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RAAF 462 Squadron, 100 Group, Bomber Command, Foulsham, Norfolk

 

Halifax Bomber and 462 Squadron personnel, 100 Group, Foulsham, March 1945

Links to photos of Pilots, Navigators, Bomb Aimers,
Wireless Operators, Flight Engineers, Air Gunners,
Special Duties WINDOW, "Top Brass", and other Officers.
Foulsham airfield 24 February 2019.

 

462 Squadron, 100 Group, Foulsham, March 1945

Photo scanned from a negative loaned by Flt Lt E.McGindle DFC, former Flight Commander of 'A' Flight, 462 Squadron, and used with his permission. Flt Lt McGindle is in the Pilots photo taken in March 1945 below, middle row 2nd from left with pipe.

Front row, from left: Pilot – Flying Officer A.D.J.Ball RAAF; Wireless Operator – Warrant Officer R.R.Taylor RAAF; Mid-Upper Gunner – Flight Sergeant J.M.Tait RAAF; Bomb Aimer – Flying Officer M.Frank RAAF; Navigator – Flight Sergeant N.V.Evans RAAF; 13th from left J.W. (Jack) Harris.

2nd row from front, 5th from left: Flight Engineer – Sergeant F.Brookes RAF; 6th from left – Rear Gunner – Flight Sergeant M.J.Hibberd RAAF.

Special Duties Operator Flying Officer J.Heggarty RAFVR has not yet been identified in the photo. If you can help, please advise using the Contact page.

 

Pilots of 462 Squadron RAAF, 100 Group, Foulsham, March 1945 (AWM photo).

Photo P03415.001 used with the permission of the Australian War Memorial. An identical photo was received from B.K.Drinkwater in August 2009 with slight variation to the description of ranks. Drinkwater was away on a Special Engine Handling Course at Bristol when this photo was taken.

 

Pilots of 462 Squadron, Foulsham, March 1945

AWM photo identification:
Back row, left to right:
F/O Henry Robert Anderson 428018; F/O Noel Edward Marchant 418859; F/O William John Frazer 422040; Fl/Lt J W O'Sullivan; F/O Allan Morris Lodder 426118; F/O Victor Thomas Bailey 425821; W/O G C Sharpe (sic, error for G C B Sharp); F/Sgt Bruce Anthony Simms 424925; F/O J Fleming 429180.

Middle row, left to right: Fl/Lt 'Hank' Hancock; Fl/Lt Edward (Ted) McGindle DFC 418612; Squadron Leader Col Jackson DFC; Wing Commander Peter Paull DFC 270815; Fl/Lt Dudley Gilbert Highman 406394; Sqn/Ldr Lloyd George Scharer 402673; Fl/Lt 'Thrasher' Taylor 415196.

Front row, left to right: Fl/Lt Bill Cookson; F/O 'Jock' Boyd; F/O Alfred Desmond John Ball 427182 (later killed whilst on operations to Germany on 10 April 1945, NA240); F/O Leo Britt 05844; Flt/Lt D J Robertson.

 

 

Pilots of 462 Squadron, 100 Group, Foulsham, ~ June 1945 (AWM photo).
From the Australian War Memorial collection, ID P01523.028

 

Pilots of 462 Squadron, RAAF, Foulsham, April 1945

Photo P01523.028 used with the permission of the Australian War Memorial. An identical photo labelled a 'B' Flight Pilots (with slight variation to the ranks) was received from B.K.Drinkwater in Aug 2009. Photo was taken outside 'B' Flight Office at Foulsham UK.

AWM photo identification – Back row, left to right: W/O Ross Gallop 427820; F/O Jim Fleming; P/O Ferguson; F/O Jim W Cairns; (possibly F/O Jack M Cairns); F/O Ronald (Ron) Hines 432466.
(Jack M Cairns was posted to 462 Sqdn with crew on 31 March 1945.)

Front row, left to right: F/O William John Frazer 422040; F/O Walter Henry Scott 426982; S/Ldr Alan Gibson Swann 401175; Fl/Lt Bruce Drinkwater 416660; F/O Owen Valentine O'Malley 422673.
(O'Malley was posted to 462 Sqdn in June 1945, so caption of April is incorrect.)

Fl/Lt B.K.Drinkwater was Deputy Flight Commander for "B" Flight, and signed off the March/April entries in Fl/Sgt M.J.Hibberd's logbook. W/O Ross Gallop was the Pilot for F/Sgt R.B.Philpott and crew.
Frazer was the Pilot for Wireless Operator De Leacy, and crew.
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Navigators of 462 Squadron RAAF, 100 Group, Foulsham, February 1945.
Photo from "Pimpernel Squadron", and used with permission of the McGindle Family.

This photo of Navigators is from page 96 of the book "Pimpernel Squadron" by Fl/Lt Edward (Ted) McGindle DFC, where it had been labelled as 'The Navigators of 462 Squadron RAAF, February 1945'. Identification of the Navigators is included as written in the book.

 

Navigators of 462 Squadron, Foulsham, February 1945

Back row from left:- only 6 names listed in the book but 10 Navigators in this row – F.Filmer, G.Bland, M.Smith, F.Birch, O'Donohue, Evans. 1 obscured, 2 George Sinton Bland, 3, 4 P/O Maxwell Arthur Smith, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 F/Sgt Neil Vernon Evans 436113 RAAF.
Front row from left:- 1 K.McKay, 2 M.Taylor, 3 P.Dermond, 4 E.Hall, 5 Brown, 6 W.Watt, 7 N.Dobbie, 8 H.Day.

F/Sgt Neil Evans was from F/O Alf Ball's Crew (KIA 10/04/45 in NA240). He was posted from 1652 HCU to 462 Squadron at Foulsham on 16 February 1945.

A new photo of Navigators with identification has been received, as below.

 

 

Navigators of 462 Squadron RAAF, 100 Group, Foulsham, February/March 1945.
Photo supplied by, and used with the permission of Richard Selwood,
on behalf of the Evans Family.

The names were recorded on the back of the photograph as shown below. Some of the Navs also signed the photo (Smith, Windus, Young, O'Donoghue, Evans, Watt and Dobbie). Names and Service Numbers for the RAAF Navs have been checked on the Australian WW2 Nominal Roll. This now clears up the partial but unproven identification as included in the earlier published photo above.

 

Navigators of 462 Squadron, Foulsham, February/March 1945

L – R Standing:- 1. Frederick Alexander Filmer 436241 RAAF (Robinson Crew); 2. George Sinton Bland 1587032 RAFVR (Sharp crew); 3. Maxwell Arthur Smith 424803 RAAF (Taylor Crew); 4. Frank Lewis Birch 434165 RAAF (Nav in Jack Smith Crew, see also Oakes); 5. Jeffrey Carr 1458228 RAFVR (Simms Crew); 6. Edward Windus 1601854 RAFVR (KIA 17/04/45, Lodder Crew); 7. Warwick Denis Young 430297 RAAF (Whatling Crew; also John Harris); 8. Colin Thomas Benn 414884 RAAF (Fleming Crew); 9. John Neil O'Donoghue 427255 RAAF (Marchant Crew); 10. Neil Vernon Evans 436113 RAAF (KIA 10/04/45, Ball Crew).

L – R Sitting:- 1. Keith Eric McKay 428977 RAAF (Hancock Crew); 2. Maxwell Garrod Taylor 434714 RAAF (Swann Crew); 3. Percival Albert Clifton Dermond 432132 RAAF (Robertson Crew); 4. Edward Hall 419042 RAAF (Jackson Crew); 5. Kenneth John Brown 410302 RAAF (Finley and Bailey Crews); 6. William Thompson Hamilton Watt RAFVR (McGindle crew); 7. Norman Clarence Dobbie 430142 RAAF (also in Frazer crew photo on De Leacy page); 8. Henry Reeves Day 437093 RAAF (Cockerill Crew, and Paull Crew).

 

Names of Navigators of 462 Squadron RAAF, 100 Group, Foulsham, February/March 1945.
Photo supplied by, and used with the permission of Richard Selwood, on behalf of the Evans Family.

Names as recorded on the rear of the photo of 462 Squadron Navigators, Foulsham, February/March 1945.
L – R Standing:- 1. Fred Filmer; 2. George Bland; 3. Max Smith; 4. Frank Birch; 5. Geoff Carr (sic, Jeff); 6. Ted Windus; 7. 'Blue' Young; 8. Colin Benn; 9 Jack O'Donoghue; Neil Evans.
L – R Sitting:- 1. Keith McKay; 2. Max Taylor; 3. Percy Dermond; 4. Ted Hall; 5. Ken Brown; 6. Bill West (sic, Bill Watt); 7. Norm Dobbie; 8. Hendry Day (sic, Henry Reeves Day).

 

Navigators of 462 Squadron RAAF, 100 Group, March 1945 at Foulsham, Norfolk UK.
Photo supplied by and used with the permission of the
Aviation Heritage Museum of Western Australia.

Some of the same Navs may be seen in the photo of "Navigators of 462 Squadron, Foulsham, February/March 1945" pictured above. Neil Evans seen in that photo (back row, far right), is absent in this second group. Evans was posted to 462 Squadron, Foulsham on 16 February 1945, but is known to have been on leave from 3 to 9 April. He was KIA on 10 April 1945.
The location appears to be very similar to that for the Flight Engineers group photo dated as ~June 1945.

 

 

Navigators of 462 Squadron, Foulsham, March 1945

This photo was received from the Aviation Heritage Museum of Western Australia, Catalog No. P025569, with the caption "462 Squadron, RAAF, Foulsham, c.1944. Halifax navigators". The individual names were not included. Now identified are ...

Back row, from left: 1. 2, 3, 4, 5.
Middle row, far left, is F/O Keith Currie, 436316 RAAF, who was Navigator for F/O Neil Stephen Sullivan 434110 RAAF (Pilot, Crew 61). That crew was posted to 462 Squadron, Foulsham on 7 March 1945, from 1658 HCU Riccall, Yorkshire. Their arrival is recorded in the Squadron ORB, March Form 540, Part III, Personnel. More photos of the Sullivan crew are on the Tom Walker page.
Middle row, third from left is Frank Lewis BIRCH 434165 RAAF of various crew including Bailey Crew 46, Cookson Crew 23, and Smith Crew 51.
Middle row, 4th from left, possibly Lawrence Barwick, of Ferguson crew 66.
Middle row, far right: John Mortimer (Jock) of the Boyd crew.
Front row, far left appears to be W/O Allan Joseph Sutherland 426242 RAAF, Nav for F/O Trevor Ross Gallop 427820 RAAF (Crew 67), posted to 462 Squadron on 16 March 1945 (see also Philpott page).
Front row, 2nd from left is F/Sgt George Frederick Hicks (George) 1803292 RAF (pilot Henry Robert ANDERSON (Andy) 428018 RAAF). George has been identified by the Flight Engineer of the same crew, A.A. Newstead (Duke), who also identified the location as being Foulsham. Duke Newstead and George Hicks were the only two British (RAF) members of the Anderson crew still alive in October 2014, with "Dinger" Bell, RAAF, living in Australia. George Hick's wife is an ex-wartime WAAF (Horsham St Faith, 100 Group), and after WW2, George stayed on in the RAF and retired with the rank of Squadron Leader.

From Nav identifications, It may be concluded that this photo should be dated March or April or even June 1945, but not 1944 as originally dated.
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Bomb Aimers of 462 Squadron RAAF, 100 Group, Foulsham, March 1945 (RAAF Museum)
Photo supplied by the RAAF Museum, and used with their permission.
Please contact the Museum direct if you would like a full size copy of this photo.
An identical photo appears in "Pimpernel Squadron" page 98, by E.McGindle,
but is mislabelled as Driffield 1944.

 

 

 

Bomb Aimers of 462 Squadron, Foulsham, March 1945

Back row from left:- 1; 2; 3 Sgt John Harris 1337631 RAFVR; 4; 5 F/O Arthur Cowley 50704 RAAF; 6; 7 Albert Edward Perkes 429346 RAAF; 8; 9 Ken E Hamilton (Boyd crew) RAF(VR?); 10.
Middle row from left:- 1 F/Sgt James Ferguson Latimer RAF; 2 F/Sgt Fred Baldwin DFM RAFVR; 3; 4; 5 F/O Murray Frank, 409532, RAAF; 6; 7; 8; 9 F/Sgt Wilfred Alan Quye 1802290 RAF.
Front row from left:- 1; 2; 3; 4 (?) W/O Phillip George CHANT 427636 RAAF; 5.

Harris was in F/O Whatling's crew.
Cowley was in F/O Neil Sullivan's crew (also Tom Walker page).
Perkes was in Jack Smith's crew (Smith Crew, also the Oakes page)
Latimer was in the Mitchell Crew;
Baldwin was in Fl/Lt E. McGindle's crew (see McGindle page).
Quye was mainly in Sherren's crew, later at rank of W/O.
Chant was in Robertson's crew.
Murray Frank was in F/O Alf Ball's Crew (KIA 10/04/45 in NA240). F/O Frank was never posted to 462 Sqdn at Driffield, but was posted from 1652 HCU to 462 Squadron at Foulsham on 16 February 1945. Therefore the "Pimpernel Squadron" photo could not have been taken in Driffield in 1944.

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Wireless Operators 462 Squadron RAAF, 100 Group,  Foulsham, March 1945.
Photo from "Pimpernel Squadron", and used with permission of the McGindle Family.

This photo, labelled "462 Squadron Wireless Operators at Driffield" is from page 97 of the book "Pimpernel Squadron" by Fl/Lt Edward (Ted) McGindle DFC. The background is similar to that in two photos of groups of Air Gunners at Foulsham, March 1945.

Ron TAYLOR was from F/O Alf BALL's Crew 59 (KIA 10/04/45 in NA240). He was never posted to 462 Sqdn Driffield, but was posted to 462 Sqdn Foulsham, from 1652 HCU, on 16 February 1945. Based on his presence, the book photo is of "462 Squadron Wireless Operators at Foulsham, March 1945. GOLDIE was from Jack SMITH's Crew (also OAKES page). JOHNSTON (DRINKWATER's crew) & Signals Leader BARKLA (SHANNON crew) were both identified by Bruce DRINKWATER. BELL, who died on 31/01/2016, was identified by Arthur 'Duke' NEWSTEAD (both crewed with F/O H.R. 'Andy' ANDERSON DFC). PEACHEY, identified by his son Chris, was from SHARPS's crew. WESTON was from Max TAYLOR's Crew (see page for crew's Nav Max SMITH).

The following better quality photo from W/OP K C Peachey, was received from Chris Peachey in November 2015.

 

Wireless Operators of 462 Squadron, Foulsham, March 1945

Identification was revised for site renewal 06 April 2020, after the location of a "Index list of Captions" for photos (but no photos), originally received with files from the 466-462 Association. Verified by comparison with crew photos.

Back, from left:-
1 Reginald Keith PARNELL, RAAF, BAILEY Crew 46;
2 William EVANS RAF (VR?), BOYD Crew 40;
3 Frank William HALE, RAFVR, ROBERTSON and FINLEY Crews;
4 John Philip Bowley CHAPLIN, RAAF, BRITT Crew 47;
5 Llewellyn George EDWARDS, RAAF, WHATLING Crew 42;
6 Alexander Gordon TAYLOR, RAAF, HOURIGAN Crew 33;
7 Ronald Reginald TAYLOR 432346 RAAF, BALL Crew 59;
8 Kevin DENNIS, CGM, RAAF, PALTRIDGE Crew 58.
Middle from left:-
1 Kenneth Allan SAXBY, RAAF, COCKERILL and PAULL Crews;
2 Cecil Reginald Henry FOSTER, RAAF, LODDER Crew 44;
3 Ronald Keith JOHNSTON 432535 RAAF, DRINKWATER Crew 49;
4 Ronald LEHMANN, RAAF, HANCOCK Crew 31;
5 Raymond BLUNDELL, RAAF, MARCHANT Crew 32;
6 Kenneth Cavalier PEACHEY 436272 RAAF, SHARP Crew 41;
7 Gordon Leo GOLDIE 430428 RAAF, Smith Crew 51.
Front from left:-
1 F/O Bruce Alfred BELL 417941 RAAF, ANDERSON Crew 45;
2 Herbert Ernest Alfred STANTON, RAAF, SWANN Crew 55;
3 Robert Lambert MANTTAN, RAAF, O'SULLIVAN Crew 43;
4 Frank Maxwell BARKLA DFC 407924 RAAF, SHANNON Crew 01;
5 Leslie John POWER, RAAF, COOKSON Crew 23;
6 Francis William WESTON 432299 RAAF, TAYLOR Crew 12;
7 Edward Douglas WILSON 419104 RAAF, ROBERTSON Crew 18;
8 Albert Edward MORRIS, RAAF, SIMMS Crew 38;
9
James Francis O'BRIEN, RAAF, LANGWORTHY Crew 34.

 

 

Wireless Operators, 462 Squadron RAAF, 100 Group, Foulsham, Norfolk, March 1945.
Photo supplied by, and used with the permission of the Peachey Family.

 

 

 

Wireless Operators of 462 Squadron, Foulsham, March 1945

Label on reverse of the photo of Wireless Operators, as written by W/OP Kenneth Cavalier Peachey, which confirms the date.
Peachey, of the Sharp crew, is in the middle row, 2nd from the right. Other W/OPs identified as per the preceding photo.

Identification of Wireless Operators, 462 Squadron, Foulsham, March 1945.

RAAF Sqdn. 462 Wireless Operator
March 1945.
Taken at Foulsham, Norfolk, England.

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Flight Engineers of 462 Squadron RAAF, 100 Group, Foulsham,  March 1945.
Photo from the A. Newstead collection.

Note: the original caption date of March 1945 has been modified, based on the presence of Mitchell, who (with other members of the Forte crew) arrived on/after 31 May 1945; and Kane, of the Hinds crew, posted in during June 1945.

Sgt Fred Brookes of F/O Alf Ball's Crew was KIA 10/04/45 in Halifax NA240 Z5-V.
Not in photo, Stuart Leslie Soames DFM (McGindle's crew) posted out, June 1945.
Bowden was posted out, July 1945. Constable was posted out, August 1945.
All other Flight Engineers in this photo were posted out during September 1945.

Comparing the postings in and out, this photo was most likely taken in June 1945.

Thank you to Sgt Arthur 'Duke' Newstead, Fl. Eng. RAF, who kindly supplied this photo, with identification of the Flight Engineers by surname. Where possible, their rank, initials and Air Force, have been added (sourced from London Gazette online; Air Force Lists; 462 Squadron ORBs; with reference to "Phoenix Book 2 – The Reincarnation" by A.G.Batten; "Pimpernel Squadron" by Fl/Lt Edward (Ted) McGindle DFC; and "To See the Dawn Again" by Mark Lax & Leon Kane-Maguire.)

 

Flight Engineers of 462 Squadron, Foulsham, ~ June 1945

Back row from left:- 1. T A Brown 1787696 RAF (VR?), O'Sullivan crew;
2. Sgt T Kane 3023001 RAF (VR?), Hinds crew;
3. Sgt J Barker 2206775 RAF (VR?), Cairns crew;
4. John S Holgate 2216235 RAFVR, Drinkwater crew;
5. W T (Wilf) Parker 1897610 RAF (VR?), Jack Smith crew ( also see Oakes);
6. Sgt W S Collins 1826423 RAF (VR?), Grant crew;
7. Sgt Kenneth Mitchell 1813502 RAFVR, Forte crew;
8. Sgt R F Watson 1491921 RAF (VR?), Ferguson crew.

Middle row from L:- 1. Neil Campbell 1595734 RAF (VR?), Frazer crew (De Leacy);
2. Sgt Ron Gibson 1827822 RAF (VR?), Robinson crew;
3. Sgt Arthur A Newstead 1593580 RAFVR, Anderson crew;
4. A J Casey 1808969 RAF (VR?), Langworthy crew;
5. Maurice Albert Hewlett 3031333 RAF (VR?), Simms crew;
6. Joseph Hollins 1595479 RAF (VR?), Lodder crew;
7. Sgt J J Bowden 2219305 RAF (VR?), Hines crew;
8. Sgt J L Fitch 1811685 RAF (VR?), Fleming crew;
9. F/Sgt N H MacPherson 1590727 RAF (VR?), Black & Sherren crews.

Front row from left:- 1. P/O John Lord 195715 (previously 1517126) RAFVR, Cockerill crew, and Paull crew;
2. F/O Herbert Allen Raymond Manning (Mick) 187960 (previously 1891464) RAFVR, Taylor crew (Nav Max Smith);
3. F/Lt William Folger Readhead DFC (Tam) 50956 RAF, Engineer Leader, various crews;
4. F/O Reginald George Weston Richards 155392 RAFVR, Deputy Engineer Leader, Hourigan crew;
5. P/O John Laurence Lakin 198307 (previously 2221256) RAFVR, Scharer crew;
6. W/O R J Constable 1279880 RAF (VR?), Finley crew;
7. F/Sgt J W Neale 1853959 RAF (VR?), Bailey crew.

Dennis Claude Coleman (aka Ron) from W/O Peter Whatling's crew, was on leave.
Sgt Tom Walker (F/O Neil Sullivan's crew) was also on leave. Coleman and Walker were both posted from 462 Squadron in September 1945.

Flight Engineers were either RAF or RAFVR. Those listed (VR?) require verification.
Those Fl/Engineers listed without rank were all posted in as Sgt, but posted out as F/Sgt in September 1945, however their rank is not visible in this photo.
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Air Gunners of "A Flight" 462 Squadron RAAF, 100 Group, Foulsham, March 1945.
Photo from "Pimpernel Squadron", and used with permission of the McGindle Family.

 

Air Gunners of A Flight, 462 Squadron, Foulsham, March 1945

This photograph of a group of Air Gunners is from page 99 of the book "Pimpernel Squadron" by Fl/Lt Edward (Ted) McGindle DFC, where it had been labelled as "462 Squadron – Driffield 1944, Air Gunners". However the background is identical to that in the photos of B Flight Air Gunners, dated March 1945, Foulsham (Gunners Hibberd & Tait in that photo of B Flight were posted from 1652 HCU to 462 Squadron, Foulsham on 16 February 1945, and were never at Driffield). This photo (at left) appears to have been taken at the same location & time. The book photo has been mislabelled, and is actually of "Air Gunners of A Flight, 462 Squadron, Foulsham, March 1945". Fl/Lt McGindle was Acting Flight Commander for "A" Flight at that time.

The same Gunnery Leader/Officer (?) is in the centre of the middle row in both photos. This was thought to be Fl/Lt L.S.Rees 157141 RAF, who was posted from 77 Sqdn to assume duties as Gunnery Leader at 462 Squadron, Driffield on 30/08/44 (ref 462 Squadron ORB Form 540 Aug 1944). However Rees was posted out of 462 Squadron, Foulsham in Feb 1945 (ref 462 Squadron ORB Form 540 Feb 1945). So if this is Rees, the Gunners photos were not taken in March but in late February (after the arrival of Tait & Hibberd on 16 Feb but before the departure of Rees), OR, it is not Rees but another Officer. Can you assist in identifying the Officer or any of the Gunners? If you can help, please advise using the Contact page.

 

Air Gunners of "A Flight", 462 Squadron RAAF, 100 Group, Foulsham, March 1945.
Photo supplied by and used with the permission of the family of
Rear Gunner Neville Owen Reed.

 

 

Air Gunners of A Flight, 462 Squadron, Foulsham, March 1945

At left is a higher resolution copy of the previous photo, supplied by and used with the permission of the family of Neville Owen Reed, however Rear Gunner Reed is not in the photo.

The Gunner in the back row, 3rd from left, may have a medal bar under his Air Gunner badge, as does the Officer/Gunner in the middle row, 4th from left.
The Gunner in the middle row, 3rd from left, appears to have 2 medal bars.
The F/Sgt Gunner in the front row, 3rd from left, appears to be holding a small dark-haired animal, perhaps a dog.

Back row, L to R:- 1. Frederick Joseph RANDLE 24779 RAAF, Robertson crew (?); 5. Dennis P SOMERVILLE 1654863 RAFVR (Taylor Crew); 6. R/AG James WHYTE RAFVR, Whatling Crew.

Middle row, 2nd from left is P/O Robin Eugene Nicholls 434168 RAAF, as identified by his son Dave (see also Triggs crew page).

Front row, 4th from left is Charles Henry REES, 1420557 RAFVR (TAYLOR Crew).
SOMERVILLE and REES identified by Graeme MAY (see Max A SMITH page)

 

 

 

Air Gunners of "B Flight" 462 Squadron RAAF, 100 Group, Foulsham, March 1945
Photo from the M.J.Hibberd collection.

 

 

Air Gunners of B Flight, 462 Squadron, Foulsham, March 1945

The Air Gunners identified in this photo (and their crews) were all from 462 Squadron B Flight.

Back row L-R:- 1 Sgt T A (Terry) Castle MU/AG; 2; 3 Sgt. Astley (Aggie) Gordon MU/G RAF;
4 Sgt Fred Satherley R/AG RAF; 5; 6 F/Sgt Ken Spriggs MU/G RAF; 7; 8; 9; 10; 11 F/Sgt Maxwell James Hibberd R/AG RAAF.

Middle row L-R:- 1 F/Sgt Frank Hutton MU/G RAF; 2 F/Sgt Richard Handyside R/AG RAF; 3; 4 Gunnery Leader/Officer (?); 5; 6; 7.

Front row L-R:- 1 F/Sgt Dennis Whitehead (?); 2 W/O Bernie Compton R/AG RAF; 3 F/Sgt Tom Godsall (?); 4; 5; 6;
7 F/Sgt John Mickle Tait MU/G RAAF (KIA 10/04/45 in NA240).

Thank you to Sgt Arthur 'Duke' Newstead, Fl. Eng. RAF who identified Sgts Gordon & Satherley (all 3 in crew for F/O H.R. 'Andy' Anderson DFC); and to F/Sgt Ken Spriggs who identified himself & W/O Compton (both in P/O J.N.Boyd's crew); and to Sgt Richard Handyside who identified himself and Hutton (both in Fl/Lt Donald Grant Uther's crew); Hibberd & Tait were in F/O A.D.J.Ball's crew. Steve Castle identified his father T A Castle in Sherren's Crew (R/AG Patterson from Sherren crew may also be in the photo but not identified).
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462 Squadron, RAAF, 100 Group, VE Day at Foulsham, May 1945, with group of Special Duties (WINDOW) Airmen and members of other crews.
Photo from the Neville Owen Reed Collection.

Ron Gibson 1827822 RAF (VR?), Flight Engineer (Robinson Crew 63);
Lionel Dittmann 429529 RAAF, Bomb Aimer (Robinson Crew 63);

Franklin Keith McKenzie Andrew 431712 RAAF, MU/Gunner (Robinson Crew 63);
Grant Boys 437388 RAAF, Rear Gunner (Robinson Crew 63).

Athol William Caddy 441345 RAAF, MU/Gunner (Swann Crew 55);
Herbert Ernest Alfred Stanton 428058 RAAF, Wireless Operator (Swann crew 55).

Neville Owen Reed 435209 RAAF, R/Gunner (Friend Crew 36, and Astill Crew 52, and Cookson Crew 23).

 

 

Air crew from 462 Squadron, Foulsham on VE Day 1945.
Special Duties – WINDOW

Neville Owen Reed 435209 RAAF, is sitting in the front row, wearing pyjamas and gumboots, and his family kindly supplied this photo.
The same photo has been received from the Aviation Heritage Museum of Western Australia, Catalog No. P009357, with the caption ...."462 Squadron, RAAF, Foulsham, May, 1945. VE morning".

The same photo is in the book "Phoenix – Book 2: The Reincarnation" by A.G. Batten. The caption there is as follows:

Standing: Greg Farrell, Ron Gibson.

Middle Row: Bill Caddy, Jack Wall, Mick Toohey, Ron Irminger, Vic Chaffer, Frank Andrew, Grant Boys, Lionel Dittmann, Ernie Stanton.

Front: Stan Tills, Nev Reed.

Victor William Chaffer 433195 RAAF, Gregory Patrick Farrell 432776 RAAF, Ronald George Irminger 437308 RAAF, Stanley Ernest Tills 17596 RAAF, Michael Patrick Toohey 429056 RAAF and John Francis Wall 432918 RAAF were all from a group of 12 Wireless Operators, all Flight Sergeants, RAAF, who were posted to 462 Squadron in January 1945, for Special Duties to dispense WINDOW.

Caddy and Stanton had also carried out the role of Special Duties WINDOW for various crews.

 

 

462 Squadron, RAAF, 100 Group, VE Day at Foulsham, May 1945, Special Duties (WINDOW) airmen, possibly Stanley Ernest Tills and Victor William Chaffer.
Photo from the Aviation Heritage Museum of Western Australia.

 

 

Air crew from 462 Squadron, Foulsham on VE Day 1945.
Special Duties – WINDOW

This photo was received from the Aviation Heritage Museum of Western Australia, Catalog No. P009358, with the caption ....
"462 Squadron, RAAF, Foulsham, May, 1945. 2 Airmen against background of The Union Jack, VE morning".

The 2 Airmen were not identified, however, comparing them with the photo above, and assuming that the identification for that photo as published by Batten is correct, the two are most likely .....

Left, in uniform: Stan TILLS (previous photo, front row, left)
Right, in pyjamas: Vic CHAFFER, over-vest removed (in the group photo at left, he is 5th from left in centre row, wearing dark vest over pyjama shirt, i.e. behind Reed wearing boots in front row).

Stanley Ernest TILLS and Victor William CHAFFER.

Can you confirm or correct identification? If so please make contact.
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Group Captain Charles Victor Douglas Willis and Air Vice Marshall Edward Barker Addison at RAF Station Foulsham, 1945.
Photo supplied by B.K.Drinkwater

 

 

RAF Station Foulsham

Left:- Group Captain Charles Victor Douglas WILLIS, DSO, DFC, 33354, RAF.

Group Captain WILLIS was Station Commander of the RAF Air Base at Foulsham, Norfolk, where RAAF 462 Squadron was stationed when it was attached to 100 Group, Bomber Command.

Right:- Air Vice Marshall Edward Barker ADDISON, OBE, 15065, RAF.

Air Vice Marshall ADDISON was Air Officer Commanding 100 Group, RAF Special Duties, Bomber Command.

Photo & identification supplied by B.K.Drinkwater in August 2009 and used with his permission; full names and Service Numbers sourced from the London Gazette.

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Pilots FO Walter Henry Scott 426982 RAAF, FO William John Frazer 422040 RAAF, and FO Jack Roy Smith 427264 RAAF, with Operational Sorties Board for B Flight, 462 Squadron, Foulsham, June 1945. (AWM photo).
From the Australian War Memorial collection, ID P01523.016

All three Pilots were members of the RAAF.

 

Three Pilots of B Flight, 462 Squadron, Foulsham, June 1945.

Left: Photo P01523.016 from the Australian War Memorial, Copyright expired, public domain, with caption ......... (quote)

"Foulsham, England 1945-06. Three pilots of No. 462 Squadron RAAF hold the Operational Sorties Board for B Flight.
Left to right: 426982 Flying Officer (FO) Walter Henry Scott; 422040 FO William John Frazer; 427264 FO Jack Roy Smith."

Smith was the Pilot for Crew 51. The Crew was posted to 462 Sqdn in November 1944. Smith and the RAAF crew members were posted out in September 1945. Smith may also be seen on the Oakes page.
Frazer was the Pilot for Crew 56. The Crew was posted to 462 Sqdn in January 1945, and posted out in September 1945. As well as being in "Pilots of B Flight" and "Pilots, March 1945" photos, Frazer may also be seen on the De Leacy page.
Scott was the Pilot for Crew 64. The Crew was posted to 462 Sqdn in March 1945, and posted out in September 1945. Scott is also in the "Pilots of B Flight" photo.
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Foulsham Airfield – visited by the Ogilvie Sisters, nieces of the Ely Crew's Mid-Upper Gunner Matthew OGILVIE. Lynn and Yvonne visited Foulsham on the weekend of 23 and 24 February 2019 – of significance because the 24 February 1945 was the 74th Anniversary of the loss of all eight members of the ELY crew, all killed on a night Op to the Ruhr area in Halifax III MZ461 Z5-O. Three other crews from 462 Squadron, Foulsham, also failed to return from that Op – RATE Crew 13, RIDGEWELL Crew 37, and TOOTAL Crew 57.

23 February 2019 – Lynn and Yvonne visited Foulsham to view the village sign with Memorial Plaques, leaving daffodils in memory of their Uncle and the Ely Crew (photos on ELY Crew 39 page), and visited the Holy Innocents' Church (photos on Foulsham Memorial page).

24 February 2019 – visited accessible areas of the old Foulsham airfield, also leaving daffodils on the gateway to the Green Hangar. Please refer to the Google Maps aerial view of Foulsham, at the end of this section – it has annotations to identify locations as shown in the following six photos.

From Lynn ............

"We thought you may be interested to know that we have just spent a very emotional and enlightening weekend in Foulsham on what was the 74th anniversary of Uncle Mattie being KIA and what would have been our Dad's 101st birthday. Myself, Yvonne, and husbands went but Steph was unable to come due to work commitments although she was definitely with us in thought and by phone."

"We visited the church and memorial at Foulsham on Saturday 23/02/19, the airfield visit was on Sunday 24/02/19, this was the 74th anniversary of the four Halifax’s coming down."

"We laid flowers on the memorial stone in the village (daffodils as these seemed fitting for the time of year and would have been in flower on the actual date) and also near one of the remaining hangars. We found what was left of one of the runways and walked a short way on it but it is gated so we couldn’t go far. We saw a fire pump house and what we believed to be the remaining hangers although these are now used by local farmers so not accessible to the public. There is evidence throughout the area of the old airfield but needs imagination to understand what it would have been like, which we have it in abundance and could fair hear the rumble of wheels on the runway. There were Forget-Me-Nots growing wild at the edge of the runway."

"We visited the church in Foulsham and found a lovely memorial inside dedicated to all who served out of Foulsham and a roll of honour to all who lost their lives. There were many references to the RAAF and we noted with particular interest the names of your Father's crew. [Pilot Alf BALL and Crew 59, Rear Gunner M J Hibberd sole survivor] We also found another Ogilvie on the Roll of Honour who was KIA in 1943. We don’t know if he was related but we will be doing some research on him. It was really touching to know that after all these years the village still remembers and honours all the people who served there."

 

The old Fire Tender Shed, off Guestwick Road, old Foulsham Airfield visited 24 February 2019 (462 Squadron).
Photo supplied by the Ogilvie Sisters, nieces of MU/AG Matthew Ogilvie.

Photo 11: Visit to Foulsham Airfield by Ogilvie sisters 24 Feb 2019.
Old Fire Tender Shed off Guestwick Road.
The area is now Private Property and signs clearly state this.

 

Hanger at old Foulsham Airfield visited 24 February 2019 (462 Squadron).
Photo supplied by the Ogilvie Sisters, nieces of MU/AG Matthew Ogilvie.

Photo 12: Visit to Foulsham Airfield by Ogilvie sisters 24 Feb 2019.
Lane-way running south-west off Guestwick Road,
looking towards with another old Hangar (Private Property).

 

Yvonne at Green Hangar off Guestwick Road, old Foulsham Airfield visited 24 February 2019 (462 Squadron).
Photo supplied by the Ogilvie Sisters, nieces of MU/AG Matthew Ogilvie.

Photo 13: Visit to Foulsham Airfield by Ogilvie sisters 24 Feb 2019
Yvonne, outside the old Green Hangar, off Guestwick Road,
daffodils left in memory of those who Failed to Return from Ops.

 

Lynn at Green Hangar off Guestwick Road, old Foulsham Airfield visited 24 February 2019 (462 Squadron).
Photo supplied by the Ogilvie Sisters, nieces of MU/AG Matthew Ogilvie.

Photo 16: Visit to Foulsham Airfield by Ogilvie sisters 24 Feb 2019
Lynn, outside the old Green Hangar, now Private Property,
daffodils left in memory of those who Failed to Return from Ops.

 

Remains of main north-south runway of old Foulsham Airfield visited 24 February 2019 (462 Squadron).
Photo supplied by the Ogilvie Sisters, nieces of MU/AG Matthew Ogilvie.

Photo 14: Visit to Foulsham Airfield by Ogilvie sisters 24 Feb 2019
Yvonne (left) and Lynn (right), on what remains of the old
main north-south runway.

 

Remains of northern runway of old Foulsham Airfield visited 24 February 2019 (462 Squadron).
Photo supplied by the Ogilvie Sisters, nieces of MU/AG Matthew Ogilvie.

Photo 15: Visit to Foulsham Airfield by Ogilvie sisters 24 Feb 2019
Roadway along the old short runway,
north-east to south--west along the northern section of airfield.

 

Google Map image showing locations around the old RAF Foulsham Airfield, 462 Squadron 1945, visited 24 February 2019.
Annotated image supplied by Richard Ravencroft.

Image of Foulsham from Google Maps.
Annotations by Richard Ravencroft, who identified the locations of the preceding 6 photos.

Hindolveston Rd (from Foulsham, off the image to the south), runs along the eastern side of old airfield.
Left off Hindolveston Rd is Guestwick Road, which runs west-northwest along the northern perimeter of the old Airfield (photo 11 of Old Fire Shed; photos 16 and 13 of Green Hangar).
From Guestwick Rd (upper left) and going south along the western side of the old airfield is Foulsham Rd – Wood Norton Rd, heading back towards Foulsham, and re-connecting with Hindolveston Rd (off the image to the south).

This website's owner/author has many photos of the old Foulsham Airfield, dated April 2012, which may be added at a later date.

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