Sergeant Wilfred Charles Digby of 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron lost his life when his aircraft AVRO - Lancaster Mk1 W4110 KM-K failed to return from operational flight on 13/14th May, 1943. Crew: Pilot F/O. W.D. Rail 80131 RAF Flight engineer Sgt. N.K. Underwood 1000940 Navigator Sgt. A.T.C. Bromwich 1392030 Bomb aimer Sgt. W.C. Digby 1315999 Wo ag Sgt. R.C. Boardman 1028039 Air gunner Sgt. R.S.A. Walker 1085432 Air gunner Sgt. G. Batty 1415510 A letter from ‘B’ Unit, Waddington dated 14 May 1943 signed by J Nettleton to his father mentioned: “During the two months your son has served with the Squadron, he has taken part in twelve operational flights over enemy territory.” Can someone please help with any details/information about the flights Digby was involved in? I found just two OPRs in National Archives - AIR-27-450-8 (3/4 April) bombing raid to Essen and AIR-27-450-9 (4 May 43) to Dortmund. A letter with a date of 3 April (presumed 1943) written by Digby to a friend says his first trip was to St Nazarene on 22 March followed by Berlin on 27 and 29 March. He also mentioned a bombing raid on Kiel but no date. Any help appreciated
The RAF Commands forum has a nice search engine that will allow you to search the ORBs for his time with the squadron and to link directly with Discovery at the National Archives. The ORBs are available to download for free. You just have to sign up for an account with TNA, which is easy to do and free. I will let you do this yourself, as I already have "too many" ORBs on my computer, most of which I have only looked at once, for one reason or another. The RAF Commands forum Search page: AIR 27 Search (rafcommands.com) If you have any trouble, post again and I will assist. Jim
I am not an expert in such matters, having only researched one SAAF squadron (under RAF command), what you need to access are the RAF Squadron Operations Record Book. See: RAF Squadron ORBs digitised by TNA There are a mass of threads here for the squadron, my search did not include (Rhodesia) and you will have to review them to get the ones you seek. I used this to find them: "44 squadron" + "RAF" + "ww2talk.com". Note after pg.3 there are online resources not just here. Smaller number of threads found using: "44 squadron" + "RAF" + "ww2talk.com" + "rhodesia" Good luck. Others here with expertise may be along.
Jim, Many thanks for the info, and as you said 'Easy-Peasy' ...........when you know where to look. I've enough to go on for now, much appreciated. Thanks also to Patron for your input.
Morning Jim, From reading AIR-27 I learned Sgt Digby was posted to 44 Squadron from No 1654 conversion unit. A snippet in the Merthyr Express on 22 August 1942 mentions "Sgt Observer Wilfred C Digby arrived home on short leave after spending seven months in South Africa. I would like to learn more about his time in the RAF, are you able to advise on the above, please Kind Regards, Roy
See for a starting point and non-pilot training for: See: List of British Commonwealth Air Training Plan facilities in South Africa - Wikipedia and: British Commonwealth Air Training Plan - Wikipedia I knew there was a presence in Southern Rhodesia too.
photo of Runnymede panel from my collection SERGEANT WILFRED CHARLES DIGBY Service Number: 1315999 Regiment & Unit/Ship Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 44 (Rhodesia) Sqdn Date of Death Died 14 May 1943 Age 27 years old Buried or commemorated at RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL Panel 147. United Kingdom Country of ServiceUnited Kingdom Additional InfoSon of Charles Leonard Gwynne Digby and Julia Digby, of Nelson, Glamorgan.
Attributed to have been shot down by night fighter pilot Unteroffizier Karl-Georg Pfeiffer of the 10./NJG 1, flying a Bf 110 from Leeuwarden or Bergen; connect: Accident Avro Lancaster Mk I W4110, 14 May 1943 possibly at 03:59 on 14 May, see list at: Karl Pfeiffer - Pilot Profile - Karl Pfeiffer
Roy: Per your request, there is quite a bit of information on the Bomb Aimers Trade on the International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive: IBCC Digital Archive I might suggest searching for Rhodesia and also for bomb aimer. Lots of documents on calculations, training, all up weights here. You could also search for bomb aimers briefing. I think some of this material might have come from the leader for bomb aimer section. The Air Historical Branch has quite a few documents on the various training programs. https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/units/air-historical-branch/ahb-narratives/ Their thematic studies has sections on training. Jim