The Wartime Memories Project - RAF Binbrook



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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII

Information.

RAF Binbrook opened in early 1940, home to 142 Bomber Squadron, No 12 Squadron arrived from Finningley in early July 1940 flying Fairy Battles, converting to Wellington bombers in November. In April 1941 12 Squadron sent 28 aircraft on the first of the 1,000 bomber raids the target being Cologne. In 1942 The station closed for a year whilst the concrete runways were constructed. No. 12 sqd moved to Wickenby and converted to Lancasters.(Returning to Binbrook on September 24th 1945)

On reopening, 14th May, 1943 it became the home to 460 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force, flying Lancaster bombers. 460 Squadron suffered higher casualties than any other unit of the Australian Army, Navy or Air Force in World War Two.

The station was also home to 1 Group Special Duties Flight.

After the war Binbrook became home to the first British jet bomber, the Canberra. In 1960 the station transfered to Fighter Command first flying the Gloucester Javelin and then the English Electric Lightning.

The station closed in 1988. Today the base remains virtually intact with the residential quarters in use as a housing estate. The 460 Squadron Memorial situated on the hill above the old Marquis of Granby Pub, on the opposite side of the road looking towards the airfield.

The movie 'Memphis Belle' was fimed at Binbrook.



Squadrons stationed at RAF Binbrook

  • No: 460 Squadron RAAF from 14 May 1943 to Jul 1945
  • No: 12 Squadron from Jul 1940 to Jul 1943 and Sep 1945 to Jul 1959
  • No: 142 Squadron from Jul 1940 to Dec 1942
  • 1481(B) Gunnery Flt from May 1943 to Feb 1944


Sgt. Fl/Eng William Francis Collister "Francie" Clague 460 Sq (RAAF) (d.30th May 1943)

My Dad William Clague was Killed in action on the 30th May 1943 (over Wuppatal) For the first time I have been able to visit his grave in Rheinberg Cemetry, Germany. Grave no. 9 C 18. I notice he is stated as Air Gunner which was his description before Flight Engineer. There is no age on His grave. He was 33 years old. He flew with 460Sq(RAAF) from RAF Binbrook I have been trying to find out more about the crew he flew with. I met Margaret Russell, widow of the Pilot. T. P Russell and also met the two crew members (who were taken PoW) when they returned to U.K prior to demob. As I was only 8 years old then I have vague memories. I would like to make contact with anyone knowing of any crew members or descendants. The PoW's names are George Andrew Kirk, 409057, born 1/2/1921 in Malvern, Victoria discharged 13/5/1946. Rank Warrant Officer.(460 Sq.) Ron D Dunn (Navigator) I have not found anything for him except to know that he is Australian. The other crew members who died were: Tom Taylor 413803, Bomb aimer he was Australian. Peter W. Findlay 1342595. Wireless Op. from Dundee. Douglas B Gordon. 1349618 Air Gunner from Fochabers Morayshire and Thomas P. Russell. 1347861 Pilot. from Ardrossan, Ayreshire.



Maurice "Mo" Taylor rear gunner 458 Sqd.

Mr Taylor is a very long standing family friend, he is now 86 yrs. old, over the years he has told me many things about his wartime years.

He joined the RAF in 1938 and served with various units - 458, 460, 150 and possibly others. Holme on Spalding Moor, Molesworth, Binbrook are bases he remembers in the early part, flying in Wellingtons as a rear gunner. At this point in time he was shot down to which even today he finds hard to come to terms with and at the same time I would not press him to talk about. Beyond this point he served in Ceylon on various sqd's until 1946. I would love to find out more as the tales he tells me never cease to amaze me



Jim Simpson 460 Squadron

I just came across your website and thought you may be interested in Jim Simpson's story. He was 19 years old when he was sent to fight the war and was shot down on his first mission and captured by the Germans. Jim is still alive, 92 years old, independent and living in his own home on his farm. His story regarding the knitting of a rug whilst a POW in Stalag IVb can be found on the following website: http://www.manfromsnowyrivermuseum.com/home/rug.htm.

The Man from Snowy River Museum is currently raising funds to enable us to build a room to house Jim's rug and ensure it is preserved as best it can, to enable visitors to marvel at the resilience of the human spirit and what can be achieved in adverse conditions. The crew of the 460 Sqd Lancaster were:

  • F/S E.J.Ellery RAAF
  • W/C R.A.Norman DFC RAAF
  • Sgt L.E.P.Wells
  • F/S D.S.Thomas
  • F/S J.O.Simpson RAAF
  • Sgt G.E.Cleverly
  • Sgt D.O'Donoghue
  • Sgt P.F.Kills



    • My Father, Walter F Thorburn DFC, was stationed at RAF Binbrook. He was a member of the RCAF and on loan to the RAAF. He was a rear gunner in a Lancaster piloted mostly by F/L Greenacre. Dates of service at RAF Binbrook as taken from his flight log are June 1943 to December 1943.

    Russell F. Thorburn



    I am searching for historical information on F/Sgt J Murray and W/O Clarrie Taylor. These two were crew members that my Great Uncle (my Dad's, mothers' brother ) F/Sgt Jack R Dodds (W/T operator ) flew with in 1943/44 in the 460 squadron ( 29 or 30 Op's all up and 19 or 17 in G for George ). The other crew members were Sgt Ben Bentham (Engineer), W/O Tom Osbourne (Bomb aimer), F/Sgt Owen Hodgen (Mid upper gunner) and F/Sgt Jack Kirby (rear gunner). I have a flight log, medal citations and medals, personal correspondence (letters to his mother and sisters), the telegram sent to his father explaining he hadn't returned from an op's mission ( with the 156 Squadron - his 2nd tour after finishing with the 460 squadron), and much more.

    Leighton Rogan



    Photographs

    If you have any Photographs you would like to share please get in touch.


    List of those who served here.


    • Sgt. Fl/Eng William Francis Collister "Francie" Clague (d.30th May 1943) Read his Story.
    • Sgt. Ron D. Dunn nav.
    • Sgt. Peter W. Findlay W/op (d.30th May 1943)
    • Sgt. Douglas B. Gordon air gunner. (d.30th May 1943)
    • Sgt George Andrew Kirk
    • Sgt. Thomas P. Russell pilot
    • Jim Simpson Read his Story.
    • Maurice "Mo" Taylor rear gunner Read his Story.
    • Sgt. Tom Taylor bomb aimer (d.30th May 1943)
    • Sergeant Andy Andrew. (flight engineer) 460 sqd.
    • Wing Commander F.A. Arthur DFC 460 sqd
    • Jerry Bateman Pilot, DFC. 460 sqd
    • Dick Bates, rear gunner. 460 sqd.
    • William Bates. rear gunner. 1481 Gunnery Flight Read his story
    • F/O Ivan Sydney Baudinette W/op AG 460 sqd
    • G.R. Beard, bomb aimer 460 sqd.
    • Frank Belfield (Eng.)460 sqd
    • Sgt Ben Bentham (Engineer) 460 sqd.
    • Roy Brough. W/op. 460 sqd
    • Gerry Brown, (Tail Gunner) 460 sqd
    • Joe Brown, DFM. 460 sqd.
    • LAC John Burrows. (Ground Crew 460 sqd.)
    • Midge Carr 460 sqd
    • Harry "Cherry" Carter (pilot "G" George)460 sqd
    • Col Challis. Mid Upper Gunner 460 sqd
    • Glen Child, engineer. 460 sqd.
    • Squadron Leader Jack Clark DFC 460 sqd
    • F/Sgt T T Clarke 460 sqd
    • Bob Compton (mid-upper gunner) 460 sqd
    • Squadron Leader E.G.M. Corser, DFC. 460 sqd
    • Bob Coveny, (W/Op)460 sqd
    • Don Cummings (W/Op) 460 sqd
    • Ft Sgt Peter James Daly
      • Read his story
    • Tom Dally, rear gunner 460 sqd.
    • F/Sgt Jack R Dodds (W/T operator )460 sqd.
    • Warrant Officer R.A.N. Douglas DFC. 460 sqd
    • Wing Commander, Ron K Douglas DFC., AFC. 460 sqd.
    • Glen Douglass. Rear Gunner 460 sqd
    • Bob Duncan (Nav)460 sqd
    • Group Captain Hugh.I. Edwards, VC, DSO, DFC Station Commander from February 10, 1943.
    • Sgt. William Austin Edwards. 460 Sqd
    • C.W. Erbage. rear gunner. 460 sqd.
    • Jock Fenion 460 sqd
    • Fred Flattery 460 sqd
    • 'Bluey' Freeman
    • Bill Gourlay. (navigator) 460 sqd.
    • Jan Goulevitch.460 Sqd Read his story
    • F/L Greenacre. pilot 460 Sqd.
    • Vic Grimmett, (Pilot) 460 sqd
    • F/O Jarratt RAAF 460 sqd. (pilot)
    • Alex Jenkins (pilot) 460 sqd
    • Keith Harris, (bomb aimer)460 sqd
    • Sgt R E Haywood bomb aimer 460.sqd.
    • Norm Healy, mid upper gunner. 460 sqd.
    • Bert Hemming. Navigator 460 sqd
    • F/Sgt Owen Hodgen (Mid upper gunner) 460 sqd
    • Ft Lt John Cecil Holmes. DFC. Pilot 460 sqd
    • Donald George Hudspeth 460 sqd.
    • Cpl. Jack Hill. (armourer) 460 sqd
    • Doug Hodge, (MUG)460 sqd
    • Squadron Leader J.C. Holmes 460 sqd
    • Sargeant Dennis Wilfred Hornsby. airgunner. SD Flight Read his Story
    • Squadron Leader E.G.D. Jarman, DFC.460 sqd
    • Bruce Kelly (Bomb Aimer) 460 sqd
    • F/Sgt Jack Kirby (rear gunner) 460 sqd
    • F/O Leggett. 460 Sqd
    • F/Sgt A D K Lloyd. Pilot RAAF
    • Lomand Luhr (pilot) 460 sqd
    • Jack Mckay. Wireless Operator 460 sqd
    • Joe McNamara (Pilot)460 sqd
    • Wing Commander Chad R. Martin 460 sqd
    • W/O Alwyn Oswald Thomas Mayne Air guner. 460 sqd.
    • Frank Mayor, mid upper gunner. 460. sqd.
    • Pete Milton (MUG)460 sqd
    • William "Bill" Moffatt 460 sqd.
    • Dick Moore 460 sqd
    • Ft Lt Thomas Ernest Victor Morgan DFM Air Gunner. 450 sqd
    • F/Sgt. Jack Murray 460 sqd.
    • Vic Neale (pilot, K2 "killer") 460 sqd
    • Bert Newton 460 sqd.
    • Wing Commander R.A. Norman DFC 460 sqd
    • Peter Odell, engineer. 460 sqd.
    • W/O Tom Osbourne (Bomb aimer) 460 sqd
    • Ted Owen. (pilot) 460 sqd
    • Group Captain (later Air Commodore) K.R.J. Parsons, Commanding Officer of Binbrook from Feb 1945.
    • Flying Officer H.C. Payne 460 sqd
    • Royce Pearce (W/Op)460 sqd
    • Gordon Peters, (Nav)460 sqd
    • Jack Pogson 460 sqd
    • Flight Sergeant D. Rees. CGM 460 sqd
    • Charles "Blue" Roberts (W/Op)460 sqd
    • P. Robinson. W/OP A/G. 460 sqd.
    • P/O Rollin. pilot. SD Flight. Read his Story
    • Doug Satchell 460. sqd.
    • Satchell 460. sqd.
    • L.J. Simpson DFC. 460 sqd
    • Sgt Sinclair
    • Warrant Officer Maurice Stafford
    • Keith Teasdale. Flight engineer
    • Ron Tardent (pilot) 460 sqd
    • W/O Clarrie Taylor (Navigator) 460 sqd.
    • Jack Thomson. Bomb Aimer. 460 sqd
    • Walter F Thorburn DFC. rear gnr. 460 Sqd. Read his story
    • Flt. Sgt. Harry Tickle
    • Jos Trimmer (bomb aimer)460 sqd
    • Jim Tuchen (MUG)460 sqd
    • Steve Turner, W/OP A/G. 460 sqd.
    • E.A.G. Utz, DFC. 460 sqd
    • Bill Valance (Tail Gnr)460 sqd
    • Flight Lieutenant A. Wales DFC. DFM. 460 sqd
    • Bob Webb (Nav).460 sqd
    • Frank Williams. navigator. 460 sqd.
    • Ted Williamson 460 sqd
    • Arthur Whitmarsh. 460 sqd.
    • Bruce Woods (Pilot)460 sqd
    • Lawrence W. Woods, DFC 460 sqd Read his story
    • Sgt J Young. Flt eng. 460 sqd
    • Sgt. Bill Young. 460 sqd

    If you have any names to add to this list, or any recollections or photos of those listed, please get in touch.





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