The Wartime Memories Project - The Second War

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249148 Sgt. Francis Reginald Law Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 50 Squadron from:Rock, Worcestershire (d.22nd February 1942) Frank Law, volunteered for aircrew and was enlisted on the 10th July 1940. He finished his training at 14 OTU RAF Cottesmore and was posted to RAF Swinderby, home to 50 Squadron on the 13th October 1941. The squadron moved to Skellingthorpe, just a few miles down the road in late 41. He flew his first Op on the 20th October 1941 and settled in to form a regular partnership with Pilot Sgt Ivor Mapp. At this time 50 Squadron were equipped with Hampdens, which had a 4 man crew, Pilot, Observer/Navigator, W/OP/Air Gunner and Rear Gunner. The other two crew members varied but Francis always flew with Ivor Mapp. He flew his first 5 or 6 ops as Rear Gunner, then with some experience under his belt he moved to the Wireless Operator/Air Gunner seat. He flew some daylight errands, ferrying aircraft for modification, all his 'hostile operations were night flights, except one, on the 12th of February 1942 the German battleships slipped out of a French port and many aircraft were sent out to try and intercept them in the channel. Francis and his crew failed to locate the ships and returned home. On the 21st February 1942 he took off on Ops to Coblenz, a series of minor mishaps added up and lost and out of fuel the plane crashed near York. Francis Law 14 Ops, Hector Thompson 1st Op and Philip Ballard 12 Ops were killed, Francis and Hector are buried in Thurlby Lincs, Philip is buried in Chartham Kent. Jude Hewlett Add to this record.  Related Content: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve RAF Cottesmore RAF Swinderby Can you help us to add to our records? Add a record to our website. The names and stories on this website have been submitted by their relatives and friends. If your relations are not listed please add their names so that others can read about them Did you or your relatives live through the Second World War? Do you have any photos, newspaper clippings, postcards or letters from that period? Have you researched the names on your local or war memorial? Were you or your relative evacuated? Did an air raid affect your area? If so please let us know. Help us to build a database of information on those who served both at home and abroad so that future generations may learn of their sacrifice. Contact us. Celebrate your own Family History Celebrate by honouring members of your family who served in the Secomd World War both in the forces and at home. We love to hear about the soldiers, but also remember the many who served in support roles, nurses, doctors, land army, muntions workers etc. Please use our Family History resources to find out more about your relatives. Then please send in a short article, with a photo if possible, so that they can be remembered on these pages.

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