Can anyone help?
 

My father flew in lancasters in world war 2. He did 17 and half tours, was shot down and finally repatriated from a POW camp at end of war. i am looking for any information about what squadron he flew with, people he knew and have no idea where to look or who to ask. I have looked at raf bomber command but to not much use. my father passed away 8 years ago and i do not know much as he did not speak of it often His name was william noel rees and he was a wireless operator/navigator, nco.

can anyone help? i would be very grateful for any assistance that you could give as to where to look.

David Rees

Re: Can anyone help?
 

If you have any chance of going to National Archives at Kew, you might look at Liberation Questionnaires, item WO344/265/2. It is a two page form that should give you the date and place of capture and the unit your father flew for.

Re: Can anyone help?
 

It may help to know your fathers name and any other details, perhaps then we can point you in the right direction.

Regards

Re: Can anyone help?
 

Hi,
Any of these any good ?
344 27101 Rees A F407684 RAAF
L6 222633 Rees C 653013 RAF
L3 9183 Rees D 529192 RAF
L3 6504Rees E 174049RAF
357268 Rees G544931RAF
L3 777 Rees H K150 BK309 116828 RAF23/10/42
Rees J I1381572 RAF
3571197ReesN 1204743RAF
ReesP L930745RAF
248416ReesW J901821RAF

From
http://www.rafcommands.com/Air%20For...ery%20R_1.html


Might be worth trying a post on the link below,
but make sure you identify yourself and post all the info you can, as sometimes it can be a bit funny
http://www.rafcommands.com/cgi-bin/d...conf=DCConfID1



here is a good start point
http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/r.../enquiries.cfm

& this sheet gives very good info
http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/r...0personnel.pdf

Good luck
Cheers
Jerry

Re: Can anyone help?
 

Hi
Sorry top line got corrupted during copy & paste,
you will have to go direct to the source page
Cheers
Jerry

Re: Can anyone help?
 

Hi David and Jerry,

No need to post at RAFCommands we reply here also

The chap you are looking for is Sgt W N Rees, PoW 1258.

He was shot down 2/11/44 No.576 Sqn Lancaster to Dusseldorf.

Like this board we had a little trouble with a Troll infestation hence the desire of posters to know who they are dealing with.

Regards

Ross

Re: Can anyone help?
 

Hi Ross,
Thanks for explaining, no offence to your board intended, just trying to ensure David new the 'rules ' for posting and got a reply.
Have a good weekend
cheers
Jerry

Re: Can anyone help?
 

Thank you all so much where did you get this info from? iam very new to this so sources of information are unknown to me. is it possible to obtain names of the men he flew with? i would like to contact them if still alive. you have all been marvellous thank you once again.

David Rees

Re: Can anyone help?
 

Dear Ross
thanks for your help really appreciate it
where did you get this from as your web site for surname r for PoW does not have his name?
how can i find out more?
I am keen and eager now i have this as a start

david

Re: Can anyone help?
 

David
All you need to do is to visit ex-PRO in Kew Gardens, Richmond, and to check a microfilm with the diary of the unit. It is in AIR27 series but you must check a ref no for this particular unit. There you will find a record of all combat and operational sorties, full crew lists, likely aircraft identity, details of sorties, etc. Possibly you will find service nos for your father crew as well. This should make your further search easier, eg. by means of contact of MoD.
I am surprised though, that you do not have any records of your father like albums or log book(s).
Cheers

Re: Can anyone help?
 

Hi David,

The PoW list on the web pages is correct up until about March 1944. I have some unpublished notes of PoWs where he appears.

Knowing that he was a PoW after March 1944 it was highly likely that he was Bomber Command.

All Bomber Command Losses have been listed by Bill Chorley in a series of books. Looking at the Volume 5 Aircraft and Crew losses for 1944 gives the following detail on the loss.

2-3 Nov 1944
576 Sqn
Lancaster I
Serial: LM122
Code: UL-X2
Op: Dusseldorf

P/O W H Hepburn, +
Sgt T Hughes, Evaded
Sgt F McWatt, +
Sgt J Reavey, Evaded
Sgt W N Rees, PoW
Sgt T McK Murray, +
Sgt S Fielding, +

Took off 16:12 hrs, RAF Fiskerton. It is believed that a bomb hit the Lancaster while over the target, though it is likely the crash occurred W of Rhine. Those who perished are buried in Belgium at Hotton War Cemetery.

As Franek has said the ORB (War Diary) for No.576 Sqn is held on microfilm at the National Archives and will list similar detail for all the previous missions of Sgt Rees.

The closest living relative can also obtain a copy of a servicemans record by writing to the RAFPMA at Royal Air Force Innsworth, Gloucester, Gloucestershire. This lists all of his postings from enlistment to demob.

Armed with this info on his service career it is possible to find traces in the ORBs of the other units, again at the National Archives.

Hope this helps for a starter.

Regards
Ross

Re: Can anyone help?
 

Many thanks once again to all who have helped, i really appreciate it!


David Rees

Re: Can anyone help?
 

You already have most of the information
Lancaster LM122
Type Lancaster
Squadron 576
Serial Number LM122
X1D UL-X2
Operation D_sseldorf
Further Information

Airborne 1612 2Nov44 from Fiskerton. It is believed that a bomb hit the Lancaster while over the target, though it is likely the crash occurred W of the Rhine. Those killed are buried at Hotton War Cemetery, Belgium.P/O W.H.Hepburn KIA Sgt T.Hughes Evd Sgt F.McWatt KIA Sgt J.Reavey Evd Sgt W.N.Rees PoW Sgt T.McK Murray KIA Sgt S.Fielding KIA Sgt W.N.Rees was interned in
Camp L7, PoW No. 1258

The following information was found by going to the following Website http://lostbombers.co.uk and entering following
Bomber Type; Select “any type”
Search Text; Enter w.n.rees (there seems to be no spaces in text)
Enter required dates

Push enter

Kind regards

Ross