Some info on RAF Melbourne here: RAF History - Bomber Command 60th Anniversary
You may think it a good idea for some family member to take a video of the RAF Melbourne area (perhaps concentrating on the local pubs which might jog his memory more!!) ready for screening on his big day.

If you haven't yet visited or contacted Yorkshire Air Museum at Elvington, it may be possible to order a CD/DVD of Halifax Operations. Yorkshire Air Museum, The Norths Leading Aviation Museum and Online Shop.

And have you persuaded him to break his silence and record his memories of his and other crew during his service? Please do try and ensure his memories are preserved, if only for family use for now.... It would be depriving the families of those that did not come back were they to be lost forever. Yes, it must be painful, but look at what avid attention is paid to recollections on threads here. We're honoured to help, but put something back, please........

"Melbourne Ten" by Brian J Rapier published Air Museum Publications(York)Ltd,No.1 Driffield Terrace,The Mount,York YO2 2DD in 1982. ISBN 0-9507326-1-3.

Just to note for anyone who's parent is still alive who used to be flying Halifax's. There is an old Halifax pilot called Don Macaul (sp second Name) who's last tour was dropping stuff into Italy to the partisians.

Don after a break of some 60 odd years got his NPPL some 6 years ago. I was lucky enough to have the privelage to take him up for his first lesson after his break. Needless to say I learned more off him than he did off me.

Don is still a regular flyer at Highland Aviation in Inverness aged 89 I am sure if you wanted to make contact with him an email to the school whould get through to him.

He is an utter gent, a pleasure to fly with. He is also a bit scary to fly with as I have never flown with someone who is so precise maintaining headings, altitudes etc. To the point you think the instrument is knackard and has got stuck.

Mad Jock - there's hope for us all then!

I just hope someone sits him down and records his flying history one of these days. Who ever does it better have a good head on them for red wine.

I wonder if he is the last operational Halifax pilot who is still in the air?

Mrs Dawn Hatton
 

I am new to this site, my e-mail address is [email protected]ng lost my father suddenly in Sept 2007 we had planned to take him to Melbourne airfield the following month where his brother P/O 'Derry' Derrick Henry George Adams (146446) flew on an operation in Dortmund. T/O was 22.32 from Melbourne airfield in a Halifax with 10 Bomber Command on the 23rd/24th May 1943 death is listed 24th, in Battle of the Ruhr.In the Dortmund operation casualty details he is listed as Air Bomber.I understand from my late dad that their operation was a success however, they were shot down over Dusseldorf on return all crew lost and buried in the Nordfreidhof. My dad was aged 5 his brother aged 22 when he was KIA.My dad had started to put a file together of the brother he hardly knew.We took him to Reichswald war Cemetary near Kleve Germany in 1996 where his brothers remains are buried.My dads mother contacted other crew members families who supplied photos of 5 other crew Peter Grimwood, Peter Plenderleith, i am unsure of the other 3 crew's names.I visited Melbourne and looked around the archives on May 18th what would have been my dad's 70th.I have many wonderful photos of their training days in Canada.If you have any information that may be of interest i would be grateful.I also have the book Melbourne Ten. Regards Dawn Hatton.

Dawn: Hello and welcome.
Chorley Bomber Command Losses has the following details:

10 Squadron Halifax Mark II. Serial Number HR696. Coded: ZA-G. Operation: Dortmund. 23rd /24th May 1943. HR696 was one of three 10 Sqdn Halifaxes lost on this operation. See: W1217 and DT789. Airborne 22:32 pm 23 May ‘43 from Melbourne. Cause of loss and crash-site not established. All were buried in the Nordfriedhof at Dusseldorf. Their graves are now located in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.

Name: DENTON, JACK BANFIELD
Initials: J B
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Pilot Officer (Pilot)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 10 Sqdn.
Date of Death: 24/05/1943
Service No: 146336
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 5. D. 7.
Cemetery: REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY

Name: INGLIS, IAN BETHUNE
Initials: I B
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sergeant (Pilot)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 10 Sqdn.
Age: 22
Date of Death: 24/05/1943
Service No: 1343173
Additional information: Son of John and Williamina Inglis, of Rutherglen, Lanarkshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 5. D. 2.
Cemetery: REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY

Name: HARRISON, MAURICE
Initials: M
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Flight Sergeant (Flt. Engr.)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force
Unit Text: 10 Sqdn.
Date of Death: 24/05/1943
Service No: 643364
Additional information: Son of Frederick and Lilian Maud Harrison, of East Herringthorpe, Rotherham, Yorkshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 5. D. 1.
Cemetery: REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY

Name: PLENDERLEITH, NORMAN PETER
Initials: N P
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sergeant (Nav.)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 10 Sqdn.
Age: 24
Date of Death: 24/05/1943
Service No: 1504640
Additional information: Son of James P. and Essie E. Plenderleith, of Balmoral, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 5. D. 5.
Cemetery: REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY

Name: ADAMS, DERRICK HENRY GEORGE
Initials: D H G
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Pilot Officer (Air Bomber)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 10 Sqdn.
Date of Death: 24/05/1943
Service No: 146446
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 5. D. 4.
Cemetery: REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY

Name: GRIMWOOD, PETER
Initials: P
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 10 Sqdn.
Age: 22
Date of Death: 24/05/1943
Service No: 1331835
Additional information: Son of George and Agnes Grimwood, of Wroxham, Norfolk.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 5. D. 3.
Cemetery: REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY

Name: WALLIS, ALBERT EDWIN
Initials: A E
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sergeant (Air Gnr.)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 10 Sqdn.
Date of Death: 24/05/1943
Service No: 1578208
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 5. D. 6.
Cemetery: REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY

Name: LAWSON, GEORGE HENRY
Initials: G H
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sergeant (Air Gnr.)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force
Unit Text: 10 Sqdn.
Date of Death: 24/05/1943
Service No: 658406
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 5. C. 18.
Cemetery: REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY

See also: Royal Air Force (Volunteer Reserve) Officers 1939-1945 -- D for each crew member.
Whilst the rest of the crew remain together in adjacent plots, for some reason Sgt Lawson their rear gunner is in the previous row.

Tony Butlers excellent website of Luftwaffe nightfighter interceptions has the following

Night: 23-24. May 1943
R.A.F. Bomber Command: DORTMUND

24.05.43 Maj. Rolf Leuchs 11./NJG 1 Halifax  533 2B3: 5.700 m. [Bovenkarspel] 00.55 Film C. 2031/II Anerk: Nr.280
24.05.43 Ltn. Werner Rapp 7./NJG 1 Halifax  7384 I4: 5.800 m. 01.03 Film C. 2031/II Anerk: Nr.80
24.05.43 Hptm. Wolfgang Thimmig Stab III./NJG 1 Wellington  8 km. S.E. Enschede: 5.000 m. [Rutbeek] 01.08 Film C. 2031/II Anerk: Nr.69
24.05.43 Hptm. Wolfgang Thimmig Stab III./NJG 1 Wellington  6385: 4.800 m. 01.25 Film C. 2031/II Anerk: Nr.70
24.05.43 Hptm. Wolfgang Thimmig Stab III./NJG 1 Halifax  6364: 5.400 m. [Zuna/Overijssel] 01.34 Film C. 2031/II Anerk: Nr.79
24.05.43 Hptm. Wilhelm Dormann 9./NJG 1 Halifax  6227: 6.000 m. 01.35 Film C. 2031/II Anerk: Nr.24
24.05.43 Oblt. Manfred Meurer 3./NJG 1 Wellington  5252: 3.600 m. 01.55 Film C. 2031/II Anerk: Nr.152
24.05.43 Fw. Heinz Vinke 11./NJG 1 Lancaster  334 6E3: 5.100 m. 02.01 Film C. 2031/II Anerk: Nr.281
24.05.43 Ltn. Karl-Heinz Vollköpf 9./NJG 1 Halifax  7377: 6.000 m. [Wullen S.W. Ahaus] 02.04 Film C. 2031/II Anerk: Nr.25
24.05.43 Oblt. August Geiger 7./NJG 1 Lancaster  6346 B1: 5.600 m. 02.07 Film C. 2031/II Anerk: Nr.81
24.05.43 Oblt. Eckart-Wilhelm von Bonin 6./NJG 1 Wellington  5317: 4.000 m. 02.18 Film C. 2031/II Anerk: Nr. -
24.05.43 Oblt. Manfred Meurer 3./NJG 1 Wellington  5241: 3.700 m. 02.12 Film C. 2031/II Anerk: Nr.153
24.05.43 Ltn. Heinz Strüning 2./NJG 1 Stirling  5212: 3.000 m. 02.14 Film C. 2031/II Anerk: Nr.12
24.05.43 Ofw. Karl-Heinz Scherfling 10./NJG 1 Lancaster  545 1G6: 3.600 m. 02.14 Film C. 2031/II Anerk: Nr.33
24.05.43 Maj. Helmut Lent Stab IV./NJG 1 Lancaster  531 2A: 6.200 m. [Sea: 40 km. W. Egmond] 02.16 Film C. 2031/II Anerk: Nr.134
24.05.43 Fw. Heinz Vinke 11./NJG 1 Halifax  4373 3i6: 4.900 m. [Ijsselmeer W. Makkum] 02.24 Film C. 2031/II Anerk: Nr.282
24.05.43 Oblt. August Geiger 7./NJG 1 Lancaster  6339 H2: 6.000 m. 02.30 Film C. 2031/II Anerk: Nr.82
24.05.43 Oblt. Manfred Meurer 3./NJG 1 Lancaster  6234: 5.800 m. 02.33 Film C. 2031/II Anerk: Nr.154
24.05.43 Ofw. Karl-Heinz Scherfling 10./NJG 1 Halifax  446 1i4: 5.400 m. 02.36 Film C. 2031/II Anerk: Nr.34
24.05.43 Ltn. Hans-Heinz Augenstein 7./NJG 1 Halifax  6355: 6.000 m. [Broekland] 02.39 Film C. 2031/II Anerk: Nr.83
24.05.43 Ltn. Heinz Grimm 12./NJG 1 Lancaster  432 3A: 6.700 m. [Waddenzee] 02.49 Film C. 2031/II Anerk: Nr.135

24.05.43 Oblt. Lothar Linke 12./NJG 1 Halifax  418 6E: 3.700 m. 03.41 Film C. 2031/II Anerk: Nr.115
24.05.43 Oblt. Eckart-Wilhelm von Bonin 6./NJG 1 Wellington  5348 in See: 350 m. 01.03 Film C. 2031/II Anerk: Nr. -
24.05.43 Oblt. Eckart-Wilhelm von Bonin 6./NJG 1 Wellington  5317: 4.000 m. 02.18 Film C. 2031/II Anerk: Nr. -
but I can't tie any specific claim in as yet.
Edit to add:
It may well be that it came down near the small German village of Labbeck.
Their aircraft had flown 30 missions before being lost, 30 bombs painted on the side of what was left of the front left nose/cockpit area. Plus a nose art further to the rear just below the cockpit window of a cartoon character sitting astride a bomb.

Dawn

It may be worthwile copying your post to the Bomber Command website. They have some very knowledgable people over there who are more than willing to help with information.

For example, a bloke I work with mentioned that his uncle was killed flying on Lancasters. I found the basic information from Chorley and posted a request for info on that site. Within hours, I had details of the crash location, original burial locations along with some other details.

Derrick Adams and HR696
 

Dawn Hatton wrote: "P/O 'Derry' Derrick Henry George Adams (146446) flew on an operation in Dortmund." I'm so glad to find your post. I'm writing about Derrick's pilot, Jack Denton and have all the letters Jack sent to his fiance, my aunt. I will contact you offline because I'd love to meet you and Jack mentions Derrick a lot - he was a real live wire apparently. Icare9, you have a photo of HR696? I'd love to see it. Where did you find the details about the plane and nose art? I've not yet looked at the ORB but I believe Jack flew ZA-S and maybe ZA-X before ZA-G. ZA-S was beaten up after the Keil raid of 4th April - do you know anything about that raid? I've read Chorley and RAF sites and so on but can find no specific mention of ZA-S.

Where can I find a listing of RAF DFM awards from WW2? I have tried searching on the web but have failed miserably.

My Father was a Radio Operator on Lancs with 57 Squadron. I remember seeing a special medal when I was a child, but sadly it wasn't in his personal effects when he died a few years ago. I feel fairly certain it was a DFM.

I feel really bad, I think I might have swapped it as a 8 year old for a Dinky Avro York!

Many thanks

DFM Register
 

DFMs are in two books by Ian Tavenner and published by Savannah and Michael Maton has listed all awards in Honour The Air Forces. Both books are expensive!

Give me Dad's name and I'll solve it for you tout suite!!

Old Duffer

Awards of medals was announced in the Supplement to the London Gazette viz:

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issu.../3734/page.pdf

et al

Old Duffer

I have sent you a PM. Many thanks for your offer to help!

Regrds

BFB

10 Squadron
 

This thread has just been drawn to my attention and I hope I'm not too late to join.

Whilst researching my wife's family tree I've been spending some time researching her cousin's time with 10 Sqn during 1943. He was Jack Hulley. He began his tour as a Sgt and was commisioned in August 1943. He was awarded the DFC in November 1943. He finished his service as a Flt. Lt.

His usual aircraft was ZA-K in which he was the bomb aimer. The pilot came from New Zealand, Gordon Hewlett DFC. I've had this information from his flight engineer, Tom Thackray DFM. Tom is 90 this year. Recently he and his wife celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary.

If anybody has any other information on Jack whilst on 10 Sqn, or can shed any light on his subsequent RAF service, we would be most grateful to receive it.

Jim Chadwick

Tony Butler's website
 

Icare9,

Please could you post a link? Google is not my friend in this instance.

Thanks,

Skua

Apologies - it's Tony WOODS website http://don-caldwell.we.bs/claims/tonywood.htm

V useful. Thanks.

Halifax bomber
 

Our father is 90 in December. Have enjoyed reading all your entries, in particular those relating to 10 squadron based in Melbourne Yorkshire. Kenneth Beard was a rear gunner there between 1943 and 1944 and has long regaled us with anecdotes and moving stories. All his crew of G George (LTH6?) are now gone, but someone out there may remember him. Also trying to locate a copy of Rapiers "Melbourne Ten" as a present to him, but having no luck- even Amazon have deleted it!

REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY
 

For those of you have never visited Reichswald
REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY | Facebook

A few snaps from when I paid homage to my cousin Jim.

10 SQN Halifax Crews RAF Melbourne, nr Elvington, York
 

I have replied privately to David, but readers of these posts may be interested to know that the 10 Sqn Association is very much alive. See our own website - 10sqnass.co.uk ( put www at the front)
The backbone of the Assoc is some of the old Halifax crews who built a Memorial at the gate of the old RAF Melbourne, (now a pig farm) in 1985. There is a Remembrance Day service there ever year at 1200 hrs (not the usual 1100hrs) and we then go to the refurbished ATC tower and afterwards adjourn to the Plough at Allerthorpe for a Sqn lunch. Next Assoc Reunion will be at Brize next May. See website for further info/photos/stories/history/memorabilia etc. We also have our own Historian who has much useful info re the Halifax era. Two Newsletters are published every year.