Photo from the 466-462 Squadrons' Association

L to R: (standing) Nav Harrison DAY; R/AG Grant PIEPER;
(seated) W/Op Kevin PEARCE; Pilot George FULLER;
F/Eng William SQUIRE; (standing) MU/AG 'Tim' THORNE.
(Photo probably by Bomb Aimer Alan HILL)

Crew 68, 462 Squadron, Foulsham, Norfolk

Pilot: George Ward FULLER
Navigator: Charles Harrison DAY
Bomb Aimer: Alan Edwin HILL
Wireless Operator: Kevin Tudor PEARCE
Mid-Upper Gunner: Archibald William THORNE
Rear Gunner: Grant Leslie PIEPER
Flight Engineer: William H SQUIRE
Special Duties: WINDOW Dispensers, various

This crew did not carry out any Special Duties Ops for Radio Counter Measures (RCM)

Links to Additional Crew Information; and Crew Ops.

Reference sources – Australian WW2 Nominal Roll; The National Archives of Australia (Service File for Nav C H DAY, 462 Squadron Operational Record Book).

Photo at left: The letter 'A' on the wheel-arch indicates it is one of the aircraft with code Z5-A, however this crew did not fly Z5-A in any of their 8 Ops between 08 and 22 April 1945. It may have been flown by them in post-war exercises, May to September 1945. There were at least 5 successive aircraft which used that code at 462 Squadron.

Pilot

Name: George Ward FULLER
Service: Royal Australian Air Force
Service Number: 428558
Date of Birth: 18 September 1923
Place of Birth: Rochester, Victoria
Date of Enlistment: 12 November 1942
Place of Enlistment: Melbourne, Vic
Next of Kin: Albert FULLER
Date of Discharge: 01 March 1946
Rank at Discharge: Flying Officer
Posting at Discharge: 462 Squadron
WW2 Honours and Gallantry: Nil
Prisoner of War: No
Return to top

Navigator

Name: Charles Harrison DAY
Service: Royal Australian Air Force
Service Number: 416748
Date of Birth: 13 March 1922
Place of Birth: Wall Flat, South Australia
Date of Enlistment: 11 September 1941
Place of Enlistment: Adelaide, SA
Next of Kin: Joan DAY
Date of Discharge: 12 April 1946
Rank at Discharge: Flying Officer
Posting at Discharge: 462 Squadron
WW2 Honours and Gallantry: Nil
Prisoner of War: No

National Archives of Australia: A9300, 416748

National Archives of Australia: A9300, 416748

Top: Charles Harrison DAY 416748 RAAF, undated. The notes accompanying the original photo indicated that it was from a "Group Plate" of NCOs. It may have been at 5 ITS in late 1941 or at one of his training Postings in early/mid 1942.
Lower left: Note on photo envelope identifies him as F/Sgt C H DAY; therefore later than 01 May 1943.
Lower right: No details. With similar background, both photos may have been at the same location, but at different times. Between March and October 1943 he was posted at 71 Squadron, Qld and NSW.

National Archives of Australia: A9300, 416748

Above: F/Sgt Charles Harrison DAY 416748 RAAF, photographed on 31 December 1943. His Observer's badge is clearly visible (received September 1942), and the date and his Service Number are marked on the sign. He had been promoted to the rank of Flight Sergeant on 01 May 1943. According to his Service File, he was in Canada, however the location for this photo was not recorded.

19 November 1943 – Disembarked in Canada (ex-Australia), posted to 1 "M" Depot, Toronto, Ontario;
28 February 1944 – Posted to 1 "Y" Depot, Lachine, Canada;
24 March 1944 – Embarked from Canada for the UK.
(Postings/training between those dates not recorded in his file.)

All four photos were extracted from DAY's RAAF A9300 Service File.
Copies of the originals may be freely downloaded from the NAA.
Return to top

Bomb Aimer

Name: Alan Edwin HILL
Service: Royal Australian Air Force
Service Number: 433333
Date of Birth: 25 June 1923
Place of Birth: Roseville, New South Wales
Date of Enlistment: 16 March 1943
Place of Enlistment: Sydney, NSW
Next of Kin: Alfred HILL
Date of Discharge: 17 January 1946
Rank at Discharge: Warrant Officer
Posting at Discharge: 9 Aircrew Holding Unit
WW2 Honours and Gallantry: Nil
Prisoner of War: No
Return to top

Wireless Operator

Name: Kevin Tudor PEARCE
Service: Royal Australian Air Force
Service Number: 430192
Date of Birth: 02 June 1924
Place of Birth: East Melbourne, Vic
Date of Enlistment: 01 January 1943
Place of Enlistment: Melbourne, Vic
Next of Kin: Rupert PEARCE
Date of Discharge: 23 January 1946
Rank at Discharge: Warrant Officer
Posting at Discharge: 9 Aircrew Holding Unit
WW2 Honours and Gallantry: Nil
Prisoner of War: No
Return to top

Mid-Upper Gunner

Name: Archibald William THORNE (Tim)
Service: Royal Australian Air Force
Service Number: 430563
Date of Birth: 18 July 1921
Place of Birth: Bendigo, Vic
Date of Enlistment: 18 February 1943
Place of Enlistment: Melbourne, Vic
Next of Kin: A THORNE
Date of Discharge: 14 March 1946
Rank at Discharge: Warrant Officer
Posting at Discharge: 9 Aircrew Holding Unit
WW2 Honours and Gallantry: Nil
Prisoner of War: No
Return to top

Rear Gunner

Name: Grant Leslie PIEPER
Service: Royal Australian Air Force
Service Number: 12837
Date of Birth: 07 August 1921
Place of Birth: Kerang, Vic
Date of Enlistment: 31 January 1941
Place of Enlistment: Melbourne, Vic
Next of Kin: James PIEPER
Date of Discharge: 15 February 1946
Rank at Discharge: Warrant Officer
Posting at Discharge: 1 Personnel Depot
WW2 Honours and Gallantry: Nil
Prisoner of War: No
Return to top

Flight Engineer

Name: William H SQUIRE
Service: Royal Air Force
Service Number: 535723
Date and Place of Birth: .....
Date and Place of Enlistment: ..... **
Next of Kin: .....
Date, Rank and Posting at Discharge: .....
WW2 Honours and Gallantry: .....
Prisoner of War: .....

SQUIRE was not included in the photo of Flight Engineers, ~ June 1945 at 462 Squadron, Foulsham, so may have been on leave.

** From the website http://www.ab-ix.co.uk/rfc_raf.pdf which details RFC and RAF Service Numbers: No. 505001 to No. 549999 were allocated to Civilians, from October 1925, location not stated. This batch includes 535723 for SQUIRE. His rank was Sergeant so Sce No was not a re-issue (Officer). Had he already enlisted in the RAF before the war? or should his number have been 1535723? (i.e. in a series issued from April 1941 at Padgate.) Can anyone supply more information? Contact
Return to top

Special Duties – WINDOW Dispenser

This crew carried out 8 Special Duties WINDOW Ops

Maurice Kevin MOORE 432059 RAAF – 3 Ops
John Francis WALL 432918 RAAF – 1 Op
Garth FINK 435339 RAAF – 1 Op
William Henry GELL 433869 – 2 Ops
William THOMSON 437601 RAAF – 1 Op

MOORE, WALL and FINK were in the first batch of RAAF Wireless Operators posted to 462 Squadron in January 1945 for WINDOW duties.
GELL and THOMSON were in the second batch of RAAF W/Ops posted to 462 Squadron in early April 1945 for WINDOW duties.

Please see also SD WINDOW page for more details, and photos. John (Jack) WALL may be seen in the group photo on VE Day, and Maurice MOORE has two photos from his RAAF Service File.
Return to top

Additional Crew Information – Sources – National Archives of Australia (RAAF Service File A9300, Operational Record Book (ORB))

For the six RAAF personnel in the Crew, the only Service File that had been digitized by the National Archives of Australia was that for Navigator Charles Harrison DAY (i.e. at the time of creation of this page for 06 September 2019). Some detail can be extracted from DAY's file to indicate the possible formation and postings of this crew. Any further information on any of this crew would be welcome ( Contact ) Four of the six RAAF personnel were from Victoria, one from South Australia, and one from New South Wales.

July 1944 – Crew of 6 possibly formed at 27 Operational Training Unit, Lichfield, training in Wellington bombers.
Nav DAY was posted TO 27 OTU on 04 July 1944 and crews usually formed soon after arrival at an OTU.

October 1944 – Crew posted to 41 Base, Acaster Malbis.
Nav DAY was posted to 41 Base on 20 October 1944. The crew would have been posted together after completion of Operational Training.

November 1944 – Crew posted to 74 Base, 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit, Marston Moor.
Nav DAY was posted to 74 Base on 07 November 1944. The crew would have been posted together for conversion to Halifax bombers. Flight Engineer SQUIRE would have joined the crew at the HCU to make up the final crew of 7.

March 1945 – Crew posted TO 462 Squadron Foulsham.
Nav DAY was posted TO 462 Squadron Foulsham on 15 March 1945. The trained crew would have been posted together for Operational Duties. Pilot FULLER was listed with the Officers; however all 6 NCO's from this crew were named consecutively in the NCO postings, which appears to support this theory.

Crew possibly on Leave in late March 1945 – Nav DAY was on leave from 22 to 30 March 1945.

Pilot Fuller did not fly as 2nd Pilot with any crew. No doubt there were familiarisation flights after the crew's arrival and before their first Op on 08 April 1945, but these flights are not listed in the ORB. They would be recorded in the Crew's Log Books.

Crew Ops at 462 Squadron – total of 8 Ops, see later section.

Crew possibly on Leave in late April – Nav DAY was on leave from 26 April to 02 May 1945.
Crew possibly on Leave in early June 1945 – Nav DAY was on leave from 30 May to 07 June 1945.
The crew most likely participated in post-war Cook's Tours over Europe, however those flights did not usually list names of Pilot or crew in the ORB.

None of the crew were named in group photos at Foulsham, which had either been taken before their arrival in mid-March 1945, or in the case of the F/Eng photo of early June, when they were most likely on leave. There are no photos of this crew or individuals at the Australian War Memorial or in any of the three main books written about 462 Squadron (McGindle 2000, Batten 2005, Lax and Kane-Maguire 2008 – book details in Acknowledgements.)

September 1945 – Crew of seven were posted FROM 462 Squadron.
On 7 September 1945, 462 Squadron was notified that all RAAF personnel were to be cleared from RAF Station Foulsham, sent on leave, then to report to RAF Station Gamston in 3 drafts on 17th, 18th and 19th September.

First draft of Officers and NCOs, cleared on 11 September 1945, proceeded on leave 12 September, to report to 9 Air Crew Holding Unit (9 ACHU) RAF Gamston on 17 September 1945.
Pilot FULLER is listed as 18th of 27 Officers in the first draft.
F/Eng SQUIRE was listed as the first name of the first draft of 38 NCOs, being the first of 25 Flight Engineers posted FROM 462 Squadron, cleared on 11 September 1945.

Second draft of Officers and NCOs, cleared on 13 September 1945, and to proceed on leave that night, to report to RAF Gamston on 18 September 1945.
Nav DAY was listed as 5th of the 41 Officers in the second draft. His RAAF A9300 Service File lists his Posting FROM 462 Squadron Foulsham as 17 September 1945, posted TO 9 Aircrew Holding Unit, Gamston.
B/Aimer HILL was 5th in the group of 41 NCOs in the second draft.

Third draft of Officers and NCOs, cleared on 14 September 1945, to proceed on leave that night, to report to RAF Gamston on 19 September 1945.
W/Op PEARCE (3rd) & R/AG PIEPER (68th) and MU/AG THORNE (69th) were listed with the 90 NCOs of the third draft.

In general, it appears that the three drafts were not on-posted as complete former crews, but were organised into groupings of Officers and NCOs, with the various trades together i.e. Bomb Aimers together, Navs together, etc, so that Gunners PIEPER and THORNE were posted FROM 462 Squadron together, but the other members of their crew were separated.

The following table shows Rank for the crew members at various times.

Errors in initials and Service Numbers in the ORB – Forms 540 Postings, and Forms 541 Ops.
FULLER – Incorrect Service Number 528538 (instead of 428558)
DAY – incorrect initials C W and incorrect Service Numbers 41674, 416818, 416718. (instead of C H and 416748)
HILL – no errors
PEARCE – Incorrect Service Number 430912 (instead of 430192)
THORNE – incorrect initials A N and incorrect Service Numbers 430536 (instead of A W and 430563)
PIEPER – incorrect initials D L and J L (instead of G L)
SQUIRE – initial listing as 535733 (instead of 535723, see also earlier comments about his Service Number)

MU/AG THORNE – two listings on WW2 Nominal Roll, both with same name, same date of birth, same RAAF Service Number, with one file listing his Rank at Discharge as Warrant Officer. The second file has many sections marked as "Unknown" and lists his Rank at Discharge as Pilot Officer. His RAAF Service File has not yet been digitized so his final Rank was not able to be checked.

R/AG PIEPER – his locality at enlistment in January 1941 was Coburg, Vic.

F/Eng SQUIRE – The RAF Service File for Flight Engineer SQUIRE was not available from the UK. His name or number was not located in the RAF List for July 1945, so at that time he had not been commissioned. He was not in the F/Eng Group photo of June 1945, and is therefore assumed to have been on leave.
Return to top

Navigator Charles Harrison DAY – from his RAAF Service File A9300, NAA, photos in previous section.
The same event or events recorded on different documents, may vary in date by one or two days, sometimes more.

23 May 1941 – Enrolled in the RAAF Reserve, at 5 Recruiting Centre, (5 RC) Adelaide, South Australia; age 19 years and 2 months; vision 6/6 both eyes; hearing 20/20 both ears (other details similar or same as at enlistment on 11 September 1941).

11 September 1941 – Enlisted in Citizen Air Force, at 5 RC, Adelaide, SA; for duration of War and 12 months thereafter; age 19 years and 6 months, single, address 155 Burnside Rd, Burnside, SA; civil occupation Bank Clerk; no previous defence force service; Education – Intermediate and Leaving Certificates; height 6 feet 1 inch; 190 lb; fair complexion, blue eyes, fair hair; Church of England; next-of-kin Essington DAY, (father) of Clare, SA; additional contact Eva Florence DAY (mother) of 23 High St, Burnside, SA.
11 September 1941 – Allocated Service Number 416748
11 September 1941 – Mustered as Air Crew V; classified as Aircraftman 2 (AC2)
11 September 1941 – Posted to 5 Initial Training School (5 ITS), Western Australia

05 November 1941 – Re-mustered as Air Crew V (P) for training as Pilot
31 January 1942 – Re-mustered as Air Crew II (P) for training as Pilot
31 January 1942 – Promoted to Leading Air Craftman (LAC)
07 February 1942 – Posted to 9 Elementary Flying Training School (9 EFTS), Cunderdin, WA

06 April 1942 – Re-mustered as Air Crew II (O) for training as Observer
08 April 1942 – Posted to 5 ITS, Clontarf, WA

29 April 1942 – Posted to 2 Air Observers School (2 AOS), Mt Gambier, SA
23 July 1942 – Completed No. 24 (O) Course, at 2 AOS, Passed

27 July 1942 – Posted to 2 Bombing and Gunnery School (2 BAGS), Port Pirie, SA
24 September 1942 – Completed No. 24 Air Observers Course, at 2 BAGS, Passed
24 September 1942 – Awarded Air Observer's Badge (also as 11 September, and 17 September 1942)

28 September 1942 – Posted to 2 Air Navigation School (2 ANS), Nhill, Vic
15 October 1942 – Completed No. 24 (O) Air Observers Course; Qual in Astro Navigation (at 2 ANS), Passed
15 October 1942 – Re-mustered as Air Observer (2 ANS)
15 October 1942 – Promoted to Sergeant
16 October 1942 – Posted to 4 Embarkation Depot (4 ED), Mitcham, SA

01 December 1942 – Posted to 1 Reserve Personnel Pool (1 RPP), Townsville, Queensland
15 December 1942 – Posted to 1 Rescue and Communication Sqdn (location not recorded, New Guinea?)

25 January 1943 – Re-mustered as Navigator (B)

08 February 1943 – Posted to 1 RPP, Townsville, Qld
18 February 1943 – Posted to 3 ED, Sandgate, Qld
03 March 1943 – Posted to 71 Squadron, Lowood, Qld

01 May 1943 – Promoted to Flight Sergeant

11 August 1943 – Moved to Detached Flight, 71 Squadron, Coff's Harbour, NSW

16 October 1943 – Posted to 4 ED, Mitcham, SA
28 October 1943 – Posted to 2 ED, Sydney New South Wales
04 November 1943 – Embarked from 2 ED, Sydney, for Canada

19 November 1943 – Disembarked in Canada, attached to RCAF
19 November 1943 – Posted to 1 "M" Depot, Toronto, Ontario (Manning Depot)
31 December 1943 – Photo of F/Sgt C H DAY somewhere in Canada, as shown in previous section
28 February 1944 – Posted to 1 "Y" Depot, Lachine, Quebec, Canada
Details of training or other duties in Canada, not included in Service File
24 March 1944 – Detached from RCAF
24 March 1944 – Embarked from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, for the UK; attached to the RAF

02 April 1944 – Disembarked in UK
03 April 1944 – Posted to 11 Personnel Despatch & Reception Centre (11 PDRC) Brighton, UK

01 May 1944 – Promoted to Warrant Officer

30 May 1944 – Posted to 4 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit (4 (O) AFU), RAF Station, West Freugh, Scotland; admitted to Station Sick Quarters (SSQ), West Freugh from 1 to 5 June 1944, and 26 June 1944

04 July 1944 – Posted to 27 Operational Training Unit (27 OTU) Lichfield; admitted to Gosford (sic) Hospital on 24 July 1944 while stationed at 27 OTU (possibly in error for Cosford?); training in Wellington Bombers.

20 October 1944 – Posted to 41 Base, Acaster Malbis, Yorkshire; attached to Aircrew School
07 November 1944 – Posted to 74 Base, 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit (1652 HCU), Marston Moor, Yorkshire, for conversion to Halifax Heavy Bombers. F/Engineer Squire would have joined the crew at HCU.

15 March 1945 – Posted to 462 Squadron, Foulsham, for Operational Duties (also dated as 14 March 1945)
22 March 1945 – on leave to 30 March 1945

April 1945 – Operational Duties in Halifax Bombers – refer to later section

24 April 1945 – Discharged and Appointment to a Commission in RAAF; letter dated 07 June 1945, Commission with effect from 24 April 1945
25 April 1945 – Promotion to rank of Pilot Officer
26 April 1945 – on leave to 02 May 1945
30 May 1945 – on leave to 07 June 1945
07 June 1945 – Re-posted to 462 Squadron at Officer rank

11 September 1945 – Report on Pilot Officer DAY for period from 07 June 1945 to 17 September 1945 .....
(DAY's marital status was still recorded as single on this form, with his mother listed as next-of-kin.)
Report – general conduct satisfactory; of temperate habits;
Scores for personality, character and leadership 5; Initiative 5;
Scores for zeal and energy in performance of duties 4; reliability and judgment 4; ability on present duties 4; general standard of professional ability 4.
General remarks hand-written by C. O. (P. M. PAULL) – "This officer has initiative but is inclined to be careless in carrying out orders and is not lazy in applying his skill. He is an above average navigator and member of aircrew but take little interest in administrative work." (The word "not" was crossed out.)
Signed by Wing Commander P M PAULL on 10 September 1945.
No additional comment other than initials "I K" counter-signed by Group Captain V Willis, 11 September 1945.
(DAY's original training was as Pilot, then as Observer/Navigator, so most likely he had no interest in admin work. The report did not prevent his promotion to F/O the following month.)

17 September 1945 – Posted FROM 462 Squadron TO RAF Gamston, 9 Air Crew Holding Unit (9 ACHU), thence to 11 PDRC (undated) for repatriation to Australia.

Undated 1945 – marriage, sometime after 11 September 1945; information added to Officer's record of Service, with next-of-kin changed to wife Joan DAY, of "Underwood", Springfield, Chelmsford, Essex, UK; Mrs Eva Florence HAY (mother, 23 High St, Burnside, SA) listed as additional person to be notified in event of casualty, and of her son's arrival back in Australia.

25 October 1945 – Promotion to rank of Flying Officer

Undated – embarked from UK
16 February 1946 – Disembarked Western Australia, ex overseas
16 February 1946 – Posted to 5 Personnel Depot (5 PD), WA
28 March 1946 – Posted to 4 PD, Springbank, SA
12 April 1946 – Appointment terminated on Demobilisation, home address 23 High St, Burnside, SA

01 July 1946 – Certificate of Service and Discharge as Airman, and Certificate of Service as Officer

Character and Training – AC2 and Sgt – Character V G, and Training in Trade – Satisfactory
Character and Trade Proficiency – F/Sgt and W/O, Nav (B) – Character V G, and Trade Proficiency – Superior
Medals – 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, Eligible for Return from Active Service Badge.

Flying details (completed at 9 ACHU, Gamston) – total all flying 674 hours 20 m

Training
2 AOS Aus, Anson aircraft 58 hours 20 m
2 BAGS Aus, BAttle aircraft, 24 hours 50 m
2 ANS Aus, Anson aircraft, 29 Hours 10 m
71 Squadron, Aus, Anson aircraft, 329 Hours 30 m
462 Squadron, UK, Halifax 50 hours

Advanced Training
4 (O) AFU UK, Anson aircraft, 21 Hours 55 m
27 OTU UK, Wellington aircraft, 63 Hours 05 m
1652 HCU UK, Halifax aircraft, 46 Hours 10 m

Operational Flying
462 Squadron, Foulsham UK, Halifax aircraft, 8 Ops, 51 hours 20 m

07 October 1948 – Application for Enrolment in the Permanent Air Force Reserve, married, current address 23 High St, Burnside, SA; current occupation Bank Clerk at Bank of NSW, Adelaide, SA
13 October 1948 – Passed by Staff Officer Recruiting, and posted to Class A, of Permanent Air Force Reserve, effective 01 June 1948 (back-dated ? or error in effective date?)
Return to top

Crew Ops – sourced from the 462 Squadron Operational Record Book
The usual crew of seven flew 8 Ops together from 08 to 22 April 1945 – no early returns, one landing away, no aircraft damage, no other problems. There were no changes or substitutions to the crew.
Special Duties – Spoofs (WINDOW) x 8 Ops, crew of 8, with 8th man to dispense WINDOW
Special Duties – Radio Counter Measures – NIL carried out by this Crew

The following Table lists the 8 Ops for FULLER and his crew.

Aircraft Serial Numbers and Code numbers Z5- are thought to be correct, based on photographs and various Log Books. (There are discrepancies within the ORB, and between the ORB and various authors.)
Times up and down in red are night flights.
Target "Schönebeck x 11 (of 12)" means 11 aircraft tasked from 462 Squadron to the target of Schönebeck, with the FULLER crew one of the 11, with the additional crew attacking a different target (and so on for the other dates).
Target "Lechfeld x 7" means 7 aircraft tasked from 462 Squadron to the target of Lechfeld, with the FULLER crew being one of those 7 (and so on for the other dates).
There were variations in the spelling of Target names in the original ORB – listed as originally recorded (sic) in the Target column, with corrected Target name in Comments column.
Code for Op Type – SD Special Duties; SP Spoof;
W WINDOW; TI Target Indicators; F Flares; B Bombing; I Incendiaries.

 

NA147 Z5-G x 1 Op – two photos of this aircraft on Halifax page
NA148 Z5-Z x 1 Op – one photo of this aircraft on Halifax page
PN432 Z5-E x 5 Ops – no photos (this aircraft recorded in various log books and by various authors as Z5-E (late March and early April 1945) or Z5-J (late April 1945)
MZ429 Z5-F x 1 Op – no photos
Return to top

to Squadron Crews UK