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No. 61 Squadron RAF
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No. 61 Squadron RAF
No. 61 Squadron, RFC, was formed at Rochford, Essex, in August 1917, and disbanded in 1919. No. 61 re-formed in 1937 as a bomber squadron and in World War 2 flew with No. 5 Group, Bomber Command. No. 61 took part in many notable operations including the first bombing raid on a German land target (Hornum, 19/20th March 1940), the first big bombing raid on the German mainland (Monchengladbach, 11/12th May 1940), the first bombing raid on Berlin (25/26th August 1940), the attacks on Le Creusot and Peenemunde (17th October 1942 and 17/18th August 1943), the draining of the Dortmund-Ems and Mitteland Canals (late 1944), and the attack on Wesel just before the crossing of the Rhine (23rd/24th March 1945). Beginning operations with Hampdens, the squadron was given Manchesters towards the end of 1941 and in spring 1942, Lancasters. In the summer of 1942. No. 61 was twice loaned to Coastal Command for anti-submarine operations in the Bay of Biscay. It was detached to St. Eval in Cornwall.
Airfields No. 61 Squadron RAF flew from.
- RAF Hemswell, Lincolnshire. from 3rd Sep 1939 to 17th Jul 1941
- RAF North Luffenham, Rutland. from 17th Jul to 1st Nov 1941
- RAF Woolfox Lodge, Rutland. from 1st Nov 1941 to 5th May 1942
- RAF Syerston, Nottinghamshire. from 5th May to 14th Jul 1942
- RAF St. Eval, Cornwall. (detached to Costala Command) from 14th Jul 1942 to 16th Nov 1943
- RAF Skellingthorpe, Lincolnshire. from 16th Nov 1943 to 1st Feb 1944 and 15th Apr 1944 to 16th Jun 1945
- RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire. from 1st Feb to 15th Apr 1944
- RAF Sturgate, Lincolnshire from 16th June 1945
List of those who served with No. 61 Squadron RAF during The Second World War
- F/O Ian Melville Campbell (d.23rd September 1944) Read his Story.
- Sergeant John Norman Hoad (d.23rd September 1944) Read his Story.
- Sergeant H Lea Read his Story.
- F/Sgt John Manning Read his Story.
- Sergeant John McCabe (d.23rd September 1944) Read his Story.
- Sgt Kenneth " " Norgate (d.29th Aug 1942) Read his Story.
- Flt/Sgt Samuel Vernon Wickland (d.23rd September 1944) Read his Story.
F/O Ian Melville Campbell 61 Squadron (d.23rd September 1944)
My great uncle flew a Lancaster with 61 Squadron and was killed on the 23rd of September 1944. I'm trying to find information on the only survivor, Sgt H.Lea who was put into Stalag Luft 7. I'd like to know if he is still alive. > > The crew were:
F/O Ian Melville Campbell RNZAF 426213 Sgt John Norman Hoad 1175274 23/09/1944 Sgt R.D.Cole F/S M.J.Milne RNZAF Sgt John McCabe 1348047 RAF Volunteer Reserve Flt/Sgt Samuel Vernon Wickland 640170 Sgt H.Lea > > Lancaster ED470 took off at 19:07 23rd Sep 1944 to bomb the Dortmund-Ems Canal at Ladbergen near Munster. It crashed at 23:30 at Wechte, 3km from Tecklenburg. Those killed are now buried in the Reichswald Forest War cemetery.
Sergeant John Norman Hoad 61 Squadron (d.23rd September 1944)
my great uncle, flew a Lancaster with 61 Squadron and was killed on the 23rd of September 1944. I'm trying to find info on the only survivor, Sgt H.Lea who was put into Stalag Luft 7. I'd like to know if he is still alive.
The crew were:
F/O Ian Melville Campbell RNZAF 426213 Sgt John Norman Hoad 1175274 23/09/1944 Sgt R.D.Cole F/S M.J.Milne RNZAF Sgt John McCabe 1348047 RAF Volunteer Reserve Flt/Sgt Samuel Vernon Wickland 640170 Sgt H.Lea Lancaster ED470 took off at 19:07 23rd Sep 1944 to bomb the Dortmund-Ems Canal at Ladbergen near Munster. It crashed at 23:30 at Wechte, 3 km from Tecklenburg. Those killed are now buried in the Reichswald Forest War cemetery.
Sergeant John McCabe 61 Squadron (d.23rd September 1944)
My great uncle flew a Lancaster with 61 Squadron and was killed on the 23rd of September 1944. I'm trying to find info on the only survivor, Sgt H.Lea who was put into Stalag Luft 7. I'd like to know if he is still alive.
The crew were:
F/O Ian Melville Campbell RNZAF 426213 Sgt John Norman Hoad 1175274 23/09/1944 Sgt R.D.Cole F/S M.J.Milne RNZAF Sgt John McCabe 1348047 RAF Volunteer Reserve Flt/Sgt Samuel Vernon Wickland 640170 Sgt H.Lea Lancaster ED470 took off at 19:07 23rd Sep 1944 to bomb the Dortmund-Ems Canal at Ladbergen near Munster. It crashed at 23:30 at Wechte, 3 km from Tecklenburg. Those killed are now buried in the Reichswald Forest War cemetery.
Flt/Sgt Samuel Vernon Wickland 61 Squadron (d.23rd September 1944)
My great uncle flew a Lancaster with 61 Squadron and was killed on the 23rd of September 1944. I'm trying to find info on the only survivor, Sgt H.Lea who was put into Stalag Luft 7. I'd like to know if he is still alive.
The crew were:
F/O Ian Melville Campbell RNZAF 426213 Sgt John Norman Hoad 1175274 23/09/1944 Sgt R.D.Cole F/S M.J.Milne RNZAF Sgt John McCabe 1348047 RAF Volunteer Reserve Flt/Sgt Samuel Vernon Wickland 640170 Sgt H.Lea Lancaster ED470 took off at 19:07 23rd Sep 1944 to bomb the Dortmund-Ems Canal at Ladbergen near Munster. It crashed at 23:30 at Wechte, 3 km from Tecklenburg. Those killed are now buried in the Reichswald Forest War cemetery.
Sergeant H Lea 61 Squadron
My great uncle flew a Lancaster with 61 Squadron and was killed on the 23rd of September 1944. I'm trying to find info on the only survivor, Sgt H.Lea who was put into Stalag Luft 7. I'd like to know if he is still alive.
The crew were:
F/O Ian Melville Campbell RNZAF 426213 Sgt John Norman Hoad 1175274 23/09/1944 Sgt R.D.Cole F/S M.J.Milne RNZAF Sgt John McCabe 1348047 RAF Volunteer Reserve Flt/Sgt Samuel Vernon Wickland 640170 Sgt H.Lea Lancaster ED470 took off at 19:07 23rd Sep 1944 to bomb the Dortmund-Ems Canal at Ladbergen near Munster. It crashed at 23:30 at Wechte, 3km from Tecklenburg. Those killed are now buried in the Reichswald Forest War cemetery.
F/Sgt John Manning 61 Squadron
My father, John Manning, served as a Flight Sergeant/Air Gunner on 61 Squadron, flying Lancasters based at Skellingthorpe, an airfield shared with 50 Squadron at that time.
Dad had a roll-out picture taken (he thinks) at the end of the war with aircrew of both squadrons sitting on the wings of a Lancaster. This photo was unfortunately lost when my sister died, as she had been looking after it.
Dad is, thank God, still with us and still very sharp, but he misses his photograph. Has anyone out there got a copy they can scan?
Sgt Kenneth " " Norgate 61 Squadron (d.29th Aug 1942)
My late uncle Sgt Kenneth Norgate from 61 Sqd RAF is buried at the War Cemetery in Durnbach, Germany. I promised my late mother and father that I would visit the cemetery which I have plans to do very soon. I would like to find out more about my uncle, my parents always told me that he was shot down whilst flying in a Lancaster bomber over Munich during WW2. I would like to find out where 61 sqd was based and details on my uncles last bombing mission.
UPDATE: Lancaster R5742 took off from RAF Syerston at 2105 on the 28th of August 1942 on a mission to Nuremburg. All the crew were lost on this mission and are buried in Durnbach War Cemetery.
The crew were:
- Sgt K. Norgate
- F/S. J. E. Richards
- P/O W. S. Pattinson RCAF
- F/S F. Janiszewski RCAF
- Sgt L. M. Cowan RCAF
- Sgt W. Toole
- P/O J. A. Wright RCAF
F/S Richards was an American from San Francisco serving in the RAF. His brother, Branson Richards, also died on Active Service.
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Website © Copyright IMM - MMIX
- All Rights Reserved
Website and ALL Material © Copyright MIM to MMIX
- All Rights Reserved