P/O C.F Ambrose evacuation from Norway 8th June 1940 Help please.
 

Hi
Would anyone have any information on F/O C.F. Ambrose of 46 squadron in regards to the evacuation of Norway on the 8th June 1940.

The reason i ask is it is noted that on that day the three vessels that were carrying out the evacuation were all sunk HMS Glorious and her escorting destroyers HMS Acasta and HMS Ardent.

During the evacuation two troop convoys Group1 sailed on the 7th and the second Group11 sailed on the 8th both convoys reached the Uk safely.

My question is would anyone have any information on P/O Ambrose in regard to what vessel he returned to the UK on? as reading the survivors list it states as far as 46 squadron were concerned only 2 pilots survived was one on that list F/O Ambrose who was later to fly during the Battle of Britain and the duration of the War.

Would anyone no if P/O Ambrose was one of the two survivors listed from the three vessels that were sunk? or was he on one of the two troop convoys that were able to return to the UK previously?

Many thanks for any help given to this in advance.

Re: P/O C.F Ambrose evacuation from Norway 8th June 1940 Help please.
 

Only 2 Pilots of 46 Sqn survived Glorious sinking of the pilots who flew Hurricanes onto the Carrier. I assume there were more pilots than planes and “spare” 46 Sqn pilots were evacuated with the groundcrew on HMS Vindictive and SS Monarch of Bermuda


As Ambrose was a relatively raw Pilot and had limited Hurricane time I assume the Pilot chosen to fly a Hurricane onto a Aircraft Carrier when none had done so were chosen by Experience and hours flown

Re: P/O C.F Ambrose evacuation from Norway 8th June 1940 Help please.
 

Hello,

The two No.46 Squadron pilots that survived the sinking of HMS Glorious, were:

29065 S/L Kenneth Brian Boyd CROSS RAF and 37813 F/L Patrick Geraint JAMESON RAF (NZ).

Hawker, can you tell me the source of your information that C F Ambrose accompanied No.46 Squadron to Norway?

Col.

Re: P/O C.F Ambrose evacuation from Norway 8th June 1940 Help please.
 

Hi
Thank you for the above replies in regard to the information/ source of C F Ambrose involvement with 46 squadron in Norway here is the link i had previously sourced.

The same link that Paulmcmillan has mentioned in reply 6

Re: P/O C.F Ambrose evacuation from Norway 8th June 1940 Help please.
 

That is a local link to a doc on your computer.

Re: P/O C.F Ambrose evacuation from Norway 8th June 1940 Help please.
 

Col

Wynn in MoBoB has him in Norway with 46 sqn

Paul

Re: P/O C.F Ambrose evacuation from Norway 8th June 1940 Help please.
 

Latest edition has him returning to Sqn mid-June 1940 which would indicate he was not wounded or injured

Re: P/O C.F Ambrose evacuation from Norway 8th June 1940 Help please.
 

Gents,

Thanks for the information on Ambrose. I haven't updated my Gliddon (1989-92) two-volume edition of Men of the Battle of Britain. There is no mention in that edition of his participation in the Norwegian campaign.

Col.

Re: P/O C.F Ambrose evacuation from Norway 8th June 1940 Help please.
 

P/O Charles Francis Ambrose #42583


Ambrose joined the RAF on a short service commission and began his ab intio course on July 10 1939, as pupil pilot. He completed his training and was posted to 12 Group Pool, Aston Down on February 23 1940.
He convened to Hurricanes and joined 46 Squadron at Digby on April 1. Ambrose served in Norway with 46 in late May/early June and was evacuated by the Royal Navy on June 8.

P/O James Reginald Bryan "Jim" Meaker #42514

Meaker was born in Kinsale, Co Cork on January 19 1919. He joined the RAF on a short service commission and began his ab initio course on June 26 1939, as a pupil pilot at 6 E&RFTS, Sywell. Meaker went to No 1 RAF Depot, Uxbridge on August 19, for a short disciplinary course, after which he moved to 12 FTS, Grantham on September 2 1939. On February 24 1940 Meaker was posted to 12 Group Pool, Aston Down, to convert to Hurricanes. He joined 46 Squadron at Digby on March 31

After a short spell on flying duties at 27 MU from April 26 1940, Meaker went to 263 Squadron at Scapa Flow on May 4. The squadron Gladiators were loaded on to the carrier HMS Furious, which sailed for Norway on May 14. Meaker did not go to Norway but remained at Turnhouse awaiting posting instructions. He joined 249 Squadron soon after May 18.


OK so why do I mention Meaker, who was KIA 27th September 1940

Well, I am making a study of RAF Bail Out Incidents up to beginning May 1940 and one mystery is the two names P/O C F Ambrose and P/O J R B Meaker sometime around later Feb early March 1940. I believe they are linked as they are consecutive names on my list

I believe they were in a collision together as this reference below mentions


Chichester Observer - Saturday 06 April 1940
Page 1

CHICHESTER PILOT BALES OUT
PARACHUTE DESCENT
Pilot-Officer J.R.B Meaker of "The Cottage," West Dean, home on leave, had an exciting story to tell.
"I was flying along in formation," he told an Observer reporter, " when I suddenly found that I was
flying without a tail. The plane behind had bumped into me.
I immediately bailed out.
The parachute I was wearing was not my own and was too large for me, so I had
some trouble in finding the ring. They were anxious moments. When it did open
I found myself descending upside down, but by touching my feet with my head,
I was able to straighten out and land safely."
Pilot Officer MEAKER was formerly on the staff of the Observer and left to join the R.A.F.
He is none the worse for his experience.


Half the problem in solving this mystery is when they would have served together. I am guessing they followed a similar path: maybe 6 E&RFTS; or 12 FTS, and then 12 Group Pool and 46 Sqn, the service numbers 42583 and 42514 are not far apart

I assume there paths crossed maybe from FTS Onwards

Btw I believe Ambrose log book from April 1940 is in the RAF Museum and may hold the clue to Norway or the collision, but as it believe it only starts from April 1940 maybe replacement for one lost in Norway? - I have not seen it

Paul

Re: P/O C.F Ambrose evacuation from Norway 8th June 1940 Help please.
 

Thank you for the above replies,

Very interesting Reply Paulmcmilan and good luck with your future research into the collision incident, please let us know of any future findings.