No.11 Flying Training School 1939 RAF Shawbury photo

This is a very interesting, and sobering, thread, thanks for your work on it.
One minor point, Anson N4961 was lost on 6.11.39, as per: Pilot Officer W D Brinsden: uninjured; Flight Lieutenant H G Mossford, Aircraftman W... | The National Archives
and confirmed in the ORB at: Squadron Number: 269 Records of Events: Y | The National Archives

 

This loss was on 11.05.1940: Aircraftman 1st Class E W Maltby: report of death. Pilot Officer A W Mungovan and... | The National Archives

 

Thank you very much Andy. I have adjusted the dates according. All help appreciated.
Cheers.
Chris

 

A.P.O. H. A. T. Skehill 41534.
(Henry Aidan Thomas)
A.P.O. 14.12.1938.
P/O. 03.09.1939.
16.08.1940 - P.O.W.
F/O. 03.09.1940.
Flt/Lt. 03.09.1941.
Sqn/Ldr. 01.01.1946.
On 16.08.1940 as P/O. with 144 Sqn, flying as pilot of Handley Page Hampden P4291 (PL-E) from Hemswell on mission to Merseburg, this aircraft failed to return. It is believed that the aircraft crashed in the target area. P/O Skehill (pilot) and Sgt Perritt (air gunner) were captured and P.O W.'s. Sadly Sgt W. L. Hughes and Sgt R. A. Wake were killed. R.I.P.

 

A.P.O. R. W. Thompson 41496 (Aus)
(Robert William)
A.P.O. 14.12.1938.
P/O. 03.09.1939.
F/O 3.09.1940.
Flt/Lt. 03.09.1941.
Sqn/Ldr. 01.07.1944.
18.10.1944 - commission relinquished on appt. to R.C.A.F.
06.10.1942 - R W Thompson injured; remaining crew uninjured; Wellington Z8949, 27 Operational Training Unit, aircraft accident, Tatenhill aerodrome, Staffordshire, 6 October 1942.

 

A.P.O. P. Mallalieu 41442
(Peter)
A.P.O. 14.12.1938.
P/O. 03.09.1939.
F/O. 03.09.1940.
D. 08.11.1940. (19yrs). From Detling Station Flight but was flying with P/O. A. V. K. Chaffey from 500 Sqn, (also in this photo) in Miles Magister R1917, stalled and hit tree at Igtham, Kent. Both were killed. R.I.P.

 

A.P.O. R. A. R. Lee 41433
(Ronald Alfred Rutherford)
A.P.O. 14.12.1938.
P/O. 03.09.1939.
With No.35 Sqn. in 1939.
Resigned his commission 10.06.1940.
"Pilot Officer Ronald Alfred Rutherford
LEE (41433) resigns his commission. 10th
June 1940."

 

A.P.O. T. D. H. Davy 41383, DFC
(Thomas Daniel Humphrey) D. 13.09.1942 (22yrs)
A.P.O. 14.12.1938.
P/O. 03.09.1939.
F/O. 03.09.1940.
Flt/Lt. 03.09.1941.
Davy joined the RAF on a short service commission and began his initial training on 6th October 1938. On 14th December 1938 his training continued at 12 FTS and on 31st December 1938 he started flying training at 11 FTS.
22.07.1939 joined 35 Squadron at Cottesmore.
30.09.1939 he joined 98 Squadron at Hucknall, equipped with Fairey Battles.
03.01.1940 he was posted to 150 Squadron of the Advanced Air Striking Force in France.
06.01.1940 attached to 12 Squadron at Amifontaine, also operating Fairey Battles. 31.03.1940 he was taken on to the strength of the squadron.
12.05.1940 the squadron was ordered to bomb bridges over the Albert Canal at Maastricht. The attack was carried out in the face of intense ground fire. After making a dive-bombing attack, Davy’s aircraft L5241 was attacked by a Me109 which was fought off by his gunner, LAC GH Patterson.
The port fuel tank of the Battle was on fire and Davy ordered the crew to bale out. He stayed with the aircraft, eventually making a forced-landing eight miles short of base, his Battle bursting into flames on landing. It was the sole survivor of the six aircraft which set out.
Sgt. GD Mansel had landed safely and made his way back to the squadron, he was killed on 2nd July 1941 when Wellington W5419 of 12 Squadron was lost without trace on a raid to Bremen.
LAC Patterson struck the tailplane on baling out and on landing was taken to hospital in Liege, where he was later captured.
Davy was awarded the DFC (gazetted 31st May 1940) and Patterson the DFM for the action.
Davy’s last operation with 12 Squadron was on the night of 25th/26th July to Evere in Belgium but he returned because of bad weather.
12.08.1940 12 OTU at Benson.
18.08.1940 joined 19 Sqn.
22.08.1940 transfered to 226 Sqn. at Wittering.
28.09.1940 joined 72 Sqn. at Biggin Hill.
29.01.1941 posted to 315 (Polish) Squadron as Flight Commander.
20.06.1941 joined the Merchant Shipping Fighter Unit (MSFU) and he completed three long sea trips as sole pilot of a hurricane mounted on a catapult aboard a cams ship. 26.09.1941 took charge of the MSFU detachment in Gibraltar.
17.04.1942 he returned to the MSFU at Speke.
13.09.1942 Davy was killed whilst flying Hurricane P3868 in an interception exercise with the MFSU. Taking the role as an enemy bomber, as his aircraft was approached by the fighters it was seen to carry out a steep turn to the right at about 2,000 feet and a few seconds later was seen to be spinning. The aircraft crashed into a field near Bryn-y-gwynt farm, Flintshire and caught fire.
The accident was considered to have been caused by failing to recover from a flat spin after a high speed stall induced by the steep turn. R.I.P.

 

A.P.O. A Robson 41471 DFC (Aus)
(Angus) D. 22.08.1940.
A.P.O. 14.12.1938.
P/O. 03.09.1939.
06.08.1940 awarded the DFC.
"One night in July, 1940, Pilot Officer
Robson carried out a bombing attack on
warships in the harbour at Wilhelmshaven.
Undeterred by a terrific barrage of enemy
gunfire, he swept down to the very low
level of twenty feet above the buildings, and
with conspicuous courage crossed the harbour
and pressed home his attack on an enemy
warship. Sergeant Stockport as wireless
operator air gunner fired continuously at the
enemy defences and searchlights with his
machine guns. Pilot Officer Robson has consistently
shown great daring and devotion to
duty, and Sergeant Stockport by his courage
and skill, has on many previous occasions
contributed to the success of attacks on the
enemy, often under the most trying weather
conditions"
22.08.1940. As P/O. took off from Helmswell with 144 Sqn as pilot of Handley Page Hampden 1 P4360 (PL-L).
"Failed to return from a night sortie to bomb the ship lift at Rothensee (target M.42) on the Mittelland Canal in Germany and believed to have crashed in the North Sea. 41471 Pilot Officer Angus Robson DFC, 33470 Pilot Officer David Leslie Wingate, 751064 Sergeant Arthur Alexander Wilmot and 632993 Sergeant Hunter Chambers all missing." R.I.P.

 

A.P.O. J. D. Nettleton 41452 MiD, VC (SA)
(John Dering) D. 12.07.1943 (26yrs).
A.P.O. 14.12.1938.
P/O. 03.09.1939.
F/O. 03.09.1940.
Flt/Lt. 03.09.1941.
Sqn/Ldr. 02.06.1943.
24.09.1941 Mentioned in Dispatches.
17.04.1942. awarded the VC.
22.07.1939 as pilot, posted to 207 Sqn, Cottesmore, Rutland.
??.09.1939 joined 98 Sqn, Hucknall, Notts.
??.11.1939 joined 185 Sqn, Cottesmore, flying Hampden Bombers.
17 July 1941 A/Sqn Ldr; to 44 (Rhodesia) Sqn, Waddington, Lincolnshire, flying the Handley Page Hampden.
Later in the year, the squadron took delivery of Lancasters, which were just coming into service.
17.04.1942 with 44 Sqn in Avro Lancaster R5508 (KM-B), a daylight bombing mission was planned against the MAN U-boat engine plant near Augsburg in Bavaria, which was responsible for the production of half of Germany's U boat engines. It was to be the first major mission flown using the new Lancaster and would be the longest low level penetration raid made during the course of the war.
Nettleton was nearing the end of his first tour and was placed in command of the operation which would require the force to fly at a very low level to avoid detection from German radar. The force was to consist of 12 Lancasters – six from 44 Sqn and another six from 97 Sqn -- and to prepare for the raid, the two squadrons were pulled out of the bombing campaign against Germany to practice low level formation flying – a decision which, in some ways, was mirrored by Bomber Command in the Spring of 1943 when preparing for Operation Chastise.  
However, the raid did not go well -- four of the Lancasters from 44 Sqn were shot down over northern France; another was lost over the target and flak defences over Augsburg claimed two more aircraft from 97 Sqn. Only five aircraft returned from the raid, a 58% loss rate.
Prime Minister Winston Churchill said : “We must plainly regard the attack of the Lancasters on the U-boat engine factory at Augsburg as an outstanding achievement of the Royal Air Force. Undeterred by heavy losses at the outset, 44 and 97 Squadrons pierced and struck a vital point with deadly precision in broad daylight. Pray convey the thanks of His Majesty’s Government to the officers and men who accomplished this memorial feat of arms in which no life was lost in vain.”
Sir Arthur Harris, C-in-C Bomber Command, recommended John for the Victoria Cross which was gazetted on 24th April 1942.

The award citation read:

“Air Ministry. 28th April, 1942. ROYAL AIR FORCE. The KING has been graciously pleased to confer the VICTORIA CROSS on the undermentioned officer in recognition of most conspicuous bravery: — Acting Squadron Leader John B[sic]ering NETTLETON (41452), No. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron.

Squadron Leader Nettleton was the leader of one of two formations of six Lancaster heavy bombers detailed to deliver a low-level attack in daylight on the diesel engine factory at Augsburg in Southern Germany on April 17th, 1942. The enterprise was daring, the target of high military importance. To reach it and get back, some 1,000 miles had to be flown over hostile territory. Soon after crossing into enemy territory his formation was engaged by 25 to 30 fighters. A running fight ensued. His rear guns went out of action. One by one the aircraft of his formation were shot down until in the end only his own and one other remained. The fighters were shaken off but the target was still far distant. There was formidable resistance to be faced.

With great spirit and almost defenceless, he held his two remaining aircraft on their perilous course and after a long and arduous flight, mostly at only 50 feet above the ground, he brought them to Augsburg. Here anti-aircraft fire of great intensity and accuracy was encountered. The two aircraft came low over the roof tops. Though fired at from point blank range, they stayed the course to drop their bombs true on the target. The second aircraft, hit by flak, burst into flames and crash-landed. The leading aircraft, though riddled with holes, flew safely back to base, the only one of the six to return.

Squadron Leader Nettleton, who has successfully undertaken many other hazardous operations, displayed unflinching determination as well as leadership and valour of the highest order."

Nettleton was the first South African to win the VC in the war. The Citation did not mention, however, that at the end of the return flight the navigator gave him incorrect bearings. They overflew the UK and were over the Irish Sea before realising the error. Almost out of fuel, they finally landed near Blackpool.

On the night of 12th-13th July 1943, Nettleton was skipper of Lancaster ED331, the “Z” of 44 Squadron, one of 14 aircraft from the unit which set out to raid Turin. Taking off at 10.23pm Nettleton’s Lancaster failed to return.
Bomber Command sent 295 Lancasters on a raid to Turin in northern Italy, the object being “to encourage the fascist government of Italy to withdraw from the war”. At about 06:30 on the return flight, Nettleton was flying in a group of Lancasters which were intercepted by German fighters. Three aircraft were shot down over the Bay of Biscay, while six more were lost without trace. It was later suggested that they had strayed off course and were flying over, or close to, enemy territory when German radar picked them up. Nettleton and his crew were among the lost. R.I.P.

 

A.P.O. T. K. Hurley 44120 (AUS)
(Thomas Kevin) D. 08.06.1943 (28yrs) (suicide).
A.P.O. 14.12.1938.
P/O. 03.09.1939.
F/O. 03.09.1940.
Flt/Lt. 03.09.1941.
06.10.1938-13.12.1938 Civil Flying School, Reading, Pupil Pilot training.
31.12.1938 No 11 Flying Training School.
22.07.1939 No 224 Squadron Flying duties.
22.04.1940. 224 Squadron, Leuchars. Hudson I N7287. Returned to base at 5.05 p.m. after being hit by shrapnel in two places from AA fire at Bergen harbour during a patrol to the Norwegian coast. 41200 P/O Anthony Brien John Pearson (Pilot), 41420 P/O Thomas Kevin Hurley (2nd Pilot), AC Carson (WOp/AG) and 533027 LAC Percival William Weightman (AG) all unhurt. Aircraft QX-P damaged but repairable.
06.06.1940. 224 Squadron, Leuchars. Hudson I N7358. Hit twice in the fuselage by fire from a Bf 109 during a patrol off the Norwegian coast at 6.31 a.m. 552094 Sgt. Raymond Walter Willis (WOp/AG) wounded in his left arm. 41420 P/O Thomas Kevin Hurley (Pilot), 42496 P/O Basil Lincoln Fox (2nd Pilot) and 550921 Sgt. Ronald Bracchi (AG) all unhurt. Aircraft QX-H damaged but repairable
24.03.1941 Flying Instructor at No 11 Flying Training School.
11.10.1941 No 26 Elementary Flying Training School Southern Rhodesia, Flying Instructor.
13.04.1942 Royal Aeronautical Establishment, Flying duties.
11.11.1942 Experimental Section, Royal Aeronautical Establishment Flying duties.
10.04.1943 Relinquished his Commission due to ill-health.
29.04.1943 invalided out of the RAF.
08.06.1943 sadly committed suicide. R.I.P.
(there is a long thread on this site about him)

 

P/O. W. T. Brooks 39932 MiD, DSO, AFC, OBE
(Walter Thomas) Staff at time of photo.
A.P.O. 12.07.1937.
P/O. 18.05.1938.
F/O. 18.02.1940.
Flt/Lt. 18.02.1941.
Sqn/Ldr. 01.03.1942.
Wg /Cdr. 01.07.1951.
Gp/Capt. 01.01.1958.
A/Cdre. 01. 01.1964.
08.04.1965 Retired as Air Commodore.
20.10.1944 awarded the DSO.
01.01.1946 awarded the AFC.
01.01.1946 MiD.
01.01.1957 awarded the OBE.

12.07.1937 Initial Officer Training, RAF Depot.
17.07.1937 U/T Pilot, No 9 FTS.
19.02.1938 Pilot, No 72 Sqn.
938 Attended Instructor's Course, Central Flying School.
07.10.1938 QFI, No 11 FTS.
xx xxx xxxx: Instructor, No 39 SFTS
02.01.1944 'A' Flight Commander, No 156 Sqn. - Lancasters at Warboys/Upwood.
27.04.1944 Officer Commanding, No 635 Sqn. - Lancasters at Downham Market.
12.09.1944 Chief Instructor, No 29 OTU.
13 Dec 1944: Chief Instructor, No 17 OTU.
06.11.1945 Training Staff Officer, RAF Delegation - USA.
25.03.1947 Appointed to a Permanent Commission in the rank of Squadron Leader (effective 1 Mar 1946 with seniority 1 Sep 1945).
23.08.1948 Air Staff, Deputy Directorate of Accident Prevention.
23.12.1949 Assistant Air Attaché, Ankara.
07.05.1953 Air Attaché, Ankara.
1960 Officer Commanding, RAF Jurby.
25.07.1961 Attended Canadian National Defence College.
30.07.1962 Member, International Planning Team, Standing Group, Washington.
11.01.1964 AOC, No 11 (Northern) Sector.
Retired at his own request.

Citation for the award of the Distinguished Service Order.

“Acting Wing Commander Walter Thomas BROOKS (39932), R.A.F.O., 635 Sqn.

In August,1944,Wing Commander Brooks was detailed to attack, in daylight, an oil installation/ hi Hamburg. In spite of fierce anti-aircraft defences, the attack was carried out with great accuracy. Wing Commander Brooks has raised the efficiency of the squadron to a very high standard. He has the complete confidence of his crew and the good results achieved by them have been due to his inspiring leadership.”

(London Gazette – 20 Oct 1944)

Citation for the award of the Air Force Cross.

BROOKS, W/C Walter Thomas, DSO (RAF 39932) - No.39 SFTS (Canada). Air Force Cross - awarded as per London Gazette dated 1 January 1946 and AFRO 82/46 dated 25 January 1946. He had flown 1,150 hours as instructor in four years.

"This officer has served in flying training since August 1938. During that period he has completed many hours of flying instruction. He has rendered invaluable service to the Flying Wing at a time when the greater proportion of the flying instructors were both inexperienced and unqualified on single-engine aircraft. This officer possesses outstanding qualities in leadership and initiative and has a natural organizing ability."

 

P/O. R. G. Maddox 40312 A.F.C. MiD (NZ)
(Richard George). Staff at time of photo.
A.P.O. 28.11.1937.
P/O. 27.09.1938
F/O. 03.03.1940.
Flt/Lt. 03.03.1941.
Sqn/Ldr. 01.06.1942.
30.09.1941 awarded the A.F.C.
01.01.1945 MiD.
13.10.1941 arrived at No.37 S.F.T.S. at Calgary, Canada.
23.02.1941 Was head of Court of Inquiry into fatal crash of Cessna Crane No.8129. Possible carbon monoxide poisoning from faulty cabin heater.
16.06.1942 Was a Judge in inter-squadron athletics meeting.
25.07.1942 On instructions from No 4 TC, S/L Maddox with two Oxfords and six instructors flew to Vulcan to collect five new Oxfords. These however were not ready.
01.01.1944 Commission relinquished on appt. to R.N.Z.A.F. - Sqn. Ldr. R. G. MADDOX, A.F.C. (40312).
01.01.1945 MiD.

 

P/O. I. MacLeod-Selkirk 40549 AFC. MiD
(Ian) D. 14.03.1945. Staff at time of photo.
A.P.O. 19.02.1938.
P/O. 29.11.1938.
F/O. 03.03.1940.
Flt/Lt. 03.03.1941.
Sqn/Ldr. 01.06.1942.
Seconded for duties as Instructor with the South African Air Force in 1940, receiving commendation from S.A. Government for his services. He returned to England in 1944 with
rank of Squadron Leader and transferred to Bomber Command.
01.01.1944 King's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air.
14.03.1945 as Sqn/Ldr. took off from Ludford Magna as pilot of Avro Lancaster DV298 (SR-J) with 101 Squadron, lost with all crew on ops to Dahlbusch. Crashed at Schermbeck (Germany). R.I.P.

 

A.P.O. G. E. Clair 72499
(George Edward). Possibly Staff at time of photo.
A.P.O. 10.10.1938.
P/O. 09.03.1939.
F/O. 01.05.1940.
Flt/Lt. 01.11.1941.
Equipment Branch until 01.11.1940 when transferred to General Duties Branch.

 

Mr. N. Gibson esq, B.Sc. Staff at time of photo.
Educational officer (grade 3).

 

F/Lt. R. E. Dupont 37298 AFC, CVSA (AUS)
(Richard Evenor) Staff at time of photo.
P/O. 26.08.1935.
F/O. 27.03.1937.
Flt/Lt. 26.03.1939.
Sqn/Ldr. 01.07.1941.
Wg/Cmdr. 27.04.1943.
01.11.1947 Relinquished W/Cmdr. rank.
18.03.1959 Retired.

Went to the central flying school of the R.A.F. England, where he took an advanced instructor's course.
21.08.1935 with 214 Sqn. at Feltwell. Still listed with 214 Sqn. in June 1938.
16.07.1938 No.11 FTS at RAF Shawbury.
19.08.1939 he was loaned to the R.C.A.F. and went to Canada to train flying Instructors at Camp Borden and Trenton.
When seconded to RCAF for duty in Canada, 19 August 1939, this officer was briefly assigned an RCAF number (C1031), being granted a temporary commission as a Flight Lieutenant, Auxiliary, General List, 26 August 1939, on posting to Trenton. Appointment subsequently cancelled.
October 1941 Listed in Ferry Command crew cards in connection with delivery of Liberator AL544 to Britain.

01.01 1943 Awarded Kings Commendation for Valuable Services in the Air.
No.10 Service Flying Training School, Dauphin, Manitoba - Awarded as per London Gazette 01.01.1943 and AFRO 55/43 dated 15 January 1943.
"Wing Commander Dupont has done exceptionally fine work since coming to Canada. He has organized and supervised the flying training of his unit and has displayed great ability as an instructor."

01.01.1946 Awarded the AFC.
DUPONT, W/C Richard Evanor (RAF 37298) - Air Force Cross - No.10 Service Flying Training School, Dauphin, Manitoba - Awarded as per London Gazette dated 1 January 1946 and AFRO 82/46 dated 25 January 1946.
"This officer has rendered exceptional service and devotion to duty during his lengthy flying career in Canada. In the organization and supervision of flying training at this school he has proved himself to be extremely efficient and an able leader. His keenness to accept any task and carry it through to a successful conclusion is most praiseworthy."

 

Capt. G. W. Day (ret.) Staff at time of photo.
Assistant Adjutant.

 

F/O. A. H. Grace 17080
(Alfred Herbert) Staff at time of photo.
P/O. 13.11.1922.
F/O. 22.02.1926.
13.11.1931 relinquished commission on completion of service (F/O.).
22.06.1933 Reserve of Air Force Officers.
Alfred Herbert GRACE is granted a commission as Flying Officer in Class A.
Flt/Lt. 15.05.1940.
Sqn/Ldr. 01.06.1942 (temp).
Ended up as a Sqn/Ldr in 1954.
Was in the Advanced Training Squadron No.11 FTS.
I think there was an Alfred Herbert Grace in the RFC, possibly him?

 

F/Lt. W. N. Stubbs 34133
(Wilfred (Wilfrid) Noel) Staff at time of photo.
A.P.O. 07.11.1933.
P/O. 07.11.1934.
F/O. 07.08.1936.
Flt/Lt. 07.08.1938.
Sqn/Ldr. 01.03.1942.
"Avro Avian 616 IVM CofA 2820 issued 11.11.30 to Holmes Motor Co Ltd, South Africa. Regd G-ACNK [CofR 4765) 1.34 to unknown party. CofA renewed 17.2.34. Regd [CofR 5429] 6.11.34 to F/O Edward Hanley Wheelwright, Watford (based with 84 Squadron, Shaibah). Regd [CofR 6690] 31.1.36 to P/O Wilfrid Noel Stubbs of
84 Squadron, RAF Shaibah. Crashed Shaibah 13.7.36; probably stored."
14.06.1937 posted to No.8 FTS.- Montrose.
22.01.1938 posted to No.11 FTS.- Shawbury.
31.10.1939 No.55 OTU "Arrived on posting for duty as an instructor and assumed command of 'B' Flight".
01.03.1941 No.3 Sqn. "Arrived on posting from No 55 OTU".
17.12.1956 Relinquished Commission but retained rank of Squadron Leader.