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General => Armed Forces => World War Two => Topic started by: Pyrian2 on Saturday 10 July 10 11:31 BST (UK)
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Hi
I've just started researching my family history and have found that I know next to nothing about my Grandfather, GEOFFREY DOUGLAS PRIESTLEY who was killed 12/13 May 1943, I think in a Lancaster bomber returning from a raid over Duisburg. I have accessed the military records of his death which says he was in 1660 CU, but the Cambridge roll of honour says he was in 50 Squadron.
He is buried at Amersfoort General cemetery.
Any one have any information that could help me start filling in the many blanks? I am particularly interested in knowing who he served with and in what capacity!
I have also attached a couple of photos, don't know the dates.
Many thanks
Paul
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I can find no one of that name in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Register.
http://www.cwgc.org/debt_of_honour.asp?menuid=14
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Hi Pyrian2,
and welcome to Rootschat.
David Layne is your man on 50 Squadron.
Glad you have seen this David, I was about to PM you.
[Priestley is on the CWGC database - I have just been looking at his entry]
Paul, you might like to view one of David's threads, which was joined by chasmac, the cousin of P/O Ivatt, a crewmate of your Grandfather.
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,306538.30.html
Cheers
Dave
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Many thanks. I feel silly I didn't see that before!
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Paul,
S'all right. No prob.
Have you considered obtaining your Grandfather's service record?
Go to http://www.veterans-uk.info/service_records/service_records.html and follow the links.
It will cost you £30 (ask for a photocopy of the actual document) and it will answer your questions as to where and when he served.
I have had another look at the photo. He is wearing a Sidcot Suit and a Type B flying helmet. Both these items of kit suggest an earlier period in the war to mid 1943. The goggles seem to be non standard.
Cheers
Dave
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Many thanks - I'll do that!
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Hi Pyrian
Have you seen this:
http://www.lostbombers.co.uk/bomber.php?id=9229
F/O G.D. Priestley was flying as second Navigator.
The other crewmembers are also mentionned.
Here is the history of the 50 squadron:
http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/h50.html
Regards
Svenja
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Many thanks - I hadn't seen that!
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If you pm a member called Kyt I am sure he will be able to find it in Chorleys Bomber Command Losses. It includes a volume for 1943 and then another one for HCU/OTUs. I am sure they will find it in there somewhere.
Dee
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Hi DeeBoneham
Still very new to all this. What does pm mean and what is HCU/OTUs?
Thanks
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Hi DeeBoneham
Still very new to all this. What does pm mean and what is HCU/OTUs?
Thanks
PM Personal Message. HCU - Heavy Conversion Unit. OTU's - Operational Training Unit I think?
If you find a posting from Kyt and click on his name you will see a line that says send this person a personal message. Click on that and send your message.
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Thanks for answering that Certacito as I dont get on here as often as I would like and your answers were just right. I havent got the Chorley books yet but that is my next thing to get the whole set (theres nine in the set! which is not going to be cheap.
Welcome to a very absorbing and additive subject!
Dee
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His body was recovered by a Dutch fisherman on 27 May 1943 and taken to the harbour of a fishing village named Elburg. Wrote an article about it in 1995. Jan
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Hi Jan,
Thanks for that info - where could I find a copy of your article?
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Look at my first message and dial the number. There is no other way to put you in the know.
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Hou had better phone me first.
Be advised that personal phone numbers are not allowed on RootsChat posts.
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This was published in a magazine and not online.
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I don't get on here as often as I would like...
I haven't got the Chorley books yet but that is my next thing to get the whole set
( there's nine in the set! which is not going to be cheap )
Dee
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Hi Dee,
I've just stumbled upon your post - very late in the day, as it were, so to speak.
You mentioned the 'Chorely' books (series) & that "They're NOT going to be cheap"
Well, majoritively speaking, if ya use quite some patience, they should be
I acquired the full set at laughably cheap prices, although it takes patience & took me 2 years
Well worth it, in my opinion, for, generally as a rule, I never gave more than a tenner per copy
I must say, many were as low as £2.99 each, post free, including the rare '1943' copy
The '1943' copy WILL be the hardest to get hold of, but it's do-able, not impossible (I bought two)
Next hardest was the '1941' copy - Again, I managed to snag two of them, one cheap, one not
After that, the '1944' copy would be 3rd hardest to obtain, but like them all, they DO crop up.
We have two houses, hence I keep a copy at both, as it's such a crucial reference source.
Three of those 'difficult' copies, I managed to obtain for £4.50 or less, circa 2019-2022
As I've said, it just means having a TON of patience & keen eyesight.
There are several LARGE booksellers on E-Bay who, shall we say, ARE often a tad clumsy
My '1943' (tattier copy) was just £2.99 - a mistake by the large massive bookseller / vendor
When checking, make sure you 'Zoom-In' on the E-Bay listing photograph
Mine was listed as a 1945 copy, but was actually a rare '1943' copy, for just £2.99 to my door
Perseverance is key here - Perseverance & mucho patience = Good luck Dee
N.B = Try hard NOT to go beyond a 'tenner' (£10.00) per copy for the 1941-1944 issues
The 1939-1940 (1st issue) & the 1945 issues are by far THE cheapest & easily available
Try to obtain them from 'World of Books', or 'Awesome / C.Media / Baham' books via E-Bay U.K
'World of Books' is always your best bet, as their listings are VAST & they do make mistakes**
** By that, I mean you're more liable to stumble across a 1941/1943 copy 'by mistake', as I did