Do you Recognise this Bomber Crew?

[kyt]

Confirmation that it's the Birch crew:

http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1902

BTW I'm known as Amrit on rafcommands

K

[Flakdodger]

So: KYT=Amrit,
it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance again
Regards
Dave

[grandarog]

Hello All,
                   The latest update.   
       Thanks to input from members of Roots Chat , RAF Commands & Lancaster Archives Forums. (and a bit of my own digging arround) I am now well ahead with some of the  details .

                  I dont want to fall into the "assuming " trap again so please, please   pull me up if you spot any  errors.

         50 Sqn.RAF  in 1943  took part in the first shuttle-bombing raid (when the targets were a radar factory at Friedrichshafen and the Italian naval base at Spezia), and the epic raid on the German V-weapons experimental establishment at Peenemunde. Also many other targets of  importance.

 It now looks pretty certain my photo is of      Sqdn/Ldr. Peter Cliff Birch. DFC  and  Crew.
         He and    F/L Wood E.C.J.    F/O Gray C.W.   F/S Allan S.   (with 3other members who dont appear to match any of the names on the photo) flew on this opp.        
 
 
 16/17th April 1943    Skoda works raid-
               Lancaster   
               ED828 VN-S 
               50 Sqn  
 
Crew       S/L Birch P.C.
               Sgt Mooney W.***
               P/O Medani J.***
               F/S Allan S.
               F/L Wood E.C.J.
               F/O Gray C.W.
               Sgt Hartman J.M.***                                     
                                                       ( *** don't seem to be in My Photo)

I notice that Flight Sergeant S.Allan was awarded his DFM on the 20 April 1943.I wonder if it was related to this particular opp , or because he had completed the required number of opps to qualify!

 
     Hopefully some kind soul will have access to citation data for all the medals my people were awarded.

             According to Lost Bombers site , ED828 was lost on the Bochum Opp.of 12/13 June 1943 (with a totally different crew listed) together with ED 429 & ED472. also from 50 Sqn.

              It would be great now if someone has info to date and list the actual crew pictured in my photo.

        The rather crude Nose art donkey compared with the fine example on the pic shown from the book  and the fact that F/S Allan is not wearing a medal ribbon in my photo, supports my thoughts that it is a much earlier crew prior to April 1943. It couldnt be later than 12 June if the a/c is ED828 (we have no id marks !!).

       Here lies the Question ?    ED 828  was code letter "S" for Sammy . Would there have been another replacement a/c lettered "S" after ED 828 was destroyed on the 12/13 June.
       This could mean the Picture in the Book of Peter Birch in the cockpit of "S" Sammy. could have been much later in the War.
   
         We  dont appear to have names Medani, Hartland  or Mooney on Photo. They dont appear on the CWWG site as casualties so presume crew shuffling had taken place.

          Also we have Definite persons on Photo as Sid Andrews (2nd Left .My Godfather) and R Simpson and 2 undeciphered names, not listed as crew 
      I hope I am not rambling on to bore you ,but I dont want to miss any detail and welcome all your ideas.
                  Thank you all again for your generous support in giving time and effort to help me. Please stay with me /us  and hopefully the whole story will unfold eventually.
                                                        Looking forward to more  input .     
                                                              I  say,  Best Wishes to you All ,
                                                                  Appreciatively  Yours ,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Roger.
                                                                                                                                                     

[kyt]

Hi Roger,

I've found two of the names. Rather than repeating the info, it can be read on rafcommands:

http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1902

K

[grandarog]

Hi Kyt/Amrit,
                      Thankyou again for your inputs on here and other forums,I hate to think where we would get any info if it wasnt for people like yourselfand the others being willing to share data from there hard found sources. I never in my wildest dreams expected anything like the results I am getting when I put up the photo.I havre only ever been on the Family Tree type queries before this is my first excursion into connections to Wartime Military history.
                                                                Once Again ,Thankyou and all the others,    To coin a popular expression during my RAF service .You have given me "N" info( meaning amongst manyother things Maximum/ Loads/ Quantity/ Size.) Thats how it was said ,I have never written it before.
                                                       Regards Roger

[percy porter]

Some time ago I passed on this this initial post to a friend in Oz who knows more about this sort of thing than I ever will. Unfortunately I sent it to one of his e-mail addresses that he rarely checks consequently;y he only recently picked it up.

This is the response I have just got:
"
Hi
I don't know if this is too long after you posted but thought I'd reply anyway.

I would start by looking up the names of the crew on CWGC site. I looked up the one name I can read (S Allen) and found 4 RAF men with this name who died on Ops. I am of course assuming it was shot down.

If you can make out the other names look them up on CWGC.org and then check where they are buried. If the plane went down over Europe then they will all be interred in the same cemetery.

I found my Great-Uncle the same way - found his grave - then the names of his crew - then what raid they were on - the which aircraft were lost that night - then narrowed it down to the base and then went to the British Museum and got a pic of the nose art.

It was scarily like the one shown - and was called The Donkey Serenade"

Which seems to have confirmed the information already received

Alan NZ

Ps the R Simpson wouldn't by any chance have been a Ray Simpson from NZ

[grandarog]

 Percy Porter
            Hi Allan,
                         Thanks for your input (I have PM'd you). Would it be possible for your friend in Aus to scan the pictureof the Donkey Serenade from the British Museum, he has, and put it on here for us. Also if he could post the crew details. It sounds like his relly could have been on ED 828 when she went down 12/13 June 43 on the Bochum Raid,
     I dont have any info ref R.Simpson other than his signature on the Photo at the moment. I am sure some will come to light soon there are so many kind folks helping me on this and other forums .I have complete faith that  everything about the whole issue will be resolved eventually.
                                                      Hope you can contact your friend in Aus OK this time,
                                                                            Best Wishes and Thanks, Roger
                                                         
                                                         

[percy porter]

I'll get on to it later in the day, Monday is my Domestic Chores day so I am a bit tied up.

I have not recieved a pm tho!

Alan NZ

[grandarog]

Latest Update,
                         I am pleased to say have found another related photo of Sid Andrews  my Godfather.
Was not in very good condition but Thanks to the techno wizards on our Photo restoration board all has been done to make it available to post on here .
       Tongue in cheek and willing to be proven wrong ,I would estimate it is very probably a 50 Squadron line up taken in the winter of 1942/3.      Sid is 10 from the right on the third rank up from the front.
     On the original I can make out his Sgts Chevrons and Half Brevet.
       Hopefully you may find some of your rellies on here . I shall send a copy of this Pic to Larry to use on his Lancaster Archive forum, so it will be great if someone can actually conclusively prove it is 50 Sqn.
                                                        Thanks again for your interest and support.
                                                                              Roger.