My grandad would have been no use to your project once it got off the ground but he would have been handy to get the engines going and make sure the wings didn't fall off and such.
Yeah my grandad was a Royal Flying Core (World War 1) mechanic.
Flt Sgt R D Sainsbury
ETA Flt Lt by 1946
Great thread this. I just love the idea 😉
My grandad who sadly died peacefully in 2011 was a supply driver for Monty in the African desert. Think he was based in Egypt- although like many others he didn't talk that much about it.
I can only imagine the hell that he and his generation endured.
They are all heroes every last one of them, whatever nation they were from...
Now you definitely wouldn't get sufficient numbers from our current generation to fight a war like that again
Wars like that would be fought by machines and weapons of mass destruction today. Let's hope it never comes to that again....
This may sound a tad odd. I know a man named John Chatterton. He definatley flew the Lanc, as did/does his son Michael. There's a Biography of his life called Ploughshare & Shining Sword. It's quite a good read. The odd bit is I can't remember if i'm actually related to him or wether he's just a very old family friend. ❓
great photo's chaps, thanks for posting them
I think it was the Mosquito that my uncle worked on actually.
My Grandad was a mid-upper gunner. Angus Robb. Believe he was a Warrant Officer? Flew with the Pathfinders. Nice thread idea.
great grandad tail gunner in bomber not sure what type to young to take it all in (captured mid 1944 before d day i think?) badly wounded in the legs during an attack by a night fighter but managed to shot back and dissuede the fighter from making another pass rest of the crew patch him up as best they could then took a vote and decided to push him out over occupied france the germans captured him ened up having to take his legs off at the knee's spent the rest of the war a pow didn't talk about it very often
Squadron strength so far…
[b]Aircraft A - Able[/b]
Pilot: ‘Sergeant' Alistair Stuart McLaren (ask1974’s Great Uncle)
Flight Engineer: Flight Sergeant Peter Gee (TuckerUKs Uncle)
Navigator: Flight Officer John (Jack) Hopwood (B.A.Nana’s Grandad)
Wireless Operator: (jfletch’s Grandpa?)
Bomb Aimer/Front Gunner:
Mid-upper Gunner: Warrant Officer Angus Robb (vdubber67’s Grandad)
Rear Gunner: (igrf’s Uncle)
[b]Aircraft B - Baker[/b]
Pilot: Peter Hackforth (Ambrose’s Grandfather)
Flight Engineer: (gee68’s Granfather-in-law)
Navigator: (souldrummer’s Uncle)
Wireless Operator:
Bomb Aimer/Front Gunner:
Mid-upper Gunner:
Rear Gunner: (Gorehound’s Grandad)
[b]Aircraft C - Charlie[/b]
Pilot: Flt Sgt R D Sainsbury (rkk01’s ‘Uncle’)
Flight Engineer:
Navigator: (Jerome’s Grandad)
Wireless Operator:
Bomb Aimer/Front Gunner:
Mid-upper Gunner:
Rear Gunner: (fotheringtonthomas’ Dad)
[b]Aircraft D - Dog[/b]
Pilot: John Chatterton (for the purposes of this thread definitely related in some way to freeride_frankie)
Flight Engineer:
Navigator: (Duane’s Grandad)
Wireless Operator:
Bomb Aimer/Front Gunner:
Mid-upper Gunner:
Rear Gunner: Flight Sergeant Burt Hunter (Shak47’s Uncle)
Flt Sgt Jack Best (my FIL) upper gunner. Flew in the Far East and told stories of shooting a Japanese off the wing. Cancer took him in 1995.
Per Ardua ad Astra
Flight Officer John (Jack) Hopwood, Navigator, 630 Squadron (aircraft A on this forum 8) )
[IMG] 
[/IMG]
The story of what my Gran had to endure from his family is probably sadder than his death just 2 weeks before war end.
He was a Police Officer, so exempt from war service. For whatever reason unknown, he joined up. After his death, in their grief presumably, his family blamed my Gran for forcing him to join up. She never remarried, possibly to prove to them her absolute devotion, I don't know. It must have been awful at the time for her, she was pregnant with my Uncle as well. She became a very bitter person unfortunately and not a nice Gran.
Some great pics and info - new I had a pic somewhere on here, this young couple are my parents, now 88 and 86. Guess this was taken in '41 because my dad is still a Pilot Officer.
[img] 
[/img]
Flt Eng George williamson, 50 Sqn, Lancasters.
Also flew in Stirlings. Only one of 7 to get out of their Lanc on the way back from Bremen.
Was with the French Resistance for nearly a year till he got back to Blighty.
George was a family friend who introduced me to classic aircraft and whom i spent many a happy hour with, scraping paint off KB976, Mk X Lancaster, at Strathallan (now in bits at Fantasy of Flight, Polk City FL).
Passed away a decade ago.
Great thread, bravo.
Mine were busy down t' pit and t' steel works.
TuckerUK, thanks for recognising Mr Chatterton! He and his son are very envolved in The Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre, where 'Just Jane' is kept and flown, at East Kirkby, Lincolnshire.
If your interested in this subject, i recommend reading the book I mentioned before. I'm not the biggest fan of the author, but a fantastic insight of the life of one particular ordinary/fantastic man of that era!!!
Vorlich- respect. The Bevin Boys finally got their medals only recently.
My grandad, Squadron Leader Dusty Miller DSO DFC. Volunteered from his home in Auckland NZ and survived 2 tours. An unsung hero like all of those above, and a great grandad too. Sorely missed.
[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8006/7469151916_8dd48cddb5.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/99023879@N00/7469151916/ ]Dusty[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/99023879@N00/ ]jim-jim-jim[/url], on Flickr
Never discussed the war years but I read some of his flying logs, scary stuff.
Personally I know that we can still find brave [s]boys[/s] men to take on similar roles nowadays. I have written too many references for lads joining the forces from school, some to staff college, some to basic training. I have the deepest respect for them all. It pains me greatly that not all of them have returned alive. How their parents cope is beyond me but the pride I feel in them must be nothing to that of their mothers and fathers.
My father in-laws uncle Andrew Wood, he was a gunner but we don't know exactly what position, he was sadly was shot down.
Maybe he could be a Mid-upper Gunner on Aircraft B as knowing Ambrose I would think that we could be connected in such a bizarre way in a past life 😉
acjim- that is an astounding photograph. The look in his eyes, the youthful, poignant expression on his face. He's but a child- dressed quite literally to kill.
Pete- I like that idea. Ta.
Another navigator:
Harry Nixon (still living - just)
Married my Dad's elder sister when her first husband Andy (my namesake) was shot down in his Spitfire. I did a reading at Aunt Marjory's funeral last year and got to read through Harry's flight logs. He was flying 3/4 sorties a week in '44. Eventually shot down over Germany returning from bombing Saarbrucken (IIRC - will be driving through there in a few weeks). Caught a mile from Switzerland, after a few days on the run. Broken as a POW. Now in a world of his own without his wife.
The saddest part of my grandads brother is, they were brought up by their grand parents as kids, his brother, who was older went off to war and died, yet I knew nothing of him until I was in my teens (33 now). My parents visited his grave in the mid '90's after my grandad had died. At that point, they were the first family members to visit the grave. I've took my wife and boys since then, but other than that he is forgotten, no photos or anecdotes have survived. .
It's amazing the loss you can feel for someone you've never known.
Forgot I had this one as well, thought it worth sharing, my Uncle, Hunter and his colleagues. Photo marked no 13 z course B Squad, not sure what that means though.
[img][url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8023/7471041772_ee83c0f15b_z.jp g" target="_blank">
Taken in 1942
Seems Jack was a navigator on Lancasters not a gunner. Our "community gran" Stella next door says her husband was a pilot in Lancasters. He spent his post-wart years asking "why me, why did I survive?" I suspect thats true of a lot of the old service men and women.
My old man was a radar operator but just mist WWII. He is still alive and well and has his uniform, kit bag, radar manual etc awaiting being called back up...
Oh and my old neighbour Ron, aka peg leg, was a tail gunner in a Lancaster - hence the lack of legs.
My grandad could give an escort in a Spitfire.
After the war he became a civilian instructor, as well as the RAF, tought Argentinian pilots in the 70's apparently. Doing acrobatics while we were on the beach in Devon was always a highlight of our holiday as kids.
Brilliant thread, very humbling. Well done STW 🙂
Lest we forget.
Pilot Officer OLR Hills, grandfather, shot down and killed in his Mosquito somewhere over the North Sea 1943.
Great thread. And the Bomber Command memorial is long overdue.
Not Lancaster related, but my dad was friends with a guy who'd flown Sopwiths in WW1. Lovely old chap. God knows what he must have been through.
My Dad fixed Liberator engines for Coastal Command. (& Hudsons & Blenheims)
But not Lancs.
Grandad still alive 91 this year. Radio operator and gunner in Wellington two less engines but close. Sorties over Berlin among others. He gave me a faked German ration book that he kept, they used to chuck them out of the plane on the way to put pressure on the food supplies.
One crash landing and a broken arm, very lucky considering the survival rate.
Great Uncle (Sydney Bell) 626 squadron N, fl/sgt (pilot) Lancasters died in July 1945 on a training run from Wickenby briefed to fly at 2000ft. Ran into a thunderstorm and crashed at 1.55am at Wharram le street. Think it was a lightening strike.
My surname sake Sir Edwin Alliott Verdon Roe started the company A.V. Roe and Company in 1910, which was to become AVRO.....although he was involved with Saunders-Roe at the time Roy Chadwick designed the Lancaster. Think it's in the blood a bit as the sound of a low flying merlin engine(strapped to a hurricane, spit or lancaster) is just the most amazing thing for me....
the sound of a low flying merlin engine(strapped to a hurricane, spit or lancaster) is just the most amazing thing for me....
Yep. Sends shivers down my spine every time. Being an apprentice at Rolls Royce meant I got to polish the company Spitfire, and watch its impromptu displays at RR Hucknall. Just the most beautiful sight, sound and smell in the world.
Rob
My surname sake Sir Edwin Alliott Verdon Roe started the company A.V. Roe and Company in 1910, which was to become AVRO.....although he was involved with Saunders-Roe at the time Roy Chadwick designed the Lancaster. Think it's in the blood a bit as the sound of a low flying merlin engine(strapped to a hurricane, spit or lancaster) is just the most amazing thing for me....
You learn something new everyday 🙂
Best thread of the year so far.
My Mum's best friend married a Canadian Airforce guy who was a rear gunner on Lancs flying out of either Croft or Middleton St George, he told me about a raid they did on a V2 rocket site, might've been Peenemunde, when all eyes were alerted to a trail coming from the ground. It was a V2 being launched! Everyone with a gun was blasting away at it & apparently it went out of control & crashed close by.
My surname sake Sir Edwin Alliott Verdon Roe started the company A.V. Roe and Company in 1910, which was to become AVRO.....although he was involved with Saunders-Roe at the time Roy Chadwick designed the Lancaster. Think it's in the blood a bit as the sound of a low flying merlin engine(strapped to a hurricane, spit or lancaster) is just the most amazing thing for me....
I have family that worked there, photos too somewhere.
Are there any useful online research resources? My "uncle" referred to above was actually my grandfather's cousin. As I'm not next of kin / descendant etc, I've not been able to find out much more than he told me in person as a child. He wouldn't talk about the raids or people, but he delighted this young boy by talking about the aircraft. Have always wanted to find out a bit more...
Squadron strength so far, up to 6 aircraft, but none operational as of yet…
[b]Aircraft A - Able[/b]
Pilot: ‘Sergeant' Alistair Stuart McLaren (ask1974’s Great Uncle)
Flight Engineer: Flight Sergeant Peter Gee (TuckerUKs Uncle)
Navigator: Flight Officer John (Jack) Hopwood (B.A.Nana’s Grandad)
Wireless Operator: (jfletch’s Grandpa?)
Bomb Aimer/Front Gunner:
Mid-upper Gunner: Warrant Officer Angus Robb (vdubber67’s Grandad)
Rear Gunner: (igrf’s Uncle)
[b]Aircraft B - Baker[/b]
Pilot: Peter Hackforth (Ambrose’s Grandfather)
Flight Engineer: (gee68’s Granfather-in-law)
Navigator: (souldrummer’s Uncle)
Wireless Operator:
Bomb Aimer/Front Gunner:
Mid-upper Gunner: Andrew Wood (valleydaddy’s Father-in-Law’s Uncle)
Rear Gunner: (Gorehound’s Grandad)
[b]Aircraft C - Charlie[/b]
Pilot: Flt Sgt R D Sainsbury (rkk01’s ‘Uncle’)
Flight Engineer: George Williamson (Family Friend of stucol)
Navigator: (Jerome’s Grandad)
Wireless Operator:
Bomb Aimer/Front Gunner:
Mid-upper Gunner:
Rear Gunner: (fotheringtonthomas’ Dad)
[b]Aircraft D - Dog[/b]
Pilot: John Chatterton (for the purposes of this thread definitely related in some way to freeride_frankie)
Flight Engineer:
Navigator: (Duane’s Grandad)
Wireless Operator:
Bomb Aimer/Front Gunner:
Mid-upper Gunner:
Rear Gunner: Flight Sergeant Burt Hunter (Shak47’s Uncle)
[b]Aircraft E - Easy[/b]
Pilot: Squadron Leader Dusty Miller DSO DFC (acjim’s Grandad)
Flight Engineer:
Navigator: Harry Nixon (boxelder’s Uncle-in-Law)
Wireless Operator:
Bomb Aimer/Front Gunner:
Mid-upper Gunner:
Rear Gunner: Ron (tomaso’s neighbour)
[b]Aircraft F - Fox[/b]
Pilot: Flight Sergeant Sydney Bell (bernard’s Great Uncle)
Flight Engineer:
Navigator: Flt Sgt Jack Best (Sandwich’s father-in-Law) (Moved from Aircraft B – Baker)
Wireless Operator:
Bomb Aimer/Front Gunner:
Mid-upper Gunner:
Rear Gunner: ‘Canadian Airforce Guy’ (esselgruntfuttock’s mum best friend husband)
Tucker UK, thank you for this, today especially.
I shall forward this thread to Anthony Hackforth, Peter's son, my uncle.
[i]Rear Gunner: ‘Canadian Airforce Guy’ (esselgruntfuttock’s mum best friend husband)[/i]
His name was Kit LeGros & he was from Scarborough, Ontario. Probably flew with 419 sqdn RCAF.
