifying this man? I have about exhausted all that is on the Net. Thanks.
you could use the search machine on this forum!, then you would have run into Spidge, who knows the lot about the RAAF
Hi Dusty, I am possibly looking at all the data you are however I do not see "Dom" in the attached photo. Stuart Henry Collie was also a Squadron Leader (Flying Officer at the time) in the PTO and was on Intelligence Duties 28th April 1942, with 75sq at Milne Bay. Milne Bay is where the Japanese suffered their first defeat in World War Two at the hands of the Australian air force. In later years, Squadron Leader Stuart Collie received his degreee at law and was (Master Collie of the Supreme Court) of Victoria. With reference to the name Collie, it is not a hugely popular name however the numerous hits on the National Archives is because "Collie" is a town in Western Australia. Hopefully Dave Barlow (RAAF) might be able to give you a further clue to who it may be.
What do you make out the name to be? I see a "D" followed by a lower-case "o" and then possibly and "m" or "n." Is there agreement that the last name is Collie? Since the pilot who collected the signature flew exclusively in the ETO and possibly the MTO, I would have to wonder if he would have encountered a PTO squadron leader. ---Mike
What do you make out the name to be? I see a "D" followed by a lower-case "o" and then possibly and "m" or "n." Is there agreement that the last name is Collie? Since the pilot who collected the signature flew exclusively in the ETO and possibly the MTO, I would have to wonder if he would have encountered a PTO squadron leader. ---Mike Hi Dusty, Theoretically, Collie being his name, he would be listed on the nominal roll. There are two "Collie" of rank listed there however we do not know the movements of these two as their files are not digitised. They may have moved out of the PTO however it would seem strange. As I said, Dave Barlow might be able to assist further when he gets back on line. Sorry I am unable to add anything further. Cheers Geoff
Hi all, Below you will find a list I have compliled of 501 pilots in service before and during the battle of britain. I am currently building a roll of honour for our squadron museum and would appreciate any help you could give in providing service histories / details for the aircrew listed below. In addition any other photos or articles that you feel would be of interest would be warmly accepted. Smokin 501 (County of Gloucester) Squadron RAuxAF 85645 Pilot Officer H C Adams British KIA* 06/09/1940 91039 Pilot Officer K R Aldridge British 72514 Flying Officer N J M Barry South African KIA* 07/10/1940 90895 Pilot Officer J W Bland British KIA* 18/08/1940 72984 Pilot Officer Anthony J. Claydon KIA 05/06/1940 33184 Flying Officer P A N Cox British KIA* 27/07/1940 125730 Sergeant D B Crabtree British KIA 81674 Flying Officer R C Dafforn British KIA 09/09/1943 742124 Sergeant F J P Dixon British KIA* 11/07/1940 81348 Pilot Officer R S Don British KIA 22/01/1945 43368 Pilot Officer Byron L Duckenfield British 742787 Sergeant E J Egan British KIA* 17/09/1940 63073 Sergeant V H Ekins British 88437 Sergeant Paul Caswell Powe Farnes DFM British 745110 Sergeant S A Fenemore British KIA* 15/10/1940 754361 Sergeant R J M Gent British KIA 02/01/1941 40969 Flt Lieutenant J A A Gibson DFC,DSO New Zealander 01/07/2000 P1527 Sergeant Antoni Glowacki Polish 81945 Pilot Officer Vilem Goth Czechoslovakian KIA* 25/10/1940 135002 Sergeant William J Green British 580202 Sergeant H C Grove British KIA* 08/11/1940 83988 Pilot Officer E M Gunter British KIA* 27/09/1940 76316 Pilot Officer Peter R Hairs MBE British 42707 Pilot Officer F C Harrold British KIA* 28/09/1940 137301 Sergeant W B Henn British 76579 Pilot Officer Duncan Alexander Hewitt Canadian MIA* 12/07/1940 26181 Squadron Leader Henry Algernon Vickers "Harry" Hogan DFC 6.5 British 37970 Flight Lieutenant Eustace J "Gus" Holden DFC 7 British 05204 Squadron Leader A L Holland British 101040 Sergeant W B Holroyd British 745437 Sergeant O V Houghton British KIA* 06/09/1940 741519 Sergeant E F Howarth British KIA 05/09/1941 176565 Sergeant D J Hulbert British 40539 Pilot Officer Richard G. Hulse KIA 08/06/1940 56779 Sergeant G W J Jarrett (R W E?) British KIA 40119 Flying Officer D A E Jones British Sergeant Konrad Polish 76729 Pilot Officer Franciszek Kozlowski Polish KIA 13/03/1943 60321 Sergeant James H "Ginger" Lacey DFM(Bar), Croix de Guerre 1939-1945 28 British 30/05/1989 745649 Sergeant G G S Laws British KIA 28/03/1941 72998 Pilot Officer Kenneth N T "Hawkeye" Lee DFC 7 British 15/01/2008 Midshipman (Fleet Air Arm) P L Lennard British KIA 26/03/1942 919410 Sergeant R V H Lonsdale British 907964 Sergeant J E Loverseed British 76761 Flying Officer Kazimierz Lukaszewicz Polish MIA* 12/08/1940 84017 Pilot Officer K W Mackenzie DFC, AFC 8 British 780491 Sergeant Mieczyslaw S Marcwkowski Polish MIA* 01/11/1940 Sergeant Michail British 47655 Flight Sergeant P F Morfill DFM 6.16 British P2208 Sergeant Konrad A Muchowski Polish ?/?/1988 34168 Squadron Leader A D Murray DFC British 740334 Sergeant P O'Bryne British Sergeant Parkes ??? British 79734 Pilot Officer E G Parkin British 23/07/2008 741219 Sergeant L J Patterson British KIA* 28/11/1940 742740 Sergeant G W Pearson British KIA* 06/09/1940 114471 Sergeant T G Pickering British 37519 Flight Lieutenant A R Putt British 90022 Pilot Officer Peter H. Rayner KIA 12/05/1940 81373 Pilot Officer E B Rogers British 39762 Pilot Officer A T Rose-Price British MIA* 02/09/1940 740971 Sergeant J E Saville British KIA 76710 Pilot Officer Stanislaw "Stanley" Skalski DSO, DFC(2 Bars), DFC(American), Croix de Guerre 1939-1945(Palm), Virtuti Militari twice(Golden and Silver Cross), Order of Polonia Restituta Knight's Cross(5th Class), Krzyż Walecznych(3 Bars), Air Medal(3 Bars), Armed Forces in Service to the Nation (Gold), Warsaw Medal, Victory & Freedom Medal, 1939-1945 Star (Battle of Britain Bar), Air Crew Europe Star (Atlantic Bar), Africa Star, France & Germany Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal, British War Medal 1939 – 1945, Croix de Combattant Volontaire 1939 – 1945, Médialle Commermorative de la Guerre 1939 – 1945, Wound Badge (w. Star), Order of the Grunwald Cross 3rd Class, September Campaign Cross, War Medal 1939, Armed Forces in the West Coast, Warsaw Uprising Cross, Home Army Cross, Gold Medal for Merit to National Defence, Commander of the Order of Polonia Restituta 22 Polish 12/11/2004 90026 Pilot Officer Michael F C Smith KIA 12/05/1940 41485 Pilot Officer Vivian Robert Snell British 28119 Flight Lieutenant George E B Stoney Canadian KIA* 18/08/1940 Squadron Leader Storray British 90556 Pilot Officer E J H Sylvester British MIA* 20/07/1940 83699 Pilot Officer A E A Van-Den Hove d'Ertsenrijck Belgian KIA* 11/09/1940 Pilot Officer Vlad ????? Czechoslovakian 88438 Sergeant S A H Whitehouse British 49914 Sergeant W A Wilkinson British 76730 Flying Officer Stefan Witorzenc 5 Polish 31/12/1994 76714 Pilot Officer Pawel Zenker Polish MIA* 24/08/1940
Hi all - I'm guessing the post above this one should have it's own thread... Anyhoo, I'm back from my travels (more info to follow on that elsewhere) and I have been having a look at this thread. I'm happy to say that I can offer sweet FA to further the investigation. I have tried every combination of surname that I can see on the signature with no result. The way I'm looking at it, the surname ends in "allie" but that makes less sense than "ollie". The surname of Collie seems most likely, but which particular officer isn't readily apparent. Collie isn't a common surname - Collier is but I can't see any trace of an "R" at the end of the signature so that theory doesn't lead anywhere either. Hopefully some sort of handwriting expert might shed some light on it, but for now I can't be of much help, sorry
Hi all - I'm guessing the post above this one should have it's own thread... Anyhoo, I'm back from my travels (more info to follow on that elsewhere) and I have been having a look at this thread. I'm happy to say that I can offer sweet FA to further the investigation. I have tried every combination of surname that I can see on the signature with no result. The way I'm looking at it, the surname ends in "allie" but that makes less sense than "ollie". The surname of Collie seems most likely, but which particular officer isn't readily apparent. Collie isn't a common surname - Collier is but I can't see any trace of an "R" at the end of the signature so that theory doesn't lead anywhere either. Hopefully some sort of handwriting expert might shed some light on it, but for now I can't be of much help, sorry Hi Dave, Welcome back. I tried everything I knew however is there a possibility he could have been attached to the RAAF in some manner? Cheers Geoff
"however is there a possibility he could have been attached to the RAAF" I did have a random thought on that, if he was important enough to have been getting shuttled across the Atlantic by aircraft it is possible he was a member of some sort of technical or procurement party working for the RAAF in the US / UK.
