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Those who Served
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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII
Those who Served
Billy Vale . Home Guard Feltwell Btn.
Sqdn Ldr Ralph Van Den Bok DFC & 2Bar.. RAFVR 214 squadron
I am most interested in Squadron Leader Ralph Van Den Bok, DFC & 2Bar. RAFVR, as my father, Flying Officer John Tudor Mills (Wop/AG), flew on Ops with him in Boeing B17 F & G aircraft of 214 Sqdn, based at RAF Oulton, Norfolk, part of 100 group, during 1944/45. Records of the squadron's activities are somewhat sparse, in view of what they did (ECM etc). I have been quite unable to determine S/Ldr Van Den Bok's nationality, although I suspect that he might have been Canadian,as he was awarded his first DFC in 1942, as a Flying Officer, whilst operating with 408 (Goose) Squadron, RCAF (although he himself was RAFVR). From bits and pieces that I have managed to unearth, I gather that he was shot down by Flak at some point and escaped through Belgium, but I don't know the details. 3 DFC's is quite an achievement, he was awarded one of them for "Devotion to operational flying", or words to that effect. I would really like to find out more about him.
Leroy "Bud" Van Natta . US Army 634th AAA AW Battalion 106th Inf Division
My father, Leroy (Bud) Van Natta was captured during the battle of the bulge and sent to Stalag 4B, where he spent the remainder of the war. He was in the 634th AAA AW Battalion attached to the 106TH. He mentioned that they used to smuggle in cirgarettes into the camp in the sleeves of there coats. Once he mentioned that an SS Officers' son approached the fence and asked a prisoner for some gum and when the prisoner did not have any the Kid told the guards to shoot the prisoner which they did. If anyone remembers my Dad please let me know.
Sgt. W. Vandalli . RAF 300 Sqd.
L/Cpl. Frank Ernest Varney . British Army 10 Troop 11th Commando from Nottingham)
My Dad, Frank Varney, served with 11th commando 10 troop in the raid to capture Rommel in November 1941, Operation Flipper. He also spent a period of time at a POW camp PG65 in Italy. I would love to hear from any of his mates.
Flying Officer A R Vaughan . RCAF 582 Squadron
582 Squadron lost 5 aircraft on 23/12/44 whilst on operations to Cologne.
Lancaster PB523, took off from Little Stoughton at 10.29hrs. Crew were
F/Lt Peter Alfred Thomas, DFC, RAF 172593, killed, age 22. F/Sgt Vivian George Hobbs, RAF 1816098, killed age 20 F/O W.E.Vaughan, RCAF, POW F/Lt A.R.Whittaker, POW W/O H.Fuller, POW Sgt G.Fallon, POW W/O2 Frederick William Campbell, RCAF J/94493, killed, age 29 The Lancaster is believed to have crashed at Oppiter (Limburg), 4km SE of Bree in Belgium, though it is likely some of the crew baled out over Germany.
F/O Hobbs lies in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, his death being attributed to a collapsed parachute canopy. F/L Thomas was originally buried at Oppiter but his grave is now at Heverlee War Cemetery, while WO2 Campbell RCAF, who was laid to rest alongside his skipper, has been taken to Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, Holland. —From Bomber Command War Diaries - Martin Middlebrook & Chris Everitt
Lancaster PB523 was one of 27 Lancasters and 3 Mosquitoes of 8 Group to attack the Gremberg railway yards. The raid went very badly. The force was split into 3 formations, each led by an Oboe-equipped Lancaster with an Oboe Mosquito as reserve leader. During the outward flight, 2 Lancasters of 35 Squadron collided over the French coast and their crews were all killed. On approaching the target, it was found that the cloud which had been forecast had cleared and it was decided to allow the bombers to break formation and bomb visually; this move was made because the formations would have been very vulnerable to Cologne's flak defences during the long, straight Oboe approach.
Unfortunately the order to abandon the Oboe run did not reach the leading Lancaster, a 582 Squadron aircraft piloted by Squadron Leader R A M Palmer DFC (on loan from 109 Squadron), who continued on with his designated role, even though his aircraft was already damaged by flak. German fighters, who were being directed to intercept an American bomber force, also appeared and attacked. The bombs from Squadron Leader Palmer's aircraft were eventually released and hit the target but his plane went down out of control and only the tail gunner escaped, by parachute. Squadron Leader Palmer, on his 110th operation, was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross, the only Oboe VC of the war; his body is buried in the Rheinberg War Cemetery with the other men who died in the Lancaster.
The formation suffered further losses when another Lancaster and a Mosquito were shot down by Flak ANF fighters and a further Lancaster was abandoned by its crew over Belgium. The losses were thus 6 aircraft out of the 30 dispatched.
I am desperately searching for any information about Pilot Officer Frederick William Campbell, known as Teddy, of 582 Sqd RCAF, age 29, of Pembrooke, Nova Scotia who died in action December 23, 1944. He is my half-brother's father and we know nothing at all about him. My 70 year-old brother was adopted and never met or knew his Dad. Very sad circumstances. I am determined to search until I have answers. He died while serving his country and deserves to be recognized by his son for his bravery.
Cpl David Elwyn Vaughan . Army Royal Army Service Corps from Glynneath, South Wales)
(d.14th Aug 1940)
I am desperately trying to trace my Grandfather, David Vaughan who died in the Second World War aged 27. His wife was Annie may Vaughan and she died aged 33 in 1950. They lived in Glyneath, South Wales and the circumstances surrounding his death are vague. His only son died in 1993 and his only daughter, my mum is unable to recall any memories due to his death when she was only 9 years old
Flying Officer W E Vaughan . RCAF 582 Squadron
582 Squadron lost 5 aircraft on 23/12/44 whilst on operations to Cologne.
Lancaster PB523, took off from Little Stoughton at 10.29hrs. Crew were
F/Lt Peter Alfred Thomas, DFC, RAF 172593, killed, age 22. F/Sgt Vivian George Hobbs, RAF 1816098, killed age 20 F/O W.E.Vaughan, RCAF, POW F/Lt A.R.Whittaker, POW W/O H.Fuller, POW Sgt G.Fallon, POW W/O2 Frederick William Campbell, RCAF J/94493, killed, age 29 The Lancaster is believed to have crashed at Oppiter (Limburg), 4km SE of Bree in Belgium, though it is likely some of the crew baled out over Germany.
F/O Hobbs lies in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, his death being attributed to a collapsed parachute canopy. F/L Thomas was originally buried at Oppiter but his grave is now at Heverlee War Cemetery, while WO2 Campbell RCAF, who was laid to rest alongside his skipper, has been taken to Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, Holland. —From Bomber Command War Diaries - Martin Middlebrook & Chris Everitt
Lancaster PB523 was one of 27 Lancasters and 3 Mosquitoes of 8 Group to attack the Gremberg railway yards. The raid went very badly. The force was split into 3 formations, each led by an Oboe-equipped Lancaster with an Oboe Mosquito as reserve leader. During the outward flight, 2 Lancasters of 35 Squadron collided over the French coast and their crews were all killed. On approaching the target, it was found that the cloud which had been forecast had cleared and it was decided to allow the bombers to break formation and bomb visually; this move was made because the formations would have been very vulnerable to Cologne's flak defences during the long, straight Oboe approach.
Unfortunately the order to abandon the Oboe run did not reach the leading Lancaster, a 582 Squadron aircraft piloted by Squadron Leader R A M Palmer DFC (on loan from 109 Squadron), who continued on with his designated role, even though his aircraft was already damaged by flak. German fighters, who were being directed to intercept an American bomber force, also appeared and attacked. The bombs from Squadron Leader Palmer's aircraft were eventually released and hit the target but his plane went down out of control and only the tail gunner escaped, by parachute. Squadron Leader Palmer, on his 110th operation, was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross, the only Oboe VC of the war; his body is buried in the Rheinberg War Cemetery with the other men who died in the Lancaster.
The formation suffered further losses when another Lancaster and a Mosquito were shot down by Flak ANF fighters and a further Lancaster was abandoned by its crew over Belgium. The losses were thus 6 aircraft out of the 30 dispatched.
I am desperately searching for any information about Pilot Officer Frederick William Campbell, known as Teddy, of 582 Sqd RCAF, age 29, of Pembrooke, Nova Scotia who died in action December 23, 1944. He is my half-brother's father and we know nothing at all about him. My 70 year-old brother was adopted and never met or knew his Dad. Very sad circumstances. I am determined to search until I have answers. He died while serving his country and deserves to be recognized by his son for his bravery.
P.O. G. A. Ventris . Royal Navy HMS Forfar
P.O. Ventriss was amongst those who survived the sinking of HMS Forfar on the 2nd of December 1940.
Joan Verrall . Land Army
My name is Joan Hollins (nee Verrall) I served in the Land Army in the Kent villages of Headcorn and Smarden. I would like to hear from anyone who served in either of these villages betwween 1942 until 1945
Charles Gordon Vicary . Royal Air Force 101 Squadron from Exeter)
I flew on Lancaster PA237, 23rd of Feb 1945 in the raid of Pforzheim and was shot down. When jumping out the landing looked to be a good one, but it turned out to be a ploughed field that had frozen! I was taken POW and was taken to Moosberg.
Flying Officer Villis . RAF 59 Squadron
Pte. Vine . Army The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
Ernie Vine . Home Guard Feltwell Btn.
Leanord Vokey . Royal Navy HMS Forfar
Staff Sergeant Edward Volberding .
My Grandfather, Staff Sargeant Edward Volbering, was captured at Kasserine, was interned at Stalag 2b and then escaped during the Death March. He and a couple others were able to make it to a farm where they hid in a compartment underneath the floor boards of a barn. That night a Panzer scouting group came and parked in the barn and spent the night with them right over their heads. That day the tanks left and Ed and his buddies thought things were a little suspicious so they moved up to the loft of the barn. Sure enough the Panzers came back that night and they found the compartment where my grandfather was the night before, but they didn't check the loft. The next day the Panzers left and it was another day or so before Ed and his buddies again heard tanks. This time they were ours and my Grandfather was rescued. Any information that anyone can find about the inner workings of Stalag 2b would be greatly appreciated. Thank You for putting this website together.
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