No photo of the PALTRIDGE Crew has yet been located.
If you can assist, please make contact.

Also welcome are photos of individual crew members.
Thank you.

Crew 58, 462 Squadron, Driffield, Yorkshire, and Foulsham, Norfolk

Pilot: Thomas Ian PALTRIDGE 429991 RAAF
Navigator: Kevin Joseph SHANAHAN 414732 RAAF
Bomb Aimer: John Bede HARRINGTON 433510 RAAF
Mid-Upper Gunner: Laurence George HYMUS 441320 RAAF
Rear Gunner: John Samuel STEVENS 439918 RAAF
Special Duties, WINDOW: Ronald Eric CASTERTON and others
Wireless Operator: Kevin John DENNIS 437121 RAAF
Flight Engineer: Charles Gallacher WELSH 1837071 RAFVR
New Wireless Operator: Frank William HALE 1377927 RAFVR
New Flight Engineer: H P MURRAY 1866940 RAF(VR?)

Links to Additional Crew Information; and Crew Ops;
War connections between PALTRIDGE and BALL crews;
Halifax RG384 Z5-M – loss and casualties;
Honours and Awards – Commendation, MID, and CGM

Reference sources – Australian WW2 Nominal Roll; The National Archives of Australia (RAAF Service Files; RAAF Casualty Files; 462 Squadron Operational Record Book; Aircraft Loss File); Information, documents, photos from the Charles Gallacher WELSH Archives (from his niece Cath Davies, and son Colin Welsh).

 

National Archives of Australia: A9300, 429991

Thomas Ian PALTRIDGE at enlistment, 10 October 1942.

Pilot

Name: Thomas Ian PALTRIDGE
Service: Royal Australian Air Force
Service Number: 429991
Date of Birth: 05 February 1924
Place of Birth: Kingswood, South Australia
Date of Enlistment:10 October 1942
Place of Enlistment: Adelaide, SA
Next of Kin: Thomas PALTRIDGE
Date of Discharge: 20 March 1946
Rank at Discharge: Flying Officer
Posting at Discharge: 9 Aircrew Holding Unit (9 ACHU)
Mentioned in Despatches
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Navigator

Name: Kevin Joseph SHANAHAN
Service: Royal Australian Air Force
Service Number: 414732
Date of Birth: 30 May 1918
Place of Birth: Townsville, Queensland
Date of Enlistment: 08 November 1941
Place of Enlistment: Brisbane, Qld
Next of Kin: Gladys SHANAHAN
Date of Discharge: 15 January 1946
Rank at Discharge: Flight Lieutenant
Posting at Discharge: 462 Squadron
Mentioned in Despatches
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Bomb Aimer

Name: John Bede HARRINGTON
Service: Royal Australian Air Force
Service Number: 433510
Date of Birth: 12 July 1924
Place of Birth: Eastwood, New South Wales
Date of Enlistment: 13 April 1943
Place of Enlistment: Sydney, NSW
Next of Kin: John HARRINGTON
Date of Discharge: 17 January 1946
Rank at Discharge: Flying Officer
Posting at Discharge: 9 ACHU

Photos of HARRINGTON below

National Archives of Australia: A9300, 433510

John Bede HARRINGTON, at enlistment on 13 April 1943. He enlisted at 2 Recruiting Centre, Sydney, and was posted to 2 Recruit Depot the same day.

National Archives of Australia: A9300, 433510

John Bede HARRINGTON, in training on 21 May 1943. He was posted from 2 RD to 2 ITS Bradfield Park, Sydney on 22 May 1943.
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National Archives of Australia: A9301, 441320

Laurence George HYMUS, at enlistment on 03 July 1943

Mid-Upper Gunner

Name: Laurence George HYMUS
Service: Royal Australian Air Force
Service Number: 441320
Date of Birth: 12 April 1925
Place of Birth: Fremantle, Western Australia
Date of Enlistment: 03 July 1943
Place of Enlistment: Perth, WA
Next of Kin: Bertha HYMUS
Date of Discharge: 18 June 1946
Rank at Discharge: Warrant Officer
Posting at Discharge: 9 ACHU
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Rear Gunner

Name: John Samuel STEVENS
Service: Royal Australian Air Force
Service Number: 439918
Date of Birth: 20 August 1924
Place of Birth: Ashfield, NSW
Date of Enlistment: 14 August 1943
Place of Enlistment: Sydney, NSW
Next of Kin: Joan STEVENS
Date of Discharge: 14 May 1946
Rank at Discharge: Warrant Officer
Posting at Discharge: 9 ACHU
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Special Duties WINDOW

Name: Ronald Eric CASTERTON
Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Service Number: 1684825
Date of Birth: 20 October 1922
Marital Status: Married, 24 February 1945
Next of Kin: Mrs Bette Casterton (wife)
Rank: Sergeant

Ronald George IRMINGER 437308 RAAF (SDW only)
Kenneth Allan SAXBY 424824 RAAF (usually W/OP, various crews)
James Wallis KIMBER 436523 RAAF x 2 Ops (SDW only)
Gregory Patrick FARRELL 432776 RAAF x 2 Ops (SDW only)
Errol Dallas TISDELL 432388 RAAF (SDW only; KIA 17 April 1945, LODDER Crew 44)

A Window Dispenser flew in each of the 8 Ops for this crew, details in later section. Unless otherwise noted above, each SDW only flew on 1 Op with this crew. CASTERTON was with the PALTRIDGE crew when their Halifax crashed on 13 March 1945. He was usually Rear Gunner for LODDER Crew 44, photo on that crew's page (PoW after loss of Halifax MZ467 Z5-C with LODDER, 17 April 1945).
Please refer also to SD WINDOW page (photos and information)
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National Archives of Australia: A9301, 437121

Kevin John DENNIS, at enlistment on 07 November 1942

Wireless Operator

Name: Kevin John DENNIS
Service: Royal Australian Air Force
Service Number: 437121
Date of Birth: 05 September 1924
Place of Birth: Ceduna, SA
Date of Enlistment: 07 November 1942
Place of Enlistment: Adelaide, SA
Next of Kin: Olive DENNIS
Date of Discharge: 07 June 1946
Rank at Discharge: Warrant Officer
Posting at Discharge: 462 Squadron

Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (CGM)

Australian War Memorial: P01318.001

Above: Kevin John DENNIS and wife Olive, on their Wedding Day, 01 December 1945 at Hoylake, on the Wirral Peninsula, Merseyside.

Australian War Memorial: P01318.001

Above: Kevin John DENNIS and wife Olive, on their Wedding Day, 01 December 1945. (Cropped and enlarged from the photos at left.)

The AWM caption for this photos states that it was "at their wedding reception which was held at The Leas and The Royal in St Ames. The reception was organised by Wing Commander "Daddy" Davis, Commanding Officer of the rehabilitation centre which WO Dennis attended." (i.e. 2 Medical Rehabilitation Unit, RAF Hoylake)

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Scans of 4 documents and 9 photos from the Charles Gallacher WELSH Archives, were supplied by his niece Cath Davies, and his son Colin Welsh, and are used here with their permission.

Charles Gallacher WELSH, age 25, 4th Engineer on S.S. Mansepool, Merchant Navy, between 13 October 1939 and 02 January 1940.

 

Flight Engineer

Name: Charles Gallacher WELSH (Chic)
Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Service Number: 1837071
Date of Birth: 18 April 1914
Place of Birth: 5 High St, Lochee, Dundee, Scotland
Date and Place of Enlistment: .... *

Date of Death: 13 March 1945
Rank at Death: Sergeant
Posting at Death: 462 Squadron RAAF, Foulsham
Age at Death: 30
Grave reference: Plot 16, Row 10, Grave 10
Clichy Northern Cemetery,
Hauts-de-Seine, France

Husband of Joan M WELSH of Barry, Glamorgan, Wales;
Son of Charles Gallacher WELSH and Rachel WELSH.

* From the website http://www.ab-ix.co.uk/rfc_raf.pdf which details RFC and RAF Service Numbers: No. 1830001 to No. 1838234 were allocated from October 1942 at Penarth (Wales). This batch includes 1837071 for WELSH.

Charles Gallacher Welsh, Record 1, 4th Engineer, S.S. Mansepool, Ships's Official Number 139250, of West Hartlepool. Note the Rank or Rating change from 3rd to 4th Engineer, and his name incorrectly recorded as Charles Galahad Welsh. Stamped at the M M Office in Barry, Wales on 13 October 1939. (Merchant Marine Office)

 

Charles Gallacher Welsh, Record 2, 4th Engineer, S.S. Mansepool, again with the incorrect middle name Galahad; birth 18 April 1914, Dundee; Health Insurance with B. U. of Oddfellows, Lochee Branch. Description at that time was brown hair, hazel eyes, medium complexion, height 5 ft 6½ inches. Certificate of Discharge A, Number R194657, issued.

 

Charles Gallacher Welsh, Record 3, 4th Engineer, S.S. Mansepool, indicating he had received a 1st Issue of Certificate of Discharge A, signed by Charles G Welsh and stamped at M. M. Office, Cardiff, Wales on 03 January 1940.

 

Official Wedding Party for Charles Gallacher Welsh and wife Joan (née COLLINS) on their Wedding Day, 03 August 1940, Barry, Wales.
L to R: Groom's parents Charles and Rachel WELSH, Best Man William WELSH (brother), Groom, Bride, Bridesmaid Mary COLLINS (Bride's sister), Mr COLLINS (father of the Bride and Bridesmaid).

 

Charles Gallacher Welsh with his wife Joan's youngest sisters, (back) Dora Collins age 6, (front) Noreen Collins age 9; photo taken 1940 at Blaina, South Wales, to where the children had been evacuated out of Barry, due to air raids; staying with family, Dora and Joe Corbett.

Charles Gallacher Welsh (Chic) and wife Joan (née Johanna Margaret COLLINS) on their Wedding Day, 03 August 1940, at St. Helens Roman Catholic Church, Wyndham Street, Barry, in Wales.

Charles Gallacher Welsh, wife Joan, son Charles (b. 1941) and son Colin (b. 1942); photo taken in 1944, at Jerome Studios, Cardiff.

 

Original photo named: "Chic, Kev and Jack, Leeds, December 1944", but Chic's family did not know who Kev and Jack were.
They have been identified as follows:
L to R: Flight Engineer Sgt Charles Gallacher WELSH 1837071 RAFVR; Wireless Operator F/Sgt Kevin John DENNIS 437121 RAAF; Bomb Aimer Sgt John Bede HARRINGTON 433510 RAAF.

Death Notice of Charles Gallacher WELSH, which was published in "The Evening Telegraph" Dundee, Saturday 17 March 1945, page 5.

WELSH.–Killed on active service during March,
1945, Sgt. Charles (Chic) Welsh, R.A.F.,
dearly loved eldest son of Mr and Mrs C.
Welsh, 5 High St., Lochee. Deeply mourned.
R.I.P.

The children of Charles Gallacher WELSH
Charles (b. June 1941), Joan (b. April 1945) and Colin (b. October 1942); photo taken in 1948 at Jerome Studios, Cardiff. Sadly Joan was born a month after her father's death on 13 March 1945.

Chic's Widow, Johanna Margaret WELSH (Joan) remarried on 26 December 1968, to Leslie Alfred MOSELY; the above photo shows Joan and Les cutting the Wedding Cake, with Joan's niece Cath "looking on in anticipation". (Cath, daughter of Joan's youngest sister Dora who was shown with Chic in a previous photo)

 

Joan MOSELY (previously Joan WELSH, née COLLINS) at Clichy Northern Cemetery, France, at the Headstone of Charles Gallacher WELSH. The photo is undated, but in spring as daffodils were in flower. It was sometime before 2002, as Joan and husband Les MOSELY visited France together, and Les died in 2002.

 

Headstone Inscription

1837071 SERGEANT
C. G. WELSH
FLIGHT ENGINEER
ROYAL AIR FORCE
14TH MARCH 1945 AGE 30

†

ETERNAL REST
GIVE UNTO HIM, O LORD;
AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT
SHINE UPON HIM

Headstone shown here with incorrect date of death 14th March 1945; CWGC Online has correct date 13th March; original CWGC records had been amended;
a later photograph by John DANN (17 May 2016) shows the inscribed date on Headstone had been corrected to 13th March 1945.
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Replacement Wireless Operator

Name: Frank William HALE
Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Service Number: 1377927
Date and Place of Birth: .....
Date and Place of Enlistment: .....*
Next of Kin: .....
Posted from 462 Squadron: May 1945
Posting from 462 Squadron: Warrant Officer

* From the website http://www.ab-ix.co.uk/rfc_raf.pdf which details RFC and RAF Service Numbers: No. 1375001 to No. 1400000 were allocated from August 1940 at Euston. This batch includes 1377927 for HALE.
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Replacement Flight Engineer

Name: H P MURRAY (Pete)
Service: Royal Air Force (Volunteer Reserve?)
Service Number: 1866940
Date and Place of Birth: ......
Date and Place of Enlistment: ......*
Next of Kin: ......
Posted from 462 Squadron: August 1945
Rank and Posting from 462 Squadron: Flight Sergeant

* From the website http://www.ab-ix.co.uk/rfc_raf.pdf which details RFC and RAF Service Numbers: No. 1860001 to No. 1869700 were allocated from October 1942 at Cardington. This batch includes 1866940 for MURRAY.
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Additional Crew Information

Summary – based on information extracted for the available RAAF Service Files, and the 462 Squadron ORB
July 1944, original crew of 6 probably formed on, or soon after 04 July, at 27 Operational Training Unit (27 OTU) Lichfield, training in Wellington aircraft
29 September 1944 – Crew of 6 posted to 41 Base, Acaster Malbis, Aircrew Training School
07 November 1944 – Crew of 6 posted to 74 Base, 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit (1652 HCU) , Marston Moor, where Flight Engineer joined to make a crew of 7, training in Halifax Aircraft
13 /14 February 1945 – Crew of 7 posted to 462 Squadron, Foulsham

On arrival at 462 Squadron – 2 Officers – Nav SHANAHAN was Flight Lieutenant; Pilot PALTRIDGE was Pilot Officer;
5 NCOs – W/Op DENNIS, R/AG STEVENS, and MU/AG HYMUS were all Flight Sergeants;
B/Aimer HARRINGTON and F/Eng WELSH were both Sergeants.

Posted from 462 Squadron
April 1945 – W/Op DENNIS, was now a Warrant Officer
July 1945 – MU/AG HYMUS, was Flight Sergeant
September 1945 – Nav SHANAHAN was Flight Lieutenant; Pilot PALTRIDGE was now a Flying Officer;
B/Aimer HARRINGTON was now a Pilot Officer; and R/AG STEVENS was now a Warrant Officer.

 

Pilot: Thomas Ian PALTRIDGE 429991 RAAF – Information from his RAAF Service File A9300, from the National Archives of Australia; dates for the same event may vary by 1 or 2 days on various forms.

07 February 1942 – Enrolment in the RAAF Reserve, at No. 5 Recruiting Centre (5 RC), Adelaide, South Australia; age 18 years, date of birth 05 Feb 1924; single, living in Kingswood, SA; Church of England; previous service of 2 years in the St. Peter's College Cadet Corps; Civilian occupation Bank Clerk; No prior civil convictions; height 5 ft 7 inches, weight 118 lb, 20/20 hearing, 6/6 Vision, Normal Colour vision; blue eyes, fair hair, fair complexion. no scars or marks; Medical category A1B, A3B.

10 October 1942 – Enlistment in the RAAF, Citizen Air Force at 5 RC, Adelaide; for the Duration of the War and 12 months thereafter; aged 18 years and 8 months; Education to Intermediate Certificate, and Leaving Certificate; next-of-kin, father, Thomas Castle PALTRIDGE, of same address, Kingswood, SA; other details as for the RAAF Reserve (Photo at enlistment in previous section)
10 October 1942 – Allocated Service Number 429991
10 October 1942 – Classified as Aircraftman 2 (AC2)
10 October 1942 – Mustered as Air Crew V
10 October 1942 – Posted to 4 Initial Training School (4 ITS), Victor Harbor, SA

02 Dec 1942 – Re-mustered as Air Crew V (P)

02 Jan 1943 – Re-mustered as Air Crew II (P)
02 Jan 1943 – Re-classified as Leading Aircraftman (LAC)
07 Jan 1943 – Posted to 11 Elementary Flying Training School (11 EFTS), Benalla, Victoria

10 April 1943 – Posted to 7 Service Flying Training School (7 SFTS) Deniliquin, New South Wales

08 June 1943 – Commenced No. 35 P Course, to 23 Sep 1943; PASS

22 Sep 1943 – Awarded Flying Badge
23 Sep 1943 – Re-mustered as Airman Pilot
23 Sep 1943 – Promoted to Sergeant

24 or 30 Sep 1943 – Posted to 4 Embarkation Depot (4 ED), Mitcham, SA

05 Oct 1943 – Posted to 2 ED, Bradfield Park, Sydney

13 Oct 1943 – Embarked from Sydney, proceeding to the UK

21 Nov 1943 – Attached to RAF
21 Nov 1943 – Disembarked in the UK
21 Nov 1943 – Posted to 11 Personnel Despatch and Reception Centre (11 PDRC), Brighton

14 Feb 1944 – Attached to 50 Group, HQ (to 03 March 1944)
09 March 1944 – Attached to 53 base, HQ (to 18 April 1944)

23 March 1944 – Promoted to Flight Sergeant

18 April 1944 – Posted to No 3 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit (3 (P) AFU), South Cerney, Gloucestershire
30 May 1944 – Completion of Training at 1539 BAT Flight, at 3 (P) AFU (Beam Approach Training)

04 July 1944 – Posted to 27 Operational Training Unit (27 OTU), Lichfield; Wellington aircraft (crew formation)

09 Sep 1944 – Discharged from the RAAF "On being Granted a Commission" with effect from 09 Sep 1944
10 Sep 1944 – Appointed to rank of Pilot Officer

29 Sep 1944 – Attached to Air Crew Training School
29 Sep 1944 – Posted to 41 Base, Acaster Malbis

Missing records for postings between 29 Sep 1944 and 26 Sep 1945; estimated from RAAF files of crew members)
Not recorded – (07 Nov 1944) – Posted to 74 Base, 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit (1652 HCU), Marston Moor; conversion to Halifax aircraft

Not recorded – (13 Feb 1945) – Posted to 462 Squadron, 100 Group, Foulsham, Halifax aircraft

10 March 1945 – Promoted to rank of Flying Officer (by coincidence, the same day as the crew's first Op)

Crew Ops listed in Later Section

13 March 1945 – Landed in Juvincourt, France (see Loss and Casualty Files in later section)

21 Mar 1945 – 9 days Leave, with Rail Warrant (after return from France on 17 March 1945, with 5 of the crew)

15 Aug to 21 Aug 1945 – 7 Days Leave
22 Aug to 23 Aug 1945 – 48 Hrs VJ Leave

11 Sep 1945 – Clothing Coupons issued to PALTRIDGE, by Adjutant F/Lt D G HIGHMAN, at 462 Squadron

Not recorded – (17 Sep 1945) – Posted TO 9 ACHU, Gamston, from 462 Squadron. Paltridge was the 11th Officer in the 1st draft to be cleared on 11 Sep, to proceed on leave, thence to report to 9 ACHU Gamston on 17 Sep 1945.

26 Sep 1945 – Posted to 11 PDRC, for repatriation to Australia

Undated – (late Sep 1945) – Embarked from the UK to proceed to Australia

29 Oct 1945 – Disembarked in Aus, ex the UK
29 Oct 1945 – Posted to 5 Personnel Depot (5 PD)
29 Oct 1945 – Payment in Lieu of all outstanding Leave (total of 74 days)

09 Dec 1945 – Posted to 4 PD

20 March 1946 – Termination of Appointment to the RAAF, on Demobilisation; current address care of the Union Bank, Millicent, SA

04 June 1946 – Certificate of Service and Discharge, covering time as an Airman; and Certificate of Service 23769 as an Officer in the RAAF (receipt signed by T I PALTRIDGE on 20 June 1946

General Conduct Sheet – "Certified No Entry" at all training locations

Service Conduct Sheet – "Certified No Entry" 29 Oct 1943, and on 14 June 1945

Character and Trade Proficiency –
Character all VG
Trade Proficiency – AC2 to F/Sgt – all rated Under Training; or On Strength For Training Only;
Trade Proficiency – as F/Sgt Pilot – Skill – Superior; Ability as NCO – Superior; Recommended for Commission on 09 Sep 1944

Awards and Medals
Mentioned in Despatches (see later section, Honours and Awards for members of this crew)
1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal; Eligible for Returned from Active Service Badge
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Navigator: Kevin Joseph SHANAHAN 414732 RAAF – his RAAF Service File A9300, at the National Archives of Australia had not yet been digitised when preparing this web page for May 2020. His A705 Casualty File has been sourced for use in the later Loss and Casualties section.

He was not named in the Feb/March Group photo of Navigators, but may be one of the unidentified Officers in the second later Nav Group, at 462 Squadron, Foulsham.
No additional information – if you can assist, please make contact.
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Bomb Aimer: John Bede HARRINGTON 433510 RAAF – Information from his RAAF Service File A9300, National Archives of Australia; dates for the same event may vary by 1 or 2 days on various forms.

13 Apr 1943 – Enlisted in the RAAF, Citizen Air Force; at No 2 Recruiting Centre, (2 RC) Sydney, for the Duration of the War and 12 months thereafter; single, date of birth 12 July 1924; Education to Intermediate Certificate, and Leaving Certificate; civilian occupation Solicitor's Clerk; home address at Bronte, NSW; no previous civil convictions, no previous service in Armed Forces; Roman Catholic; aged 18 years 8 months; height 5 ft 10 inches; weight 169 lb; vision 6/6; blue eyes, brown hair, medium complexion; some scars and other distinctive marks; Medical Category A1B, A3B; next-of-kin, father, John Patrick HARRINGTON, of Bronte Beach, NSW; additional Person to be informed in event of Casualty – Rev F T HARRINGTON, Catholic Presbytery, Guildford NSW (Photo at enlistment in previous section)
13 Apr 1943 – Allocated Service Number 433510;
13 Apr 1943 – Classified as Aircraftman 2 (AC2);
13 Apr 1943 – Mustered as Air Crew V (Guard)
13 Apr 1943 – Posted to No 2 Recruit Depot (2 RD), Tocumwal, NSW

21 May 1943 – Photo shown in previous section
22 May 1943 – Posted to 2 Initial Training School (2 ITS), Bradfield Park, Sydney

12 July 1943 – Re-mustered as Air Crew V (N) (B)
16 July 1943 – Posted to Posted to 6 ITS, Bradfield Park, Sydney

13 Aug 1943 – Completed Air Crew Course (N) (B) – PASS
14 Aug 1943 – Re-mustered as Air Crew II (B)
14 Aug 1943 – Promoted to Leading Aircraftman (LAC)
14 Aug 1943 – Posted to 2 Embarkation Depot (2 ED), Bradfield Park

28 Aug 1943 – Posted to 1 ED, Ascot Vale, Melbourne
30 Aug 1943 – Attached to RCAF
30 Aug 1943 – Embarked from Melbourne, proceeding to Canada

14 Sep 1943 – Disembarked in Canada
14 or 18 Sep 1943 – Posted to 3 "Manning" Depot, (3 MD) Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

16/17 Oct 1943 – Posted to 8 Bombing and Gunnery School (8 BAGS), Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada

11 Nov 1943 – Posted to Calgary
12 Nov 1943 – Posted back from Calgary (may be clerical error?)

30 Jan 1944 – Posted to 2 Air Observers School (2 AOS), Edmonton

10 March 1944 – Awarded Air Bomber's Badge
10 March 1944 – Re-mustered as Air Bomber (AB)
10 March 1944 – Promoted to Sergeant

21/22 March 1944 – Posted to 1 'Y Depot, Lachine
29 Mar 1944 – Cessation of Attachment to RCAF
30 March 1944 – Embarked from Halifax, Nova Scotia, proceeding to the UK
30 March 1944 – Attached to RAF

08 Apr 1944 – Disembarked in the UK
08 Apr 1944 – Posted to 11 PDRC, Brighton, UK

23 May 1944 – Posted to 9 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit (9 (O) AFU), Wales

04 July 1944 – Posted to 27 OTU, Lichfield (crew formation)

10 Sep 1944 – Promoted to Flight Sergeant

29 Sep 1944 – Posted to 41 Base, Acaster Malbis
29 Sep 1944 – Attached to Aircrew Training School

07 Nov 1944 – Posted to 74 Base, 1652 HCU, Marston Moor

13 Feb 1945 – Posted to 462 Squadron, Foulsham, 100 Group, for Operational Duties

Crew Ops listed in later section

20 June 1945 – Discharged from the RAAF "On being Appointed to a Commission" with effect from 21 June 1945
21 June 1945 – Appointed to rank of Pilot Officer

15 Aug to 23 Aug 1945 – 7 Days Leave, and 48 Hrs VJ Leave, taken as Airman
12 Sep to 16 Sep 1945 – 5 Days Leave

17 Sep 1945 – Posted to 9 ACHU, Gamston, for repatriation to Australia

28 Oct 1945 – Embarked form Southampton, UK

27 Nov 1945 – Ceased Attachment to RAF
28 Nov 1945 – Disembarked in Sydney
28 Nov 1945 – Posted to 2 PD, Bradfield Park, Sydney
29 Nov to 06 Dec 1945 – Recreation Leave
07 Dec 1945 to 06 Jan 1946 – Disembarkation Leave

21 Dec 1945 – Promoted to Flying Officer

17 Jan 1946 – Termination of Appointment to the RAAF, on Demobilisation; home address at Bronte, NSW

16 May 1946 – Certificate of Service and Discharge, covering time as an Airman; and Certificate of Service 21805 as an Officer on the Active List of the RAAF

Training, Non-Operational and Operational Details

Training
2 AOS Edmonton, Canada – Anson aircraft 41 h 05 m
8 BAGS Lethbridge, Canada – Anson and Bolingbroke 18 h

Advanced training
9 (O) AFU Llandwrog, Wales – Anson, 41 h 30 m
27 OTU Lichfield – Wellington 83 h 20 m
1652 HCU, Marston Moor – Halifax II and III 47 h 10 m
462 Squadron, Foulsham – Halifax III 59 h 45 m

Operational Flying
462 Squadron Bomber, Foulsham, Norfolk 8 Ops, 50 h 20 m
(Total Flying time as recorded on Form not correct; either a maths error, or missing data)

Service Conduct Sheet – Certified No Entry, 30 Aug 1943 (on leaving Australia) and 04 Dec 1945 (?)

Character and Trade Proficiency –
Character all VG
Trade Proficiency – AC2 to Sgt – all rated Under Training; or On Strength For Training Only;
Trade Proficiency – as F/Sgt Air Bomber – Skill – Satisfactory; Ability as NCO – Superior; Recommended for Commission by S/Ldr Swann, 462 Squadron, 20 June 1945

Medals
1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal; Eligible for Returned from Active Service Badge
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Mid-Upper Gunner: Laurence George HYMUS 441320 RAAF – Information from his RAAF Service File A9301, at the National Archives of Australia; dates for the same event may vary by 1 or 2 days, or more, on various forms.

24 May 1943 – Application for Air Crew at RAAF Recruiting Centre, Perth, Western Australia; aged 18 years and 1 month; date of birth 12 April 1925; single; residence at Bassendean, WA; next-of-kin, mother, Mrs Bertha M HYMUS of Rockingham, WA; attended Fremantle Boys School 1939-1940 with Pass, and Leaving certificate in subjects Maths, Drawing, English, Geography, Science; attended Fremantle Technical College 1940 – July 1941; currently studying part-time at Meidland Junction Technical College, subjects Maths and Technical Drawing; civil occupation – Apprentice Car and Wagon Builder; no previous flying experience; no previous service in Defence Forces; sports Swimming, tennis and Cricket; height 5 ft 7 inches; weight 150 lb; signature of Laurence, signature by his Mother in agreement; signatures of a Rockingham Teacher (known for 6 years) and Rockingham Church of England Minister (known for 9 years), certifying as to Laurence's "moral courage and suitability for Service" in the RAAF.
25 May 1943 – Application approved by "Man Power Officer"
04 Jun 1943 – Application provisionally recommended for Air Crew

03 July 1943 – Enlisted in the RAAF, Citizen Air Force at No. 4 Recruiting Centre, Perth, WA; details mostly same as for the Application, with a few changes and additions; aged 18 years and 2 months; born in Fremantle, WA; Church of England; still serving as an Apprentice Car and Wagon Builder, 1½ years with employer; height 5 ft 6½ inches; weight 144 lb; 6/6 vision; blue eyes, fair hair, fair complexion; some scars; Medical Category A1B, A3B (Photo at enlistment in previous section)
03 July 1943 – Allocated RAAF Service Number 441320
03 July 1943 – Classified as AC2
03 July 1943 – Mustered as Air Crew V
03 July 1943 – Posted to 5 ITS, Clontarf, WA

07 Sep 1943 – Re-mustered as Air Crew V (G)
11 Sep 1943 – Reclassified as LAC
16 Sep 1943 – Posted to 1 Wireless and Gunnery School (1 WAGS), Ballarat, Victoria

13 Dec 1943 – Posted to 1 ED, Ransford, Melbourne, Vic

07 Jan 1944 – Posted to 1 Air Gunnery School (1 AGS), West Sale, Vic;
09 Jan 19544 – Commenced No. 41 Air Gunners Course; completed 03 Feb 1944; PASS

03 Feb 1944 – Awarded Air Gunner's Badge
03 Feb 1944 – Re-mustered as Air Gunner
03 Feb 1944 – Promoted to Sergeant
04 Feb 1944 – Posted to 5 ED, Subiaco
23 Feb 1944 – Posted to 5 ED, Subiaco (may be error)

07 or 13 March 1944 – Posted to 2 ED, Bradfield Park, Sydney
22 March 1944 – Embarked from Sydney, to proceed to the UK

15 May 1944 – Attached to RAF
15 May 1944 – Disembarked in the UK
15 May 1944 – Posted to 11 PDRC, Brighton, UK

04 July 1944 – Posted to 27 OTU, Lichfield (crew formation)

03 Aug 1944 – Promoted to Flight Sergeant

29 Sep 1944 – Posted to 41 Base, Acaster Malbis
29 Sep 1944 – Attached to Aircrew Training School

07 Nov 1944 – Posted to 74 Base, 1652 HCU, Marston Moor

13 Feb 1945 – Posted to 462 Squadron, Foulsham, 100 Group, for Operational Duties (one form as 466 Sq)

03 March 1945 – Admitted to SSQ; discharged on 08 March 1945 (no details, missed one training fight, out in time for Op 1)

Crew Ops listed in later section

21 Mar 1945 – 9 days Leave, with Rail Warrant (after return from France on 17 March 1945, with 5 of the crew)

01 June to 09 June – 7 Days Leave, and 48 Hrs VE Leave
10 June 1945 – Admitted to "Norfolk and Norwich Hospital", until 15 June 1945 (no details)
15 June 1945 – Transferred to St. Andrew's Hospital (no details)

11 June 1945 – Posted to RAF Foulsham (as supernumerary)

03 Aug 1945 – Promoted to Warrant Officer

09 Oct 1945 – Attached to R S Loughborough, Leicestershire, (1 day)
09 Oct 1945 – Attached to MRU Loughborough, Leics. (Medical Rehab Unit)

20 Oct 1945 – Posted to 9 ACHU, Gamston
31 Oct 1945 – Attached to Aus S S Q (Station Sick Quarters)
01 or 04 Nov 1945 – Posted to 11 PDRC (as supernumerary)
13 Nov 1945 – Posted back to 9 ACHU, Gamston
23 Dec 1945 – Posted back to 11 PDRC (as supernumerary)

18 Feb 1946 – Posted to 11 PDRC (N/E)
18 Feb 1946 – Embarked from UK, for Australia

24 Mar 1946 – Ceased Attachment to RAF
24 Mar 1946 – Disembarked in Perth, WA, ex UK
24 Mar 1946 – Posted to 5 PD, Perth, WA

01 May 1946 – Posted fro 5 PD, for Discharge from RAAF

18 Jun 1946 – Discharged from RAAF, on Demobilisation
18 Jun 1946 – Payment in Lieu of all outstanding Leave (total of 67 days)

26 Aug 1946 – Certificate of Service and Discharge signed as received by L G HYMUS

Training, Non-Operational and Operational Details

Training (form incomplete, no aircraft, no hours)
BAGS, Ballarat
AGS, Sale

Advanced training
Nothing listed

Operational Flying
462 Squadron Bomber, Foulsham, Norfolk 9 Ops, 70 h
(Total Flying time as recorded seems inaccurate, or he may have substituted on an extra Op not recorded in the ORB)

"Crimes and Punishment" (which did not seem to affect his later promotions or postings)
24 Feb 1944 – at 5 ED, Subiaco; Sgt; Offence "In that he was conducting a Gambling School on 24 Feb 1944" Severely reprimanded on 25 Feb 1944 (what were they gambling?)
Undated (March?) 1944 – at 2 ED, Bradfield Park, Sydney; Forfeited 2 pound 10 shillings and 1p, for discrepancies in clothing (assume RAAF issue)
16 July 1944 – at 27 OTU, Lichfield; Sgt was "Convicted for the larceny of a pedal cycle value 3 pound, the property of Sgt D.... B.... – Civil Court, 10 Aug 1944, fined 3 Pound (the ubiquitous push bike was the mode of transport around air bases – so perhaps not a deliberate theft, but just taking and riding the nearest one that happened to be available?)
19 Jan 1946 – while at 11 PDRC, Brighton, "Neglected to attend the parade of Draft 124 as it was his duty to do so" – convicted 06 Feb 1946; Reprimanded

Character and Trade Proficiency –
Character all VG
Trade Proficiency – AC2 to Sgt – all rated Under Training; or On Strength For Training Only;
Trade Proficiency – as F/Sgt Air Gunner – Skill – Satisfactory; Ability as NCO – Satisfactory
Trade Proficiency – as W/O Air Gunner – On transient Strength Only

Medals
1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45;
Australian Service Medal 1939-45; Return from Active Service Badge
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Rear Gunner: John Samuel STEVENS 439918 RAAF – his RAAF Service File A9301, at the National Archives of Australia, had not yet been digitised when preparing this web page for May 2020.

No photo or additional information – if you can assist, please make contact.
He may be one of the un-identified NCOs in the Group photos of Air Gunners of A Flight, or of B Flight, of March 1945, at 462 Squadron, Foulsham.
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Special Duties, WINDOW – Ronald Eric CASTERTON and others

For CASTERTON and TISDELL, please refer to LODDER Crew 44
For the others, including TISDELL, but excluding SAXBY, please refer to Special Duties – Window
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Wireless Operator: Kevin John DENNIS 437121 RAAF – Information from his RAAF Service File A9301, at the National Archives of Australia; His A705 Casualty File had not yet been digitised when preparing this web page for May 2020.

14 September 1942 – Application for Aircrew, at RAAF Recruiting centre. Adelaide, SA; single; next-of-kin, father, a teacher in Angaston, SA; mother Irene Gladys; Education at Nuriootpa HIgh School 1936-1940, Intermediate Certificate 1939 in subjects English, Physics, Maths II, Arithmetic, Geography, History, Book Keeping; Leaving Certificate 1940 in subjects English, Physics, Geography, History; Civilian Occupation as Bank Clerk in National Bank at Pinnaroo, SA; no previous flying; sports of tennis, football, swimming, cricket, bike-riding; height 5 ft 7 inches, weight 10 st 7 lb; counter-signed by father giving agreement; signatures of 2 persons (known for 6 years), certifying as to Kevin's "moral courage and suitability for Service" in the RAAF.
Stamped as Approved by Man Power Officer.

07 Nov 1942 – Enlisted in the RAAF, Citizen Air Force, at No. 5 RC Adelaide; for the duration of the War and 12 months thereafter; age 18 years 2 months; civilian occupation Bank Clerk; Methodist, next-of-kin, father, Leslie Hammill DENNIS, of Angaston, SA; height 5 ft 6 inches, weight 144 lb; 6/6 vision; Blue eyes, dark brown hair, medium complexion, no scars or mark; Medical Category A3B; other details as per Application for Aircrew.
07 Nov 1942 – Allocated RAAF Service Number 437121
07 Nov 1942 – Mustered as Air Crew V
07 Nov 1942 – Classified as AC2
07 Nov 1942 – Posted to 4 ITS, Victor Harbor, SA

28 Dec 1942 – Re-mustered as Air Crew V (G)
02 Jan 1943 – Reclassified as LAC
07 Jan 1943 – Posted to 1 WAGS, Ballarat, Vic, Course 38

04 Feb 1943 – Commenced No. 35 Wireless Air Gunner's Course, to 21 Jul 1943, PASS

22 July 1943 – Re-mustered as Air Crew II (G)
26 Jul 1943 – Posted to 3 Bombing and Gunnery School (3 BAGS), Sale, Vic; Course 38
26 Jul 1943 – Commenced No. 35 Gunnery Course, to 19 Aug 1943, PASS; Modified Musketry Course, PASS

19 Aug 1943 – Awarded Air Gunner's Badge
19 Aug 1943 – Re-mustered as Wireless Operator Air Gunner (WOAG)
19 Aug 1943 – Promoted to Sergeant

02 Sep 1943 – Posted to 1 AOS, Cootamundra, NSW

28 Oct 1943 – Posted to 4 ED, Mitcham, North Adelaide, SA
26 Nov 1943 – Posted to 2 ED, Bradfield Park, Sydney
26 or 27 Nov 1943 – Embarked from Sydney, for the UK

10 Jan 1944 – Disembarked in the UK
10 Jan 1944 – Posted to 11 PDRC, Brighton, UK

19 Feb 1944 – Promoted to Flight Sergeant

22 Feb 1944 – Attached to Aircrew NCO School, to 21 Mar 1944
23 Feb 1944 – Commenced Aircrew NCO Course, to 22 Mar 1944, PASS

11 Mar 1944 – Re-mustered as Wireless Operator (Air)

12 April 1944 – Posted to No. 2 Radio School, Yatesbury; attached until 06 Jun 1944

06 Jun 1944 – Posted to 8 (O) AFU; Course 59 W/Op to 03 Jul 1944 – PASS

04 July 1944 – Posted to 27 OTU, Lichfield (crew formation)

29 Sep 1944 – Posted to 41 Base, Acaster Malbis
29 Sep 1944 – Attached to Aircrew Training School

07 Nov 1944 – Posted to 74 Base, 1652 HCU, Marston Moor

13 Feb 1945 – Posted to 462 Squadron, Foulsham, 100 Group, for Operational Duties

19 Feb 1945 – Promoted to Warrant Officer

Crew Ops listed in later section

13 Mar 1945 – Severely injured while on Air Operations

14 Mar 1945 – Posted to RAF Station, Foulsham (N/E/S) (Non Effective Sick, due to injuries)

14 Mar 1945 – Admitted to 2420 General Hospital, US Army, Plant No. 4362; until 20 Mar 1945
19 Mar 1945 – Listed in Daily Casualty Report (Name, rank, Service Number, mustering) – "Injured Air Operations, from United KIngdom"
20 Mar 1945 – Admitted to 2420 General Hospital, US Army, Plant No. 4334; until 24 Mar 1945
24 Mar 1945 – Admitted to RAF General Hospital, Church Village; until 26 Jun 1945 – Compound fracture of right foot, duration of disability a further 6 months; medical repatriation to Australia advised, leaving early Nov 1945; "A" Class Invalid requiring medical care and attention and should be accommodated in the Sick Bay of the ship.

13 Jul 1945 – London Gazette, Award of Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Flying) – See later section on Honours and Awards for members of this crew

31 Aug 1945 – Attached to No. 2 Medical Rehabilitation Unit (2 MRU), RAF Hoylake, until 02 Nov 1945

20 Oct 1945 – Posted to Gamston
25 Oct 1945 – Possible inclusion in Draft leaving UK on 09 Nov 1945

01 Nov 1945 – Medical Board report – 1. Compound fracture right cuboid; 2. Compound fracture right metatarsal; 3 torn peroneal tendon; Remedial exercises carried out; wound on outer side of foot gradually closing in under U.V.R. Inversion tendency being corrected by temporary means, awaiting arrival of items for permanent method; Fit for Class "A" Invalid for repatriation.

03 Nov 1945 – Posted to 11 PDRC (as supernumerary) for "Repatriation to Australia on medical grounds"

14 Nov 1945 – Attached to 14 ACHU

01 Dec 1945 – Marriage at West Kirby, Hoylake, Cheshire; next-of-kin changed from his father, Leslie DENNIS, to wife Olive DENNIS (wedding photo in previous section)

20 Dec 1945 – Embarked from UK, for Australia
20 Dec 1945 – Admitted to "Durban Castle" Ships Hospital, until 17 Jan 1946, during voyage to Australia

17 Jan 1946 – Disembarked in Perth, WA
17 Jan 1946 – Posted to 5 PD, Subiaco, WA
26 April 1946 – Patient in Hospital, pending Medical Board

17 May 1946 – Posted to 4 PD, Springbank, SA

07 Jun 1946 – Discharged from RAAF, on Demobilisation; address Angaston, SA
07 Jun 1946 – Payment in Lieu of all outstanding Leave (total of 74 days)

04 Oct 1946 – Certificate of Service and Discharge signed as received by K J DENNIS

Service Conduct Sheet – "Certified NO Entry: for 18 Dec 1943, and 31 Oct 1945

Character and Trade Proficiency –
Character all VG
Trade Proficiency – AC2 to Sgt – all rated Under Training; or On Strength For Training Only;
Trade Proficiency – as F/Sgt, Wireless Op Air Gunner – Skill – Superior; Ability as NCO – Satisfactory
Trade Proficiency – as W/O W/Op(Air) – Skill – Superior; Ability as NCO – Satisfactory

Honours and Awards
Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Flying);
1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45;
Australian Service Medal 1939-45; Returned from Active Service Badge
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Replacement Wireless Operator: Frank William HALE 1377927 RAFVR

His posting TO 462 Squadron was not located in the ORB.
He carried out 15 Ops, according to the ORB.

His Op 1 and 2, on 04 and 06 November 1944 was as substitute W/Op for ROBERTSON Crew 18.

Ops 3 and 4, on 29 November and 21 December 1944 for FINLEY Crew 15.
On 29 Dec 1944, in the 462 Squadron relocation from Driffield to Foulsham, HALE was W/Op with the FINLEY Crew in the the Air Party, flying in Halifax MZ429 Z5-F.
Op 5 – 03 February 1945, Special Duties (WINDOW) for SCHARER Crew 54
Op 6 – 24 February 1945, SD(WIN) for BYROM Crew 16
Op 7 – 05 March, SD(WIN) for WHATLING Crew 42
Op 8 – 07 March as substitute W/Op for UTHER Crew 26
Op 9 – 09 March, SD(WIN) for WHATLING Crew 42

Ops 10 to 15 – 08 April to 22 April, as substitute W/Op with PALTRIDGE crew (see later Crew Ops section)

HALE may be seen in the group photo of Wireless Operators, 462 Squadron Foulsham, March 1945 – back row, 3rd from left. DENNIs, whom he replaced is back row, far right.

He was posted FROM 462 Squadron, at the rank of Warrant Officer in May 1945.

HALE later received a Commission, to the rank of Pilot Officer, new Sce No 199383, with effect from 21 June 1945; published in the London Gazette Issue 37231, 21 August 1945, page 4212.

No additional information – if you can assist, please make contact.
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Replacement Flight Engineer: H P MURRAY 1866940 RAF(VR?)

Posted to 462 Squadron as Sergeant, in August 1944 with SHANNON Crew 01

He carried out 23 Ops with 12 different crews – during 1944 and 1945

20 Ops as Flight Engineer DURING 1944 and 1945 –
5 with SHANNON; 1 with FINLEY; 2 with CARTHY; 2 with HOURIGAN, and 1 with each of TAYLOR, SHARP, JACKSON, SCHARER; the last 6 of his 23 Ops were as Flight Engineer with PALTRIDGE crew.

On 29 December 1944, in the 462 Squadron relocation from Driffield to Foulsham, MURRAY travelled in the Rail Party.

3 Ops IN 1945 as Special Duties (WINDOW), with LANGWORTHY, SIMMS, WHATLING

Posted from 462 Squadron in August 1945, at the rank of Flight Sergeant

Murray may be seen in the SHANNON Crew 01 photo;
and in the group photo of Flight Engineers, 462 Squadron Driffield, front row, 6th from left. He was not in the F/Eng group photo, Foulsham, June 1945.

No additional information – if you can assist, please make contact.
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Flight Engineer Charles Gallacher WELSH 1837071 RAFVR – Personal information, documents, and photos received from Cath DAVIES and Colin WELSH – thank you. Information also from 462 Squadron Operational Record Book, Aircraft Loss File (Crew Arrival Form), and Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC).

Personal and family information, pre-war employment (from Cath and Colin)

Charles Gallacher WELSH was born on the 18 April 1914 at 5 High Street, Lochee, Dundee, Angus, Scotland as the second child of Charles Gallacher WELSH and Rachel Robertson REIDIE (note the spelling is Gallacher). He had three siblings, namely: Grace Forsyth WELSH, William Reidie WELSH, and Francis McDade WELSH. Charles WELSH Senior was a yarn dyer – possibly at Camperdown Jute Works.
Charles was known as Chic. He lived at 5 High Street, Lochee and attended the local Roman Catholic School.

Chic moved to Wales to work as a civilian aero engine fitter at RAF Llandow Airfields and RAF St Athan, South Wales. It was whilst working at Llandow and living in rental accommodation at 84 Morel Street, Barry, that he met his wife to be, Johanna Margaret Collins – known as Joan.

In the 1939 Register of the Civilian population of England and Wales, taken on 29 September 1939 (ref: The National Archives – TNA, online) – Charles WELSH was registered as living at 84 Morel St, Barry, single, date of birth 18 April 1914, occupation "Aero Engine Fitter" at "Maintenance Unit, St Athan" (not Hero-Engine Fitter as indexed by Ancestry, although no doubt, to his family he was a Hero).

From 13 October 1939 to 3 January 1940, Chic was engaged as a 4th Engineer in the Merchant Navy, aboard SS Mansepool which was a British cargo steamer built in 1928. (Photo and documents in previous section)

Joan and Chic were married at St. Helens Roman Catholic Church, Wyndham Street, Barry on 3 August 1940.
Chic's best man was his brother William Welsh and the bridesmaid was Joan's sister Mary Collins. After the ceremony there was a party at 13 Treharne Road (Joan’s family home). The Second World War was on so there was no honeymoon. On the way to the church the air raid siren sounded, they decided to carry on and luckily the raid was of a short duration. (Wedding photos in previous section) After Chic & Joan were married they lived at 2 St David's Avenue, Llantwit Major, South Wales, which was a R.A.F. house. After Chic's death the family returned to live in Barry.
Johanna Margaret Collins was born in Barry, Wales, 13 July 1920, and was the eldest of 9 children, sister Dora was born 1934 and Noreen, 1931. (Photos of husband Chic with her sisters shown in previous section.)

Joan and Chic had three children:- Charles born June 1941, Colin born October 1942, and Joan born April 1945, sadly, a month after Chic’s death. (Photos of family in previous section)

After Chic's death, John Harrington's mother kept in touch with Joan. She very kindly sent food parcels over to Joan in Barry, and even tried to convince Joan to go and live in Australia, and was willing to sponsor her. Joan and Chic's sons Charles & Colin met with John Harrington in May 2000 when they were in Sydney for a wedding. John couldn't understand why Charles & Colin didn't sound anything like Chic – who was very Scottish, quite hard to understand, with a very strong accent. Charles & Colin both had a Welsh accent.

Joan WELSH remarried on 26 December 1968 to Leslie Alfred MOSELY (photo in previous section).
Les died in 2002.
Johanna Margaret MOSELY, Joan (previously WELSH, née Collins) died in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England on 15 January 2017.

WW2 Service Details

RAFVR Service File is not yet available as of 01 May 2020, however it is known that Chic joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserves, Service Number 1837071. He trained as a RAF Flight Engineer, back at St Athan, and when training was completed attained the rank of Sergeant.

After he was posted to 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit at Marston Moor, Yorkshire, probably early November 1944, he joined the Crew piloted by Thomas Ian PALTRIDGE. A photo of Chic and fellow crew members Kev and Jack, on leave in Leeds in December 1944 was shown previously.

Side issue ...... Identification of " Kev and Jack" with Chic, Leeds, December 1944 as follows ......
Kev and Jack in darker uniforms, so probably Aussie;
Leeds, so probably on leave from Marston Moor (the other 6 crew RAAF members were posted to MM on 07 Nov 1944, and F/Eng joined crew there); assume probably a short 24 or 48 hour leave, too far for Chic to return home to his family in Wales, so probably crew mates, as they usually had leave at same time;
Sgt Chic, Flight Sergeant Kev (with small crown above the Sergeant 3-stripes); and Sgt Jack;
Two with name Kevin in crew – Nav Kevin Joseph SHANAHAN was a Flight Lieutenant by 13 February 1945, so he could not have been either of those two;
Other Kevin was a Flight Sergeant on 13 February 1945 – so looked at RAAF Service File for enlistment photo of Wireless Operator Kevin John DENNIS – yes, it's him, height about 5’6" – he is also in the Wireless Operator group photo at 462 Squadron, location Foulsham (back row, far right). He received a Conspicuous Gallantry Medal for his actions on the night that Chic died.
Jack – possibly a nick name for John; and 2 with name John in crew;
Rear Gunner John Samuel STEVENS  – no RAAF Service File available;
Bomb Aimer John Bede HARRINGTON - looked at his enlistment photo in RAAF Service File -  yes, it's him, height about 5’10";
Chic’s height from his SS Mansepool papers was 5’ 6½” – the three heights appear to suit the 3 in the Leeds photo, and their faces also match.
Identification – L to R – Flight Engineer Chic (as already known), Wireless Operator F/Sgt Kevin John DENNIS, and Bomb Aimer Sgt John Bede HARRINGTON.

After further training with this crew and Conversion to Halifax aircraft, the crew was posted to 462 Squadron, Foulsham in February 1945 – the RAAF crew members on 13 February, and Chic on 14 February 1945 (Crew Arrival Form transcription below). They were the 58th crew to be Posted to 462 Squadron, so known by authors and researchers as Crew 58.

Air Crew Arrival Form – 462 Squadron (completed and signed in his own handwriting)

14 February 1945 – Posted TO 462 Squadron from Marston Moor (1652 Heavy Conversion Unit)
Sergeant Charles Gallacher Welsh 1837071; date of birth 18 April 1914;
Term of Service for Duration of Present Emergency (D.O.P.E.)
Category Flight Engineer; trained in Halifax aircraft;
Married 03 August 1940; wife Joan M Welsh of 2 St David's Ave, Llantwit Major, Glamorgan, Wales;
Father, Charles Welsh of 5 High St, Lochee, Dundee, Angus, Scotland;
Roman Catholic; Medical category A1B, A3B, with added note "Turret Vision".
Signed and dated on 14 February 1945 by "Charles Welsh"

27 February 1945 – Cross Country Training Flight at night with Crew
06 March 1945 – Cross Country Training Flight, day, with Crew
10 March 1945 – 1st Op with Crew (see Ops Table in following section)

13 March 1945 – 2nd Op with Crew
13 March 1945 – Death on Active Service

Summarised below, details of his death and burial are included in transcriptions in later section (Halifax RG384 Z5-M – Loss and Casualties).

14 March 1945 – Buried in France – American Cemetery, Champigneul, Grave No. 61, Row 3, Plot D

14 March 1945 – Telegram to Mrs Joan Welsh in Wales advising of the death of her Husband, and to Mr Charles Welsh in Scotland advising of the death of his Son.

17 March 1945 – Death notice in the Dundee Evening Telegraph (see newspaper clipping in previous section)

17 March 1945 – Letter from Mrs Joan WELSH, TO 462 Squadron, requesting further details.

18 March 1945 – Letter from Wing Commander P M PAULL, 462 Squadron TO Mrs Joan M Welsh.

05 May 1945 – Graves Concentration Report, Commonwealth War Graves Commission CWGC) – exhumation from American Cemetery at Champigneul, and re-burial at Clichy Northern Cemetery, Hauts-de-Seine, France, Plot 16, Row 10, Grave 10.

06 October 1954 – Graves Registration Report, CWGC – this may also have been when the temporary cross was replaced with the permanent Headstone (photo in previous section).

Note: The name CHARLES GALLACHER WELSH was recorded on the Crew Arrival Form, in his own hand-writing, and signed by him on 14 February 1945, with very different letters "'G" and "C". This spelling is also included in an Ancestry Family Tree. However CWGC records WELSH's middle name as Gallagher, as do some other Ancestry Family Trees. Email advice (04 March 2020) from his family is that "GALLACHER" is correct, as per his birth certificate.
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Crew Ops – carried out by this crew during their posting to 462 Squadron, Foulsham.

The following table lists the 8 Ops for this crew, during March and April 1945. On all eight Ops they carried an extra 8th crew member for Special Duties to dispense WINDOW. This crew did not carry out any RCM duties.

There is no record of Pilot PALTRIDGE in the role of 2nd Pilot at 462 Squadron. The crew carried out a night cross country training flight on 27 February 1945, and a day cross country training flight on 06 March 1945.
All seven usual members of this crew flew their first 2 Ops together, without any substitutions.
After the death of their Flight Engineer, Sgt Charles Gallacher WELSH, and the severe injury to Wireless Operator Kevin John DENNIS, the Crew's replacement F/Eng F/Sgt Pete MURRAY and replacement W/Op W/O Frank HALE both carried out each of the last 6 Ops with this crew.

Aircraft Serials as listed in the Operational Record Book, Forms 541, from the National Archives of Australia.
Aircraft Code numbers Z5- were not listed in the ORB, but were compared and cross-referenced with other sources;
Times up and down in red were night flights.
Target "Munster x 4" means 4 aircraft tasked from 462 Squadron to the target of Munster, with PALTRIDGE's crew being one of those 4 (and so on for the other dates).
Target "Schönebeck x 11 (of 12)" means 11 aircraft tasked from 462 Squadron to the target of Schönebeck, with PALTRIDGE's crew being one of those 11; but with different duties for the extra 462 Squadron aircraft (and so on for the other dates).
Code for Op Type – SD Special Duties; SP Spoof; W WINDOW; B Bombing; TI Target Indicators; I Incendiaries; F Flares.
Comments include names of additional 8th crew member to dispense WINDOW. KIA Killed in Action; FTR Failed to Return

This crew did not have any early returns. On Op 2, flak damage to their aircraft caused them to land in France, with one crew member KIA, and 2 injured. On another Op they "landed away" due to low cloud at Base Foulsham, when all returning aircraft were diverted to land at three other airfields.

PN445 Z5-M – from 27 March 1945 (thus replaced RG384 Z5-M)
MZ431 Z5-J – photo on Halifax page
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Wartime connections between the PALTRIDGE Crew 58 and BALL Crew 59

13 and 14 February 1945 – PALTRIDGE Crew 58 – posted TO 462 Squadron FROM 1652 HCU, Marston Moor
16 February 1945 – BALL Crew 59 – posted TO 462 Squadron FROM 1652 HCU, Marston Moor
Both crews had the same or similar posting dates to/from 27 OTU Lichfield, and Acaster Malbis, as well as TO Marston Moor.
The 2 crews would have known each since early July 1944 at Lichfield, then at Acaster Malbis, also at Marston Moor when the Flight Engineers joined the crews, and finally at 462 Squadron, Foulsham.

Neither Pilot carried out any Op as 2nd Pilot at 462 Squadron.
06 March 1945 – Both crews are recorded – "two training cross-country flights were carried out by new crews:- Those of P/O T I Paltridge and P/O A. D. Ball"
10 March 1945 – Both crews on their first Op – BALL and Crew 59 in MZ341 Z5-N, which returned early due to engine trouble.
13 March 1945 – Both crews on Ops – BALL and Crew 59 in MZ913 Z5-N, which returned safely; R/AG HIBBERD recorded in his log book – "Saw 2 fighters. No Flak, Quiet Trip". There must have been some concern when PALTRIDGE in RG384 Z5-M did not return, followed by relief and sadness when news came through that they had landed in France, but with death and injuries, having encountered flak – definitely not a quiet trip for them.
10 April 1945 – Both crews on Ops – BALL and Crew 59 in NA240 Z5-V, which failed to Return from RCM Duties with the Main Force, with all listed as Missing. Not until after the War had ended was it known that the R/AG HIBBERD had been a PoW; and much later that the other seven members of the crew had died.
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Halifax RG384 Z5-M – Loss and Casualties – Information from the National Archives of Australia (NAA) – 462 Squadron Operational Record Book (ORB); RAAF Casualty File for Nav SHANAHAN; and Aircraft Loss File for RG384. Some of the information from each source is the same or similar, but is repeated here in each section to show the sequence of events.

462 Squadron ORB, Form 541, March 1945, 10 March 1945, Detail of Work Carried Out
RG384 – Crew listed by Service number, rank, name, crew position; Time Up, Time Down; and details....(quote, as written)

"This Aircraft successfully carried out a Special duty flight to the FRANKFURT area, during the Sortie the Starboard Wing and Engines were damaged by FLAK and the FLIGHT ENGINEER KILLED. The aircraft was crash landed at JUVENCOURT (sic) air field, and the NAVIGATOR and WIRELESS OPERATOR were injured. WINDOW was released, INCENDIARIES dropped."

(Their Loading was not listed in the ORB. However in a signal on 14 March from 462 Squadron, to the Air Ministry and others, the loading was listed as "(2 x 250 lb) Target Indicators, (4 x 750 lb) and (1 x 500 lb) Incendiary Clusters". In later documents and letters, it was recorded that the aircraft "landed", not "crash landed" at Juvincourt.)

462 Squadron ORB, Form 541, March 1945, March 1945, Summary of Events, Part I, Operations carried out

"FOULSHAM 13/3 – Another clear and sunny day. ELEVEN aircraft were required for Operations. ONE of these was our first serviceable "AIRBORNE CIGAR" and CARPET JAMMER aircraft. ELEVEN aircraft were airborne by 18.00 hours, and with the exception of TWO that encountered fighters, and ONE damaged by FLAK, all completed an uneventful sortie. Aircraft RG.384 "M"/462 (Captain – P/O T. I. PALTRIDGE) was forced to land at JUVINCOURT airfield, at 22.30 hours owing to FLAK damage. The Flight Engineer (Sgt. WELSH C. G.) was killed and he Navigator and Wireless Operator were slightly injured due to enemy action, and detained in hospital,. No further details are to hand."

"FOULSHAM 17/3 – Weather still clear with higher winds. The Squadron was not required for Operations. ONE aircraft PN.391 was sent to ST. ATHANS (sic) to have the A.B.C. and other RADAR equipment fitted. Apart from test flights, no other flying was carried out. P/O. T. I. PALTRIDGE returned from JUVINCOURT in a repaired HALIFAX aircraft of No. 240 Squadron with five members of his crew. The Wireless Operator remained in hospital with wounds in his feet."

RAAF Casualty File A705 SHANAHAN (details summarised below). When preparing this Crew's page (for 06 May 2020), the A705 Casualty File for DENNIS had not yet been digitised. Details in his file would have been similar initially, but would have more information over a longer time-line due to his greater injuries.

15 March 1945 – Cipher Message from AIRMIN Kingsway to RAAF Headquarters
Halifax RG384, 462 Squadron, landed at Juvincourt airfield 2215 hours night 13/14 March; FLAK damage;
SHANAHAN slightly injured; DENNIS injured;
PALTRIDGE, HARRINGTON, STEVENS, HYMUS, CASTERTON, all uninjured; WELSH killed;
all at No. 206 General Hospital; next-of-kin and fiancee to be notified for SHANAHAN and DENNIS

16 March 1945 – Telegraphic delivery to next of Kin (SHANAHAN's father); delivered on 17 March 1945

18 March 1945 – letter from W/Cdr P M PAULL of 462 Squadron, to Air Ministry, advising details then known, Aircraft, crew names, date, location, Navigator arm injury, W/Op foot injury, death of F/Eng; also that the W/Op DENNIS remained in hospital near Rheims, however others had returned to the Unit (i.e. 462 Squadron) by air. Additional information stated that "the fuselage, starboard mainplane and the starboard engines of the aircraft were damaged and the aircraft was categorised as A. C.
("Espionage in the Ether" 192 Squadron also based at Foulsham, flying Halifax – Appendix 8, page 213, Categories of damage and repairs 1941-1945, A. C.= Repairable on site by Contractor" – see Acknowledgements for book details)

19 March 1945 – reported on Daily Casualty Report No. 78, that SHANAHAN was slightly injured on Air Operations
20 March 1945 – Telegraph from Kingsway to RAAF Headquarters with request to "advise nature injuries"
21 March 1945 – Telegraph from Kingsway to RAAF Headquarters that Unit had verbally advised that SHANAHAN was now back at Unit and at present on leave; unable to advise injuries sustained but fully recovered; DENNIS still located in 206 General Hospital on Continent; verbal advice given by SHANAHAN was that DENNIS had injured leg, but not known which leg or severity of injury.

Loss of Aircraft File Halifax RG384 Z5-M

14 March 1945 – Signal from HQ Bomber Command, TO RAF Foulsham, stamped as received at 0945 hours Advised details of a Casualty Signal received from Juvincourt on 13 March 1945 -
Halifax Mark 3 RG 384; 462 Squadron Foulsham; landed at Juvincourt (A68) at 2215 on 13 March, dark;
List of names, rank and Service Numbers and whether injured or not;
Uninjured at A68; injured and deceased at 206 General Hospital;
aircraft equipped with Loran, H2S, Z Equipment, Fishpond, Gee Mk2;
Flak damage to fuselage, starboard engines, and starboard wing; provisional Category A C (i.e. repairable);

14 March 1945 – Signal from 462 Squadron Foulsham TO Air Ministry; 100 Group; Records Gloucester; and others
Details as previously listed of personnel and where currently located; time, place, reason for landing; names and contact details for Next-of-kin and others to notify; Equipment carried; etc; plus the aircraft's four engine numbers; plus the Loading – (2 x 250 lb) Target Indicators, (4 x 750 lb) and (1 x 500 lb) Incendiary Clusters.

14 March 1945, at 1410 hours – Telegraph to Mr Charles WELSH (not on file, but a similar Telegraph would have already been sent to Mrs WELSH)

"DEEPLY REGRET TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR SON, SERGEANT CHARLES GALLACHER WELSH LOST HIS LIFE ON 13TH MARCH, 1945 AS THE RESULT OF AIR OPERATIONS. LETTER FOLLOWS. HIS WIFE HAS BEEN INFORMED. PLEASE ACCEPY MY PROFOUND SYMPATHY.
Commanding Officer

14 March 1945 – Burial Return – for Sergeant C G WELSH, identity confirmed by Identification Disc; buried at Cemetery No. 1, Champigneul, Grave No. 61, Row 3, Plot D. Death 13 March, Burial 14 March.
Map Reference Paris-Reims Sheet no 8, 1:240000 (U.T. 4146)

15 March 1945 – Signal from Bomber Command Unit A68 (Juvincourt) TO RAF Foulsham – referencing instructions received that the crew of Halifax RG384 return in Halifax NP951 of 240 Squadron, which was now serviceable.
16 March – handwritten note that the Signatory (illegible) had "told Group Flying Control to confirm that it is OK for the crew to bring this aircraft back" (assume this was in reference to Halifax NP951, see ORB for 17 March when crew arrived back at Foulsham in a repaired HALIFAX aircraft of 240 Squadron).

17 March 1945 – Letter from Mrs Joan WELSH, TO 462 Squadron, requesting further details.

Dear Sir, ... I received your telegram, informing me of my husband's death, on Wed. 14th March. I would be very much obliged if you would let me have any available details, as soon as possible.
Thanking you, I remain, Yours Sincerely (Mrs) Joan Welsh.

18 March 1945 – Letter from Wing Commander P M PAULL, 462 Squadron TO Mrs Joan M Welsh.

Dear Mrs Welsh
It is with the deepest regret that I am writing to confirm the very unhappy news you have already received of the very sad loss of your Husband, Sergeant Charles Gallacher Welsh.
I should like to assure you how greatly his comrades in the Squadron admire the unselfish sacrifice your Husband has made so far from his home town in the cause of freedom and in the Service of the Country.
On the evening of the 13th March, 1945, the aircraft in which your Husband was Flight Engineer, was carrying out an attack on Frankfurt when the aircraft wa hit by flak and your Husband was mortally wounded.
The aircraft landed in France and owing to the time taken to communicate under present conditions, it was not possible to ascertain your wishes regarding the funeral in the time available, and the R.A.F. in France had therefore to arrange for his burial without reference to you. You will, I am sure, understand the necessity for this action and I sincerely trust that the arrangements they were able to make were as you would have wished.
Your Husband's funeral took place at Champigneul in the afternoon of the 14th March, 1945, the Service being conducted by the R.A.F. Padre, at the graveside, after which his body was interred in the United States of America Army cemetery at Champigneul in the Province of Marne, France. Full Service Honours were accorded, the coffin being carried by men of the R.A.F. who also provided a firing party and the coffin was covered with the Union Jack : The Last Post was sounded at the end.
You will wish to know that all war graves are taken care of by the Imperial War Commission (Woodburn House, Woodburn Green, Bucks.) whose duty it is to arrange both for the temporary marking of the grave by a wooden cross and ultimately by the erection of a headstone.
I am instructed to explain also that the question of re-internment, (sic) if this were desired, could only be considered at the conclusion of hostilities.
Your Husband's personal belongings have been carefully gathered together by a committee of Officers known as the 'Standing Committee Adjustment' and they will be forwarded to the Central Depository of the Royal Air Force, from whom, you will in due course, be receiving a further communication regarding them.
May I again express my greatest regret and the sympathy which all of us feel with you in the very sad loss which you have sustained.
Your very sincerely
(signature of) P M PAULL
Wing Commander

18 March 1945 – Letter from letter from W/Cdr P M PAULL of 462 Squadron, to Air Ministry, advising details then known (same as the letter in SHANAHAN's A705 Casualty File).

19 March 1945 – Telegraph from 151 Repair Unit to RAF Foulsham, regarding 462 Squadron Halifax Mk 3 RB384 located at A68 Juvincourt – confirmed as Category A.C. repair.

28 March 1945 – Signal from 462 Squadron TO Air Ministry; 100 Group; Records Gloucester; and others

"Further to previous signal dated 14th March 1945, the following information received from 2420 General Hospital, US Army, Plant No. 4362 .....Aus/437121 W/O Kevin John DENNIS admitted 14th March 1945. Tentative Diagnosis:- Partial amputation right foot, disability due to enemy action. Form 604 dated 24th March 1945 received from RAF General Hospital, Church Village, states that W/O DENNIS was admitted on 24th March from 109 American General Hospital."

23 April 1945 – Letter from Officer Commanding 462 Squadron TO Air Ministry (Archives), with the enclosure of the Log Book of Sgt C G Welsh, killed in flying accident.
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Honours and Awards –

Commendation – Pilot PALTRIDGE
Mentioned in Despatches (MID) – Pilot PALTRIDGE and Navigator SHANAHAN
Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (CGM) – Wireless Operator DENNIS
The Australian War Memorial states that only ten Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Flying) were awarded to members of the RAAF during WW2, and for Airmen is ranked only second to the Victoria Cross.

 

Commendation
462 Squadron ORB, July 1945, Form 540, Part IV, HONOURS AND AWARDS .... (quote)

"During the month the under mentioned Officer was COMMENDED for notable war services.
F/O. T. I. PALTRIDGE (Aus,429991) – Pilot
The following is an extract from Station Routine Orders, Serial No. 64/45
'The Commander in Chief wishes to bring to the notice of all ranks
in the Command, the Commendable conduct of the above mentioned Officer'. "
...... (end quote)

 

 

Mentioned in Despatches (MID) – Commendation by Commanding Officer for outstanding or meritorious service.
The Honour of MID for PALTRIDGE or SHANAHAN had not been mentioned in the ORB by the end of September 1945, when 462 Squadron was disbanded.
PALTRIDGE and SHANAHAN were each named as having been Mentioned in Despatches in the same Issue of the London Gazette, and the same issue of the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette.
No Citations have been located for either, but their Mentions were probably for their actions in flying and navigating their flak damaged aircraft to the airfield in France.

 

Thomas Ian PALTRIDGE 429991 RAAF, Record Card for Mentioned in Despatches, Australian War Memorial

Australian War Memorial: RCDIG1068972

The MID was promulgated in the London Gazette, Tuesday 01 January 1946, Issue 37407, page 125, line 21 in a list of 38 RAAF Flying Officers –
..... T. I. PALTRIDGE (AUS.429991) .....

and in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, Thursday, 24 January 1946, Issue No. 14, page 158 (in a list with others, including SHANAHAN)
..... Flying Officer Thomas Ian Paltridge, No. 429991 .....

 

 

Kevin Joseph SHANAHAN, 414732 RAAF, Record Card for Mentioned in Despatches, Australian War Memorial

Australian War Memorial: RCDIG1068967

The MID was promulgated in the London Gazette, Tuesday 01 January 1946, Issue 37407, page 124, line 36 in a list of 44 RAAF Flight Lieutenants –
..... K. J. SHANAHAN (AUS.414732) .....

and also in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, Thursday, 24 January 1946, Issue No. 14, page 158 (in a list with others, including PALTRIDGE)
..... Flight Lieutenant Keith Joseph Shanahan, No. 414732 .....

Kevin John DENNIS 437121 RAAF, Record Card for Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, Australian War Memorial

Australian War Memorial: RCDIG1068962

462 Squadron ORB, May 1945, Form 540, Part IV, HONOURS AND AWARDS .... (quote)
CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY MEDAL
W/O. K. J. DENNIS (A.437121)
Also listed for the month – one DSO, 4 x DFC; one DFM

The CGM was promulgated in the London Gazette, Friday 13 July 1945, Issue 37175, page 3622
with the Citation as shown, below left

Also in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette of 19 July 1945
According to the Card, the Award was presented by the Governor of South Australia at Government House, Adelaide, on 07 May 1947.

The news of his Award was also published in many Newspapers, with similar wording. For example – The Daily Telegraph, Sydney, Wednesday 18 July 1945, page 18, transcription as follows

C.G.M. Award To Young R.A.A.F. Man

MELBOURNE, Tuesday.–A 20-year-old R.A.A.F. wireless operator, W.O. Kevin John Dennis, of Angaston, (S.A.), has been awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal.
Although badly wounded when his Halifax was hit during a raid on Frankfurt Dennis carried on. Only nine other members of the R.A.A.F. have won the C.G.M., which is the second highest gallantry award available to non-commissioned R.A.A.F. men on flying duties. The V.C. is the highest. Dennis' award was one of four announced today by the Minister for Air (Mr. Drakeford).

On 01 June 2014, at the Bomber Command Commemorative Ceremony at the Australian War Memorial, DENNIS was again given public recognition as one of only 10 RAAF recipients of the Award in WW2.
Photos below

Kevin John DENNIS 437121 RAAF, Citation for Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, London Gazette 13 July 1945 ....(quote)

Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Flying)
Warrant Officer Kevin John DENNIS (AUS.437121),
R.A.A.F., 462 (R.A.A.F) Sqn.
One night in March, 1945, this officer was wireless operator in an aircraft detailed to attack Frankfurt. Shortly after leaving the target the aircraft was hit and severely damaged by anti-aircraft fire. One member of the crew was killed and Warrant Officer Dennis was badly wounded. The latter was hit in both legs and most of the foot of one of them was severed. Despite his wounds and the loss of much blood, Warrant Officer Dennis continued with his duties until the aircraft had landed. Although suffering great physical distress, this officer displayed courage, determination and devotion to duty of the highest order.

Kevin John DENNIS 437121 RAAF, WW2 Medals

From left to right:
Conspicuous Gallantry Medal
1939-45 Star
France and Germany Star
The Defence Medal
War Medal 1939-45
Australian Service Medal 1939-45

The AWM caption for this photo includes, in part .....
"...... the WOP [wireless operator] refused to leave his seat until the aircraft landed. He was bleeding profusely and even with first aid applied the bleeding could not be stopped. He carried on with his duties, and correctly received all messages passed to the aircraft, obtaining a weather report from a diversionary airfield in France to which the aircraft was being flown."

Supplied by 466-462 Squadrons' Association

Kevin John DENNIS CGM, 437121 RAAF, veteran of 462 Squadron, on 01 June 2014, at the Bomber Command Commemorative Ceremony held at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra. His medals as worn, include the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal.

Supplied by 466-462 Squadrons' Association

Left, Ronald Roy HICKEY, DFC 425654 RAAF, and Right, Kevin John DENNIS, CGM, 437121 RAAF, veterans of 462 Squadron, on 01 June 2014, at the Bomber Command Commemorative Ceremony held at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.
HICKEY was Pilot in 466 Squadron (Crew 132) and 462 Squadron (Crew 09), and is wearing "tail fin badges" for both Squadrons on his tie.

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