293 Sqn and Sgt J Lewis
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I'm just back from Kew and can confirm that I found various mentions in the non-digitised records - not as it happens of 293 Sqn but of the Warwick Training Unit (which became the Air Sea Rescue (ASR) Training Unit in October 1943. Now that I'm back in front of my computer I can see that QuePee has replied already but I had indeed also found that F/O B. S. Hayward had service number 124412 and waswas part of the "Main Party" when the Unit moved from Bircham Newton to Thornaby. After that the Unit moved to Thorney Island in early December 1943 and F/O Hayward was noted as flying Warwick aircraft Y1 to Thorney Island with F/Sgt Grant as Observer (navigator?) and Sgt Cottam as WOp/Ag. He then appears in the record on 8th Feb 1944 as "detached to Hurn pending posting overseas". The final mention I found today in teh non digitised ORB was on 11 March 1944 where F/O Hayward was noted as "ceased to be detached to RAF Hurn on posting to No1 BPD" - BPD=Base Personnel Depot I believe and RAF Hurn was (according to Wikipedia) " the final airfield in England for aircraft flying to Morocco for the North African and Italian campaigns, avoiding France, Spain and Portugal airspace" and the home of "No. 3 Overseas Aircraft Despatch Unit" ( I don't know that dates for this Unit but I did observe in the records today that many (all??) of the ASR Warwick crews went to Hurn "prior to despatch overseas".)
Hope this helps and is of interest!
.
Hope this helps and is of interest!
.
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I'm just back from Kew and can confirm that I found various mentions in the non-digitised records - not as it happens of 293 Sqn but of the Warwick Training Unit (which became the Air Sea Rescue (ASR) Training Unit in October 1943. Now that I'm back in front of my computer I can see that QuePee has replied already but I had indeed also found that F/O B. S. Hayward had service number 124412 and waswas part of the "Main Party" when the Unit moved from Bircham Newton to Thornaby. After that the Unit moved to Thorney Island in early December 1943 and F/O Hayward was noted as flying Warwick aircraft Y1 to Thorney Island with F/Sgt Grant as Observer (navigator?) and Sgt Cottam as WOp/Ag. He then appears in the record on 8th Feb 1944 as "detached to Hurn pending posting overseas". The final mention I found today in teh non digitised ORB was on 11 March 1944 where F/O Hayward was noted as "ceased to be detached to RAF Hurn on posting to No1 BPD" - BPD=Base Personnel Depot I believe and RAF Hurn was (according to Wikipedia) " the final airfield in England for aircraft flying to Morocco for the North African and Italian campaigns, avoiding France, Spain and Portugal airspace" and the home of "No. 3 Overseas Aircraft Despatch Unit" ( I don't know that dates for this Unit but I did observe in the records today that many (all??) of the ASR Warwick crews went to Hurn "prior to despatch overseas".)
Hope this helps and is of interest!
.
Hope this helps and is of interest!
.
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It’s great to come across this thread, and in particular Aimeeg1986’s post. Geoffrey Cooper was my 1st cousin once removed and I’m just starting my research. It’s very interesting to read the thread and all of the contributions so far.
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Hi.I am researching 1067480 James Alfred SLATER and wondered if you could confirm if he was the J A Slater who, along with Sgt Lydford, was captured during the rescue incident in late 1944 as detailed in Norman Franks book Chapter 7 flying Walrus L2223. I have had his RAF Long Service medal in my collection for some years after finding it on an Australian dealers catalogue.
Many thanks
David
Many thanks
David
Thread Starter
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W/O Slater and Sgt Lydford
Hi.I am researching 1067480 James Alfred SLATER and wondered if you could confirm if he was the J A Slater who, along with Sgt Lydford, was captured during the rescue incident in late 1944 as detailed in Norman Franks book Chapter 7 flying Walrus L2223. I have had his RAF Long Service medal in my collection for some years after finding it on an Australian dealers catalogue.
Many thanks
David
Many thanks
David
I have a little bit of digging on these two gentlemen and I believe that 1067480 W/O Slater is indeed the same man as referenced in Normas book. The reasons for saying this are as follows;
The ORB confirms the story and the names and ranks of the two airmen concerned
My fathesr diaries also confirm the basics of the story although he doesnt mention the names.
The monthly squadron Officers And Airmen Retuens show a rather indistinct reference to W/O Slater, copy below. It is very difficult to read but I think I can decipher the name and number.
W/O Slater 1067480 is recorded as being in a POW camp in Poland as is a Sgt Lydford. Unfortunately there is no record of the capture date.
Thats is all I have found so far, I will continue searching....just in case more info comes to light.
QP
