I am currently researching a chap who was serving with No. 15 Squadron when he was killed.................I would be interested in any info on this squadron, particularly what planes were being flown in 1943 when his man died.
Originally posted by Will O'Brien@May 5 2004, 10:21 PM I am currently researching a chap who was serving with No. 15 Squadron when he was killed.................I would be interested in any info on this squadron, particularly what planes were being flown in 1943 when his man died. 15 Squadron were flying Lancasters {& Stirlings} in 1943
Hows this for you No. XV (Reserve) Squadron 1915 - Formed at Farnborough. 1938 - One of the first squadrons to receive the Fairey Battle. 1955 - Took part in the Suez crisis. 1983 - First RAF Germany squadron to receive the Tornado GR-1. Tornado GR4 in XV Squadron markings -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- History Formed as a training unit at Farnborough on 1 March 1915, No. 15 Squadron crossed to France in December of that year equipped with BE2Cs for corps-reconnaissance duties. One unusual task the unit undertook was the dropping of ammunition by parachute to troops on the front line during 1918. After the War, the squadron succumbed to the inevitable disbandment. The Squadron reformed at Martlesham Heath in March 1924, but it was little more than in name, as their aircraft were part of the A&AEE trial fleet. This arrangement continued until 1934 when the squadron was reformed at Abingdon with Hawker Harts. It was shortly after this, that on the insistence of its Commanding Officer, Squadron Leader TW Elmhirst DFC, that the Squadron became known as XV Squadron. Previous Aircraft Hart - 1934 Hind - 1936 Blenheim IV - 1939 Stirling III - 1943 Lancaster III - 1945 Buccaneer S2B - 1970 During 1938, the Squadron was one of the first to receive Battles, and it was with these that XV Squadron flew to France in September 1939. In early 1940, the Squadron returned to the UK and re-equipped with Blenheims flown in the ground attack role. By the turn of the year, these had been traded in for Wellingtons, and shortly after that XV Squadron became one of the first Stirling heavy-bomber units. One famous aircraft flown by XV Squadron was named 'MacRobert's Reply', an aircraft donated by Lady MacRobert in memory of her three sons killed in RAF service. Lancasters arrived during 1943, and the Squadron remained part of No. 1 Group's main force for the remainder of the war. Other heavy bombers were flown in the shape of Lincolns and Washingtons, but in 1953, XV Squadron moved into the jet age with Canberras. During the Suez crisis, the Squadron dropped more bombs than any other Canberra unit, but was disbanded in 1957. In September 1958, the Squadron reformed at Cottesmore as the second Victor squadron, but six years later was again disbanded. In 1970, XV Squadron reformed as a Buccaneer strike unit based at Laarbruch. After 13 years, the Squadron became the first Germany-based Tornado GR1 squadron. With the withdrawal of some Tornado units from Germany under 'Options for Change', the XV Squadron numberplate was assigned to the Tornado Weapons Conversion Unit at Lossiemouth shortly after disbanding at Laarbruch in April 1992. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Aircraft: Tornado GR4 Motto: Aim Sure. Badge: A hind's head affrontee erased at the neck between wings elevated and conjoined in base - approved by King Edward VIII in May 1936. The badge was a modification of the hart emblem used previously, changed to highlight the fact that the Hind aircraft was in service when the badge was authorised. Battle Honours: Western Front 1915-1918*, Somme 1916*, Arras, Cambrai 1917*, Some 1918, Hindenburg Line*, France and Low Countries 1939-1940, Meuse Bridges*, Dunkirk, Invasion Ports 1940, Fortress Europe 1941-1944, Ruhr 1941-1945*, Berlin 1941-1945*, Biscay Ports 1941-1945, France and Germany 1944-1945, Normandy 1944*, Gulf 1991*.
Many thanks to everyone who has provided info..............it has been of great help Who was your man? Maybe I can help you with some details. Regards PAUL JOHNSON Paul..............The chap in question was Sergeant Sidney Devereux who was killed on Tuesday 29th June 1943. He was 22 & from a small village called Bow Brickhill (which has now basically been absorbed into Milton Keynes). I know he was a Wireless Operator & that he is buried in the Amersfoort Oud Leusden General Cemetery in Holland
Will, I have only just joined this forum, and noticed your research topic. By strange coincidence, I too have been looking into Sgt Devereux's history, and from various sources have a fairly full picture of his loss. I know your posts were a while ago, but can I ask how you got on, and is there some personal interest in Devereux? Regards Steve Bond Milton Keynes
Will, I have only just joined this forum, and noticed your research topic. By strange coincidence, I too have been looking into Sgt Devereux's history, and from various sources have a fairly full picture of his loss. I know your posts were a while ago, but can I ask how you got on, and is there some personal interest in Devereux? Regards Steve Bond Milton Keynes Hello Steve, I have just joined having noted the name of Sidney Devereux on a random search of Google. I would be very interested in any information about him as he was my Grandfather's half brother. All I know of Sidney is the information on the Commonwealth War Graves site found as a result of my Grandfather telling me that he was shot down over Holland flying a Stirling Bomber. I hope to hear from you. Lindsey
:358: to the forum Lindsey. They took off from RAF Mildenhall at 23:45, in a Stirling III (EH888). There target for the night was Koln (Cologne) They were shot down by a nightfighter (possibly flown by Major Walter Ehle of StII/NJG1) and crashed at 02:40 in the IJssel River near Heeswjk. The Crew were: Pilot - Sgt A F Saunders Flight Engineer - Sgt J L Garfit Navigator - Sgt H Mallen Bombaimer - Sgt - G E Matthews Wireless Operator - Sgt - S J Devereux Air Gunner (Mid Turret)- Sgt F W Davis Air Gunner (Rear Turrett)- Sgt F S Kennedy All the crew died in the crash, except Sgt H Mallen who managed to bale out and was taken prisoner. The crew is buried in Amersfoort General Cemetery. The Raid - Koln (Cologne) 608 Aircraft - 267 Lancasters, 169 Halifaxes, 85 Wellingtons, 75 Stirlings, 12 Mosquitoes. 25 Aircraft lost - 10 Halifaxes, 8 Lancasters, 5 Stirlings and 2 Wellingtons. 4.1% of the force. The Circumstances of this raid didn't seem promising. The weather forecast said that Koln would probably be cloud- covered although there might be a break; the Pathfinders had to prepare a dual plan. The target was cloud-covered and the less reliable sky-marking system had to be employed. Only 7 of the 12 Oboe Mosquitoes reached the target and only 6 of these were able to drop their markers. The marking was 7 minutes late in starting and proceededonly intermittently. Despite all these set backs, the main force delivered its most powerful blow of the battle of the Ruhr. The result was Koln's worst raid of the war. 43 industrial, 6 Military and 6,368 other buildings were destroyed; nearly 15,000 other buildings were damaged. Listed as completely destroyed were 24 schools,16 churches, 15 major administrative buildings, 11 hotels, 8 cinemas, 7 post offices, 6 large banks, 2 hospitals and 2 threatres. The Cathedral was seriously damaged by high explosive bombs. The casualties in Koln was 4,377 people killed. Approx 10,000 injured and 230,000 forced to leave their homes. The number of dead was greater than in any previous bomber command raid of the war on any target. The number of dead recorded had thus increased tenfold since the opening of the battle of the ruhr 3.5 months earlier. SOURCE - Bomber Command War Diaries. I hope this helps Lindsey.
My Father was on that raid with 97 Squadron. They took off 28 June and arrived over Koln early 29th June. Here is his log book entry.
Could anyone help with this crew please. Need the crew positions (musterings) S.29 Stirling Mk.III EF-428 LS - N Op: Remscheid EF-428 departed RAF Mildenhall at 22:46 30 July and crashed at Kleinenbroich (KleinBroich) which is west of Düsseldorf, the target Remscheid is east of Düsseldorf. What caused the loss of EF-428 has never been established. Lt Ingle was the first SAAF member to be killed on a Bomber Command operation; he is reported to have joined the crew as passenger on this sortie. Crew: F/Lt. J. C DILLICAR 416468 Pilot RNZAF 26 † KIA Sgt. A. V. E COBBY 651548 * RAF 21 † KIA F/O. B. L JACKSON 416498 * RNZAF 23 † KIA Sgt. G. H BECK 1380833 * RAFVR 20 † KIA F/Sgt. I. G RAMSAY 416017 * RNZAF 31 † KIA Sgt. K. P MIDDLETON 1601445 * RAFVR 19 † KIA Sgt. A. J GIBBONS R.124889 * RCAF 22 † KIA Lt. A. R INGLE 47222V Pax SAAF 25 † KIA D.F.C
Stirling EF428 on lostaircraft.com Chorley gives heavy crew names in this order: Pilot, Flight Engineer, Navigator, Bomb Aimer, WOp AG, MidUp AG, Rear AG. Your list seems to be arranged in that way. Does that suffice or are you questioning the order in which the crew is recorded?
Hi all, I am looking for any details on Sergeant Pilot 1431266 James Henry Anderton Who flew with 15 Squadron and who died 23rd of September 1943. Buried Rheinberg War Cemetery. Any info would be gratefully received.
15sqdn Stirling, EH941, ...............................................................................................................................
hi, sidney john devereux was my fathers brother,he was aengine cleaner on railway before he enlisted [reserved occupation] we are in possesion of his log books, and some letters from a dutch crash site investigation team, my father now deceased did have contact with garfitts family we believe they were shot down by major heinrich wohlers bob devereux gt brickhill
Thanks for the info. Even after the intial thread nearly 10 years ago, it has brought further interesting information from a relative. Well done. Cheers Geoff
Bob, If you have not already had access to the 15sqdn Operations Record Book, and would like scans of pages for their previous 8 ops, let me know. Alan.
Re S. J Devereux: Further to the posts re S J Devereux, I wonder if you could let me know if he was the S J Devereux who was killed on 28/29 June 1943 when the Stirling crashed neer Heeswijk, Holland. I am interested as my uncle, SGT F.W .Davis was the rear air gunner on that flight. If so, I would be grateful for any other information you can supply. fjdp
you can tell i come on here regular in reply to alanw i have them thank you. from a gentleman who was 15sqn researcher, many moons ago my father decided he wanted to find out about his brother,as we we had his log book only so i put ad in flypast magazine and info stemmed from there, so thanks anyway. cheers bob
Headstone photos of the six airmen who died in the 28/29 June 1943 crash. Taken on remembrance weekend at Amersfoort (Oud Leusden) Cemetery in May 2013. Pilot - Sgt A F Saunders Flight Engineer - Sgt J L Garfit Bombaimer - Sgt - G E Matthews Wireless Operator - Sgt - S J Devereux Air Gunner (Mid Turret)- Sgt F W Davis Air Gunner (Rear Turrett)- Sgt F S Kennedy
