Searching forenames of Flt. Lt. Dobson 53 Squadron 1941-1943
 

Greetings!

I would appreciate some help finding the forenames of a Flt/Lt. Dobson who served with 53 Squadron during 1941 (as a Pilot Officer) through to February 1943. His service number and any other details would also be a help. (This Dobson is not to be confused with F/O. R.E. Dobson who also flew with 53 Squadron later on on Liberators, and who was a POW on 30th July 1943).

I have found one likely candidate, Flt. Lt. Lancelot Spencer DOBSON (88687), who was lost later in the war while serving with 248 Sqn. His Mosquito FB Mk.VI ditched in the English Channel on 12th August 1944 and co pilot survived.

Can anyone please confirm this for me, or offer an alternative.

Best regards,

Stiggy

Re: Searching forenames of Flt. Lt. Dobson 53 Squadron 1941-1943
 

Hello Stiggy,

P/O L.S. Dobson was posted into 53 Squadron on 21 April 1941 from No.2 School of Army Co-operation. No service number given. This from the 1941 ORB for 53 Sqn., AIR 27/504.
In the online Air Force List for March 1941 there is only one 'L.S. Dobson' and he has the S/N of 88687. So Lancelot Spencer Dobson is your man.

Regards,

Martin Gleeson.

Re: Searching forenames of Flt. Lt. Dobson 53 Squadron 1941-1943
 

Many thanks, Martin.

I have been bashing my head against this for quite some time now.
Flt. Lt. Lancelot Spencer DOBSON joined 53 Squadron 9 days before my father (later to be Flt. Lt. Jack Hubert STIGNER). These two, with Sqn. Ldr. Anthony Evan HILDITCH, were the only three original pilots, who flew 53 Sqn. Bristol Blenhiems in early 1941, to survive with the squadron, and its conversion to the Lockheed Hudson, until its reorganisation in early 1943. And with Flt. Lt. Lancelot Spencer DOBSON being lost in 1944, my father and Sqn. Ldr. HILDITCH were the only 53 Sqn. pilots, from both the Blenheim and Hudson period of the squadron, to survive the war.

Thanks again,

Jonathan Stigner (Stiggy)

Re: Searching forenames of Flt. Lt. Dobson 53 Squadron 1941-1943
 

Stiggy,

Story of Dobson appears in Frontline Books Heroes of Coastal Command if your interested?

Best regards

Andy Bird