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Those known to have served at RAF Leuchars during the Second World War 1939-1945. - Alvey Raymond Henry. Sgt. (d.22nd Nov 1942)
- Arentz Jens Bull. S/Lt. (d.30th Apr 1944)
- Baker Bill . F/O
- Birchley Ernest. F/Lt.
- Bouwman. Henry .
- Boux Jerry . P/O
- Deare Arthur. W/O
- Godsmark Bernard Albert. PO (d.24th May 1941)
- Goodhead Leslie Coulton. T/Sgt
- Gordon John Arthur Gerald. Wing Co. (d.1st June 1942)
- Hansell . Roy .
- Harrison AEA.. Graham William. F/Lt. (d.20th April 1944)
- Hughes Glen . F/S
- Korsnes Per Walderhaug. (d.30th Apr 1944)
- Lalliberte Gerry . F/O
- Maier. Walt .
- Minett Mary Beatrice. Cpl.
- Over James Henry.
- Shaw Lawrence. F/Lt.
- Smith Arthur Wilfreid. LAC. (d.7th January 1940)
- Terry DFC.. Kenneth Thomas Peart. Sqdn.Ldr. (d.26th Apr 1944)
- Tuddenham Frederick Charles.
- Wallace Kay .
The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please
Add a Name to this List
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Want to know more about RAF Leuchars? There are:24 items tagged RAF Leuchars available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War. |
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T/Sgt Leslie Coulton Goodhead 77 Squadron My father served with 77 Squadron from 24/10/42 to 13/1/44, when he was discharged unfit for further service.
He joined the RFC as a boy, serving from 25/9/1917 to 26/4/19, training as a fitter. He re-enlisted 3/5/1921 to 1/2/1927 becoming an engine fitter and serving in Egypt and Aden. He was in E class reserve and was recalled to service 25/8/1939. He served in France 27/4/1940 to 17/6/1940, when he was able to get a ship to the UK from Brest.
Prior to 77 Sqdn. he served at 11 FTS, 109 Sqdn., Leuchars, and 1473 Flight.
He died in 1967. I have his service papers and a number of photographs from the 1920s of various subjects, plane crashes, Aden countryside, sports teams, etc.
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Roy Hansell I am searching for any information regarding Roy Hansell of the US Air Force who based at Leuchars in or around 1944. From the information that I have he survived the war and returned to the US. He would have been a friend of Mary Conway, my grandmother, who I believe was in the WAAF, (married name Mary Ferris, I am not sure which name she would have gone by at the time). I would be very grateful for any information in relation to Roy or Mary that might give me any leads. I have been using several research sites but as I do not know anything more am having difficulty narrowing my search.
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W/O Arthur Deare Half my family worked at the 'drome' from before the war (Collins, Gregory, Theobald) I heard lots of little stories heard from my parents and relatives; including how Mum & Dad met at a party arranged at the Village Hall after Dad’s crew sunk a u-boat. My Dad, Arthur Deare was W/O1 Signals (aircrew, Coastal Command) and was at Leuchars in 1945 but I don't know which squadron he was with. If someone can provide me with his squadron No. would be a great help. If anyone can remember my grandparents, Grace and Will Collins; Molly (my Mum) and her cousin Janet 'Jenny' McFarlane. Please get in touch.
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Walt Maier. 547 Sqd
Walt Maier, Glen Hughes, Bill Baker at Leuchars Scotland 1944.
I was stationed at Leuchars with S/L Sherwoods crew from 1944 till 'D' Day. We all flew with RAF 547 Coastal Command Squadron and did VLR over the North Atlantic in search of German U boats and submarines. The names of the crew were: F/O W.Maier Cdn. F/O Bill Baker Cdn. F/O Gerry Lalliberte Cdn. F/S Glen Hughes Welsh F/S Pete Reed Cdn. and P/O Jerry Boux Cdn.
Here are selection of photos, Regretably, I have misplaced the one picture of the "Skipper", S/L Sherwood. If you ever come across another, please let me know.
547 Squadron.
Our crew:
Our crew: On bottom Gerry Laliberte, Pete Reed, myself [Walt Maier]. Top Jerry Boux on my shoulders and the other man was from a different crew and I only knew his first name (Jack).
Henry Bouwman, Navigator Bomber, 547 Sqd at Leuchars
 1943.jpg)
WAAF's Olive & Carmel (Paddy) 1943, I have forgotten the girls' surnames.
WAAF Cpl. Mary at Leuchars 1944
The Dutch airmen who flew with the 300 group squadrons all of flew Mosquitos, Canadian. built Aircraft and were support for the Liberator aircraft squadrons. If we ran into enemy aircraft on our return to base, we would radio for help and they were with us within 15 to 20 minutes to engage the Germans which were either FW190's or Me109's
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F/Lt. Graham William Harrison AEA. 235 Squadron (d.20th April 1944) My Father, Graham Harrison went down into sea about 20 miles north of Spanish Coast, his body was recovered by Spanish fisherman and buried in Inglis Cemetery in village of Sondika (right beside Bilbao Airport) on 6th June 1944. He was re-interred into CWGC in early 50's. The body of his Navigator, Sgt Jones, was not recovered although both were seen to escape the aircraft. An International distress signal was sent out by the other aircraft in the flight of 4 Beaufighters. German Inteligence from Madrid reported to Berlin of British aircraft down. A Spanish destroyer was tasked to look for them but didn't leave until the next day. Far too late as they both were in the water in their MayWests. The dingy had popped up but had blown away from them, probably both died shortly after the crash in such cold water.
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Sgt. Raymond Henry Alvey 144 Sqdn. (d.22nd Nov 1942)    Raymond Alvey was my mother's younger brother. He was in the RAF Volunteer Reserve and was called up in September 1939. He served in Coastal Command with 120, 489 and 144 squadrons as a wireless operator/air gunner. He was on an operation over the Norwegian coast in a Handley Page Hampden, when he was shot down and reported 'missing believed killed in action'. Raymond's father (my grandfather) George Alvey spent a lot of time trying to find out the details but to no avail. Later research suggests that his body was probably recovered by the Germans and buried at sea, although this is not confirmed.
Raymond's fellow crew members were Sqn Ldr John Richard Darbyshire Hird, Sgt Davidson William Hepplewhite and Sgt Robert John Coles.
Raymond wrote detailed diaries of his three years of service. I also have his father's correspondence with the Air Ministry and Red Cross when he was trying to find out what had happened and where Raymond and the other crew members might have been buried. (It seems likely that they were buried at sea by the Germans). There is a commemorative plaque near the site of the crash and the crew are also commemorated at Runnymede.
I am intending to write a biography of my uncle, based on the above sources, operations record books etc, and would be pleased to receive any information that might be relevant. I would particularly like to hear from descendants of the other crew members, and from those who might have served in 144 squadron at RAF Leuchars in November 1942, or in 489 squadron earlier that year.
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PO Bernard Albert Godsmark 114 (Hong Kong) Squadron (d.24th May 1941) Transcript from a letter in my father Bernard Godsmark's mementos, probably from the Squadron HQ staff:
Blenheim No. 114 Squadron,
Pilot Sgt McWilliams,
Observer P/O Godsmark
Wireless Operator &
Air Gunner Sgt Maddison, took off from Leuchars, 11.00 hrs, 24th of May 1941 on a Recce of enemy shipping off Norwegian coast. Nothing more was heard of them.
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Wing Co. John Arthur Gerald "Pete" Gordon 350 Squadron (d.1st June 1942)  Arthur Gordon was my great uncle. He was born in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, on 3rd March 1912.
He joined the RCAF on 2nd July 1935 and transferred to the RAF in June 1936. He was a Pilot Officer by 22nd July 1936; a Flying Officer 22nd January 1937; an Acting Flight Lieutenant 22nd July 1938; a Flight Lieutenant 22nd January 1939; a Squadron Leader on 1st March 1940 and a Wing Commander on 1st December 1941. He was lost with no grave on 1st June 1942.
Arthur was in 19th Fighter Squadron from 25th October 1936 until 31st May 1939, including when the unit was the first to receive the Spitfire, in 1938. After that, he bounced around a bit according to what I have for military records. There were two stints at the School of Air Navigation, at Station Leuchars on 27th December 1939, but I'm not sure what unit he was attached to. Then he was at HQ for No 61 Group, and No 7 Op Training Unit, before Joining 151 Squadron as Squadron Leader on 29th July 1940, command 8th August.
On 11th August, Arthur damaged a Ju 87.
On 14th August, Arthur destroyed an Me 109.
On 15th August Arthur was wounded in the head and leg during a dogfight with 109s, but made it home.
On 18th August Arthur was forced to bail out of his Hurricane, which was on fire. that day was the so-called bloodiest day of the Battle of Britain, with the most losses suffered in a single day by both sides.
Arthur spent a few weeks in hospital as a result of his burns, and was apparently offered the chance to go home, but he refused. He then bounced around again. I wish I knew which Squadrons - his service records only list the stations: HQ No 50 Group, Station Penhros, No 58 Op Training Unit, HQ Fighter Command on 9th February 1942, Station Kenley, Station Tangmere.
Arthur's last posting was as Wing Commander of Debden Wing as of 7th March 1942, as C/O of No 65 and 350 squadrons. On 1st June 1942, he was leading 350 Squadron on operations over Belgium, escorting bombers, piloting Spitfire BL 936 "White 1". The Squadron was heavily engaged by 20 FW 190s, and Arthur was separated from the Squadron and never returned. A search party was later sent, but he was never found.
Medals: 1939/45 Star, Battle of Britain Clasp, Aircrew Europe Star, War Medal 1939/45.
John Arthur Gerald Gordon is remembered at the Runnymede Memorial.
If anyone has any additional information, or ideas as to how to find more details about his military career, especially with which other squadrons he may have flown, I would love to know.
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LAC. Arthur Wilfreid Smith 233 Squadron (d.7th January 1940) Arthur Smith joined the RAF in 1936 and was posted to 233 Squadron on its formation at Tangmere in 1937. He was a Wireless Operator Air Gunner.
Initially he trained on Avro Anson's for the Norwegian Patrol. In 1939 he twice took part in the ferrying of Bristol Blenheim light bombers to RAF Habaniyya in Iraq, returning to the UK the day before war broke out.
On 7th of January 1940 aged 20 years whilst testing Anti Surface Vessel radar he was killed when Lockheed Hudson N7256 crashed on Nanty Moel, Bridgend Glamorgan along with Sergeant Pilots Hallam and Bousefield and 2 civilian scientists. Cause of the accident was bad weather.
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Cpl. Mary Beatrice "Squibbs" Minett Mary Minett is my Mother. She will be 99 this December 2018. She was a parachute packer in the WAAF. There she met my Father Ivor Chester Goudge a Flying Officer. He was shot down over Wuperthal, Germany during 1943. She later married Sgt. Alfred Ernest Wright (Wilbur) who was also stationed in Leuchers, Scotland at the same time as my mother.
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F/Lt. Lawrence Shaw 612 (County of Aberdeen) Squadron Lawrence Shaw served in 612 Squadron from 15th Feb 1942 to 9th Aug. 1942 in Reykjavik, 11th Aug. 1942 to 15th Sept. 1942 in Thorney Island, 16th Sept 1942 to 7th Dec. 1942 in Wick & again 4th Feb 1943 to 17th Apr. 1943 in Wick. 18th Apr. 1943 to 27th May 1943 in Davidstow Moor, 11th June 1943 and finally 1st Jul 1943 in Chivenor.
In among the above dates, flights are also recorded with 144 Squadron 8th Dec. 1942 to 21st Jan. 1943 from Leuchars.
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S/Lt. Jens Bull Arentz No. 333 (Norwegian) Squadron (d.30th Apr 1944) Jens Arentz was my maternal uncle. I have long wanted to visit Buddon Ness, Angus, where his Mosquito B went down during target shooting. He was a veteran pilot, having being trained at Little Norway in Montreal, Canada after fleeing Norway, traveling via North Africa, Russia, and China. He was very special to my mother and she never quite recovered from the news of his death. She was a refugee in Stockholm at the time, and my father worked for Special Operations Executive in London after having been hurriedly evacuated by a Mosquito flight in Autumn 1943.
On 30th April 1944, my uncle was killed during a training exercise at RAF Leuchars (in Broughty Ferry, Angus), when the Mosquito he was piloting suddenly crashed into the sea next to the airfield. With him died a fellow crew-member named Per Walderhaug Korsnes. Concerning the accident, the RNLI Records of Service (1939-46) state the following:- 30/04/44, 333 Sqn Mosquito II DZ744 Code G Op: Training, RAF Leuchars, Time Up 11:30 S/Lt. Arentz RNorNAS LAC Korsness RNorNAS: The aircraft took off for APC practice and completed the exercise. The range officer, F/Sgt Cowle, reported that the Mosquito made a turn out to sea then returned before diving into sea 1 mile west south west of Buddon Ness, Angus. Salvage of the aircraft was attempted then abandoned on the 9th of May 1944. Only oil and wreckage (1 wheel and 1 fuel tank) were found. A communication I received from Kjetil Korsnes, a relative of Per Korsnes, provides additional details: âIn his diary, Gunnar Helgedagsrud (navigator B-flight) wrote: The 30th April 1944 was a sad day. S/Lt. Arentz dived straight into the sea, close to the airfield. He wasn't flying with his navigator Bjorn¸, but with one of the ground crew named Per Walderhaug Korsnes (flysoldat, born 22.09.21). Arentz was doing shooting practice and seemed to be finished. He was entering his final approach for landing, when the aircraft took a nose-dive for some unexplained reason. Arentz was one of the nicest men we had. I think Lauritz Humlen (navigator B-flight) and Egil D. Johansen (A-flight) are still with us (I met them a few years ago).
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Frederick Charles "Gerry" Tuddenham 547 SQuadron Frederick Tuddenham served with the Royal Air Force in WW2. served in 547 Squadron. He was stationed in Leuchars in Scotland at some stage. He met my mum in Benson, Oxfordshire, where she owned the Castle Inn hotel, and most airmen (British and American), drank there, during and after the war. They married in 1948. Benson Aerodrome also had the King's flight stationed there, as well.
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Per Walderhaug Korsnes No. 333 (Norwegian) Squadron (d.30th Apr 1944) Per Korsnes served with No. 333 (Norwegian) Squadron
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James Henry Over No. 12 Group James Over was my father, who served with the RAF at Leuchars when the naval steam catapult was first being tested, then onto HMS Furious, before RAF Hucknall, then moving to RAF Watnall ATC for the duration of hostilities. My father had a long career in the RAF from circa 1923 to 1947, serving in India, Egypt and on HMS Furious, an aging aircraft carrier prior to WW2. He had along life and lived into his 80s.
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Sqdn.Ldr. Kenneth Thomas Peart Terry DFC. No. 42 Squadron (d.26th Apr 1944) Kenneth Terry was a member of the famous chocolate family of York and there is a memorial to him in York Minster. He won a DFC while serving at RAF Leuchars with No. 42 Squadron, flying Beauforts. It was awarded as the result of a successful attack on a ship off the coast of Norway in November 1941. He was awarded his DFC while serving at RAF Leuchars with No. 42 Squadron flying Beauforts. At the time of his death, he was the Squadron Leader of No. 547 Squadron. His niece is one of my wife’s clients
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F/Lt. Ernest "Birch" Birchley No. 42 Squadron My father, Ernest Birchley was flying Beaufort Bombers and stationed at RAf Leuchars during 1941 and 1942.
He was shot down while attacking the Prinz Eugen in 1942 and spent the remainder of the war as a POW in Stalag Luft 3 in Germany.
He returned to Brisbane after the war and studied law which he practiced in Innisfail, Queensland until he retired. He married Wendy Irving and had 5 children, 4 boys and a girl. He died in January 1995 and is buried in Innisfail.
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