Re: 102 Squadron ORBs

[Bandlaw Charlie]

Hello.

I'm wandering if anyone has access to or has a printouts of the 102 Squadron Records for the year of 1944.

102 was a Halifax Squadron based at RAF Pocklington and suffered the third highest casualty rate of the war in Bomber Command.

If someone can help, please let me know.

Cheers

[Chris Goss]

I might be able to help as I wrote the history of102 Sqn

[Nick Hector]

Hi Chris,

Can you tell me who shot down 102 sqn Halifax LW195? It was my great uncle's aircraft. He claimed to have been downed by an Fw190 near Hameln.

Nick

[Kaczmarek]

@ Nick Hector,

the LW195 was shot down by a nightfighter and sure not by a Fw 190. For a first search you can take a look into the claimlist of Tony Wood.

http://don-caldwell.we.bs/claims/tonywood.htm

Hope this helps.

Kaczmarek

[Larry]

LW195 of 102 Sqn coded DY-H, was lost on a sortie on 13th August 1944 to Braunschweig.

Bomber Command Losses just say shot down by a nightfighter but gives no more details.

However being shot down by a Fw190 that was on a Wild Sau mission is possible at this time, as I think Wild Sau missions ended circa November 1944. No doubt a Luftwaffe expert will confirm this and the units based in the Hameln / Hanover area.

[Col Bruggy]

Nick,

Not the first time this crew had to "Hit the Silk".

You might find the following of interest:

8-9 June 1944
No.102 Sqn.
Halifax III MZ659 - DY-T
Op:Alencon

Took off 2233 Pocklington to attack communications. On return, ran low on fuel and at 0512 the crew baled out near Carnaby airfield, Yorkshire. No injuries reported.

P/O S W Sambell RAAF
Sgt J M Craig
Sgt A L Curphey
F/S J m Beecroft RAAF
Sgt C h Kidds
Sgt A A Aylmer
Sgt S M Magill

See: BCL5/267

Sambell and Beecroft are not identified as RAAF by Bill Chorley. Both of these airmen became members of the Caterpillar Club as a result of this incident.

Col.

[Nick Hector]

Hi Col Bruggy,

That's quite right. I met Stanley Sambell (my Grandfather's cousin) in 2000 and he told me the story of the mission where they had to bale out due to low fuel and when he was shot down by the fighter they identified as an Fw190.
If you would like to know more, send me a PM and I will tell you some extra stuff.

Nick