Pilots' Forenames

[Steve Brew]

Hi all

Despite several years researching 41 Squadron’s ca. 360 WWII pilots, I still have a handful of men whose forenames remain a mystery, and was hoping someone on the forum may have some ideas.

In each case I am seeking forenames and, where possible, further biographical data, but at the same time would also appreciate some form of confirmation that anyone nominated actually served with 41 Squadron.

They are:

[‘d/u’ implies ‘date unknown’]

1. BEARD, A. W.

Sgt. Plt., 1331949, RAFVR; b. Wanstead, 4 Dec. 1922; ed. Friend’s Sch., Saffron Walden; enl. in RAFVR, Uxb., 21 Jan. 1941; 22 EFTS, Cambridge, d/u 1941; 31 SFTS, Kingston, Ont., Can., d/u 1941; 5 (P) AFU, Tern Hill, Salop, d/u 1941; 52 OTU, Aston Down, Gloucs., d/u 1942; 41 Sqdn. ca. 25 Aug.-Last mentioned 24 Dec. 1942, (This is not: 1159543 WO Arthur William Beard, com. Prob. Plt. Off. (197771) 17 Mar. 1945; Plt. Off. conf. & to Flg. Off. (WS), 17 Sep. 1945)

2. GARRIE, T. A.

‘Tommy’, Flt. Sgt., 1348819, RAFVR; b. Edin., Scot., 10 Sep. 1921; ed. Bellevue Int. Sch., Edin.; joined RAFVR, ACRS, London, 18 Aug. 1941; 2 BFTS, Polaris Flt. Academy, War Eagle Fld., Lancaster, CA, USA, d/u 1942; Sgt. Plt., d/u; Flt. Sgt., d/u; 41 Sqdn., 18 Sep. 1943; occ. post war, Post Office, Edin.

3. GIBSON, J. C.

Sgt. Plt., 1168675, RAFVR; b. Rugby, 12 Dec. 1921; ed. Rugby Sch.; enl. in RAFVR, 5 Jul. 1940; 3 ITW, Torquay, d/u; 16 EFTS, Derby, d/u; 9 SFTS, Montrose, d/u; 59 OTU, Crosby-on-Eden, d/u; 130 Sqdn., Port Reith, 18 Jun. 1941; 41 Sqdn., 25 Aug.-23 Oct. 1941; 11 TT Flt., Shoreham, 25 Oct. 1941 (re-des. 1488 TT Flt., 1 Dec. 1941, re-des. 1488 (F) Gunnery Flt., 10 Jun. 1942, re-des. 17 APC, Southend, 18 Oct. 1943); WO, d/u; MiD, 14 Jun. 1945

4. GORDON, W. G.

Flt. Sgt., number?, RAFVR; 41 Sqdn., 23 Oct. 1945; FA, eng. failure on take-off, but uninj., Lübeck in Tempest V, 1 Dec. 1945; to 2 FIS, Yatesbury, 7 Jan. 1946

5. GRAHAM, G. R.

Sgt. Plt., number?, RCAF?/RAFVR?; 412 Sqdn. RCAF, Digby, 26 Sep.-13 Oct. 1941; 41 Sqdn., 15 Oct. 1941-Last mentioned 9 Dec. 1941. (This is potentially: Glenn Roland Graham, R.62937, RCAF; b. 14 Dec. 1920; enl. in RCAF, 23 Sep. 1940-25 May 1945; com. Plt. Off. (J.17350), 16 April 1943; rejoined RCAF (32382), 1 Aug. 1950-29 May 1971, but as a service number is not mentioned in the 412 Sqdn. ORB, it is impossible to say if the man mentioned in 412's ORB is R.62937 Glenn Roland Graham, and his full service file cannot be accessed until a man has been dead for 20 years) (Potentially also Flt. Sgt. Graham with 3 Sqdn. during Op. Jubilee, 19 Aug. 1942)

6. KERANS, J.

Flt. Sgt., number?, RAFVR; 41 Sqdn., 23 Oct. 1945; demob., Class A, Dec. 1945

7. MARSHALL, J. R.

Flt. Sgt., number?, RAFVR; 41 Sqdn., d/u; posted away, 22 Mar. 1946 (compassionate leave)

8. McCARTHY, O. D.

Flt. Lt., number?, RAFVR; 41 Sqdn., 3 Sep. 1945; released under ‘Class A’, 4 Jan. 1946

9. NORMAN, ?.

‘Monty’, Plt. Off., number?, RAFVR, released under ‘Class A’, 4 Jan. 1946

10. NORMAN, R.

Flg. Off., number?; RAFVR; posted to 124 Wg., Sep. 1945

11. PAIRMAN, W. R.

Flt. Sgt., 1001096, RAFVR; 41 Sqdn., first mentioned 23 Mar.-ca. mid-Apr. 1945 (1 op.; ‘N/E waiting posting’ in mid-Apr. 1945)

12. ROWE, M. P. (possibly Malcolm)

Flt. Sgt., 926918, RAFVR; b. Holmes Chapel, Chesh., 26 Jan. 1920; ed. Sale HS & Manchester Arts Coll.; joined RAFVR, Uxb., 23 May 1940; 26 EFTS, Guinea Fowl, d/u 1940; 22 SFTS, Thornhill, d/u 1940; 5 (P) AFU, Tern Hill, d/u 1942; 61 OTU, Rednal, d/u 1942; 41 Sqdn. 3 Nov. 1942-27 Apr. 1943 (A Flt., 3 Nov. 1942-26 Feb. 1943; B Flt. 27 Feb.-27 Apr. 1943); eng. failure, FL, inj. (concussion) in Spit. Vb, BL299, Whitchurch Heath, 1½ miles from Malpas, nr. Wrexham, Salop, 28 Feb. 1943; sent on emb. leave, 27 Apr. 1943

13. SCOTT, ?.

Plt. Off., number?, w. 41 Sqdn. at least Aug. 1939-at least 20 January 1940

14. UNDERWOOD, B. W.

Flt. Sgt., number?, RAFVR; 19 Sqdn., ca. 2 Sep.-12 Oct. 1941; 41 Sqdn., 15 Oct. 1941-last mentioned 1 Sep. 1942; 2 days leave, 16 Nov. 1941; posted NE sick, RAF Tangmere, 19 Nov. 1941 (This is potentially 183184 Bernard Walter Underwood, com. Prob. Plt. Off. from WO (925018), 2 Aug. 1944; app. to com. as Flg. Off. (5 yrs.), ACB, 24 Oct. 1952; Flt. Lt., PI, 19 Feb. 1959)

15. VANN, W. H.

Flt. Sgt., 1123162, RAFVR; b. Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancs., 29 Nov. 1921; ed. Stamford HS; joined RAFVR, Padgate, 10 Oct. 1940; 5 ITW, Torquay, Jan.-Jun. 1941; 8 EFTS, Jun.-Aug. 1941; 8 SFTS, Montrose, Sep. 1941-Apr. 1942; 59 OTU, Crosby-on-Eden, Jun. 1942; 124 Sqdn., Ouston, d/u Jun. 1942-d/u Jul. 1943; 41 Sqdn. 21 Jul.-d/u Dec. 1943; 1 Dam. FW190, W. of Évreux, Fr., 22 Sep. 1943 (This is potentially William Henry Vann, postwar 2604755 (1960), com. Plt. Off. in RAFVR Trng. Branch, 27 Aug. 1958; com. resigned, 23 Mar. 1960)

16. WATSON, F.

Sgt. Plt., number?, RAFVR; b. 8 Jun. 19??; ed. King George V Sch., Southport; joined RAFVR, Padgate, 29 May 1940; What?, Babbacombe, 2 Jul. 1940; 5 ITW, Torquay, 17 Jul 1940; 7 EFTS, Desford, 21 Sep. 1940; 9 SFTS, Hullavington, 4 Dec. 1940; 57 OTU, Hawarden, 23 Apr.-1 Jun. 1941; FI, 58 OTU, Ggmth., 1 Jun.-13 Jul. 1941; 41 Sqdn., 14 Jul.-21 Aug. 1941; 19 Sqdn., Coltishall, 21 Aug.-ca. 16 Nov. 1941 (Appears not to be the Sgt. Watson RAAF who joined 92 from 59 OTU on 18 Dec. 1941, 1D Me109F, 17 Jul. 1942; MIA (POW), 17 Jul. 1942)

17. WHEATLEY, P. E.

WO, 1537032, RAFVR; b. Hull, 13 Feb. 1922; ed. Hull GS & Manchester Uni. (Manchester UAS); joined RAFVR, Padgate, 16 Jul. 1941; 16 EFTS, Derby, d/u; 33 SFTS, Carberry, Can., d/u; 57 OTU, Eshott, NBL, d/u; 41 Sqdn., 10 Apr. 1945-7 Jan. 1946; eng. failure, FL, Lübeck, inj. (burns) in Tempest V, 18 Oct. 1945; to 2 FIS, Yatesbury, 7 Jan. 1946

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Thanks
Steve

The Pilots of 41 Squadron RAF
http://brew.clients.ch/RAF41Sqdn.htm