Anyone from RAF Marham - 12 Sqn?

[Yozzer]

Squadron historian if there is one.

CAN YOU PLEASE HELP...
------------------------
Gloria Jean Chapman
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I was born Gloria Jean Chapman on 17th August 1943 at 2000 hours. My father was in 12 SQN. His details were 930738 Sgt Stanley CHAPMAN RAFVR. He took off from Wickenby, Lincolnshire on the PEENEMUNDE raid at 2200 hours. I was 2 hours old.
On their way home their Lancaster PH-F DV168 was shot down over Esjberg, Denmark,
crashing into the sea. There were no survivors and their plane was never found. My father was 22 years old and did not know I had been born.
The crew were: Capt: S/Ldr Slade Fraser Burstock DSO
Nav: F/O Carpenter George Ralph
W/T: F/S MacIntyre John Francis Bell
B/A: P/O Manning Cecil Walter Alvin
F/E: Sgt Chapman Stanley
M/U: F/O Phillips Philip Henry
R/G: Sgt Myers Leonard
When I was very young I contacted TB and for eight years I lived in sanatoriums. When I was finally able to live at home with my mother, she had remarried. I eventually ended up stepsister to 5 brothers and 3 sisters. For reasons unknown my mother had no photographs of my father, and to this day I do not know my fathers face.
My husband and I are 71 years old and our search for a photograph of him, has, so far, been in vain, but, if you are reading this you never know.

[rolling20]

Hi, have you tried the RAF Wickenby Memorial Collection?
RAF Wickenby Memorial Collection Museum & Archive (http://www.wickenbymuseum.co.uk)
RAF Wickenby Memorial Collection
The Control Tower
Wickenby Aerodrome
Langworth
Lincoln
LN3 5AX

Telephone:
07904 476437
Email: [email protected]

Also, 626 RAF Bomber Squadron at RAF Wickenby During World War Two (http://www.626-squadron.co.uk)

626 Squadron came out of C flight of 12 Squadron in Nov 1943.

Best of luck with your search.

[Tankertrashnav]

I compiled a list of squadron associations when I was organising V Force Reunions, and as far as I know there is no current 12 Squadron association.

However there was a combined 12 and 626 Squadron association which went under the name of the Wickenby Register, and there are contact details for the surviving members of that association here.

RAFWMC - TheHistoryofWickenby (http://www.wickenbymuseum.co.uk/Museum/TheHistoryofWickenby.html)

Not sure how current that is, but it's the best I can do. Good luck helping this lady - it's a touching story.

TTN

Oops - beat me to it by one minute rolling 20!

[rolling20]

Squadron Leader Slade was a Flight Commander (A Flight IIRC).
S/LDR Slade, FRASER BURSTOCK DSO ... KIA - 43416 - Wednesday, 18th August 1943 - Age 31 - Peenemunde

The London Gazette of Friday 24 September 1943 contains the following from his DSO citation:

'This officer has displayed outstanding ability and unswerving devotion in the execution of operational tasks. He completed very many sorties in the Middle East theatre, achieving much success. Since his return to this country, Squadron Leader Slade has undertaken numerous sorties against various targets in Germany and Italy. His ideal leadership and unconquerable spirit have set an example worthy of the highest praise.'

He was well on the way through his 2nd tour. I am not sure if your father was part of his regular crew, but hopefully the Wickenby Memorial will have further details. I know of (not personally) one of the Navigators on 12 Squadron that night and I believe he is still alive.

[rolling20]

Tanker, If I had read it through originally and then not had to come back and edit it , you would have beaten me by 5 mins at least! :)

[NutLoose]

I do not know if you have seen this, details of the attack

www.lostaircraft.com ? Database (http://www.lostaircraft.com/database.php?lang=en&mode=viewentry&e=3344)#

[Fg Off Bloggs]

12 Sqn now has an association and it can be contacted through the squadron at RAF Marham.

Bloggs

[Tankertrashnav]

Any contact details Bloggs? I'd like to update my former V Force squadron association address list.

[Old-Duffer]

Sometimes, the squadron Form 540 contains photographs of crews on arrival. It might be worth spending a day at Kew going through the Form 540.

Another approach is to get the Record of Service for Sgt Chapman and this will show all units on which he served and the dates. The same approach could then be made. As a flight engineer, it is probable that Sgt Chapman was trained at St Athan and the course photographs might have survived with the Forms 540 at Kew. Incidentally the Forms 541 will show Sgt Chapman's flying record with 12 Sqn and hence whether he was a regular crew member.

Are there any published books dealing with 12 Sqn's war service? These sort of books frequently contain crew photographs.

Sometimes, local newspapers of the time displayed photographs of local men who were killed or missing. Try the newspaper archives in Sgt Chapman's home town.

I guess from the initial post that this is probably a busted flush but are there any siblings of Sgt Chapman or other family who might have photographs? Does the secondary school at which Sgt Chapman attended still exist and do they have any photographs of pupils, perhaps in the final year?

Old Duffer

[StopStart]

She/you could try dropping this guy a line?

P/O Thomas Forbes (http://www.aujs06.dsl.pipex.com/12squadron/html/contents.htm)

It's about a relative of his who was on 12 Sqn. He might have some info? The site hasn't been updated for a few years but you never know.....

[Wensleydale]

If you are on Facebook then go to this community site: Bomber Command Research Group - there are lots of historians on there who search for details for you!


https://www.facebook.com/groups/255939627858660/


W