294 Squadron

[wmills]

Hi,

Seeking info 294 Squadron Air Sea Rescue, photos and men who may have served with my father Robert Gordon Mills R.C.A.F. on loan to R.A.F 1943 to 1945. Crewed and flew Walrus and mostly Vickers Wellingtons during that time. Any info no matter how small would be greatly appreciated.



Regards, Wayne. :)

[cyflyer]

Hello Wayne. 294 sqn operated in the Eastern Med during that time. They had detachments on Cyprus, Palestine, Nth Africa, Greece. Your father was a Walrus pilot, but where did he serve, do you have more details ? I have a couple of snaps of 294 sqn personnel but need more info.

[wmills]

Thanks so much for your response. Forgive me in advance if I make mistakes re forum I am a Newbie.

My father served in N/Africa Air Sea Rescue 1943 trough to 1945 Eastern Mediterranean . Spent time in Alexandria, Berka etc. In the earlier years of the War he was with R.A.F Ferry command for a short period.

If you have photos that would be great ! I have a few myself, not many and would be glad to forward but still trying figure how to do attachments.

I have been able to obtain some of his service records recently from National Archives UK recently and still going through them.

I will leave it there for now and once again thanks for your response.


Wayne

[cyflyer]

My specific area of interest were RAF units/squadrons that served on Cyprus. I have been gathering photos for many years for a possible future book project. I looked into 294 squadron because they had a detachment here at that time with Walruses and Wellingtons, even though photos of those on Cyprus are rarer than hens teeth. If you think he may have spent time with the detachment on Cyprus, then he may appear in one of a couple of photos that I have. Maybe if you still have his logbook it may mention 'Nicosia' or 'Lakatamia'. If he did not, then he won't in the photos or associated with those pictured.

Incidentally, there is an interesting book called 'Beyond Courage' by Norman Franks, that covers the work of the Air/Sea rescue squadrons in the Med during the war.

[wmills]

After digging a little further into Operations Record Book the following are the locations I was able to find, Cyprus, Lakatamia, Berka, Gambut, Derna, Mellana and St. Jeans. It also shows as I am sure you are aware of all his plane ID #s rank an Squadron ( 294). It would really be the high point of this year to find old photo's of him from his time overseas. I am just sorry he is not here with me to see the look on his face when he see his old Record Books R.A.F and R.C.A.F.

Thanks for the referral re, Beyond Courage. I will definitely look into it.

Wayne

[cyflyer]

After digging a little further into Operations Record Book the following are the locations I was able to find, Cyprus, Lakatamia, Berka, Gambut, Derna, Mellana and St. Jeans
You'll forgive me for lingering on the same point, but I'm trying to establish some facts beyond a reasonable doubt so that I can help you better. The above mentioned locations , refer to the locations of the various detachments of the squadron at the same time period, in other words they were split up, some were on Cyprus (Nicosia, Lakatamia, or Limassol), some were at Berka, some were at Idku, Gambut, etc. The operations record book (form 540) in such a confusing state of affairs, would be a combined one and say, for example, 3/6/44 Lakatamia (Cyprus)06.00 hrs, Wellington W9999 airborne for ....., next entry would be , Gambut (Nth Africa) 07'00 hrs, Walrus W7909, airborne for ....etc etc . Occasonally the crews names may be recorded by the aircraft, for that specific location. Sometimes these were recorded on a separate form (form 541) which for 294 sqn I did not record as this was before the days of didgital photography and ease of recording everything. Is that how your father's name is recorded ?
Also, do you not have his logbook ? That is the surest way of knowing exactly were and when he was.
Also, do any of the few photos you have, include any by aircraft on Cyprus ?

Here is the book Beyond Courage
Beyond Courage: Air Sea Rescue by Walrus Squadrons in the Adriatic, Mediterranean and Tyrrhenian Seas 1942-1945: Amazon.co.uk: Norman L. R. Franks: Books

or if you are ebay inclined
Beyond Courage Air Sea Rescue by Walrus Squadrons Franks 2003 Hardcover | eBay (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Beyond-Courage-Air-Sea-Rescue-by-Walrus-Squadrons-Franks-2003-Hardcover-/360673380721?pt=AU_Non_Fiction_Books_2&hash=item53f9cf0971)

[wmills]

I will follow up on record books which are copies I Have from National Archives UK Public records not his actual records but these are records from R.A.F. Form 540/541 then confirm dates and locations. They start with Monthly narrative buy Squadron Leader and signed describing activity/duties/locations/conclusions then listing date of flight, aircraft type and number, crew, duties, time up-down, details of flight then get back to you.

Again thanks for referral re Beyond Courage which I ordered next day and looking forward to reading.

[wmills]

Also I forgot to mention having read a couple of publications trying to find more info there does not seem to be much mention of 294 Squadron just small paragraphs here and there, still have to read Beyond Courage. I refer to Vickers-Armstrong Wellington by Ken Delye p123 small mention, formation of 294 in September 1943 at Berka by giving status to A.S.R. in the Eastern Mediterranean and that the Squadron rarely was together at one place, detachments being operated from a number of airfields from Palestine to Libya.

I understand what you mean by forms 540/541 and how to interpret them example, 2/Aug/44-Wel Xl H.Z. 534-P/O R.G. Mills-Search for Kittyhawk-13.13 to 17.38. Then Comments/Details Correct ?

[wmills]

Have been going through photos and the only ones so far that I have come across of him and any plane he may have flown are of one of the Wellingtons he flew with two of his crew mates in desert standing in front and on back of photo his hand writing nickname of plane `` Silent Death `` and one of him sticking his head out of cockpit window. No Id markings visible. The rest are of him at Canada House in Alexandria along with others of him with Mates through out his deployment. Will keep looking.

Wayne

[cyflyer]

there does not seem to be much mention of 294 Squadron just small paragraphs here and there, still have to read Beyond Courage Yes, unfortunately in the big picture of things 294 sqn was just a small unit rescuing downed airmen. Beyond Courage is probably the best narrative written on the squadron. Glad you found it so quick.

I refer to Vickers-Armstrong Wellington by Ken Delye p123 small mention, formation of 294 in September 1943 at Berka by giving status to A.S.R. in the Eastern Mediterranean Yes, thats the typical small scale mention that the squadron would get. Ken Delve was also editor of Flypast magazine when he wrote that book. Met up with him here in Cyprus, loaned him some photos for one of his articles. Nice chap. One passage in the 294 sqn ORBs impressed me as to how important the ASR units were considered. In 1941 when the an ASR flight was formed for the Middle East at RAF Kabrit, it mentions the unit was formed around three "operationally tired" Wellington 1C's, "operationally tired", meaning 'knackered' !

the Squadron rarely was together at one place, detachments being operated from a number of airfields from Palestine to Libya.]
which is why we hope to eventually narrow it down a little. I'm sure we'll manage that Wayne.

[wmills]

Would it be of any assistance to you if I were to forward the list of my Fathers planes types and id/markers etc that are recorded from the Operations Records Books I obtained from National Archives Uk sent to me on micro film.

Wayne

[cyflyer]

Wayne, yes, why not. We'll give it a shot.

[wmills]

The following is a list of Dates, Plane Types/ID #'s and rank my father held at that time. Sorry for slow response busy going through Service Records.

He inlisted R.C.A.F. March 14/41 Canada, AG2 WOAG Std . Posted overseas Aug 12/42 to R.A.F. Ferry Command. Aug 14/43 127 Squadron A.S. Flt. TOS at 294 Squadron Sept 24/43. SOS 294 Squadron to 203 Group Sept 27/44. Still more research from here to his return to Canada 1945.

1. Sept 24-43, Wellington lC E.S. 980, Sgt Mills R.
2. Sept 27-43, Wellington H.X. 510, Sgt Mills R.
3. Oct 13-43, Wellington lC 980, Sgt Mills R.
4. Nov 28-43, Walrus E.Z. 1776, WO Mills R.
5. Mar 21-43, Wellington Xl M.P. 641, WO Mills R.G.
6. Mar 22-43, Wellington Xl H.Z. 307, WO Mills R.G.
7. Mar 23-43, Wellington Xl H.Z. 378, WO Mills R.G.
8. Apr 08-44, Wellington Xl H.Z. 315, WO Mills R.G.
9. Apr 12-44, Wellington Xl H.Z. 396, WO Mills R.G.
10. May 23-44, Wellington Xlll M.F. 145, WO Mills R.G. (Can R 88228)
11. May 24-44, Wellington Xlll M.F. 145, WO Mills R.G. (Can R 88228)
12. May 31-44, Wellington MK Xlll M.E. 930, WO Mills R.G. (Can R 88228)
13. June 21-44, Commissioned PO
14. June 29-44, Wellington Xl H.Z. 394, PO R.G. Mills (Can J 86352)
15. July 20-44, Wellington Xl H.Z. 396, PO R.G. Mills (Can J 86352)
16. Aug 02-44, Wellington Xl H.Z. 534, PO R.G. Mills (Can J 86352)
17. Aug 03-44, Wellington Xl H.Z. 534, PO R.G. Mills (Can J 86352)
18. Aug 07-44, Wellington Xl H.Z. 396, PO R.G. Mills (Can J 86352)

All the above were Air Sea Rescue 294 Squadron Eastern Mediterranean .

Tks, Wayne.

[wmills]

Forgot to mention Walrus E.Z.1776 was the only one my father crewed on. Note, Beyond Courage arrived and has mention of it on p169. Have not finished yet but thanks for the recommendation, enjoying very much.

Wayne

[cyflyer]

Wayne, looking at your info and will get back to you imminently, but just want to say, you should never post your email address in a public forum. You should PM (private message) it. This is for your own safety because you will be inundated with with junk and undesirable mail for all eternity. I have noted it now, but you should 'edit' it away ASAP.

[wmills]

What can I say but thanks for the heads up . Have removed.

[wmills]

Hope you have not forgot me and how long is imminently?

[stafford-baker]

One of my Fathers wartime paintings, (and I mean painted then , as a break from official duties) was of an ASR Walrus at Blida in north Africa. It is I think now at the Hendon RAF museum or maybe at the FAA Museum, amongst many, many others.