605 Squadron 1943

[ruxpin35]

I am looking for information on a navigator from this unit.
Sidney Rowland Didsbury, awarded a DFM in October 1943 as a sergeant, I wolud like to find out his nationality and the pilots involved in his claims against enemy aircraft (credited with 4 in his citation)

[mhuxt]

Hi:

Ian Piper's book "605" says the pilot was F/O Dacre, sorry no first name. Does the citation give one destroyed and one probable on 6/7 September, or two destroyed?

Cheers,

Mark

[ruxpin35]

Sorry cant remember off hand, I made a note some time ago from a copy of the London gazette, I have simply put "4 e/a" I think if specific combats were listed I would have noted them. Sorry I can't be of more help.

[mhuxt]

No worries mate.

Mark

[Frank Olynyk]

F/O Kenneth Fraser Dacre (pilot), 126951, DFC (LG #36207, Oct 8, 1943/S5 of Oct 12, pg 4501), KIA, September 23, 1943, Mosquito VI HJ790 'R'.
Sgt Sidney Rowland Didsbury (nav), 1535200, DFM (LG #36223, Oct 22, 1943/S3 of Oct 26, pg 4720), KIA, September 23, 1943, Mosquito VI HJ790 'R'.

June 20, 1943, 0125 hours, Do-217 dest, 4 m N of Compiegne/Margny A/D, in Mosquito II UP-O
June 20, 1943, 0208 hours, Me-110 dest, 0.5 m E of St Dizier, same a/c
Sept 1, 1943, 0030 hours, Me-110 dam, Parchim, Mosquito VI UP-H
Sept 7, 1943, 0152 hours, T/E a/c prob, Keerbergen A/D, Mosquito VI UP-U
Sept 7, 1943, 0159 hours, Ju-88 dest, Tirlemont/Gossoncourt A/D, Mosquito VI UP-U
Sept 15, 1943, 2229 hours, Do-217 dest, Melun, Mosquito VI UP-R
(presumably this UP-R is the aircraft in which they were killed)
Sources: Fighter Command Combats and Casualties for the weeks involved, combat reports in Air 50/169.

Further information on Dacre can be found in Chris Shores: Those Other Eagles.

Frank.

[mhuxt]

Many thanks, Frank.

Does the Combats and Casualties list specify if this was 22/23 September or 23/24 September? My belief is that it was the former. Fighter Command Losses says the crew were lost on a sortie to Ardorf, and another 605 Squadron crew claimed one destroyed and one damaged there on the 22nd.

Incidentally, Tony Woods' claims list of Luftwaffe claims gives the following:

22.09.43 Ofw. Fleischmann 7./JG 301 Mosquito Oldenburg: 200 m. 24.00 Film C. 2031/II Anerk: Nr.1

There is an Oldenburg about 60km southeast of Ardorf.

Cheers,

Mark

[mhuxt]

ruxpin:

More info on your man here:

http://www.cwgc.org/cwgcinternet/cas...sualty=2073686

Cheers,

Mark