50 Squadron crew, June '41

[David Layne]

An update on this thread.

I now believe that this picture was taken just after the airmen completed their course at 14 OTU in June of 1941 and just prior to them joining 50 Squadron at Lindholme.

Paul Hayter has kindly sent me the pictures I am attaching.  Paul's father was with 50 Squadron on Lancasters.

This picture shows the Atkinson crew, from left to right Welford, Bailey, Atkinson and Tytherleigh.

[David Layne]

This is a picture taken in March of 1942 and depicts Hampden AT118 C-VN.  One of the aircraft the Atkinson crew operated in.

On March 26th 1942 this aircraft crashed and burned 5 miles north of Penzance after an engine failure.

S/Ldr. Jeffs and crew had been conducting an Air Sea Rescue search and all survived the crash unscathed.

[cravens]

Regarding P/O Ivatts previous operational history I am afraid I do not have any further information,the data I have given is of course held,along with all his data at the Public Records Office at Kew(which is a long way from Canada!). Best wishes in your research.

[chasmac]

Thanks Cravens.  For your information I'm actually writing from Australia.  The info you have provided is fantastic and will allow me to get on with my little project.  Thanks again.

[ED588 VN-G]

I have a few details concerning Sgt H M Ivatt who served in 50 Sqn during 1943 as follows:

1/2 Mar 1943 Lanc III ED.491 Bombing attack on Berlin. the crew were: Sgt F H Huntley (Pilot), Sgt C W Clarke,Sgt H M Ivatt,
Sgt E Hough, Sgt M Bates, Sgt A Stott, Sgt F C Greening

3/4 Mar 1943 Lanc III ED.491 Bombing attack on Hamburg crew as above

5/6 Mar 1943 Lanc III ED.491 Bombing attack on Essen

8/9 Mar 1943 Lanc III ED.491 Bombing attack on Nurnberg - Aiming point 'C' crew as above but (Sgt S.Cooper took the place of Sgt E Hough).

9/10 Mar 1943 Lanc III ED.491 Bombing attack on Munich crew as above but Sgt R.Goldstraw took the place of Sgt S Cooper)

11/12 Mar 1943 Lanc III ED.491 Bombing attack on Stuttgart crew as above and incl Sgt Goldstraw (More to follow)

[ED588 VN-G]

Continuing the post re: Sgt H M Ivatt's tour of duty with 50 Squadron:

12/13 Mar Lanc III ED.491 Bombing attack on Essen - Aiming point 'C' Crew: Sgt's Huntley, Clarke, Ivatt, Goldstraw,
Bates, Stott and Greening

8/9 Apr 1943 Lanc III ED.491 Bombing attack on Duisberg- Aiming point 'D' Crew: Sgt's Huntley, Bates, Clarke, Ivatt, Hough, Stott and Greening

9/10 Apr 1943 Lanc III ED.491 Bombing attack on Duisberg - Aiming point 'D' Crew: Sgt's Huntley, Bates, Clarke, Ivatt, Rutherford, Stott and Greening

13/14 Apr 1943 Lanc III ED.491 Gardening-Mullet Crew: Sgt's Huntley, Bates, Clarke, Ivatt, Rutherford, Fellowes, Stott and Greening

14/15 Apr 1943 Lanc III ED.491 Bombing attack on Stuttgart - Aiming point 'C' Crew: Huntley, Bates, Clarke, Ivatt, Hough, Stott, Greening and Grey

20/21 Apr 1943 Lanc III ED.491. Bombing attack on Stettin - Aiming point 'A' Crew: Huntley, Bates,Clarke,Ivatt,Hough, Stott and Greening Engaged by a fighter JU88 on outward journey   - To be continued

[ED588 VN-G]

P/O H M  Ivatt's Tour with 50 Squadron continued:

30 apr/1 May 1943 Lanc III ED 393 Bombing attack on Essen Aiming point 'C' Crew: Sgt's Huntley,Bates, Clarke,Ivatt, Stott, Hough, Greening and P/O Butler

12/13 May 1943 Lanc I W 4762 Bombing attack on Duisberg Crew: P/O Huntley DFM, Sgt's Bates, Clarke, Ivatt, Stott DFM, Hough, Greening and F/O Priestley. This a/c took off at 23.58, briefed to attack Duisberg. After take off no message was received and the a/c failed to return. Presumed missing due to enemy action.

W4762 VN- took off at 2358 from Skellingthorpe,  Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed o332 in the IJsselmeer, 6 km NW of Nijkerk. There were no survivors. Three lie in Amsterdam New Eastern Cemetery;  four rest at Amersfoort (Oud Leusden) General Cemetery, while P/O H M Ivatt RCAF has no known grave and is commemorated on the Runnymede memorial, panel No. 176.

[cravens]

David,regarding the fine picture of Atkinson's Crew you posted, do you think it is probable that Sgt Tytherleigh
shown 1st from right,is the same F/O W J Tytherleigh DFC who was ex 50 Sqd and was lost flying as a gunner with
S/L Maudslay crew in Lancaster ED937 on 16/17 May 1943 on the "Dams Raid Operation Chastise"? There cannot
have been many crew from 50 Sqd with that surname.

[David Layne]

David,regarding the fine picture of Atkinson's Crew you posted, do you think it is probable that Sgt Tytherleigh
shown 1st from right,is the same F/O W J Tytherleigh DFC who was ex 50 Sqd and was lost flying as a gunner with
S/L Maudslay crew in Lancaster ED937 on 16/17 May 1943 on the "Dams Raid Operation Chastise"? There cannot
have been many crew from 50 Sqd with that surname.

Yes it is the same person.  I think I made mention of it in the very first picture I posted where the airmen are in a pub yard.  Welford and Tytherleigh are in that one too.