F/Lt Dicky Bird 605 Sqn 1941

[Brian]

Hi guys

I'm still endeavouring to establish full identity of this 'Dicky' Bird

There are several possibilities in the 1941 Officers List - but which one?

He might be:
79563 D.R.
30093 F.D.G.
33526 F.R.
70064 S.P.V.
84951 W.A.
40361 W.D.W.

Apparently 'my' Bird was Regular RAF - might that help identifying him by his Service No.?

Cheers
Brian

[Tom Semenza]

Brian,

William Arthur Bird (84951) definitely served in 605 Sqn. as stated in his DFC citation dated 2 June 1944. However he had not been promoted to F/Lt. until 7 Sept. 1942. It would appear that he was serving as a P/O in 23 Sqn. in Aug. 1941. So if "your" Bird was a F/Lt. in '41 I guess you can eliminate W. A. from your list.

Cheers,
Tom

[Brian]

Cheers Tom

You could be correct!

Looks like another trip to the National Archives to view the ORB.

Brian

[Brian]

Another 605 Squadron pilot wrote the following:


"Dicky was a regular RAF pilot. First he was in a Blenheim squadron, which was entirely wiped out and then he was a test pilot for Supermarine. He’s flown over fifty types, including Manchesters and Whirlwinds. He was once nearly killed on a Spitfire doing a shoot up and a roll at ground level. He came too low and crashed at 200mph whilst inverted. Thus he is lucky to be alive (he happened, by good fortune, to have been strapped more tightly than he is used to, into his seat. He was injured, of course). Later with a Spitfire squadron he shot down a Ju88 in flames."

Does this help to identify him?

Cheers
Brian

[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

[andy bird]

Hi Brian,

Have the probate records for your person plus other favourable info,

Regards

Andy Bird

Not a relative (i Think) but DM for photograph.

BIRD S/L Surry Philip Victor of The Road House Great Casterton Rutlandshire died 4 July 1944 on war service Administration Liandudno 23 January 1946 to Violet Peggy Bird Widow. Effects £705 10s 2d.

Likewise:

Born: 1919, Southwark, London, his father Frederick was 25, and his mother Grace (Nee: Mallison) was 26. Surry brother was born in March 1928 and christened Malcolm F. M. Bird (died 2012).

Aged 21 Surry married on September 1940 at Stamford Lincolnshire to Violet Peggy Farnsworth.

Died aged 24, whilst inserting agents into Italy / resupplying Partisans of Josip Bros Tito, Halifax aircraft JP286 probably shot down by Hauptman Leopold Fellerer of StabIII/NJG6 at 01.50 /01.51 hours 10km North East of Kasposvar on 4 July 1944. At 1700metres, aircraft exploded 8 bodies were extracted.

Zomber Police report: "Straight after crash 2 corpses recovered, search to continue till dawn.

Hungarian Death Certificate Diary: Military Funeral Held for the crew of 8 of the British Handley Page Halifax type bomber shot down on the night of 4 July at 01:00. At present ONLY one person has been identified, pilot Surry Philip Victor BIRD. ALL Bodies recovered.

Funeral: Mezocsokonya Nyires-Puszta 5 July 1944 at 12:00 hours

[Brian]

Thanks Andy

Much appreciated

Brian