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Those known to have served at RAF Tangmere during the Second World War 1939-1945. - Aldridge Leslie Frederick Edward. Lt.(A) (d.22nd September 1941)
- Barnes Russell Robert. Able Sea.
- Bolster C L. P/O (d.29th Mar 1943)
- Burkitt Peter. OS
- Campbell J J R. F/O
- Dyer Arnold Ernest. Sub-Lt(A) (d.13th Dec 1940)
- Good John Harold David. Tel.
- Goodfellow Charles A. J.. W/O.
- Gordon John Arthur Gerald. Wing Co. (d.1st June 1942)
- Hicks Henry Arthur.
- Kratkoruky B. P/O. (d.15th Mar 1940)
- Langmore David Erskine. Lt.Com. (d.18th Dece 1941)
- Liskutin DFC.. Miroslav. Flt.Lt.
- Lomax MID.. Frank. Able.Sea.
- McIlwraith David Main. Able Sea.
- Mills DFC. Kenneth Freeman. F/Lt.
- Parkinson Frederick Arthur. Stoker/1st C. (d.8th Jun 1944)
- Pearson Robert. Able Sea. (d.13th Aug 1940)
- Poland Joseph Gerrard. A/Able Sea.
- Ray John. BSM.
- Robinson Robert Benjamin. PO.
- Salmon Joesphe.
- Sinclair Colin.
- Smee James. (d.8th May 1942)
- Smith Arthur Wilfreid. LAC. (d.7th January 1940)
- Sweeting E. S.G.. Flt.Sgt.
- Taylor Henry Britton.
- Thomas Meirion.
- Walker Patricia May. Wren.
- Weight Tom Albert. Sig.
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 Tangmere? There are:272 items tagged RAF Tangmere 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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Meirion "Tommy" Thomas 166 Squadron My Grandfather, Meirion Thomas, served at Kirmington during the war with 166 Squadron and flew in Lancasters. he was also in Number 1 Squadron at Tangmere at the start of the war. This is a long shot but if there is any one with information on him or knew of him or has any photos, please get in touch.
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Joesphe Salmon Groundcrew I'm just looking to see where my grandad served during the War. I was told he was based at Tangmere, and also served in India with the RAF.It would be great if I could find out more information on his career in the RAF and what squadron he served in'
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BSM. John Ray 133 Field Regiment (Welsh) I have details of the Regiment's posting as Depot Regt, School of Artillery in 1943 when they were in Chichester (Tangmere). My Father Jack Ray, went with the Regiment when they were incorporated into the 2nd Canadian Division in Holland and Germany in 1944.
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Colin "Jock" Sinclair 41st Sqd. Colin Sinclair was an electrical engineer in 41 Squadron- based at Tangmere on the first night of the War. At retirement in 1970 he was a Wing Commander.
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F/Lt. Kenneth Freeman Mills DFC 219 Squadron Kenneth Freeman Mills DFC served in Bristol Blenheims, later converting to Bristol Beaufighters in 219 Squadron based at RAF Tangmere. He flew over 36 sorties and was involved in destroying a Heinkel He III. He then moved on to 264 Squadron flying Mosquitos from RAF Colerne, Wiltshire and RAF Predannack, Cornwall.
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Flt.Lt. Miroslav "Tony" Liskutin DFC. 145 Squadron Miroslav Liskutin was recently reunited with his Spitfire, MK912 which is still flying, out of Biggin Hill. He is now in 2015 96 years old and in fairly good health. An amazing man with an amazing background. On D Day he flew from Tangmere on invasion cover, and when he had to make an emergency landing to re-position equipment which had been dislodged by enemy fire, he was probably the first aeroplane to land in France during the invasion.
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Able.Sea. Frank Lomax MID. HMS Sleuth Frank Lomax served on:
- HMS Raleigh, 3rd July 1940 as an ordinary seaman.
- HMS Drake 10th September 1940.
- HMS Defiance 2nd October 1940.
- HMS Dolphin 6th February 1941.
- HMS Maidstone 26th April 1941; 27th June 1941 as Able Seaman; 3rd July 1941 Able Seaman.
- HMS St Angelo (SC) 18th July 1941; (HM Sub Urge) 16th September 1941. (Sub lost 28th April 1942); (SC) 16th November 1941.
- HMS Talbot (HMS Sub Una) 28th February 1943.
- HMS Dolphin (S/M's) 2nd March 1943.
- HMS Ambrose (S/M's) 14th May 1943.
- HMS Ambrose (HM Sub Sea Dog) 12th October 1943.
- HMS Forth (HM Sea Dog) 15th August 1944; (S/M's) 29th November 1944; (HM Sub Sleuth) 10th January 1945.
- HMS Maidstone (HM Sub Sleuth) 12 January 1945.
- HMS Dolphin (HM Sub Sleuth) 1st October 194; (S/M's) 22nd February 1946 Released Class A.
He was Mentioned in Dispatches:
for Distinguished Service (HM Sub Unseen) No. 1 1st June 1943 - Parchment.
and for Distinguished Service (HM Sub Sleuth) No. 2 18th December 1945 - Parchment.
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James Smee 219 Sqdn. (d.8th May 1942) My uncle was killed in air crash at Tangmere while in 219 Sqdn. in 1942 any information or photos around that time would be appreciated.
Update: The only fatal crash between the dates 7-8 May 1942 was:
Beaufighter R2267. Pilot 1380996 Sergeant James Kenneth Smee, age 20. Son of Mr John Smee and Mrs Valetta Smee of Mayfield, New South Wales, Australia. Buried in Hayes and Harlington Cemetery.
AI Operator 926261 Sergeant Claude Stanley Bassett, age 22. Son of Mr Arthur Henry Cash Bassett and Mrs Gertrude Alice Bassett of Ropley, Hampshire, England. Buried in Hillingdon and Uxbridge Cemetery.
They were flying Night Fighter Duty on Search Light co-operation and took-off from Tangmere 8 May 1942 0005 hrs and crashed 0359 hrs.
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Sub-Lt(A) Arnold Ernest Dyer HMS St Angelo (d.13th Dec 1940) Arnold Dyer served on HMS St Angelo.
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Lt.Com. David Erskine Langmore HMS St. Angelo (d.18th Dece 1941) David Erskine Langmore was 31 when he died in December 1941. The Andrews Newspaper index cards listed him as: Missing on active duty in December 1941. He was the only child of Dr. Herbert Richard Langmore and Sophia Langmore.
Unfortunately, I don't know how or where he died. He is remembered on the Naval Memorial, Lee-on-the Solent in Hampshire. Elizabeth Langmore Birchenough
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Tel. John Harold David Good HMS Europa My father, John Good, never talked about his time in the Navy, but these records show he volunteered from 12 December 1941 at the age of 19. He served as a telegraphist on HMS Collingwood, HMS Europa, HMS Badger, HMS Pembroke IV, HMS Hannibal and HMS St Angelo.
The only thing I ever being told by my mother was that Dad would have been in the bowels of the ships so in the event of being bombed or torpedoed he would have had no chance whatsoever.
The paperwork shows he was paid a war gratuity of 10 shillings per month for a total of 51 months and a post war credit in respect of Service as a Rating after 31-12-41 of 6d/day for 1587 days.
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Henry Arthur "Ronnie" Hicks HMS St Angelo My father, Henry Hicks, was in the Royal Navy from February 1943 until September 1946. He was a submarine detector on HMS Ganges, HMS Pembroke, HMS Nimrod, HMS Osprey, HMS Spanker and HMS St Angelo. I have a copy of his naval service, but don't know anything about his time in the Navy as he never spoke about it.
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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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Able Sea. Russell Robert Barnes During WW2, Russell Barnes served in HMS Eurylus, HMS Osprey, HMS Sea Hawk, HMS Hornet, HMS St Christopher, HMS Aggressive, HMS Wildfire, HMS St Angelo, HMS Ferret, HMS Sea Eagle and HMS Pembroke.
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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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Sig. Tom Albert Weight HMS St Angelo My father-in-law, Tom Weight was in the Royal Navy from June 1940 to 25th of June 1945.
He was at HMS Royal Arthur in June 1940, he served in HMS Termagent and also HMS St Angelo and was in Naples in 1944.
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OS Peter Burkitt HMS Europa Peter Burkitt joined HMS Hannibal (St Kelda) on the 1st January 1944 and left on the 31st December 1944. joined HMS St Angelo on the 1st January 1945 until the 22nd February 1945 where he returned to HMS Europa. joined HMS Caroline on the 15th April 1945 until 30th June 1945. joined HMS Badger (quirpon) on the 26th August 1945 until the 17th December 1945. He then rejoined the Europa. Joined HMS Pembroke IV on the 11th January 1946 and moved back to the Europa three days later. Patricia Whittaker (nee Burkitt)
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Flt.Sgt. E. S.G. Sweeting No. 1 Squadron Flt.Sgt. E.S.G. Sweeting was a pilot who flew Hurricanes and was based at RAF Tangmere.
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P/O. B Kratkoruky 1 Squadron (d.15th Mar 1940) B Kratkoruky served with 1 Squadron
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P/O C L Bolster 1 Squadron (d.29th Mar 1943) C Bolster served with 1 Squadron
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F/O J J R Campbell 1 Squadron J Campbell served with 1 Squadron
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Henry Britton Taylor HMS Pembroke Henry Taylor served on board HMS Pembroke, St Angelo, Badger and Wildfire joining Navy on August 43 till 18th Nov 1946.
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A/Able Sea. Joseph Gerrard Poland HMS Eaglet According to his Royal Navy certificate of service, Joseph Poland served on the following during the war: HMS Raleigh; HMS Drake; HMS Eaglet; HMS Calliope; HMS Newfoundland; HMS St. Angelo; HMS Pembroke and HMS Nile.
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W/O. Charles A. J. Goodfellow Charles Goodfellow was my uncle and he was a pilot at RAF Tangmere in the RAF.
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Wren. Patricia May Walker Patricia Underhill (nee Walker) served as a WRNS secretary on HMS Drake in Plymouth and HMS St. Angelo in Malta. At the end of World War 2, she married Captain Bernard John Underhill, 2/10th Gurkha Rifles.
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Able Sea. Robert Pearson H.M.S. St Angelo (d.13th Aug 1940) Robert Pearson is remembered on the CWGC Portsmouth Naval Memorial in Hampshire.
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PO. Robert Benjamin Robinson HMS Pembroke My grandad, Robert Robinson, was in the Royal Navy from 1933 until discharged in 1945. He was sunk twice. He was mostly on board HMS Pembroke but also served on
HMS Apollo, HMS Calliope, HMS Ferret, HMS Valiant, HMS Ramillies, HMS Dolphin, HMS St Angelo, HMS London and HMS Asphodel from his hand written certificate of service.
Bob had scarring on his lungs from the bronchitis caused by his time adrift after being sunk and this contributed to his death in 1995.
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