F/Lt Dicky Bird 605 Sqn 1941

[Tom Semenza]

Brian,

A little more digging in the London Gazette reveals the following:

79563 D. R. was not promoted to F/L until 28 Apr 42 (also RAFVR)

30093 F. D. G. was promoted Capt.(RM) as well as F/L(RAF) in May 1939. He may have been seconded to the RAF and was promoted Acting Maj. in April 1943.

33526 F. R. was promoted to F/L on 23 Dec 41. He was a bomber pilot with 105 Sqn. receiving the DFC in 1944 and the DSO in 45.

70064 S. V. P. was promoted F/L on 03 Dec40 and S/L on 01 Sep 42 (but RAFO rather than regular RAF.)

40361 W. D. W. was promoted F/L on 25 Jun 41 and S/L on 1 Jul 43.

As an aside, John Foreman in his RAF Fighter Command Victory Claims shows a claim for a F/L Bird (unfortunately no initials given) for a shared Ju 88 on 29 Apr 43 with 268 Sqn. However this unit was equipped with the Mustang I.

Hope this helps narrow things down a bit.

Tom

[Brian]

Hi Tom

Thanks for that. It has occurred to me that Dicky Bird may have been only an Acting Flight Lieutenant when posted to Malta in November 1941, so would have actually been only a Flying Officer in the Air Force List!

Incidentally, the Flt Lt Bird of 268 Squadron you mention was A.G. Bird.

Cheers
Brian

[Tom Semenza]

Hi Brian,

Thanks for the initials of the 268 Bird. Turns out he was an Acting Flt. Lt. at the time himself and a former army officer.

Tom

[Brian]

Hi guys

I should have advised those interested earlier, but anyway 'my' Dicky Bird was Surry V.P. Bird, later killed over Hungary as a Wellington pilot/agent dropper with 148 Squadron.

Thanks for your help.

Cheers
Brian