Air Force Index

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No. 463 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force    No 463 Squadron RCAF was formed from C Flight of No 467 Squadron at Waddington on the 25th November 1943. It was equipped with Lancaster heavy bombers and formed part of 5 Group of RAF Bomber Command. It began operations with night raids on Germany and was heavily engaged in the battles of Berlin and the Ruhr, and raided German sites that assembled and launched V1 flying bombs and V2 rockets. Before D-Day it switched to military target in Normandy, attacking German artillery batteries at Pointe du Hoc covering Omaha Beach. Raids supporting the ground campaign continued throughout June and into July 1944. No 463 also operated three modified Lancasters for the RAF film unit which recorded bombing raids and their results. Raids against Germany continued until the end of the war, the squadron's last sortie on ANZAC Day 1945. No 463 sustained the highest loss rate of any of the Australian bomber squadrons, losing 546 aircrew and 78 aircraft in 2,525 sorties over 17 months of operations. No 463 had started to repatriate Allied prisoners of war to Britain before the end of the war, continuing in this role after the war in Europe ended. It relocated to Skellingthorpe in early July 1945, in preparation for joining Tiger Force and the strategic bombing of Japan. The war in the Pacific ended before No 463 was deployed and the squadron was disbanded on the 25th of September 1945. Airfields No. 463 Squadron flew from: RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire from the 25th November 1943 (formed, Group 5 Bomber Command. Lancaster I, Lancaster III) RAF Skellingthorpe, Lincolnshire from the 3rd of July 1945 disbanded 25th September 1945   11th Jun 1944 463 Squadron Lancaster lost 15th Feb 1945 463 Squadron Lancaster lost 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. 463 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force during the Second World War 1939-1945. Ball Alvra. Sgt. Barlow Philip Tyers. Flight Sergeant (d.3rd March 1945) Barlow Philip Tyers. Flt.Sgt. (d.1945-03-03) Bates Douglas. Flight Sergeant (d.3rd March 1945) Bates Douglas. Flt.Sgt. (d.1945-03-03) Billard Charles. Sergeant (d.3rd March 1945) Billard Charles Edward. Sgt. (d.3rd March 1945) Blundell MID. Harold Mclenon. Sgt. Campbell Jack. Elliot Osric Brownrigg. Flight Sergeant (d.3rd March 1945) Elliott Osric Brownrigg. Flt.Sgt. (d.1945-03-03) Foreman Eugene. Flight Sergeant Foreman Eugene. Flt.Sgt Gordon Ronald. Flt. Sgt. (d.21st Mar 1945) Harrison Mervyn WBlter. Flt.Sgt. (d.29th July 1944) Healy Robert Delmage. Flt.Sgt. (d.28th Sep 1944) Howells Francis John. Flight Lieutenant (d.3rd March 1945) Howells DFC Francis John. Flt.Lt (d.1945-03-03) Johnstone DFC. David John. F/Lt. McIver DFC Kenneth Archibald. Sgt. (d.3rd Oct 1943) Millar J M H. Sergeant Millar J. M. H.. Sgt. Morris John Edward. F/O. (d.26th September 1944) 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. 463 Squadron Royal Australian 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. 22nd April 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 263973 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. 463 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force? There are:2002 items tagged No. 463 Squadron Royal Australian 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. Jack Campbell 463 Squadron My Grandfather, Jack Campbell, is a Canadian Second World War veteran who served as a mid-upper gunner in 463 Squadron, RAAF, 61 Squadron RAF. At my grandfather's request, I have recently transcribed his memoirs where he details his wartime experience, and his time spent at Skellingthorpe, from 1942 to 1944. The Airbourne Years Robin Heron Add to this record. Sgt. Harold Mclenon "Nobby" Blundell MID. 463 Squadron Nobby Blundell was born in Blundell's Cottage in Canberra in 1914. lthough a qualified mechanic he was also a wheat farmer at Weethalle (near West Wylaong) in New South Wales when he was called up in January 1940. His preliminary training was at Richmond near Sydney and then Ascot Vale in Melbourne as a Fitter 2E after which he traveled to the UK and joined 456 RAAF Nightfighter Squadron on the Isle of Anglesey in Wales. In September 1942 he was remustered as a Flight Sergeant but a plane crash rendered him unfit for operational duties and he returned to 456 Squadron. In early 1943 he joined 617 Squadron for special duties. 617 Squadron were the Dam Busters and Nobby flew with the Lancasters during test drops of their bombs. On the night of 16/17 May 1943 617 Squadron attacked the Mohne and Eder dams causing considerable damage in Germany’s industrial centres in the Ruhr valley. Nobby Blundell’s role was to redesign the undercarriage of the Lancaster so it was able to carry the drum type bombs. In November 1943 he was posted to 463 Squadron which was based at Waddington in England as a Sergeant Engine Fitter. He was Mentioned in Despatches for his work during the D-Day operations in June 1944 and in October 1944 Blundell was sent to Russia to service Lancaster bombers attempting to sink the German raider, Tirpitz. After the war he ran a motor engineering business in Sydney until he retired in 1974 to live in Dubbo. He self-published five books on 467 and 463 Squadrons and was awarded a Medal in the Order of Australia (OAM) in 1995 for services to war veterans. He later moved to Cairns but died in Hervey Bay, Queensland on 13 September 2003. Add to this record. Flight Sergeant Eugene Foreman 463 Squadron I wish to find any survivors of Sgt Charles Billard's crew. His Lancaster from 463 Squadron was shot down on 3-4th March 1945 whilst on a mission over the Dortmund Ems Canal. Two survived: Sgt J M H Millar RAF and Flt/Sgt Eugene Foreman RAAF. If any family, friends, other air crew or groundcrew knows the whereabouts of any of these men or has any information I would be grateful if they would contact me. Other members of the crew were Sergeant Charles Edward Billard, RAF 1595492. (my relative) Killed, age 27 (Reichswald Forest War Cemetery) Flight Lieutenant Francis John Howells, RAAF 419044, killed age 20 (Reichswald Forest War Cemetery) Flight Sergeant Douglas Bates, RAF VR 1594894, killed age 19 (Reichswald Forest War Cemetery) Flight Sergeant Philip Tyers Barlow, RAF 1802589, killed age 21 (Reichswald Forest War Cemetery) Flight Sergeant Osric Brownrigg Elliott RAAF 432217, killed age 21 (Reichswald Forest War Cemetery) They flew from RAF Waddington. Roy Billard Add to this record. Sergeant J M H Millar 463 Squadron I wish to find any survivors of Sgt Charles Billard's crew. His Lancaster from 463 Squadron was shot down on 3-4th March 1945 whilst on a mission over the Dortmund Ems Canal. Two survived: Sgt J M H Millar RAF and Flt/Sgt Eugene Foreman RAAF. If any family, friends, other air crew or groundcrew knows the whereabouts of any of these men or has any information I would be grateful if they would contact me. Other members of the crew were Sergeant Charles Edward Billard, RAF 1595492. (my relative) Killed, age 27 (Reichswald Forest War Cemetery) Flight Lieutenant Francis John Howells, RAAF 419044, killed age 20 (Reichswald Forest War Cemetery) Flight Sergeant Douglas Bates, RAF VR 1594894, killed age 19 (Reichswald Forest War Cemetery) Flight Sergeant Philip Tyers Barlow, RAF 1802589, killed age 21 (Reichswald Forest War Cemetery) Flight Sergeant Osric Brownrigg Elliott RAAF 432217, killed age 21 (Reichswald Forest War Cemetery) They flew from RAF Waddington. Roy Billard Add to this record. Flight Sergeant Osric Brownrigg Elliot 463 Squadron (d.3rd March 1945) I wish to find any survivors of Sgt Charles Billard's crew. His Lancaster from 463 Squadron was shot down on 3-4th March 1945 whilst on a mission over the Dortmund Ems Canal. Two survived: Sgt J M H Millar RAF and Flt/Sgt Eugene Foreman RAAF. If any family, friends, other air crew or groundcrew knows the whereabouts of any of these men or has any information I would be grateful if they would contact me. Other members of the crew were Sergeant Charles Edward Billard, RAF 1595492. (my relative) Killed, age 27 (Reichswald Forest War Cemetery) Flight Lieutenant Francis John Howells, RAAF 419044, killed age 20 (Reichswald Forest War Cemetery) Flight Sergeant Douglas Bates, RAF VR 1594894, killed age 19 (Reichswald Forest War Cemetery) Flight Sergeant Philip Tyers Barlow, RAF 1802589, killed age 21 (Reichswald Forest War Cemetery) Flight Sergeant Osric Brownrigg Elliott RAAF 432217, killed age 21 (Reichswald Forest War Cemetery) They flew from RAF Waddington. Roy Billard Add to this record. Flight Sergeant Philip Tyers Barlow 463 Squadron (d.3rd March 1945) I wish to find any survivors of Sgt Charles Billard's crew. His Lancaster from 463 Squadron was shot down on 3-4th March 1945 whilst on a mission over the Dortmund Ems Canal. Two survived: Sgt J M H Millar RAF and Flt/Sgt Eugene Foreman RAAF. If any family, friends, other air crew or groundcrew knows the whereabouts of any of these men or has any information I would be grateful if they would contact me. Other members of the crew were Sergeant Charles Edward Billard, RAF 1595492. (my relative) Killed, age 27 (Reichswald Forest War Cemetery) Flight Lieutenant Francis John Howells, RAAF 419044, killed age 20 (Reichswald Forest War Cemetery) Flight Sergeant Douglas Bates, RAF VR 1594894, killed age 19 (Reichswald Forest War Cemetery) F/S Philip Tyers Barlow, RAF 1802589, killed age 21 (Reichswald Forest War Cemetery) F/S Osric Elliott RAAF,They flew from RAF Waddington. Roy Billard Add to this record. Flight Sergeant Douglas Bates 463 Squadron (d.3rd March 1945) I wish to find any survivors of Sgt Charles Billard's crew. His Lancaster from 463 Squadron was shot down on 3-4th March 1945 whilst on a mission over the Dortmund Ems Canal. Two survived: Sgt J M H Millar RAF and Flt/Sgt Eugene Foreman RAAF. If any family, friends, other air crew or groundcrew knows the whereabouts of any of these men or has any information I would be grateful if they would contact me. Other members of the crew were Sergeant Charles Edward Billard RAF 1595492. (my relative) Killed, age 27 (Reichswald Forest War Cemetery) Flight Lieutenant Francis John Howells RAAF 419044, killed age 20 (Reichswald Forest War Cemetery) Flight Sergeant Douglas Bates, RAF VR 1594894, killed age 19 (Reichswald Forest War Cemetery) F/S Philip T Barlow RAF, F/S Osric Elliott RAAF,They flew from RAF Waddington. Roy Billard Add to this record. Flight Lieutenant Francis John Howells 463 Squadron (d.3rd March 1945) I wish to find any survivors of Sgt Charles Billard's crew. His Lancaster from 463 Squadron was shot down on 3-4th March 1945 whilst on a mission over the Dortmund Ems Canal. Two survived: Sgt J M H Millar RAF and Flt/Sgt Eugene Foreman RAAF. If any family, friends, other air crew or groundcrew knows the whereabouts of any of these men or has any information I would be grateful if they would contact me. Other members of the crew were Sergeant Charles Edward Billard RAF 1595492. (my relative) Killed, age 27 (Reichswald Forest War Cemetery) Flight Lieutenant Francis John Howells RAAF 419044,killed age 20 (Reichswald Forest War Cemetery) F/S Douglas Bates.RAF, F/S Philip T Barlow RAF, F/S Osric Elliott RAAF,They flew from RAF Waddington. Roy Billard Add to this record. Sergeant Charles Billard 463 Squadron (d.3rd March 1945) I wish to find any survivors of Sgt Charles Billard's crew. His Lancaster from 463 Squadron was shot down on 3-4th March 1945 whilst on a mission over the Dortmund Ems Canal. Two survived: Sgt J M H Millar RAF and Flt/Sgt Eugene Foreman RAAF. If any family, friends, other air crew or groundcrew knows the whereabouts of any of these men or has any information I would be grateful if they would contact me. Other members of the crew were Sgt Charles Edward Billard RAF 1595492. (my relative) Killed, age 27 (Reichswald Forest War Cemetery) F/O Francis Howells RAAF, F/S Douglas Bates.RAF, F/S Philip T Barlow RAF, F/S Osric Elliott RAAF,They flew from RAF Waddington. Roy Billard Add to this record. Flt.Sgt. Mervyn WBlter "Boy" Harrison 463 Squadron (d.29th July 1944) My uncle, Mervyn Harrison, was in a protected industry but was able to join the Royal Australian Air Force. He enlisted 14th of January 1943. He went to Canada for training. Eventually he was assigned to 463 Squadron as a tail gunner. On a flight to Stuttgart 29th of July 1944 they were shot down. There were no survivors as the German soldiers held the villagers who came to help back with their guns. After the war his remains were taken to Choloy War Cemetery. Leonie Pinson Add to this record. Recomended Reading. Available at discounted prices.

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