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Re: Info on 103 Fairey Battle losses on the continent during mid-May, 1940
Larry,
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Comments on crew positions and use of the CWGC website for first names as per my post on the earlier 103 Sqn. Phoney War thread.
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May 10, 2 Battles damaged by Do 17s.
The 103 Sqn. ORB - admittedly reconstructed after the campaign - states "Betheniville aerodrome bombed at dawn without damage to personnel or equipment".
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May 10, K9372.
The crew were:
F/O Maurice Clunes Wells 37535 Pilot
(Both the ORB and the London Gazette website indicate his rank as above. He was promoted to F/Lt. w.e.f. 18 June 1940. The latter source also confirms his first names).
Sgt. H. F. Bullock 565115 Observer
LAC T. H. Bowen 521480 WOp/AG
(There was another T. H. Bowen in the RAF but definitely not this man. See my recent 'DFC query' thread on the RAF Commands forum ).
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May 10, K9264.
P/O Kenneth John Drabble 40610 Pilot
(First names also confirmed on the LG website).
Sgt. Thomas Daw Smith 580500 Observer
LAC Phillip James Lamble 550831 WOp/AG
(The above adds to what Dave Richardson has already supplied).
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A photo of this aircraft in flight with the code 'PM-L' appears on page 80 of THE BATTLE FILE.
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May 10, K9270
Sgt. Charles Henry Lowne 580167 Pilot POW, not KIA.
(First names from the London Gazette, he was commissioned postwar).
Sgt. Christopher John Stafford Poole 580416 Observer
LAC Olaf Arthur Hutchinson 524532 WOp/AG
(Crew position details for last two adds to what Dave Richardson has supplied).
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May 10, K9408.
F/Lt. John Anthony Ingram 39187 Pilot
(First names from the LG website).
No other information.
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May 12, L5512.
F/O George Barry Morgan-Dean 40131 Pilot
(First names also confirmed on the LG website).
AC1 Horace Basil Sewell 531362 WOp/AG
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I do not believe L5512 was 'PM-L', see K9264 above. L5513 was the much-photographed second 'PM-L'.
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May 12, P2193.
P/O Edgar Elliot Morton 40635 Pilot.
(First names confirmed in the LG, and Errol Martyn's FOR YOUR TOMORROW series).
AC1 Alexander Strachan Ross 61376 WOp/AG
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May 14, L5516.
P/O Vernon Allan Cunningham 36212 Pilot
(Although I could not find him in the London Gazette, his first names are confirmed in Errol Martyn's FOR YOUR TOMORROW series).
AC1 Joseph Johnson 617968 WOp/AG
(No initial 'L').
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Nothing new for L5234 or K9404.
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Hope this helps,
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Martin.
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