Re: 23 Squadron crew names needed - 1944

[Danny152]

Hello all,

I am trying to locate the first names of some 23 Squadron crew members. They served in 1944 when the squadron was based at RAF Little Snoring.

- Squadron Leader -- Bond
- Flight Lieutenant -- Johns

Thanks

Danny

[Chris Goss]

If they flew operationally, the 23 Sqn F540 lists pilots initials in 1944 and some times service numbers so it might make your request easier to answer if you could supply these?

[MW Giles]

F/O Frederick Charles Johns DFC 143416 died 24/7/44 on 23 Sqn

Cannot find a S/L Bond on the squadron, S/L would suggest a flight commander at the very least

Nearest is S/L P W Rabone RNZAF who was lost with Johns on the same flight

Martin

[Tom Semenza]

Johns, Frederick Charles Havers (143416) was in fact a navigator rather than a pilot.

Regards,
Tom

[Danny152]

Thanks all, I found Sqn Ldr Rabone, still looking for Sqn Ldr Bond, I have him as a Nav and possibly from 515 Sqn, thoe the aircraft in question was from 23 Sqn when based at RAF Little Snoring.

Cheers,

Danny

[Chris Goss]

Can you be more precise on the date?

[Danny152]

Certainly Chris,

The information is from the 10 Jul 44 on a Day Ranger sortie.

Hoare flying on the 10 July, with Squadron Leader --- Bond as his Navigator, flying in B-Bertie, No 176 in a 2-ship formation with Mosquito No 161, crewed by Squadron Leader Paul Rabone and Flight Lieutenant Frederick Johns.

[Chris Goss]

Strange as 23's F540 says due to bad weather, no operational flying 8-11 July 1944. What you should have said is the two 23 Sqn crews were flying with 515 Sqn that day, not 23 Sqn! I can see no further mention of Bond in either 23 or 515 so maybe he came from another unit or was a Staff Officer?