Operation Jubilee aircrew list

[Steve49]

VoyTech, thanks for those I'll work my way through them.

Colin, thanks for that information. The ORB is correct he flew one sortie with the squadron during the day.

Regards

Steve

[SteveB]

Hi Steve

Back again with one more I believe it was S/Ldr E H P Wheller from 171Sqn.

I have really enjoyed perusing your list and will probably do some more! I am struck by at least two things.

The way you have arranged the list in order of rank gives a very powerful representation of the structure of the RAF, the shape of the pyramid in the RAF with nine pages of P/Offs and 12 pages of Sgts!

I am struck by the small number of Australians (17?). I wonder if it was simply the case that not so many Aussies had come through the pipeline by August 1942. However in my experience of poring over quite a few ORBs I have found that many ORBs do not clearly record where pilots were from the Commonwealth countries perhaps that may be a contributory factor.

You are going to have to write another book about Dieppe now.

Steve

[Steve49]

Steve,

Thanks for that additional name. As for the Australian aircrew, I'm sure that there were more involved, but as you say most ORB's aren't too detailed when it comes to identifying the nationalalities of the pilots. Hopefully an Australian expert out there could give me some more information?

Well I've been researching the operation for the past six years, so hopefully a book will arrive at the end, but I'll have to get some interest from a publisher first!

Thanks again,

Regards

Steve

[Harrison]

Steve,

I have quickly run through the list and can add the following details about Australians/RAAF fighter pilots. There may be more, however, this will take a little more time.

41 Sqn RAF
William Michael Coombes – 41 Sqn RAF, 452 Sqn RAAF
Jeffrey Cecil King - 41 Sqn RAF, 452 Sqn RAAF

43 Sqn RAF
Edgar Trenchard Smith (RAAF 404606) - 43 Sqn RAF
Godfrey Massey Ball (RAAF 404227)– 43 Sqn RAF, 531 Sqn RAF
Peter John Hedderwick (RAAF 401950) – 43 Sqn RAF – killed 08 Feb 45
Ross William Leeming (RAAF 410975) – 43 Sqn RAF, ?

65 Sqn RAF
Robert Leopold Cunningham (RAAF 402493) – 65 Sqn RAF, 501 Sqn RAF, 457 Sqn RAAF


66 Sqn RAF
Kevin Milne Barclay (RAAF 407662) – 79 Sqn RAF, 66 Sqn RAF, 453 Sqn RAAF, 457 Sqn RAAF, 452 Sqn RAAF

87 Sqn RAF
Bob Bawden (RAAF 403306) – 87 Sqn RAF, 533 Sqn RAF, 457 Sqn RAAF

91 Sqn RAF
Thomas Otto Omdahl (RAAF 404412) – 91 Sqn RAF, ?

111 Sqn RAF
Barry Edward Gale DFC (RAAF 401116) - 111 Sqn RAF, 124 Sqn RAF, 165 Sqn RAF
Harold David Christian (RAAF 400779) – 111 Sqn RAF

129 Sqn RAF
Edward Smith Hall (RAAF 403013) – 129 Sqn RAF, 452 Sqn RAAF
Ernest Arthur Roy Esau DFC (RAAF 405473) – 129 Sqn RAF, 453 Sqn RAAF

131 Sqn RAF
Alfred Vincent Noel Ede (RAAF 405302) – 167 Sqn RAF, 131 Sqn RAF, 133 Sqn RAF, 131 Sqn RAF, 457 Sqn RAAF
Anthony Thomas Ruskin-Rowe (RAAF 411389) – 131 Sqn RAF, 452 Sqn RAAF – KIA 20 Jun 43

174 Sqn RAF
Charles Bryce Watson (RAAF 400849) – 607 Sqn RAF, 174 Sqn RAF

175 Sqn RAF
Donald George Andrews DFC (RAAF 404795) – 615 Sqn RAF, 245 Sqn RAF, 175 Sqn RAF, 453 Sqn RAAF

222 Sqn RAF
John William McDonald (RAAF 404971) – 72 Sqn RAF, temp 222 Sqn RAF, ?, 72 Sqn RAF – KIA 05 Dec 42
Alan Roy Menzies (RAAF 403676) – 72 Sqn RAF, temp 222 Sqn RAF, ?, 453 Sqn RAAF – killed in a/c collision 05 Dec 42

232 Sqn RAF
Jack Martin Kirkman (RAAF 406017) - ?, 232 Sqn RAF, 64 Sqn RAF, 1435 Sqn RAF, 603 Sqn RAF? - POW

245 Sqn RAF
William Robert Kilpatrick (RAAF 400718) – 245 Sqn RAF, ?, 184 Sqn RAF – KIA 31 Jul 43

253 Sqn RAF
Richard Owen Lloyd (RAAF 401979) – 253 Sqn RAF, 538 Sqn RAF, 56 Sqn RAF, 238 Sqn RAF, 127 Sqn RAF – killed 03 Nov 44


501 Sqn RAF
Granville Allan Mawer (RAAF 403112) – 245 Sqn RAF, 501 Sqn RAF, 54 Sqn RAF, 452 Sqn RAAF – killed 26 Sept 43

610 Sqn RAF
Southwood Carson Creagh (RAAF 405123) – 610 Sqn RAF, 452 Sqn RAAF

611 Sqn RAF
Robert Gordon Kleimeyer DFC (Australian in RNZAF 411985)

616 Sqn RAF
Frederick Owen Anthony Gaze DFC (Australian in RAF 60167) – 610 Sqn RAF, 616 Sqn RAF, 64 Sqn RAF, 129 Sqn RAF, 41 Sqn RAF, 616 Sqn RAF
John Harold Smithson DFC (RAAF 401252) – 616 Sqn RAF, 457 Sqn RAAF


A possible explanation for why there were few RAAF pilots in UK based RAF squadrons during August 1942....... Many experienced Australian fighter pilots had been recalled home earlier in the year to defend against the Japanese. Most were filtered into 75 & 76 Sqns RAAF and were fighting at Milne Bay in August. In June of the same year 452 & 457 Sqns had also been requested to return home and defend the Northern coastline eventually forming No.1 Spitfire Wing with 54 Sqn RAF. Meanwhile there were still three Australian manned fighter squadrons in the Middle East – 3 Sqn RAAF, 450 & 451 Sqs. During the Dieppe raids the sole remaining Australian equipped day-fighter unit in the UK was 453 Sqn which was in the process of ‘working up’. All these movements may help explain why there were relatively few Australians attached to RAF squadrons during Operation Jubilee.

regards, Drew

[Steve49]

Drew,

Thanks for those.

With regard to 453 Sqn, by default they did have a link to the Dieppe raid. It is noted in the ORB that due 'to the fact that a large number of the squadrons aircraft were lent to 222 Sqn for use at Dieppe' they carried out little flying between the 15th and 20th August. The loan aircraft (number not identified) were not returned until the 23rd.

Regards,

Steve

[Harrison]

Hi Steve,

A few more RAAF pilots.....

65 Sqn RAF
probably - George Robson Gratwick Sarll (RAAF 267930) – ?, 65 Sqn RAF, ?

87 Sqn RAF
Michael Stanley Lewis (RAAF 400832) – 79 Sqn RAF, 87 Sqn RAF, 1454 Flt RAF, 87 Sqn RAF, 32 Sqn RAF, 85 Sqn RAAF
Richard Venor Beckwith Dulhunty (RAAF 404959) – ?, 87 Sqn RAF, ?, 132 Sqn RAF

174 Sqn RAF
probably - William Henry Moore (RAAF 405114) – ?, 174 Sqn RAF?, ?, 3 Sqn RAF – KIA 18 Jun 43

regards, Drew

[Steve49]

Drew,

Thanks for the additional comments.

Regards,

Steve

[Steve49]

Please find attached an updated copy of my Dieppe aircrew list. Many thanks for those comments/corrections I've already received, please feel free to pass on anymore.

Regards,

Steve

PS: I won't be able to respond for a couple of weeks, because I'll be at work.

Attachment 1208

[Fairlop]

Hi Steve,

Three comments to Czechoslovakians ...

F/L Viktor Kaslik
Sgt Josef Novotny
Sgt Vaclav Ruprecht

There is a lot of possibilities for updates regarding the actual decorations in your list. For example G/C Harry Broadhurst DSO&Bar, DFC, AFC, MiD etc.

Regards,
Michal

[12-4am]

Originally Posted by Steve49

Please find attached an updated copy of my Dieppe aircrew list. Many thanks for those comments/corrections I've already received, please feel free to pass on anymore.

Regards,

Steve

PS: I won't be able to respond for a couple of weeks, because I'll be at work.

Attachment 1208

Hi Steve

I know your list is old but as of Dec 2010 the link no longer works.

FYI My father (Flt Sgt Harold Groombridge 129 Squadron) flew a spitfire V operating as close support strafing the Hess battery over Dieppe prior to attack by 4th commando. His plane was attacked and hit by FW190s and he only just managed to escape by flying under electricity cables.

brgds

steve