225 Parachute Field Ambulance RAMC

Discussion in 'Airborne' started by bootneck42, Jan 3, 2022.

  1. Cee

    Cee Senior Member Patron

    B,

    I don't know for sure but best guess is the 12 Para medics (Section No.1) dropped with them rather than 225 PFA HQ? 12 Para aircraft - CNs 172-203.

    Regards ...
     
  2. BGUNN

    BGUNN Active Member

    Thank you.

    I have attached images of what the Yorkshire Tabs looked like. For easy identification.

    interesting that this is a set of photo’s. I can definitely see some being a mixture of the PFA guys in section one assigned to the 12th and others from HQ 225PFA. What would be good is to try and find out what sticks the aircraft relate to (from the markings we see). It would then also help us Identify some of the men. I certainly thing the Chaplin should be possible.

    again I appreciate your help and knowledge, it’s good to piece this all together

    thanks
    Bruce
     

    Attached Files:

    BrianHall1963 likes this.
  3. BGUNN

    BGUNN Active Member

    yes that is correct. Not sure how they were distributed across the aircraft of the 12th. For example the picture with them sitting on the floor CH13304, there is only 1 medic, on the left.
     
  4. Cee

    Cee Senior Member Patron

    B,

    Most of the arms are not visible in CH 13304 so I am not convinced this is a 12 Para aircraft, but must admit doubts about it being a 225 PFA one? Some time ago Michael P-C, a 7 Para researcher, found the dope sheet for the pic at the IWM. He wrote in 2011:

    "Been rather busy recently, but have managed to find what I was looking for tucked away in a box in one of my sons bedrooms, this being a copy of the dope card for the picture of the paras in the back of the plane.

    The picture is taken at Kievil aerodrome on the night of the 5th June. The men are from 225 Field Ambulance, it is an Iconic photograph. The plane is a Stirling. The canister in the front of the picture I have been told is a flask of tea."


    CH 13303 shows HQ Signals men boarding CN 206. The 206 is chalked next to door. CH 13299 appear to be another pic of CN 206. CH 13298 is a view from head of line-up. My impression is photographer was active towards rear of line-up.

    Regards ...
     
    Last edited: Jul 25, 2022
  5. BGUNN

    BGUNN Active Member

    Hi Cee,

    I didn’t notice the 206 chalked, a great spot.

    Now, I did look up all of the chaplains in the 6th Airborne and are listed here;
    List of Chaplains to the 6th Airborne Division | ParaData

    The 225PFA Chaplin was
    Rev Whitfield Foy 225th Parachute Field Ambulance

    12th Battalion Chaplin was
    Rev George Edward Maule Parry 12th Parachute Battalion

    I also found pictures of each (Whitfield has the moustache). It is clear the man in picture CH 13301 is Rev George Edward Maule Parry who would be killed on the 6th June. Parry would have been in one of the 12th Battalion sticks CNs 172-203.

    Bruce
     

    Attached Files:

    Si Tinley likes this.
  6. Cee

    Cee Senior Member Patron

    Bruce,

    Rev. Briscoe was the 225 PFA Chaplain. Parry was with 7 Para and killed in Benouville on June 6th, 1944. A thread on 6th Airborne padres here -

    Padres 6th Airborne

    You are getting into the research - good stuff.

    Regards ...
     
    BrianHall1963 likes this.
  7. Cee

    Cee Senior Member Patron

    Before this thread fades into oblivion I should mention the flight tables in the12 Para OO found on Paradata They place a RAMC stick of 20 men on Chalk 203 the last aircraft allotted to 12 Para. This must be No. 1 Section of 225 PFA. There are two similar lists with one naming the Jump Master for each Stirling. The name for 203 is hard to make out but could be "Podbourne". I'll attach both pages of each list below.

    12-para-op-order-(1)_007.jpg 12-para-op-order-(1)_008.jpg 12-para-op-order-(1)_009.jpg 12-para-op-order-(1)_010.jpg

    Regards ...
     
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  8. BGUNN

    BGUNN Active Member

    Hi Cee,

    Thank you for this, please keep the info coming :)

    interesting that you should post this as I also noticed that Section 3 PFA assigned to 13th battalion also had their own plane. As per the table from the book “13-Lucky for some”

    I am also surprised by the name Prodbourne for the jumpmaster for 1st section assigned to 12th Bon. I would have expected it to be Cpt Tommy Wilson. I will have to see if he was reassigned or didn’t make the jump.

    thanks
     

    Attached Files:

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  9. Cee

    Cee Senior Member Patron

    Bruce,

    Capt. Wilson was with Lt-Col. Harvey as they proceeded into le Bas de Ranville to the Chateau they intend to take over and use as MDS. See WD:

    225th Parachute Field Ambulance, RAMC

    Regards ...
     
  10. BGUNN

    BGUNN Active Member

    Hi Cee,

    I realised my mistake after writing and looking him up.

    I have a question though!
    Does being the officer in charge mean you are jump master? Or can this be assigned to someone else?

    most jump masters on the lists are SGTs. I know Captain Tibbs mentions in his book he was jump master
     
  11. Cee

    Cee Senior Member Patron

    Looks like NCOs were more likely to be jumpmasters than Officers who were busy enough with other duties and thoughts. Capt. Wilson probably jumped from Chalk 203 and met up with Harvey at RV.

    Regards ...
     
    BrianHall1963 likes this.
  12. Alex1975uk

    Alex1975uk Well-Known Member

    I think in this case they mean stick commander instead of jump master. That would usually be the most experienced man in the aircraft, which wasn’t always the higher rank.
     
    BrianHall1963 likes this.
  13. Cee

    Cee Senior Member Patron

  14. BGUNN

    BGUNN Active Member

    Thanks Chuck,

    a couple of images there that I had not seen before.
     
  15. BGUNN

    BGUNN Active Member

    Hi Chuck,

    looking at the picture of the 225PFA taken before Normandy this is Major D H Thompson. Is this the same Thompson that commanded 224th on D Day (as Lt Col, was he promoted to take charge)?

    thanks
     
  16. Cee

    Cee Senior Member Patron

    Yes I think the same man, but don't know when he became 224 PFA CO. Believe he was captured and taken POW after dropping into Normandy.

    Major D. H. Thompson.jpg

    Regards ...
     
  17. Cee

    Cee Senior Member Patron

    A book on the 224th PFA can be downloaded at link below (for awhile). If interested pages 110-116 covers the movements of Thompson and party. He managed to elude capture until August 15th.

    224 PFA Normandy.pdf - Icedrive

    Regards ...
     
  18. BGUNN

    BGUNN Active Member

    Thanks Chuck,

    A great read, Lt Col Thompson evaded capture for quite some time.

    When I get the chance I will check the 224th PFA photo to see if both his Batman and body guard are present and if I can match them to the men in the photo taken 5th June.

    Question: Do we know which airfield this picture was taken? Harwell, the advanced HQ party?

    thanks
     
  19. Cee

    Cee Senior Member Patron

    Hi,

    The 225 PFA Officers' photo was taken at Bulford in January, 44. Haven't seen any official 224 PFA unit photos prior to D-Day.

    Unit Photographs

    Added - Thompson's arcraft? One list puts him on Chalk 273 out of RAF Down Ampney.

    Regards ...
     
    Last edited: Aug 17, 2022
  20. BGUNN

    BGUNN Active Member

    Hi Cee,

    Sorry, I actually meant the picture of Thompson holding the flowers. In the 224th unit history the sticks are present in the back and it would seem that Thompson, his Batman and body guard was in the HQ advanced party which would indicate that they took off from Harwell not Keevil? What do you think?

    thanks
     

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