Alfred W. Wylde A.F.M 611, 66 and 263 Squadrons Sept 1940 to Dec 41 Fighter Command

[Kirmington]

Can anybody give me any more details about Alf Wylde's service with these Squadrons? According to the info I currently have he flew 'interception' flights with 611 Sqn (75 hours), convoy escort with 66 Sqn (112 hours) and offensive sweeps with 263 (43 hours). He was awarded the A.F.M, then went to Bomber Command and flew 36 operations and was awarded the DFC!
Any info gratefully received.

[Chris Goss]

No mention in Aldon Ferguson's history of 611 Sqn, Men of the Battle of Britain or Rob Bowater's history of 263 and 137 Sqns

[Frank Olynyk]

There is a FO Alfred Walter Wylde, AFM, 177939, RAFVR listed in the 2nd volume of the Carter's DFC book. Gazetted on September 25, 1945, page 4750. Noted as 166 Sqn.

You will have to search the online London Gazette for his AFM.

Enjoy!

Frank.

[gedburke3]

Gents,
Not a great deal to add but here goes....

WYLDE, Alfred Walter Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Pilot Sergeant
742217

? - 7 Operational Training Unit RAF 23. 9.40 - 7.10.40 under training
611 (F) Squadron AAF 7.10.40 - 26.11.40
66 (F) Squadron 30.11.40 - ?

British – Enlisted for five years in the Pilot Section of the RAFVR as 742217 Airman Pilot under training, October 1938; called up for permanent service, 1 September 1939


Whilst mentioned in the ORB's for 611 and 66 squadrons he does not appear to have flown operationally during the qualifying period for the Battle of Britain.

Regards
Gerry

[Kirmington]

Thank you Chris, Frank and Gerry. I am very grateful for your input. The Squadron details and the hours flown come from Wylde's DFC recommendation. I would be interested to know if he was engaged in any combats.
166 squadron had 2 other pilots who definitely flew in the B of B, Arnfield and Sewell. I have some info on these two.
Thanks again. K

[niallc]

Both the Filton and 263 Squadron ORBs report the arrival of Sgt Pilot Wylde from 66 Sqn on 26th May '41. The Sqn ORB reports his departure to 58 OTU just 3 days later (on the 29th). He does not appear to have flown operationally with 263 Sqn during this brief period.

Regards
Niall

[Kirmington]

Thank you Naill. It looks like I have come to the end of the road as far as finding out any details of the ops he flew. K

F/o Alf Wylde of 166 Sqn. My Grandfather was his Navigator, F/o FMG Ricketts. They completed 36 Sorties together. F/o Wylde is/was godfather to my Dad! I have records of all the sorties that they flew with 166 Sqn and the aircraft they flew. On their last 10 sorties with 166 Sqn they flew in Lancaster ME499 which was one of only 35 Lancasters to complete over 100 sorties. If you would like any other info, please reply and I'll do what I can.

I am compiling a history book relating to my grandad at the moment and have been searching everywhere for photos of the crew and his crew mates.

Dale Ricketts.

Originally Posted by Kirmington

Can anybody give me any more details about Alf Wylde's service with these Squadrons? According to the info I currently have he flew 'interception' flights with 611 Sqn (75 hours), convoy escort with 66 Sqn (112 hours) and offensive sweeps with 263 (43 hours). He was awarded the A.F.M, then went to Bomber Command and flew 36 operations and was awarded the DFC!
Any info gratefully received.

Fg Off Alf Wylde is/was my Dads Godfather. I am currently researching my Grandfathers activities with bomber command during the war in order to write a book specifically about his 166sqn crew.

My Grandfather was Alf Wyldes Navigator on 166sqn, Fg Off Fred Ricketts.

I understand they undertook their first sortie on 30 October 1944 (Cologne) and their final sortie on 24 March 1945 (Harpenerweg).

I have the 166 Sqn orders of battle from 1943-1945 and the squadron record book entries for October 1944 to March 1945.

My Dad has my grandfathers log book etc..... Although, understandably, he's very protective of it!

As part of my research I am also trying to find out about the other members of the crew and would love to get in touch with families.

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

If it is the same Sgt Wylde, his career on 66 Squadron, was not quite as illustrious as his later stint with Bomber Command. Peter Caygill informs us:

p.23/ Another patrol was attempted by 66 Squadron on the 4th (January 1941), this time involving P/O Stanley Baker, P/O Peter Olver and Sgt Wylde. This also ended unfortunately as Sgt Wylde became lost and flew into a balloon cable at Chessington in poor visibility. Although he was uninjured, his Spitfire (P7660) was damaged.

p.26/ On 4 February (1941), 92 Squadron flew several patrols from Manston but nothing was seen. Over at Biggin Hill some of the more senior pilots of 66 Squadron including Bobby Oxspring, 'Dizzy' Allen, 'Bogle' Bodie and Stanley Baker carried out dusk landings but once again it was Sgt Wylde who provided the drama. During a formation patrol he managed to get himself lost in bad visibility, just as he had done a month previously, and his uncanny knack of picking out the balloon defences meant that he was odds on to fly into a cable, which he did. Incredibly he managed to retain control and landed safely [shortly afterwards Wylde was temporarily posted to the Ferry Pilots Pool at White Waltham. Whether this was due to his indiscretions in hitting balloon cables and damaging his aircraft is not recorded].

See:
The Biggin Hill Wing - 1941. From Defence to Attack,
Caygill,Peter.
Barnsley:Pen & Sword,2008.
pp.23 & 26.

Col.