Hi guys, have inherited a flying log book for a Flight Sgt Joseph Wheeler of No.83 Squadron who was killed in action on July 25, 1944. On his service record he has a number of places where he trained. Not a clue on most of them!! Is it possible that somebody could decipher the places please and where they were in the country?? Sorry to ask as it involves quite a bit of working out, but would love to know his whereabouts before he started his operational flights (from 3RC to 1660 C.U.). Thanks very much guys and thank you for reading. Mark
Hi guys, have inherited a flying log book for a Flight Sgt Joseph Wheeler of No.83 Squadron who was killed in action on July 25, 1944. On his service record he has a number of places where he trained. Not a clue on most of them!! Is it possible that somebody could decipher the places please and where they were in the country?? Sorry to ask as it involves quite a bit of working out, but would love to know his whereabouts before he started his operational flights (from 3RC to 1660 C.U.). Thanks very much guys and thank you for reading. Mark
From 83 Squadron History, July 1944 Briefings took place on the 24th, for what would be the first of a series of three raids in five nights on Stuttgart. Thirteen 83 Squadron Lancasters were made ready at Coningsby and Wyton, to join an overall force of 614 Lancasters and Halifaxes. They began taking off shortly after 22.00, with S/L Eggins the senior pilot on duty, but F/L McLean got as far as Hampshire, before engine trouble force him to turn back. The others reached the target to find nine to ten-tenths cloud cover with tops at around 7,000 feet, and it was necessary to employ Wanganui flares to mark the target. The 83 Squadron crews bombed from an average of 18,000 feet, between 01.38 and 01.52, and all but one returned fairly satisfied with the outcome in view of the conditions, although it was impossible to make an accurate assessment. ND922 failed to return home with the eight man crew captained by the squadron’s most experienced primary visual marker, F/L Banfield DFC RAAF, and there were no survivors. This was one of twenty- one missing aircraft, and crashed at 01.45, about thirty miles south of the target after bombing. Most again landed at Wyton, and were told to return to Coningsby on the following day, once it was clear that they would not be involved in that night’s return to Stuttgart. 83 Squadron Lancaster III ND922 OL-J Fl/Lt. Banfield DFC, RAF Coningsby, Uffz. Bernard Kratz, 3./NJG6South East Jungingen, Germany
Operations Record Books for 1660 CU http://lancasterbombersinfo.ipage.com/Data/ORBs/1660_CU/1.html Operations Record Books for 1661 CU http://lancasterbombersinfo.ipage.com/Data/ORBs/1661_CU/1.html Operations Loss Record for ND 922 RAF Loss Cards 21 - 25 July 1944 Night Raid Report 24/25 July 1944 http://lancasterbombersinfo.ipage.com/Data/NRR/1944/July-44/mobile/index.html
Thanks very much for this Temujin. This solves the listings at the bottom of his service record. Any idea what the "3RC" and the really strange one which appears to read "9 (O) AFS".
Hello, No. 3 Recruit Centre, Padgate No. 9 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit, Penrhos, Wales (formerly known as No. 9 Air Observers School until 1 May 1942) Regards, Dave
Can you check the mustering section to see when he stopped being u/t AG and qualified as AG Recruit Centre at Padgate - suggests he was from Midlands or north - see from CWGC his parents were from Nantwich so that tallies. Gunnery training at Elementary Air Gunners School at Bridlington - think he was awarded AG half wing on completion here but mustering will confirm. 1 Elementary Air Gunners School; based at Bridlington until May 1942, then Bridgnorth... | The National Archives TNA catalogue description of May 42 seems incorrect from the file dates 1943 Mar-1944 Mar and this F543. No.9 OAFU is just a holding posting until he could be coursed on No.14 OTU No.14 OTU Cottesmore 14 Operational Training Unit (OTU). Based at Cottesmore (UK) from September 1940 | The National Archives As an aside he would have flown at least one operational - leaflet style trip before passing out of OTU. He would have crewed up here with everyone but the Flight Engineer - they joined the formed crews at the Conversion Unit. Ross
