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No: 44 Squadron
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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII
No: 44 Squadron
No.44 Squadron was a bomber squadron and was re-formed at Wyton in March 1937. They flew Hampdens. In September 1941, the squadron's title was altered to No. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron in recognition of that country's generous donations to the war effort, about a quarter of the squadron's personnel were Rhodesian. Early in 1942 No.44 became the first squadron to convert completely to Lancasters. The Squadron disbanded on 21 December 1982
Airfields No: 44 Squadron flew from.
- Waddington, Lincolnshire. 1939 to 31st May 1943
- Dunholme, Lodge Lincolnshire. 1st May 1943 to 30th Sep 1944
- Spilsby, Lincolnshire. 30th Sep 1944 to 21st July 1945
- Mepal, Cambridgeshire. from 21st July 1945
List of those who served with No: 44 Squadron during The Second World War
- Sgt William Bennett navigator Read his Story.
- Sgt. Thomas W. Brock Air Gunner (d.22nd Nov1942) Read his Story.
- Sgt. Thomas William Brock (d.22nd Nov 1942) Read his Story.
- Sgt. Thomas W. Brock Air Gunner (d.23rd Nov 1942) Read his Story.
- Sgt. John Coults rear gunner Read his Story.
- Gordon Craig Read his Story.
- John Elgar Read his Story.
- P/O John la Forrest bomb aimer Read his Story.
- Flt Lt Merrik Heath pilot Read his Story.
- Sgt Ron Parkinson w/op Read his Story.
- Flt Sgt. Henry Robert Pitcher DFM Read his Story.
- Sgt Paddy Pyper mid upper gunner Read his Story.
- Flt Sgt John Rawson Read his Story.
- P/O Peter James Shearman (d.15th Jun 1943) Read his Story.
- Sgt A. Smith flight eng. Read his Story.
- Sgt. Raymond Tarlton Stoddart (d.29th May 1943) Read his Story.
- Flt.Lt. Kenneth Edward Swinfen MID. Read his Story.
- Sgt. William Eric Toft (d.2nd Mar 1943) Read his Story.
Sgt. John Coults rear gunner 44 Sqd.
My Dad,John Coults who passed away in 2006, was in 44 Rhodesia Squadron. He flew in R for Robert PB417 and completed 32 Operations. The first two were pamphlet drops in France, the other 30 were combat missions between 19/07/44 and 6/11/44. Dad then transfered to Liberators based in India.
The crew were:
They were based at RAF Spilsby from 5-10-44 to 6-11-44 (at least).
- Flt Lt Merrik Heath (Rhodesian), PILOT - tragically killed in a civilian Lancastrian during the Berlin Airlift (22/11/1948) at Chute, near Andover.
- P.O John La Forrest (Australian) BOMB AIMER
- Sgt A Smith (Irish - Northern Ireland) FLIGHT ENGINEER
- Sgt Bill Bennett (Scottish), NAVIGATOR
- Sgt Ron Parkinson (English), WIRELESS OPERATOR
- Sgt Paddy Pyper (Irish, Northen Ireland) MID UPPER GUNNER
- Sgt John Coutts (Scottish), REAR GUNNER
Dad is back row, 2nd from the left
Flt Lt Merrik Heath pilot 44 Sqd.
Flt Lt Merrik Heath was the pilot of R for Robert PB417 flying with 44 Rhodesia Squadron based at RAF Splisby. He was tragically killed in a civilian Lancastrian during the Berlin Airlift (22/11/1948) at Chute, near Andover.
P/O John la Forrest bomb aimer 44 Sqd.
P.O John La Forrest, an Australian, a bomb aimer in the Merrick Heath's crew flying R for Robert PB417 with 44 Rhodesia Squadron based at RAF Splisby.
Sgt A. Smith flight eng. 44 Sqd.
Sgt A Smith was the Flight Engineer with Merrick Heath's crew, flying R for Robert PB417 with 44 Rhodesia Squadron based at RAF Splisby.
Sgt William Bennett navigator 44 Sqd.
Sgt Bill Bennett was the navigator with Merrick Heath's crew, flying R for Robert PB417 with 44 Rhodesia Squadron based at RAF Splisby.
Sgt Ron Parkinson w/op 44 Sqd.
Sgt Ron Parkinson was the Wireless Operator with Merrick Heath's crew, flying R for Robert PB417 with 44 Rhodesia Squadron based at RAF Splisby.
Sgt Paddy Pyper mid upper gunner 44 Sqd.
Sgt Paddy Pyper was the Mid Upper Gunner with Merrick Heath's crew, flying R for Robert PB417 with 44 Rhodesia Squadron based at RAF Splisby.
Gordon Craig 44 Sqd.
My father, Gordon Craig was moved to Stalag VIIIB from Stalag Luft III after being caught up in various escape attempts. He had been shot down in Lancaster C-Charlie from 44 Squadron, RAF on the night of 6th October, 1942, during a raid on Osnabrück. He remained at VIIB until being force-marched on what became known as the Death March.
I have a collection of letters between him and my mother, Mary Craig, written during his time as a POW, together with his prison camp and Death March diary and various artifacts, such as a polished tin 'mirror' he made to keep up his appearance (and thus his spirits) while he was there. He also wrote notes for a couple of talks he gave; apparently people with various types of civilian or technical expertise were encouraged to give talks to groups of inmates. He was involved with some of the shows they put on as well.
My dad was a Stockton boy, he grew up in Durham Road and first flew as a auxiliary from Middleton St George. My Mum was a Norton girl from Birkley Road; she worked in the torpedo labs at the ICI during the war and often did Fire-watch Duty at night.
My Dad and Mum died within a year of each other in the mid 1980s and are much missed. Despite the privations and sometimes horrors of my dad's wartime experiences, he always said in later years that he felt 'more alive' during the war and that life often seemed duller afterwards. On the whole, he spoke quite freely of events at Stalag VIIB, although he did refer to it as a much more 'serious' place that was grimmer and more prison-like than Stalag Luft III had been. His sense of humour certainly helped, he described a few situations that I would have been hard-pressed to find amusing had they happened to me!
My compliments to you on the site, it's beautifully put together and a real mine of information.
Flt Sgt John Rawson 44 Squadron
Flt Sgt John Rawson was shot down on the 2/3rd September 1941 on a mission to Frankfurt, he was the only crew member to survive. He was held prisoner in eastern Poland and spent some time in Auschwitz, a punishment for repeated escape attempts he arrived back in this country in late 1945 or early 1946 weighing only 7st. He left the RAF and joined the colonial service and worked in Nigeria for 11years. He later went on to work for Burmah oil. He sadly passed away on in June 2009 age 87. He was my uncle and Ii am proud to have known him
Flt Sgt. Henry Robert Pitcher DFM 44 Squadron
Our family story relates that our father, Henry Pitcher received the DFM, he was a rear gunner in a Lancaster with 44 Squadron.
John Elgar 44 Squadron
I am trying to see if there are remaining crew members that flew Lancasters in 44 Squadron with my Grandad, John Elgar or anyone who knew him as he is 90 this year in October. I would love to contact some of his buddies.
Sgt. Thomas W. Brock Air Gunner 44 Sqn (d.22nd Nov1942)
Thomas Brock was my cousin and, at the age of 32, was the "old man" of his crew captained by Plt Off Stanley Ryder Young aged 23. They took off from Waddington, time unknown, on the night of 22 Nov 1942 en-route for Stuttgart. Their aircaft was Lanc W4304 KM-C which had been delivered to Waddington on 10 Oct 1942 and had completed 55 flying hours to date. Somewhere, either en-route or returning from Stuttgart, they were lost without trace. No further communication had been received from the aircraft. All 7 of the crew are remembered on the Runneymede Memorial like so many were before and after them.
I only wish that they had been found and had a resting place. I served with the RAF for 20 years, some of that time in Germany, and would have liked just to be able to stand infront of his grave and just say "Thanks" for their sacrifice. I know nothing of his previous service which is a great pity as he left a wife, who I have never met and have no idea what happened to her after his passing.
Sgt. Raymond Tarlton Stoddart 44 Squadron (d.29th May 1943)
Raymond Stoddart was killed along with all his crew mates when Lancaster EE123 KM-K crashed near Venlo in Holland on a mission to Wuppertal. His grave records him as being 22 years old, he was actually only 19.
Flt.Lt. Kenneth Edward Swinfen MID. 44 Squadron
I have heard lots of stories as Kenneth Swinfen was a great story teller. He was always proud of the fact that he was an Englishman in a Squadron of Rhodesian flyers. Unfortunately now passed away, but he put together a book of short stores about his exploits during WW2. He was mentioned in despatches twice.
Sgt. Thomas William Brock 44 Sqn. (d.22nd Nov 1942)
Thomas was my first cousin once removed and was born in Mildenhall, Suffolk, December 1911, the son of Thomas and Emma Maud Brock. Thomas was serving with 44(R)Sqn RAF when lost without trace on the night of 22/23 November 1942. He was the Mid Upper Gunner in P/O S R Young's crew flying Lanc 1 W4304 KM-C outbound from Waddington on ops to Stuttgart. The aircraft was lost either en-route or returning from the target, there had been no contact with KM-C to advise any particular problem. The crew have no known grave and are therefore remembered on the Runnymede Memorial.
The crew were:
It is such a pity that their final resting places are unknown and that I have no place to go and just say "Thanks" for their sacrifice. All remaining family have now, as far as I am aware, passed. Thomas was married to Rose Ellen Brock nee Rowland but I cannot trace any remaining family which is such a shame. If any of the above names ring a bell, please get in touch.
- Pilot : P/O S R Young 80194 aged 23 RAFVR
- F/Eng : Sgt C A Weymouth 524640 28 RAF
- Nav : F/O D J Appleton 106529 20 RAFVR
- Wop/AG: Sgt W K D Page 1310464 U/K RAFVR
- Obs : Sgt E A Waters 405531 22 RNZAF
- Wop/AG: Sgt T W Brock 1395027 31 RAFVR
- Wop/AG F/Sgt J G Tough R83273 20 RCAF
P/O Peter James Shearman 44 Squadron (d.15th Jun 1943)
Peter Shearman was my father's favourite brother so it is difficult to talk about him. I don't really know very much about who he was, what he did. So anything anyone else knows would be wonderful.
Sgt. Thomas W. Brock Air Gunner 44(R) Squadron (d.23rd Nov 1942)
This is the brief history of my 1st cousin , once removed , Thomas W Brock.
Thomas was born in Suffolk , his birth being registered at Mildenhall. He was the son of Thomas Brock and Emma Maude Cross. I have yet to establish when he joined the RAF and subsequently where he trained as an Air Gunner. I have tried to research the relevant ORB for 44 Sqn but unfortunately it does not state when Thomas arrived on 44 Sqn.
He was crewed up with P/O Stanley Ryder Yyoung aged 23 Pilot, the rest of the crew being as follows :
The ORB shows Thomas crewed with Sgt R Easom to Cologne in Lanc W4180 on 15 Oct 42 - he may well have been a substitute for Sgt Easom's regular rear gunner for this op.
- 106529 F/O David John Appleton aged 20 Nav
- 1395027 Sgt Thomas W Brock 32 Mid Upper Gunner
- 1310164 Sgt Walter Kenneth Page 20 WOP/AG
- 525640 Sgt Charles A Weymouth 28 Flight Engineer
- R83273 WO2 John George Tough 20 Rear Gunner RCAF
- 405531 Sgt Edward Aston Waters 22 Bomb Aimer RNZAF
6th Nov 42 shows Thomas with P/O Young in Lanc R5062 KM-B on ops to Genoa leaving Waddington 21.57 returning 07.04
7th Nov 42 again with P/O Young this time in Lanc R5666 KM-F . Forced to jettison bombs due to extreme icing at 17000 ft on approach to Alps. no target attacked.
9th November saw the same crew on ops to Hamburg again in KM-F . Take off was 17.58 , bombs gone 20.33 - returned to Waddington 23.09
This crew then had a break until 20th November when , again in KM-F , they attacked Turin - take off 1850 - bombs gone 22.27 - return to Waddington 03.36
22 November saw their last operation - destination Stuttgart. The take off time was not logged by operations and no further contact was had with the aircraft W4304 KM-C . The ORB just states "Aircraft failed to return" It was lost without trace either on the way to or from the target. Did they manage to bomb? Were they shot down either by flak of nightfighters? Unfortunately we will never know. Thomas has no marked grave , only a mention with thousands of other aircrew on the Runnymede Memorial.
I served 20 years in the Royal Air force. I walked around the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery and saw all the graves of those aircrew who have a final resting place. I saw their ages , some as young as 18 years of age. I must admit it bought a tear to my eye.
Sgt. William Eric Toft 44 Squadron (d.2nd Mar 1943)
Eric Toft was my husband's uncle, who died before he was born and my husband is named Eric in his memory. He was a wireless operator on board the Lancaster. They were shot down over Germany, and the crew are buried in the Commonwealth Cemetery in Berlin.
We have visited the cemetery, it is a beautifully kept and peaceful place, and a fitting memorial to such a young and dedicated group of men. We have not discovered any more detail of the sortie, so if anyone does have information, Eric's surviving brothers and sister, as well as the rest of his family, would love to know more of his story.
Editor's Note: Eric's Lancaster was W4829, KM-V. They took off from Waddington at 18:46 on the 1st of March 1943. They crashed near Doberitz, from where the burials of all the crew were reported on the 15th of March 1943. The crew were moved to War Cemetry at Berlin at the end of the war. They were:
Sgt B.F.Forman
- Sgt L.Farmer
- Sgt D.G.J.Coombes
- Sgt L.J.Holleron
- Sgt W.E.Toft
- Sgt J.Little
- Sgt B.F.Brown RCAF
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