Info sought on Thomas George Sawyer

[Theo Boiten]

Dear all,

One of my colleagues at work is looking for any info on her Grandfather named Thomas George Sawyer RCAF. He most probably served in RAF Bomber Command, was shot down in the latter stages of the war (according to a vague family story near München?) and came down in Liberated territory. He was ca. 26 years of age at that time. No further details known at this point.

She would be thrilled to receive any info on the Squadron of her Grandfather, his operational career, his bomber crew and on the circumstances of the loss of his aircraft.

Any info gratefully received.

Cheers and thanks, Theo

[alieneyes1]

Theo,

Whether he is the same man, I cannot say.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/...-george-sawyer

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/1179...wyer-obituary/

Regards,

Dave

[Theo Boiten]

Hi Dave,

Cheers and thanks for that -my colleague confirmed that this indeed is her Grandfather.

Best, Theo

[edwest2]

Theo,

I suggest that she should contact the Canadian Archives for further guidance. As a relative, they could provide her with records related to her grandfather's military career.

https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remem...ervice-records

If she is informed that the records are in the UK, she should go here:

https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-service-records

Best,
Ed

[Theo Boiten]

Thanks for that Ed -I will pass on these details to my colleague.

Best, Theo

[Theo Boiten]

Dear all,

Just received some additional info from my colleague, which was passed on to her via a relative this weekend:

Her grandfather served with 692 (RAF) Squadron at Graveley, his pilot was Roy (Bill) Bailey, Squadron CO was Wing Commander Basil Jones. Her grandfather's aircraft was apparently force-landed in liberated territory in Belgium. That's al she knows now.

Any additional data welcome, i.e. the date/location & circumstances of the forced landing, and -if possible- a photo of the aircraft/crash location.

Cheers, Theo

[RSwank]

On March 21, 1945 Bailey and Sawyer, flying a Mk XVI Mosquito, PF445 of 692 squadron, flew a raid to Berlin. On the return they landed at Brussels on one engine.

You can sign up for a free account first, https://secure.nationalarchives.gov....fr%3f_no%3d692

then download the monthly record and summary files, (just for March or include other months) if you wish.

https://discovery.nationalarchives.g..._dt=SQ&_hb=tna


In looking through all the missions flown in March, on the mission flown 14 March, also going to Berlin, Bailey and Sawyer jettisoned their bomb load and returned to base early due to excessive vibration in the port engine of PF445.

[Alain57]

Hello,

F/L Bailey R AFC 43028 pilot and F/O Sawyer J/44098 navigator arrived on Februari 1945 with the sqdn from 16 OTU.( Source 692 sqn ORB )

Regards
Alain57

[alieneyes1]

Sawyer's NCO number was R181222.

Commissioned P/O 3 March 1944.

[Alain57]

Hello ,

Their first mission with the sqn was on Feb 2 1945 on board of Mosquito PF400 to Mannheim. Their last on April 19 1945 to Berlin with Mosquito RV320.
On March 21 1945 the landed their Mosquito PV 445 on Brussels airfield due to malfunction of one engine.
Regards
Alain57