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Those known to have served at RAF Warboys during the Second World War 1939-1945. - Cromarty John Donald Range. PO (d.3rd Jan 1944)
- Gilbert James Walter . Sgt. (d.24th Feb 1944)
- Saltmarsh DFC and bar.. Leonard James. Sqd.Ldr.
- Watson DFC.. Dennis Arthur. P/O.
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,
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Sqd.Ldr. Leonard James Saltmarsh DFC and bar. 7 Squadron Leonard Saltmarsh served before and after the war in the Surrey Constabulary and I am working on the history of that force. In December 1942 he trained in a Tiger Moth and went on to fly Wellingtons and Lancasters with 7 Squadron, Pathfinders. He was awarded the DFC for actions on the 26th of August 1944 in a raid over Kiel. He flew 99 Operational sorties.
D.F.C. London Gazette 3 October 1944. The original recommendation states:
‘Flying Officer L. J. Saltmarsh has so far completed 17 successful sorties as Pilot and Captain of Lancaster aircraft, and has been most conspicuous at all times for his extremely high standard of courage and resoluteness.
On two difficult occasions during daylight attacks on Vaires on 12 July 1944 and on Emieville on 18 August 1944, he observed a crippled bomber proceeding at a very reduced speed away from the target. On both occasions he dropped behind the main bomber stream in order to escort the damaged bomber safely back to England. On 15 August, during a daylight attack on the airfield at St. Trond, one of his engines became unserviceable on the way to the target and the propellor had to be feathered. But inspite of the fact that he was getting behind the main stream, owing to his reduced speed, he pressed on and bombed the target, and secured an aiming point photograph. On the way back from the target another engine became unserviceable but did not deter Flying Officer Saltmarsh from proceeding to and bombing an alternative airfield target with a bomb that had failed to be released over the primary target, and once more he secured an aiming point photograph. He eventually arrived safely over base and made a perfect two-engined landing. It was not until after he had landed that he reported the fact that two engines had become unserviceable during the sortie.
This very gallant pilot is strongly recommended for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.’
Bar to D.F.C. London Gazette 16 November 1945. The original recommendation states:
‘This officer has completed 53 operational sorties, of which 28 have been carried out in the squadron, in the Path Finder Force, 18 of them as Captain of a Marker Crew. Flight Lieutenant Saltmarsh is an efficient and skilful pilot who has always shown a strong devotion to duty and a cheerful confidence which has always inspired a high standard of morale in his crew. He has always displayed exceptional fearlessness in the face of danger, complete disregard for personal safety and has pressed home his attacks against the enemy with the utmost determination.’
Leonard James Saltmarsh commenced pilot training at No. 31 E.F.T.S. at De Winton, Alberta in December 1942, and graduated from No. 34 E.F.S. at Medicine Hat in June 1943. Back in the U.K., he attended No. 11 A.F.U. at Shawbury, prior to joining No. 26 O.T.U. at Little Harwood in early January 1944, where he gained experience on Wellingtons, and then attended a conversion unit for Lancasters at Waterbeach, at which place he joined No. 514 Squadron that June.
Thus ensued his first tour of operations, commencing with a strike against L’Hey on the 23 June and ending with another against Emmerich on 7 October, the intervening period witnessing him attack numerous French targets in support of the Allied invasion, but also a number of heavily defended German targets, including Bremen, Dortmund, Saarbrucken, Stettin and Stuttgart. And as confirmed by the recommendation for his D.F.C. after 17 sorties, several of these trips were not without incident, his flying log book further stating that his Lancaster received flak damage during strikes against enemy panzers and transport at Villiers Bocage on 30 June and against a supply depot at Beauvoir on 2 July. Similarly, too, during a visit to Bremen on the night of 18-19 August.
In October 1944, Saltmarsh attended the Path Finder Force’s training centre at Warboys, as a result of which he was transferred to No. 7 (P.F.F.) Squadron at Oakington in the following month, flying his first such sortie on the night of the 11th-12th, against Dortmund. A daylight strike against enemy communications at Julich, in support of General Patton’s troops, followed on the 14th and a night operation to Sterkrade on the 21st, Saltmarsh’s flying log book again noting flak damage. Then on the 29th he flew as support aircraft to the Master Bomber on a raid to Dortmund, a role that he would fulfil with growing regularity over the coming months. Such heavily defended targets as Duisburg, Essen (twice) and Karlsruhe formed the backbone of his operational agenda in December, while January 1945 saw him attacking, among other locations, Hanover, Magdeburg, Munich and Stuttgart, his flying log book noting an encounter with a Ju. 88 on the Munich run. February witnessed his Lancaster carrying out strikes against Dortmund, Gelsenkirchen, Ludwigshaven and Pforzheim, in addition to participating in the famous “firestorm” raid on Dresden on the 13th, an action that Saltmarsh would robustly defend in years to come.
March saw him completing five more sorties to German targets, three of them in daylight, and April another four, two of these in daylight, including Bremen on the 21st, which latter operation marked the end of his operational tour. He did, however, fly three “Cook’s Tours” to the Rhur in May, and ended his career with an appointment in Transport Command in December 1945. Over and above all of this, however, it would appear that he flew 56 “unspecific” sorties of a secret nature, evidence for which is to be found in the following endorsement from “Bomber” Harris.
He also flew: Diversions, experimentation of special equipment, including radar, photographic reconnaissance, these top secret sorties and others. In May 1945 he was selected and volunteered to form a new squadron for the continuation of hostilities against Japan.’
Any information on Mr Saltmarsh DFC and Bar would be appreciated
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Sgt. James Walter Gilbert 156 Sgd (d.24th Feb 1944) My father, Sgt James Walter Gilbe, was rear gunner in Lancaster JB479. Serial GT-K piloted by Sgd/Ldr Eric Porter.
On the evening of 24 Feb.1944 they'd left their base at R.A.F. Warboys. They were the lead Pathfinders on the raid at Schweinfurt. They marked the target but were shot down, believed by a night fighter. There were no survivors. Their collective grave was found in 1952 and they were re-buried at the Durnbach War Cementery.
My father's birthday was the day before he died and he had just found out that he was going to be a dad (that was me).
If anyone had any information of if there are any relatives or friends of the crew please let me know.
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PO John Donald Range Cromarty 6(P) AFU (d.3rd Jan 1944) My first cousin once removed was Jack Cromarty of Liverpool. In 1939 his parents lived in Berwick Gardens, Little Sutton, Cheshire
He was a dental mechanic before he enlisted in 1941
He was a sergeant then flight sergeant then pilot officer
and received his commission in November 1943
Prior to arriving at 6 (P) APU on 16th of February 143 he was at various other training units. After training at 6 (P) AFU he went to 81 OTU on 13th of April 1943 and then onto 1656, then 12 and finally after training at Upwood to 156 squadron, one of the Pathfinders at Warboys. He was the pilot of Lancaster JB640 and died the night of 2nd/3rd of January 1944 when the plane was shot down on a mission to Berlin
The other crew members were:
- Sgt. Frederick Edwin Woolven.(Navigator) aged 23 years
- Sgt. Norman Henry Colebatch (Wireless Operator)
- F/Sgt Leonard Norman Lapthorne aged 21 years.
- F/Sgt Dennis Frederick Burtenshaw RAAF (Second Navigator/Bomb Aimer) aged 20 years.
- F/Sgt R.J.Collens Mid-upper Gunner aged 31 years.
- F/Sgt. Kenneth Sidney James Chapman. Rear Gunner aged 20 years.
They completed approx 16 missions all over Germany between joining 156 sqdn in Nov 1943 and the last flight.
It was discovered in 1976 that the plane had crashed into a lake in what was by then the Russian zone. The remains were handed over to the RAF in 1976. It has taken from then until approx 2011 for the MOD to identify where these remains were buried and then another three to find relatives of the lost airmen. On the 27th of April 2016 there was a rededication ceremony in Berlin for four of the crew of JB640 whose remains have been found. The headstones now changed to reflect they were crew members of JB640.
Alas as John had no wife, children or siblings there are no known photographs of him as an adult in the RAF. I have this one photo of him in my late mother's photo album.
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P/O. Dennis Arthur "Watty" Watson DFC. B Flight 51 Squadron Having completed training at No. 19 OTU Kinloss, Dennis Watson was posted to 51(B) Squadron at Dishforth on 1st November, 1940.
On his first Operation on 7th December, 1940 to Boulogne the Starboard Engine U/S over target. Pilot (F/LT Ker) hit by flak in left eye. Emergency landing required at Thorney Island. Aircraft Whitley, T4148.
Second Operation on 3rd January, 1941 to Bremen. Pilot Sgt Wall. Aircraft Whitley, P5020. W/C 51 Sqdn. W Tait.
In hospital 7/8th January 1941 at Harrogate, following car accident.
4th March Hospital for head injuries, Oxford. 18th March to conval-escent hospital - Middleton Stoney. Left 30th May, 1941.
Eventually attached to 'C' Flight Wellesbourne Mountford OTU as Nav Officer 27th February, 1942.
19 April, 1944 - Decompression Test. Light bomber Mosquito. High Altitude Test - Warboys, Hunts. Did Mosquito conversion course at Warboys. Posted to PFF 109 Squadron 'C' Flight at Little Staughton, Beds. Jan 1945 joined 'A' Flight. Main pilots were John Patrick Crump (106096) and Arthur Thomas Buckland (68169). Completed 75 operations with 109 Sqdn. Received DFC & Bar.
2nd August, 1945 posted to Woodhall Spa as S.AD.O.
Oct/Nov 1945 Intermediate Admin Course.
15th April, 1946 posted D.D.B.OP.S., Whitehall.
2nd February, 1948 Shawburry Nav. Course.
4th April, 1948 Posted to No. 2 F.T.S. Church Lawford
3rd January Posted to 3 Group
8th May 1950 Termination of Regular Service.
24th July 1950 joined English Electric at Warton, Lancs.
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