|
|
|
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.
|
William P. Vaughan . United States Army Air Corps from Pennsylvania
|
Pvt. Emmett Vaughn . US Army Battery B 172nd Field Artillery Battalion
|
GH Vaughton . British Army 5th Btn. Royal Tank Regiment GH Vaughton served with the 5th Btn. Royal Tank Regiment British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
|
Sgt. Charles William Vause . Royal Air Force 44 Squadron from Scunthorpe My father Bill Vause was a mid upper gunner in a Lancaster III with 44 Rhodesia Squadron in 1944. He was sShot down over Denmark on 3/4th April 1944 in Risgård Bredning Bay in Denmark, the aircraft exploding just before it hit the water. Dad and one other survived and ended up in Stalag Luft VII for the duration of the war until liberated by the Russians. His best friend Dennis is buried nearby see this link
|
F/O E. L. Vawter. . Royal Air Force 434 sqd.
|
WO Valentine Vaz . British Army RASC Welch Rgt. My grandfather Valentine Vaz (enlisted in India), served in the Welch Regiment RASC, WO 2 3975864 from 1941 until 1945. He was captured in Singapore, and spent time in Malaya at Japanese POW camps. He was discharged overseas with a Class A Release. Does anyone have any information about him?
|
Bandsman. Veal . Does anyone know anything about a band at Lamsdorf 8b called Melody Makers? My late grandfather, Bandsman Veal, was part of it until he was repatriated in 1943. I am trying to find information, however small. Can you help?
|
Ft.Sgt. Arthur Raymond Veal . Royal Australian Air Force 601 Squadron from London Ray Veal was my father and he served as ground crew in 601 Squadron throughout WW2. Before and during the Battle of Britain he was based at various locations in the south of England including Duxford where he met my mother. He then went to Africa and followed the allied campaign through Egypt and North Africa, then across to Sicily and Italy.
He survived the war and led a full family life until his death aged 92. He was very proud of his service and the squadron and never missed an opportunity to show us the planes and engines that he worked on. Although he must have seen harrowing times he talked mostly of the comradeship and adventure that he experienced.
|
Cpl. Kitchener David Veal . British Army 3rd Btn. Monmouthshire Regiment from Stratford, London Kitchener Veal was called up and the date was the same as the day he was due to marry his girlfriend. He got a two week deferment from 20th Jan 1940 to early Feb.
I believe he made rank of corporal.
He was transferred from the South Wales Borderers to the Monmouthshire Regiment, with whom he landed in Normandy in 1944.
He fought through France, Belgium, and into the Netherlands. He was severely wounded on 15th October 1944 in the Battle of Overloon and brought back to Britain. He eventually had below-knee amputation of his right leg due to his injuries.
Other information, he was a good piano player, which made him popular with the lads. Also, whilst stationed at Scapa Flow, he boxed for his company.
I would love any more information of my father's exploits whilst in the army. I shall be visiting Overloon on the 75th anniversary of his wounding, 15th October 2019.
|
AH Veitch . British Army AH Veitch served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
|
F/O Josef Franck Vejlupek . Royal Air Force 310 Sqd. from Klatovy, Czech Republic He was one of last three to fly a Spitfire on an offensive/ combat sortie on 1.1.1951. Has anyone any info on service with 32 and 310 Sqdns?
|
J. H. Velleman . Royal Air Force 320 Sqdn. I am looking for information about my uncle J H Velleman. I have some information about his crash in France and some photos.
|
Flt.Sgt. William Horace Venables . Royal Air Force 150 Squadron from Hove, Sussex William Venables was my father and he served as a bomb aimer in 150 Squadron from late 1944 to the end of the conflict.
His crew completed a full tour with pilot Roy Roffe usually flying Lancaster NN742.
The crew were
- Sgt. A. (Bob) Drinkwater (Rear Gunner)
- Sgt. W.H. (Bill) Venables (Bomb Aimer)
- Sgt. F.F. (Frank) Clitheroe (Mid Upper Gunner)
- P/O A.R. (Roy) Roffe (Pilot)
- Sgt. P (Pat) Joyce (Navigator)
- Sgt. J (Jim) Boyd (Flight Engineer)
- Sgt E.W. (Ted) Hall (Wireless Operator).
Although 150 Squadron had a comparatively low casualty rate, it is clear from Dad's diaries that losses of fellow crews had a big impact on those left to continue the fight.
|
LAC Frank Venn . Royal Air Force 99 Squadron (d.1st Nov 1945) LAC Frank Venn and I were very closely associated while serving in the 99 Squadron on the Cocos Island.I also happened to be an LAC and a Flight Mechanic and we worked together on the Liberator Heavy Bombers. A few months before the end of the war Frank and I had exchanged home addresses of each other's mother. After the cessation of WW2 in August 1945 life on the Cocos Island was more like a protracted holiday on a South Sea Island. We would spend the days lolling on the beach reading books and the nights playing the guitar while singing.
One day while resting on the beach I happened to observe two of the RAF boys on a makeshift raft waving as if seeking assistance. I recognized them through a telescope, knew that they could not swim and realized that the raft was fast drifting towards the second reef. I knew that the raft would soon be lifted by the waves and hurled onto the reef and end in a disaster.
I asked Frank, who happened to be around, to take a look through the telescope. On seeing their distress he hurled the instrument aside and ran on to the beach. He organized a team of volunteers to rescue the men in distress. A rope was tied around the waist of the first man and the far end of the rope was fastened to the trunk of a coconut palm. I took my position in the human chain, some ten men from the first man. Frank was supervising the exercise and on seeing me he ordered me to get out of the human chain and when I hesitated, he got me by the collar dragged me on to the beach and punched me on the jaw. I fell unconscious on the beach. Later when I came to I realized that the rope holding the human chain had given up and about 32 men including Frank perished in the ocean. This is my story of a great friend who saved my life and lost his own in the process. God rest his beloved soul.
|
Lt. Henry Albert Venn . Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve HMS Copra (d.6th June 1944) Lt Venn died on 6th June 1944 is buried in Bayeux War Cemetery, X.H.21.
|
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.
|
Sgt. Jack Walter Venus MID. British Army
|
P/O H. M.J. Vere-Hodge . 97 Squadron
|
Pvt. Vito Vincent " " Verga . US Army from Brooklyn, New York My grandfather, Vito Virga passed away in December 2009. He would have been ninety in January 2010. He was a POW at Stalag 9B in 1945. I found some records online and had them sent to me. Wish I would have got him to talk about the war to me so I could have more information. The best to all that are still remembering this time at war.
|
Sgt. T. A. Vermiglio . 102 Squadron
|
Sgt. Eric Vernall . Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve from Cwmaman, Aberdare, Glamorgan (d.10th July 1942) Sergeant Vernall was the Son of Henry Thomas Vernall and Rhoda Mary Vernall, of Cwmaman, Aberdare, Glamorgan.
He was 20 and is buried in the Algeciras Municipal Cemetery in Spain.
|
Lt. John Wingfield Verner . British Army 8th Btn Rifle Brigade from Surrey (d.29th Apr 1943) Lt John Verner was the son of Capt. Sir Edward Wingfield Verner, who served with the 5th Btn., and Lady Verner of Farnham, Surrey.
|
Pte Charles Thomas Vernon . British Army HQ Signals Platoon. No.3 Commando from Enfield (d.6th June 1944) Chas Vernon was on LCI (s)501 (293) we believe and fell near Sword Beach.
He had a short military career after running away to join South Staffs at 16 yrs old. He was a signaller. We believe in No 3 Commando HQ Troop.
He went from Queens RR as a Gunner to South Staffs then was sent to Achnacarry to trial to be a Commando. He got his Green Beret and then was very quickly sent down south to Southampton to await the first D Day Amphibious wave of attack. He was on his way to Sword, Queen Red.
He fell in a field just past Sword. He is buried at Hermanville with his comrades.
He was into every sport and boxed and played football: his young brother (that he would never get to know) went on to play for Arsenal. My Uncle known as Joe to family, after a boxer of that time, is missed and respected dearly.
His brother, Billy Vernon, was in the Navy and was in a ship bombing the coast line further up the coast. HMS Erebus (monitor) War ship with 2 x 15 inch guns.
|
P/O James Edward Vernon DFC.. Royal Air Force 150 Squadron from Queenstown, New Zealand (d.7th Jun 1940) James Vernon 1915 – 1940
James Edward Vernon was born on 21 August 1915, at Roxburgh, Central Otago, son of George and Jemima Vernon. The Vernons were a mining family, originally from Waikaia, subsequently moving to Roxburgh and later Glenorchy. James attended Otago Boys High School for three years secondary education from 1929 until 1931, passing his matriculation. He played rugby and cricket for his school, and later played senior rugby for Glenorchy, where his father was gold-mining. Following the family tradition James became manager of an alluvial gold mining company at Queenstown.
In 1937 James applied for a Short Service commission in the Royal Air Force, and on being selected was commissioned as a Pilot Officer and posted to No.1 Service Flying Training School, Wigram to undertake preliminary flying training and obtain his ‘A’ flying licence. On 15 November 1937 he was commissioned as a Pilot Officer at Wigram. On 18 July 1938 he embarked on the Akaroa at Auckland to proceed to the United Kingdom.
On reporting to the Air Ministry, Pilot Officer Vernon was instructed to proceed to RAF Depot Uxbridge, Middlesex on 23 August 1938, for a short disciplinary course. This completed, he was posted to 150 (Bomber) Squadron for squadron flying duties, flying Fairey Battle bombers. Shortly after the outbreak of World War II, 150 Squadron was moved to France as the part of the Advanced Air Striking Force and in May 1940 was one of the Battle squadrons which attacked the Meuse bridges in an attempt to stem the German advance.
The Fairey Battle first flew in 1936. After the First World War, relatively slow, light day bombers were considered militarily feasible until, early in the Second World War, Fairey Battles were blown from the sky by fast single-seat fighters and anti-aircraft fire. Their place in the military armoury was filled by fighter aircraft which were fast and could effectively defend themselves after dropping their bomb. The Fairey Battle has been described as a disaster, being too slow, vulnerable and under-gunned for air warfare in Second World War. Those surviving the early war years were reallocated to training duties.
James Vernon undertook a three months course in navigation at the School of Air Navigation from December 1939 to February 1940. Apart from that, he remained with his squadron in England and France undertaking operational flying for the remainder of his service. During this time he was promoted to Flying Officer.
On 26 May 1940, Flying Officer Vernon led an action for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. He took off at 0925 from Pouan, east of Paris, to attack a German headquarters at a Château at Roumont near Recogne in Belgium, some 250 kms away. His crew comprised Flight Sergeant G Busby and Leading Aircraftman L W Rutland. In the vicinity of the target the formation he was leading lost touch while flying through a storm, but Vernon went on to locate and bomb his objective. On the return flight he was attacked by six Messerschmitt 110s, but by skillful flying he evaded their initial attacks and his gunner was able to shoot down one Messerschmitt and set fire to another. However, the remaining fighters continued to attack and seriously damaged the British bomber. With its engine failing, the aircraft began to lose height rapidly and Vernon was forced to land in enemy territory near Avioth (Meuse), 6 km NNE of Montmedy, France. He assisted his wounded crew from the aircraft and set it on fire. A German patrol approached and took the wounded men prisoner, but Vernon managed to escape, reach the French lines, and make his way back to his unit. Sgt Busby was interned in Camp 357 (POW No.38248), and LAC Rutland in Camps 8B/L6/357 (PoW No.18162).
26th of May was the day that the evacuation of British forces in France was ordered to begin from Dunkirk. The evacuation was completed on 3 June, and on 13 June the Germans entered Paris. But just 12 days after he was shot down at Montmedy, Flying Officer Vernon was killed in action. With his crew Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.) Jack F. Atkins, RAFVR 751819, age 20, and Sergeant (Obs.) George W. Clawley, RAF 533480, age unknown. He took off on 7 June 1940 from Echemines, southeast of Paris, to attack a vehicle convoy at Vergies, near Abbeville, south of Dunkirk, some 250 km away. The aircraft failed to return, and Vernon and his crew were posted as missing. In due course his death was presumed to have occurred on 7 June 1940 as a result of air operations. After the war it was established that he had been buried in the cemetery at Vergies. His grave is in Vergies Communal Cemetery Row 1. Grave 21. His crewmates are buried together in Graves 19-20. James was 24 years old.
|
Jesse Norman Vernon . British Army Dorsetshire Regiment
|
JH Vernon . British Army Sherwood Foresters JH Vernon served with the Sherwood Foresters British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
|
Pte. Joseph Sands Vernon . British Army 9th Btn. Durham Light Infantry (d.14th Jun 1944) Joseph Vernon, 9th DLI
was killed in action on 14th of June 1944. Aged 23 he was the
son of James and Evelyn Vernon, Houghton-Le-Spring, Co. Durham
and is buried in the Bayeux War Cemetery
|
Rowland Vernon . British Army Dorsetshire Regiment
|
W Vernon . British Army Royal Armoured Corps W Vernon served with the Royal Armoured Corps British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
|
|
