RAF Warmwell Station 454

[Eagle0025]

In researching the 474th FG, I had a couple of questions regarding RAF Warmwell. First, I have read that there was a Typhoon unit and an air-sea rescue unit there in March 1944 when the 474th FG first began operations there. Can anyone tell me exactly who the two RAF units were? Second, there was a Typhoon pilot on inteception alert duty who was killed on 11 March 44 when he put on impromtu air show for the newly arrived 474th personnel. He did a snap roll just after takeoff, but augered in when his engine cut out and was killed. The 474th history says he was an Australian flight officer who was planning on marrying a British girl in Weymouth soon. Does anyone out there know who this pilot was? Thanks in advance.

[Alan Scheckenbach]

Hi Eagle,

This could be thje bloke you're looking for.

Alan

From the AWM website Roll of Honour:

Bradley, Charles Carrol
Number: 404024
Rank: Pilot Officer [PO]
Unit: 297 Sqn RAF
Service: RAAF
Conflict: 1939-1945
Date of Death: 11/03/1944
Place of Death: United Kingdom
Cause of Death: Accidental
Memorial Panel: 119
Cemetery or Memorial Details:
Next Of Kin:
Notes:
Source: AWM148 Roll of Honour cards, 1939-1945 War, Air Force

[brewerjerry]

Hi
Are you sure of the date ? Think it might be the 12th
On the 12 March P/O Smith of 263Sq , was inverted when his engine cut out and unable to right his aircraft, crashed into a field near knighton woods, Near Warmwell, He was flying typhoon MN129.
263Sq were based at warmwell from 6 mar to 19 mar 44,
I doubt it was 297Sq mentioned in the previous post, as they were flying albemarles from stoney cross at this time.
The ASR unit was 276Sq stationed at warmwell,
If you see photos, some have p-47's in the background , presumably this is the unit 474th you mention.

Sq diary records :-

' P/O Smith or 'smudger' was a person of quiet voice and genial ways, He was well liked by all who new him '

From CWWG site :-

SMITH, GRAHAM NATT
Initials: G N
Nationality: Australian
Rank: Pilot Officer
Regiment: Royal Australian Air Force
Age: 21
Date of Death: 12/03/1944
Service No: 416719
Additional information: Son of Morrell Murray Smith and Jessie Smith, of Brookmor, South Australia.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Plot 39. Sec. H. Row B. Grave 249.
Cemetery: BATH (HAYCOMBE) CEMETERY

Any info on the 474th and how long it was at warmwell, and it's a/c types ?
Did 276Sq rescue one of the 474th pilots ?

jezbrew@yahoo.com

Cheers
Jerry

[Eagle0025]

Alan and Jerry,

A thousand pardons! I relooked at the squadron histories and the date of the Tiffy crash was 12 March 44, not the 11th as I originally posted so I believe Jerry is correct in the pilot identification. Thanks much! This will be a neat tidbit of info to go into my 474th research. As for your question Jerry, the 474th FG resided at Warmwell from 12 Mar 44 until 6 August 44. I don't know if the air-sea unit rescued any of the Yanks while they were there. I'll have to look at that one. Thanks again, fellas!

[Eagle0025]

Sorry Jerry, I forgot one part of your question. While at Warmwell, the 474th was equipped with mostly Lockheed P-38J Lightnings. They consisted primarily of the J-5, J-10, and J-15 blocks. They eventually started getting newer models (J-20, J-25) once they were on the continent. Hope this helps.

Cheers, Gary Koch

[brewerjerry]

Hi Gary,
Thanks for the info,
The P-38's must have interested the 263Sq pilots who had recently converted from the raf twin engined whirlwind to typhoons.
Cheers
Jerry

[JACK COOK]

Gary,
What info are you looking for re: the 474th FG?? I'm finishing up a book project for a friend who passed last year. He was a pilot in the 430th FS flying 104 missions with 2 kills.

[Eagle0025]

Hi Jack,

I'm sort of an ad hoc historian of the 474th FG. My father, Don Koch, flew with the 428th FS from May 44 until he was shot down on the Black Friday mission of 25 Aug 44 and taken POW. I am interested in ANYTHING and EVERYTHING about the 474th FG. I also saw where you submitted some 429th FS photos to the Web-Birds.com website. Jim Sterling told me a little bit about you. What is your connection with the 474th? Who was your friend from the 430th who recently passed away? What is your book about? Right now I'm doing all sorts of 474th research. My main project is thoroughly researching and documenting the 25 Aug 44 Black Friday fight. Other projects include documenting all known 474th losses from their training days in Southern California through the end of 1945 and documenting all known assigned aircraft. Give me your email and we can chat some more.

Regards, Gary