Hi Pat, around 2000, I researched a number of names on the Thorpe River Green war memorial, including Peter Anthony Waller who was a W/OP in a Lancaster that crashed 18/02/43 I live in Thorpe St. Andrew. My great uncle Cyril Leon Caston RAF Flt Eng Sgt (166 Sqdn KIA 23-24/09/44) appears on the same memorial.
Peter Waller's Service Number was: 1266776 and he was aged 20, the son of George and Elsie Waller, of Thorpe, Norfolk.
His last mission was in Lancaster I W4375 of 57 Sqdn coded DX-X on an operation to Wilhelmshaven on 19/02/43.
The aircraft W4375 was delivered to No.467 Sqdn 02/11/42, transferring to 57 Sqdn 14/11/42. W4375 took part in the following Key Operations: With 467 Sqdn, no operations recorded. With 57 Sqdn as DX-X, Stuttgart 22-23/11/42; Turin 28-29/11/42; Minelaying / gardening, Elderberry 07-08/12/42; Turin 9-10/12/42; Munich 21-22/11/42; Minelaying / gardening, Deodar 31/12/42-01/01/43; Hamburg 30-31/01/43; Lorient 13-14/02/43; Wilhelmshaven 18-19/02/43- Lost. When lost, this aircraft had a total of 154 hours.
The records state airborne 18.29 18/02/43 from Scampton. Lost without trace. All are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. W/O Bunt was an ex-Halton apprentice whose Service Number indicates that he commenced his training circa 1924 and he was aged 34.
F/S D.P.Langley KIA PLT
Sgt J.R.Pyper KIA NAV
Sgt W.McCarron KIA BA
W/O E.T.Bunt KIA ENG
Sgt P.A.Waller KIA WO
Sgt F.C.Smith KIA AG
Sgt S.F.Watt KIA AG
I understand that Peter Waller & Cyril Caston knew each other having a common boyhood interest in flying and modelling aircraft. The record curator at 57 Sqd at the time, gave me the mission details, ORB entries that were completed by Peter Waller and the serial numbers of aircraft he flew in, however, he told me detail was recorded in the records whilst the squadron was at Scampton.
Do you have any more information on Peter Waller or a photograph?
Do you have any information on Cyril Leon Caston, a Flight Engineer with 166 Sqdn from Kirmington, before being KIA on a raid to Neuss on 23-24/09/44 in Lancaster LM722? I have Cyril's photo, service record, crew he regularly flew with, mission records, RAF notification he was missing to his father, ORB and photos of 2 Lancasters he flew in (which both completed over 100 ops). I haven't got a photo of LM722, as it is understood it was a new Lancaster with only 46 hours flight time registered on it's first mission. The theory is LM722 collided with another Lancaster from 166 Sqdn missing the same time and place or a Lancaster from 101 Sqdn. All 3 aircraft were in the same location, missing but wreckage was not found.
