W/O Richard Francis Spalding

I hope you're not looking through the No. 403 Sqn ORB, Temujin, as it's No. 432 Squadron

 

The man TD and wibs12 identified is definitely the right one. Can I track him from his service number?

 

Looks like they only flew Wellingtons between May and October 1943

 

Thanks......I’m looking thru 432........but no luck so far.

Also have been searching all over for a Squadron Code of OQ.......found some QQ.......but I don’t think the picture shows a QQ and the squadrons that flew with these codes did not fly Wellingtons. This is a mystery to me, usually with the Aircraft code (like we have in the photo) you can identify the Squadron pretty fast......but I”m still going with 432 Squadron for now..........and see if I spot his name

 

Sorry, went thru all of 432 Squadrons “Wellington” days until they converted to Lancasters, and no joy......

Hopefully someone will come up with another clue where to look.

Cheers

 

And the Q is the right way round as well

 

Didn't the RAF paint the LEFT side with the Aircraft Letter first then the Squadron Code, but on the RIGHT side it would be the Squadron Code two letters followed by the individual aircraft letter, so on the photo it is shown as Squadron Letter 1, then roundel, window, then Squadron letter 2 and aircraft code letter "Q" so either a "J" or "U" then second Squadron code letter is either D; O or Q and ending with the aircraft letter Q ... or is that wrong?

 

I’m still looking.........I noticed that behind the crew, you can see a “bulge” under the aircraft?? Visible bulging under the rear fuselage may be a retracted Leigh Light? If it is, then 304 Squadron, which flew for Coastal Command did have Wellington GRMk. XIV with the Leigh Light?

Do you have ANY idea of “when” he may have been in the RAF (when he joined) so we can estimate approx “when” he could possibly be with an Operational Unit....and I can then look for records for the appropriate time period.

 

Looking at Wellington markings.....they had all sorts of variants. But if you check this link, you’ll see a 304 Squadron Wellington on BOTH SIDES (same aircraft) and you can see on both sides the Squadron Code is toward the rear of the Aircraft

25/26.06.1942 No. 304 Squadron Wellington IC DV441 NZ-Q P/O. Kramin

 

On this link you can see a 304 Squadron aircraft with 2 letters on the forward side.......but with NO Squadron code........so the marking of aircraft weren’t consistent.....and this marking OQ or QQ may be the “aircraft Code” NOT the Squadron Code........still searching

https://www.asisbiz.com/il2/Welling...Silesian-2D-HZ635-Coastal-Command-1943-0A.jpg

 

Back in the early 70s Airfix Magasine did a series of articles on markings and if memory serves covered variations of positioning like this

 

Best way to go if you're convinced it's the right guy is to apply to the MOD for his service records. See this link here and follow the instructions.... others may correct me but I think you'll also need his death certificate (see the 2nd post on this thread from TD for the reference numbers needed). You can order that for £11 from the GRO, see this link here.

 

The photograph of Wellington HZ 635 coded 2D is from the short period between 1943 and 1944 when Coastal Command,for some unknown and confusing reason, dispensed with squadron codes and replaced them with a identity configuration which could clash with other amended aircraft code identities.

Coastal Command allocated each station with the numbers 1,2,and 3 which were allocated to squadrons based there.Three squadron allocation was thought to be enough.Added to the squadron allocated number identity was a letter, A,B C and so on, to identify the individual aircraft on the squadron.

HZ 635 2 D would indicate D aircraft of squadron 2 at a given C C station.It proved to be confusing such that it was possible for two aircraft,in this case,identified as 2D from different airfields to be found on the same airfield.Further it was confusing during ops for crews to have the possibility of meeting two aircraft carrying the same identity. Obviously the concept was accepted as being flawed and in 1944,Coastal Command reverted back to squadron letter and identity codes.

 

I believe that he may have enlisted in Padgate, Warrington 1941 with service no 1508776. Thanks to wibs12 for that information

 

I’ve been looking thru the Air Force lists, and found:

69813 R. F. Spalding. (I’ve found this name with this Service Number in quite a few of the lists)

Then I found:
1941 - Acting Pilot Officer R. F. Spalding
1942 - Pilot Officer R. F. Spalding

 

I have gone through the 304 Squadron ORBs but cannot find this name at all. Most of the airmen were Polish but there was a fair sized British contingent before it became Polish Air Force rather than RAF.

 

69813 Reginald Frederick Spalding

Acting Pilot Officer on probation 18 July 1941:

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35222/page/4138/data.pdf

Resigned commission 7 August 1945:

Page 4948 | Supplement 37298, 5 October 1945 | London Gazette | The Gazette

 

Hmmmm, I don’t think this is the same man........we were looking for

Richard Francis Spalding

And this record is for

Reginald Frederick Spalding

 

Definitely not the same man. But the number you provided from the AF Lists comes back to Reginald.

I also think Reginald Frederick was in Training Command the whole war.

 

Your right, when I found the listing of “R F Spalding”, I didn’t think their could be “another man, with a different name with initials “R F”..........anyway, “our” Richard Francis Spalding is still out their somewhere?