Coltishall 1945 - name the faces
 

In January 1945 the Polish Air Force Film Unit visited RAF Coltishall to take photos of personnel and aircraft of No. 303 Squadron. Apart from the Poles, photos taken on that occasion depict also pilots from other Allied nations: Australian, Danish, Indian and New Zealand. Can anyone identify any of them?

Re: Coltishall 1945 - name the faces
 

The photos also depict two RAF erks. Any chance to identify them?

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VoyTech,
Excellent photos! The Danish pilot is Jørgen Kjeldbæk, cf.
http://www.danishww2pilots.dk/profil...?alpha=k&id=50

He was posted to No. 274 Sqn in Sep 44 which correspond to this unit being at Cottishall during the winter of 45.

He seems to have a medal ribbon, hasn't he? Could anyone tell which one that might be. According to my information he received a number of theatre stars and the War Medal and the Defence Medal, but that would be after Jan 1945.

I would love to use the photos on my website. Would this be possible?

Regards,
Mikkel Plannthin

Re: Coltishall 1945 - name the faces
 

Thanks for identifying him!

PM sent.

Re: Coltishall 1945 - name the faces
 

Hi Mikkal
The medal looks like the 1939-1945 Star, look at http://www.rafweb.org/awards3.htm and see what you think, even though it is a little early. Many of the medals had a time period qualification which many people exceeded before the war's end
Regards
Dick

Re: Coltishall 1945 - name the faces
 

Dick, I agree.

I just supposed that these stars were instigated after the war. Most references record the campaign stars to have been issued during the late 1940'ies.

Mikkel

Re: Coltishall 1945 - name the faces
 

Another appeal to Australian, Indian and New Zealand air force historians/enthusiasts - can you help with any names?

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Hi Voytech,

Only 24 Indian volunteers selected for RAF Flight training. Of the 18 who completed training, 13 were killed in 1941. One of the survivor was Mahinbder Singh Pujji. Three years old ago he was still living.

Bertrand H

Re: Coltishall 1945 - name the faces
 

Voytech, I am stumped as well at the identity of the Indian Pilot. I will have to look around in my notes as well as get in touch with a few people who could probably id him. Will post back.

Re: Coltishall 1945 - name the faces
 

The Danish pilot is my grandfather, Jorgen Kjeldbaek. The flight records I have from him ended on August 1944 with the 501 Squadron. Was he reasigned to the 303?

Regards

Miguel

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I have researched 80 Sqn ORB for the summer autumn and winter 44-45. As the Sqn began re-equipping with Tempests in August-September 44, the loaned several Tempests from 274 Sqn, and checing 274 Sqn's ORB for the period, I found Kjeldbaek's name there.
Do you by any chance have Kjeldbaeks's Log Book?

Re: Coltishall 1945 - name the faces
 

Hi Stein

Your man could be wearing the ribbon of the 1939-1943 Star, which was superseded by the 1939-1945 Star (no 1939-1943 Star medal was issued as far as I know, just the ribbon)

Plenty of information out there if you Google 1939-1943 Star ribbon

"The 1939-1943 Star later became the 1939-1945 Star. The ribbon was first issued to thoses who qualified for the medal, which for 1939-1943 Star the actual ribbon was issued to the individual for them to wear on a ribbon bar."

Also see my piece on http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/sho...tars-confusion

Allan

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Hi Voytech,

The Australian is probably W/O CMA ‘Snowy’ Wheatley (Aus.425994) of 603 Sqn RAuxAF. You can check the likeness via a small picture in his online service file at the NAA website. According to the book “Greatest Squadron of Them All Vol 2” by Ross, Blanche and Simpson - 603 also had two Indian aircrew P/O Bala Manivalu and P/O Nelson McGinn and also two New Zealanders F/O McConnochie and F/O Sanderson. One or two of these last four could match the airmen in your photos.

Alternatively the pilots may be from one of the other Coltishall squadrons tasked with destroying V-2 sites in 1945, ie 124 RAF, 453 RAAF (unlikely as most personnel were Aussie in 1945) and 602 RAuxAF. 229 Sqn RAF was also involved until it was rebadged 603 in Jan 45. Incidentally, Wheatley had flown operations with 229 since joining in Oct 44 and then remained with 603 until Jun 45.

Regards, Drew H

Re: Coltishall 1945 - name the faces
 

Miguel, thanks for resurrecting the ancient thread.

Drew, thanks for new ideas. I agree that the Australian looks like W/O Wheatley.
There has been a discussion regarding Nelson McGinn here:
http://www.rafcommands.com/dcforum/D.../Data/4440.txt
(Not very easy to read, but interesting.) I wonder what Jagan would have to say about these two Indian pilots.
With the NZ identity narrowed down to just two names (probably) can anyone suggest a way of verifying if the man in the photos is really one of these two? The NZ official record website is much more secretive than the Australian one.

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Voytech,

There is a small picture of WG McConnochie (NZ.411517) during an earlier posting with 450 Sqn RAAF here - http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/MED1156
It is difficult to confirm whether it is the same pilot that appears in your photo. You could try contacting the 450 Sqn Association for further clarification - http://450squadronraaf.smugmug.com/
“The Greatest Squadron of Them All Vol 2” has two group photos of 603 Sqn on pages 224 and 228. They are not the best reproductions, however the second pic shows P/O Manivalu sitting on top of a Spitfire, Feb 45. Once again it is difficult to be 100% sure but he does bear some similarity to the pilot from your photos. His name could also be Manivelu according to here
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Hi.../Philip02.html
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Da...2/8%20Squadron

Drew

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Thanks, Drew!

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The Indian pilot in the photos is definately Balakumaren Manivelu, my grandfather. He did his training in Canada and then was posted into the 603 and was on active duty from 1943. Im looking for some more information about him and his service if anyone else can help. I have "The greatest squadron of them all" but ideally would love to talk to anyone who served with him

Any help much appreciated

Stephen

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All information concerning my grandfather is pretty difficult to reach because it is all stored in a warehouse. As soon as I am able to get some I will get back to you. By the way, is there addional info that I can read?

Best regards