The Wartime Memories Project

- No. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron, Royal Air Force during the Second World War -


Air Force Index
skip to content


This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site you agree to accept cookies.


If you enjoy this site

please consider making a donation.




    Site Home

    WW2 Home

    Add Stories

    WW2 Search

    Library

    Help & FAQs


 WW2 Features

    Airfields

    Allied Army

    Allied Air Forces

    Allied Navy

    Axis Forces

    Home Front

    Battles

    Prisoners of War

    Allied Ships

    Women at War

    Those Who Served

    Day-by-Day

    Library

    The Great War

 Submissions

    Add Stories

    Time Capsule

    TWMP on Facebook



    Childrens Bookshop

 FAQ's

    Help & FAQs

    Glossary

    Volunteering

    Contact us

    News

    Bookshop

    About


Advertisements











World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

No. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron, Royal Air Force



   No. 44 Squadron was briefly formed on 15th April 1916 but re-designated as No.26 Reserve Squadron only 5 weeks later. It was re-formed in Essex over a year later on 24th July 1917 as a Home Defence night fighter squadron. Disbanded in 1919, No.44 was re-formed at Wyton in March 1937 as a bomber squadron with Hawker Hinds, moving later in the year to Waddington. On the outbreak of war it was equipped with Hampden bomber

In the five years and eight months of WWII 44 Squadron had the highest Lancaster losses of any unit in Bomber Command, and the highest losses in 5 Group. In all it lost over 200 aircraft and nearly 1,100 men. The total sorties and losses were: Handley Page Hampden 2043 sorties (43 lost) Avro Lancaster 4362 sorties (149 lost in combat, 22 in flying accidents) The Squadron was one of just two that remained operational with Bomber Command for the whole of the war, the other being 149 Squadron.

Airfields No: 44 Squadron flew from during the course of the war:

  • 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.



 

3rd Sept 1939 Sweep

7th Sep 1939 Posting

12th Sep 1939 Postings

21st Dec 1939 Aircraft Lost

26th March 1940 Raids

9th Apr 1940 Posting

12th April 1940 Raid

15th May 1940 German troops attacked

15th May 1940 Aircraft Lost

24th May 1940 Aircraft Lost

4th June 1940 Collided with barrage balloon

12th June 1940 Aircraft Lost

13th Jun 1940 44 Squadron Hampden lost

29th Jul 1940 44 Squadron Hampden lost

25th August 1940 Air Raid

8th Apr 1941 Aircraft Lost

17th Apr 1941 Eleven Aircraft Lost

2nd May 1941 Aircraft Lost

12th May 1941 Hampden Lost

12th Jun 1941 Aircraft Lost

13th Jun 1941 Aircraft Lost

19th Jun 1941 Aircraft Lost

8th Jul 1941 Aircraft Lost

21st Jul 1941 Aircraft Lost

24th Jul 1941 Aircraft Lost

27th Jul 1941 Aircraft Lost

30th Jul 1941 Aircraft Lost

1st Aug 1941 Aircraft Lost

16th Aug 1941 Aircraft Lost

28th Aug 1941 Aircraft Lost

31st Aug 1941 Aircraft Lost

Sept 1941   In September 1941, No.44 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.

Sept 1941 

2nd Sep 1941 Aircraft Lost

7th September 1941 Aircraft Lost

8th Sep 1941 Aircraft Lost

11th Sep 1941 Aircraft Lost

15th Sep 1941 Aircraft Lost

10th Oct 1941 Aircraft Lost

13th Oct 1941 Aircraft Lost

21st Oct 1941 Aircraft Lost

23rd Oct 1941 Aircraft Lost

26th Oct 1941 Aircraft Lost

8th Nov 1941 Aircraft Lost

17th Dec 1941 Losses

17th Dec 1941 Aircraft Lost

7th Feb 1942 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

17th Apr 1942 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

17th Apr 1942 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

17th Apr 1942 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

17th Apr 1942 Daylight Raid

27th April 1942 Third Attack on the Tirpitz

28th April 1942 Fourth Attack on the Tirpitz

8th May 1942 Aircraft Lost

9th May 1942 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

9th May 1942 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

20th May 1942 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

6th Jun 1942 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

1st Aug 1942 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

5th Aug 1942 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

12th Aug 1942 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

16th Aug 1942 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

25th Aug 1942 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

28th Aug 1942 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

2nd Oct 1942 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

7th Oct 1942 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

17th October 1942 Operation Robinson

11th Nov 1942 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

22nd Nov 1942 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

18th Dec 1942 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

21st Dec 1942 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

18th Jan 1943 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

28th Mar 1943 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

30th Mar 1943 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

10th Apr 1943 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

14th May 1943 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

14th May 1943 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

31st May 1943 On the Move

24th Jul 1943 Raid

18th Aug 1943 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

18th Aug 1943 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

18th Aug 1943 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

2nd Oct 1943 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

3rd Oct 1943 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

4th Oct 1943 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

10th Nov 1943 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

18th Nov 1943 Aircraft Lost

24th Nov 1943 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

24th Nov 1943 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

3rd Dec 1943 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

24th Dec 1943 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

7th Jan 1944 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

15th Jan 1944 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

25th Feb 1944 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

1st Mar 1943 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

25th Mar 1944 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

30th Mar 1944 Aircraft Lost

30th Mar 1944 Aircraft Lost

21st Apr 1944 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

27th Apr 1944 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

4th May 1944 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

8th May 1944 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

1st Jun 1944 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

10th Jun 1944 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

11th Jun 1944 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

21st Jun 1944 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

21st June 1944 Aircraft Lost

22nd Jun 1944 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

25th Jun 1944 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

5th Jul 1944 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

8th Jul 1944 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

16th Jul 1944 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

17th Aug 1944 Aircraft Lost

Sept 1944 Change of Base

5th Nov 1944 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

9th Feb 1945 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

7th Mar 1945 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

10th April 1945 Aircraft Lost

13th May 1945 44 Squadron Lancaster lost

June 1945 Operation Dodge

July 1945 On the Move


If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.



Logbooks



Do you have a WW2 Flying Log Book in your possession?

If so it would be a huge help if you could add logbook entries to our new database. Thank you.

View Logbook entries



Those known to have served with

No. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron, Royal Air Force

during the Second World War 1939-1945.

  • Andrews K. G.. Sgt.
  • Beaton Jack.
  • Beckett Geoffrey. Sgt (d.17 Dec 1942)
  • Bell William. Sgt. (d.6th Sep 1940)
  • Bennett William. Sgt
  • Bennie John Gowans. Gunner
  • Birmingham Allen Sutherland. WO
  • Brett Raymond William. Sgt. (d.22nd June 1944)
  • Brock Thomas W.. Sgt. (d.22nd Nov1942)
  • Brock Thomas William. Sgt. (d.22nd Nov 1942)
  • Brock Thomas W.. Sgt. (d.23rd Nov 1942)
  • Bull William Sharman. Flt.Lt. (d.4th July 1940)
  • Cahill Dennis. Sgt. (d.4th Oct 1944)
  • Cook William Bernard. F/Lt.
  • Coults John. Sgt.
  • Craig Gordon.
  • Craig Thomas Watson. F/O.
  • Crammond J. H.. F/Sgt
  • Croft Leonard George. Sgt. (d.3rd Aug 1943)
  • Currie DFM. John Richard. Sgt.
  • Elgar John.
  • Emson Joseph William. S/Sgt. (d.18th Oct 1943)
  • Evans Norman Joseph. FO (d.4th October 1944)
  • Forrest John la. P/O
  • Gibbin Terrance. LAC. (d.21st December 1939)
  • Giri Vincent Noel. P/O. (d.20th Dec 1942)
  • Goulette Jimmy. Sgt.
  • Greatz E. H.. F/Sgt.
  • Harper John Derrick. P/O. (d.4th Oct 1944)
  • Hayes Bernard Michael. P/O. (d.25th Mar 1944)
  • Heath Merrik. Flt Lt
  • Hill Charles Ellison. Flt.Lt. (d.23rd Nov 1943)
  • Hough William John. P/O. (d.16th July 1944)
  • Hynes DFC. Terence Gearld . P/O.
  • Ibbotson T.. F/O
  • Jack William Cameron. Sgt. (d.15th March 1944)
  • Johnson Charles Edward. Sqd.Ldr. (d.24th May 1940)
  • Lewis John. Sgt. (d.25th Jun 1944)
  • Lewis John. Sgt. (d.25th Jun 1944)
  • McCallum Robert. W/O
  • McCoy Louis Joseph Patrick. Flt.Sgt. (d.22nd June 1944)
  • Miller Reginald Talbot. Sgt. (d.20th July 1940)
  • Murray I. R.. F/Sgt.
  • Nettleton VC. John Dering. Sqd.Ldr. (d.13th July 1943)
  • Nixon Percy Dryden. Sgt. (d.20th July 1940)
  • Norman Allan. Sgt.
  • Oakley Clarence.
  • Openshaw Roy. Sgt. (d.25th Feb 1944)
  • Parkinson Ron. Sgt
  • Phillips John Ernest. F/Sgt. (d.1st September 1941)
  • Pitcher DFM. Henry Robert. Flt/Sgt.
  • Pitcher DFM. Henry Robert. F/O.
  • Pyper Paddy. Sgt
  • Rawson John. Flt Sgt
  • Riddoch Robert Alexander. WO2 (d.25th Jun 1944)
  • Saunders DFM. Harry. Sgt.
  • Sewell William. Sgt. (d.2nd/3rd August 1943)
  • Shearman Peter James. P/O (d.15th Jun 1943)
  • Simons Harry. Pilot
  • Smith A.. Sgt
  • Stace John Alan. Flt.Sgt.
  • Stoddart Raymond Tarlton. Sgt. (d.29th May 1943)
  • Suckling Russell Henry. F/O. (d.28th August 1942)
  • Swinfen MID. Kenneth Edward. Flt.Lt.
  • Thompson DFM. John Charles. Sgt
  • Thompson DFC. John Charles. Sgt.
  • Toft William Eric. Sgt. (d.2nd Mar 1943)
  • Towill Charles Edgar. WO. (d.23rd October 1944)
  • Towill Charles Edgar. WO. (d.23rd October 1944)
  • Vause Charles William. Sgt.
  • Wells DFC F. A.. F/Lt.
  • Wells DFC Frances Arthur. F/Lt
  • Weymouth Charles Anthony. Sgt. (d.23rd Nov 1942)
  • Whithead T. W.. F/Sgt.
  • Whitney Stanley William. Sgt. (d.24th Dec 1943)
  • Wilde James Alec. Sgt. (d.23rd Dec 1943)
  • Williams Robert Earnest. Sgt. (d.14th Sep 1942)
  • Worrall J. R.W.. Sgt.

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

Records of No. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron, Royal Air Force from other sources.



The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.

Announcements



  • The Wartime Memories Project has been running for 24 years. If you would like to support us, a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting and admin or this site will vanish from the web.
  • 28th March 2024 - Please note we currently have a huge backlog of submitted material, our volunteers are working through this as quickly as possible and all names, stories and photos will be added to the site. If you have already submitted a story to the site and your UID reference number is higher than 263784 your information is still in the queue, please do not resubmit, we are working through them as quickly as possible.
  • Looking for help with Family History Research?   Please read our Family History FAQ's
  • The free to access section of The Wartime Memories Project website is run by volunteers and funded by donations from our visitors. If the information here has been helpful or you have enjoyed reaching the stories please conside making a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting or this site will vanish from the web.
    If you enjoy this site

    please consider making a donation.


Want to find out more about your relative's service? Want to know what life was like during the War? Our Library contains an ever growing number diary entries, personal letters and other documents, most transcribed into plain text.



We are now on Facebook. Like this page to receive our updates.

If you have a general question please post it on our Facebook page.


Wanted: Digital copies of Group photographs, Scrapbooks, Autograph books, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters, postcards and ephemera relating to WW2. We would like to obtain digital copies of any documents or photographs relating to WW2 you may have at home.

If you have any unwanted photographs, documents or items from the First or Second World War, please do not destroy them. The Wartime Memories Project will give them a good home and ensure that they are used for educational purposes. Please get in touch for the postal address, do not sent them to our PO Box as packages are not accepted. World War 1 One ww1 wwII second 1939 1945 battalion
Did you know? We also have a section on The Great War. and a Timecapsule to preserve stories from other conflicts for future generations.





Want to know more about No. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron, Royal Air Force?


There are:2120 items tagged No. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron, Royal Air Force 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.


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.

Martin Craig



P/O. Terence Gearld "Turlough" Hynes DFC. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron

This is the photo from POW camp, where?

Terence Hynes was shot down during a bombing raid on oil refinery in Glenererhin on the night of 29th of August 1940 and was a POW until May 1945 and as far as I know he was in Oflag VI B.

Paul Hynes



Pilot Harry Simons 44 Squadron

Pilot Harry Simons flew with George Cutter (Navigator), Jock Taylor (Rear Gunner), Bob Davis (Bomb Aimer), John Bennie (Mid Upper Gunner), Harry Middleton (Wireless Op).




WO. Charles Edgar Towill 44 Squadron (d.23rd October 1944)

Charles Towill was a former pupil of Carlisle Grammar School. He was the son of Marcus Herbert Towill and Martha Grace nee Watson.




WO. Charles Edgar Towill 44 Squadron (d.23rd October 1944)

Charles Towill was a former pupil of Carlisle Grammar School. He was the son of Marcus Herbert Towill and Martha Grace nee Watson.




LAC. Terrance Gibbin 44 Squadron (d.21st December 1939)

Terrance Gibbin was a Wireless Operator, I look after his war grave in St Cuthbert's Cemitary, Kirkleatham, Near Redcar. It was never attended to, as no known Family now exist. It appears his Hamden Bomber was shot down by friendly fire over the North Sea on the 21st of December 1939.

Gordon Corker



Sgt. Dennis Cahill 44 Squadron (d.4th Oct 1944)

Sergeant (Air Gunner) Dennis Cahill was the son of Thomas and Mildred Powel Cahill, of Scawthorpe, Yorkshire. He was 23 when he died and is buried in the Strandby (Aars) Churchyard in Denmark.

S Flynn



P/O. John Derrick Harper 44 Squadron (d.4th Oct 1944)

Pilot Officer (Air Bomber) John Harper was the son of F/O. James Leslie Harper, R.A.F. (V.R.) who died on active service on the 24th August, 1944 and of his wife Nora of Prenton, Cheshire. John was aged 21 when he died and is buried in the Skive General Cemetery in Denmark.

s flynn



P/O. Vincent Noel Giri 44 Squadron (d.20th Dec 1942)

Pilot Officer Vincent Giri flew as a Wireless Op./Air Gunner with 44 Squadron. He lost his life on the 20th of December 1942 and is buried in Horsted (All Saints) Churchyard.

Barry Peters



Flt.Lt. William Sharman Bull 44 Squadron (d.4th July 1940)

Flight Lieutenant (Air Gunner) William Bull was the son of Frederick and Helen Bull, husband of Patricia Bull of Ivybridge, Devon. He was aged 34 when he died and is buried in the Norre Lyngvig Churchyard in Denmark.

s flynn







Recomended Reading.

Available at discounted prices.









Links


    Suggest a link
















    The free section of the Wartime Memories Project website is run by volunteers. We have been helping people find out more about their relatives wartime experiences since 1999 by recording and preserving recollections, documents, photographs and small items.

    The website is paid for out of our own pockets, library subscriptions and from donations made by visitors. The popularity of the site means that it is far exceeding available resources and we currently have a huge backlog of submissions.

    If you are enjoying the site, please consider making a donation, however small to help with the costs of keeping the site running.



    Hosted by:

    The Wartime Memories Project Website

    is archived for preservation by the British Library





    Copyright MCMXCIX - MMXXIV
    - All Rights Reserved

    We do not permit the use of any content from this website for the training of LLMs or for use in Generative AI, it also may not be scraped for the purpose of creating other websites.