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Prewar Auxiliary Airmen
A roll and details of all known Prewar Auxiliary Airmen, volunteers who kept the pilots and aircraft of 609 (WR) Squadron up where they belonged. The Auxiliaries were civilians who joined the Royal Auxiliary Air Force prior to the outbreak of war
Adolf
'Roy' Royston Albrecht F
II A. Joined A Flight in 1936. Promoted to Sergeant in 1939, Commissioned in
1942. Became parachute procurement officer at the Air Ministry. Completed
parachute training course at Ringway Parachute Training School and became
parachute and equipment tester on new and experimental parachutes, and parachute
instructor. Left the RAF in 1956 as a Squadron Leader. On 17th August 1940,
after three continuous days of bombing at Middle Wallop, it was decided that the
task of clearing the unexploded bombs should start, the largest of which lay in
the vital oxygen filling plant. Volunteers were called for, and it is a measure
of the support of the groundcrew that three-quarters of the available personnel
volunteered. Lots were drawn, and Sergeant Albrecht was drawn as the NCO in
charge of a party of seven which completed the task without injury or loss.
Postwar, he took up the rebuilding of houses in France, before becoming
permanently disabled through several old injuries sustained during his Air Force
career. 809046
Douglas H ‘Douggie / T'Owd Hat' Andrews Administration
Clerk (Operations room) who knew all that mattered regarding squadron gossip.
Joined B Flight in 1936. First member of B Flight, and stayed with 609
throughout the war. Along with LAC's Hartley and Cohen, he assisted Squadron
Leader Geoffrey Ambler in setting up the command and control centre at RAF
Kinloss whilst 609 was there, protecting the eastern approaches to Loch Ewe
where the home fleet lay at anchor after being savaged in the Firth of Forth.
Sqn Ldr Ambler took it upon himself to train these airmen in the running of the
control room, and evidently he must have made a good job at it, and the airmen
were quick learners, since there were no accidents for the duration of the task.
By the end of September 1943, Sergeant Andrews, along with the remaining
Auxiliary airmen were gradually being enticed from their Auxiliary status by the
RAF by offers of promotion. Auxiliary status meant that they could not be posted
from their unit, as well as a few other fringe benefits, including wearing their
Auxiliary lapel badges on their uniform. However, after September, the RAF
resorted to the threat that unless they signed their willingness to be
transferred to other units, they would be discharged and recalled Volunteer
Reserves as AC2's. Many of the Auxiliaries had families to support, and
therefore could not afford to refuse, however Douglas Andrews, and Leslie 'Les'
Lindlie with the help of their "civvie" firms called their bluff, and
Douglas Andrews remained on the strength of the squadron until the end of the
war, finishing as a Flight Sergeant. When the Squadron was reformed in 1946,
Douglas was one of the first to apply, (one of only 2 prewar auxiliaries to
rejoin) and upon acceptance, was commissioned into the administration branch. He
finished as a Flight Lieutenant when the Squadron was disbanded in 1957 as the
Adjutant. He also managed to retain his peaked cap which was produced on
occasion Frank
H ‘Appy’ Appleby Equipment
Section assistant . Joined A Flight in 1936. Worked Prewar for Yorkshire Post
with Richard ‘Ginger’ Pape – with whom he would drive down to the River
Wharfe at Collingham for a swim on hot summer evenings. A great socialiser, was
the life and soul of party – where he would often play his fiddle. Was injured
during bombing of Middle Wallop 14th August 1940, losing one eye. Final rank of
Sergeant. Emigrated to Australia postwar, allegedly with a rich widow Ronald
‘Ron / Battle’ Atack F
II A. Joined A Flight in 1936 809100
Ronald A ‘Ron’ Atkinson BEM F
II A. Flight Sergeant. Joined C Flight. A prewar Blacksmith / sheet-metal
worker. A keen sportsman and football player. Posted to Takoradi in 1941 as a
sergeant, then back to Dumbarton shipyard, and demobbed from West Drayton.
Rejoined the RAF and was posted to 107 Maintenance Unit Kasfareet (Suez) as a
Warrant Officer. Left the RAF and emigrated to Australia . After an unsuccessful
business venture, he joined the Royal Australian Air Force, serving all over the
continent, Malaysia, New Guinea, New Zealand and Vietnam. Joined De Havilland
after retirement, and took an active role in the ex-servicemens associations Alan
Balmforth Joined
C Flight. Motor Mechanic with GPO Telephones in Harrogate. Rode a Triumph Tiger
motorbike 809036
J Danby ‘Danny’ Barber F
II E. Engine Fitter. Joined A Flight in 1936 Samuel
E ‘Sam’ Barron F
II A. Joined A Flight in 1936. Promoted Sergeant in 1940. Posted to Far East
with 36 Squadron. Died
30th November 1942 as Japanese Prisoner of War 809159
Ernest N ‘Ernie’ Barker Operations
Clerk. Joined C Flight. Stayed with the squadron throughout the war. Was in ‘Between
Friends’ Boulting Brothers film at Biggin Hill Thomas
A Barnfield Joined
C Flight A
R Baxter Joined
C Flight R
Bayldon Joined
C Flight Benjamin
F ‘Ben’ Bean F
II A. Joined as an U/T Fitter. Joined A Flight in 1936 T
C Beattie Joined
B Flight in 1936 Beckett Fitter.
Joined C Flight. One of the small group left behind at Yeadon when the squadron
moved to Catterick in 1939. Rejoined the squadron at Drem W
F ‘Charlie’ Benfield F
II E. Engine Fitter. Joined C Flight. Worked on Stephen Beaumonts Spitfire.
Worked at Yorkshire Post pre-war A
Leslie ‘Les / Legs’ Berry F
II A. Joined C Flight. Posted to Middle East as a Sergeant, roaming the desert
in a ‘Queen Mary’ retrieving downed aircraft. This nomadic lifestyle, with
its attendant food problems, may have led to kidney failure in the 1980’s,
leaving him on a dialysis machine Norman
‘Pop’ Bickers Joined
B Flight in 1936 Edward
‘Ted’ Binks F
II A. Joined as a U/T Fitter. Joined C Flight V
R Boards Joined
B Flight in 1936 F
Bond Joined
A Flight in 1936 809103
George Edward Bradbury F II A. Joined C Flight on 5th December 1937. Bradbury recalls how, on the 24th August 1939, he received his "Blue" letter, mobilising the Auxiliary Air Force, and being "embodied" with the RAF for the duration of hostilities. During the move to Middle Wallop from Northolt, a series of misfortunes befell Bradbury; slipping while descending from the Harrow transport aircraft, ripping his uniform to above the knee - reminding him that he had left his "Best Blue" beneath the mattress at Northolt - and after being told that nothing was too good for Auxiliary airmen by the Middle Wallop Station Commander, they were led to a row of tents - their home for several months! Admitted to Station Sick Quarters and Forres Hospital on 18th December 1939, Bradbury was discharged on the 13th January 1940. He was posted to 207 Squadron flying Avro Manchesters from RAF Waddington on 22nd December 1940, and a week later was admitted to Tidworth Hospital. George later served with No. 97 Squadron which flew various aircraft during his postings to them at Waddington, Coningsby and Woodhall Spa, including Avro Manchester, Avro Lancaster and Handley Page Hampden bombers. On 26th November 1941, George attended No. 2 School of Technical Training for an NCO's course. He was posted away from 97 Squadron to Filton on 27th May 1943, and subsequently served with No's. 58, 30, 61, 86, and 49 Maintenance Units, with a further hospital admittance in December 1943. Finishing the war with the rank of Sergeant, Bradbury was discharged from the Auxiliary Air Force on 2nd December 1945 - re-enlisting as a Regular the following day, and was finally transferred to the Reserve on 1st November 1952.
J
‘Jack / ‘Browit’ Braithwaite MT
Driver. Joined B Flight in 1936. Post-War started Aerial Photography Company W
D Brearley Joined
A Flight in 1936. Became Mosquito Pilot. E
S Brook Joined
B Flight in 1936 George
Brook ACH.
Joined B Flight in 1936 C
K 'Charlie' Brown Joined
C Flight 809008
Gerald W ‘Gerry’ Brown Administration.
Joined A Flight in 1936. Commissioned into Training Command during the war,
demobilising as a Flight Lieutenant W
Buckley MT
Section. Joined A Flight in 1936 R
F Burgess Joined
C Flight
John 'Johnny' Bushby Ronald
‘Ron’ Carlton F
II E. Engine Fitter. Rode Brough Superior motorbike Clifford
'Cliff' Capes E
G Churley Joined
B Flight in 1936 H
Clayton Joined
C Flight C
Cohen Operations
Clerk. Joined A Flight in 1936 F
S ‘Brevit’ Cole Signals.
Joined B Flight in 1936 A
R Conyers Joined
C Flight F
Cooling Joined
B Flight in 1936 Alfred
‘Alf’ Craven Butcher.
Demobilised as Flight Sergeant. Sucessful stockmarket ‘player’ A
Crosby Frederick
'Fred' Crosby Corporal.
Joined A Flight in 1936 809172
Charles Richardson ‘Pud’ Crowther F
II A. Rugby Player. Joined C Flight in September 1938. Posted to Takoradi -
Lagos in October 1941, seconded to the BOAC flying boat unit. Moved to 228
Squadron Pembroke Dock on return to the UK, then Church Fenton, before being
demobilised as a Sergeant in November 1945. Brother of William Longster Crowther. 809173
William Longster 'Bill' Crowther F
II E. Joined C Flight in September 1938. In March 1940, he volunteered whilst at
Drem to train as a Flight Engineer, joining 102 (Halifax) Squadron at Dalton /
Topcliffe. Flew on over 20 operations as a Sergeant with the Canadians. Shot
down by a Luftwaffe nightfighter over the North Sea whilst returning from a raid
on Essen, Germany, in which 180 aircraft were involved, comprising 98
Wellingtons, 33 Halifaxes, 25 Stirlings, 13 Lancasters, 11 Hampdens. 12
aircraft, 8 Wellingtons, 2 Stirlings, 1 Halifax, 1 Lancaster were lost. Brother
of Charles Richardson Crowther. Killed
3rd June 1942 With 102 Squadron. The raid was a failure, with bombing being
scattered over a wide area, causing minor damage, with 10 people killed and 68
injured. Crew of Handley Page Halifax R9491 DY-N, which crashed off Suffolk
coast at 02:57: Pilot
Warrant Officer Class 1 R/61031 Frank Alex Holmes, RCAF (Missing) Navigator
Warrant Officer Class 2 R/56238 George Henry Herbert Marks, RCAF (Missing) Wireless
Operator Flight Sergeant 971036 Frederick Booth (Missing) Air
Gunner Sergeant 1312853 George Francis Jenkins (Missing) Air Gunner Sergeant 1378930 David Boddy (Body recovered, 5 miles east of Harwich, Suffolk. Buried at Durham Road Cemetery, Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, England Bombardier
Sergeant 953171 Stanley Arnett (Missing) Flight
Engineer Sergeant 809173 William Longster Crowther (Missing) Thomas
W ‘Tommy’ Dale Joined
B Flight in 1936 809156
‘Taff’ Davies Joined
C Flight 809107
Harold Townsend ‘Harry’ Delaney Signals.
Joined C Flight. Emigrated
to Nigeria Post-War. GPO Engineer ‘Al’
Delaney ? ‘Pat’
Delaney ?
'Tommy' Delaney ? 809154
Anthony ‘Tony’ Diminuantes Armourer.
Joined C Flight W
Dixon Joined
A Flight in 1936 809030
James ‘Steve / Don’ Donohue Airgunner
/ Armourer. Joined A Flight in 1936. Posted
to 3205 Servicing Commando - Normandy landings A
P Doxsey Joined
C Flight G
Brian 'Brian' Durrans Joined
C Flight Thomas
‘Tommy’ Durman Joined
C Flight Raymond
‘Ray’ H Dunn Clerk.
Joined C Flight. Father was Civilian Clerk at Yeadon J
R H Dunwell Joined
B Flight in 1936 D
V ‘The Bull’ Dyson Joined
B Flight in 1936 809110
James Douglas 'Jim' Earnshaw F
II A. Joined C Flight in 1937. Posted 1940 to 238 Squadron at Tangmere. Posted
1942 to 57 OTU. Posted 1944 to 264 Squadron. Served in France Holland and
Germany. Finished War as Sergeant 809087
Alan Eastwood Joined
B Flight in 1936 J
J Eastwood C
A Edmondson Joined
B Flight in 1936 George
Ellis Armourer Stafford
Exley Emigrated
to Canada J
A Farnell Joined
A Flight in 1936 J
W Field Joined
C Flight J
M ‘Bill / Duff Gen’ Fitzgerald F
II E. Sergeant. Joined A Flight in 1936. Posted overseas on 4th July, but hung
around for a while. R
Fitzpatrick A
Stanley ‘Stan’ Fletcher Plumber.
Joined C Flight Jack
Flockton FIIE 809153
Fochtman Joined
C Flight L
Garritt Joined
B Flight in 1936 809178
Ernest Anthony ‘Tony’ Gill Sergeant
FIIE. Joined C Flight. Killed in flying accident near Northallerton, Yorkshire,
in De Havilland Mosquito NT512 from No.54 OTU Jonathan
Gill Joined
C Flight Robert
C ‘Robbie’ Goodwill Armourer.
Joined C Flight Frank
Green A
Flight Disciplinary Sergeant. Went missing when war began. Pre-war Insurance
Agent E
A Gregg Joined
B Flight in 1936 809028
Alan P ‘Trigger’ Hainsworth Air
Gunner / Armourer. Joined A Flight on 25th July 1936, the 29th person to sign on
as part of 609's first intake. Originally an untrained Airgunner on Hawker Hinds
and Harts, crewed with Stephen Beaumont, 'Trigger' was a keen sportsman, who was
also highly involved in the social activities of the squadron. He was remusterd
as an armourer when 609 changed role from bombers to fighters, and stayed in
this trade until he volunteered for aircrew training, leaving 609 in July 1942.
'Trigger' went to 31 ANS, Port Albert, Canada, for training as a navigator
between August 1942 - March 1943 flying 107 hours, passing with 'average'
ability. Returned to England and attended No70 course Nav / W at Jurby, No 3
General Reconnaisance Course at Farnborough, 8 (C) OTU No 47 (M) Course on
Mosquitos (passed course as 'proficient PR navigator' with 38 hours flown). Was
subsequently posted to 680 Squadron on Photographic Reconnaisance De Havilland
Mosquitos in North Africa and the Middle East. Flew from Portreath to Rabat Sale
24th September 1944 in 4 hours 25 minutes. Flew Photographic Reconnaisance
Operations over much of Europe, including Crete, Dodecanese Islands, Salonika,
Athens, Rhodes, Palestine, Northern Italy, Yugoslavia, Austria, Czechoslovakia,
Rome, Sardinia, Venice, Foggia, Munich. Survived 157 Hours on Operations. Served
on full time service in the RAuxAF from 24th August 1939 - 2nd August 1945.
Finally released on 6th November 1945 as a Warrant Officer. J
Hall Joined
C Flight 809180
Leslie ‘Les’ Hancock Airframe Fitter 809117
Sydney Hawthorne ‘Darkie’ Hanson MBE F
II E. Engine Fitter. Joined C Flight. Rejoined Post-War, becoming commissioned
as Engineering Officer Flight Lieutenant Cyril
Hardisty Joined
B Flight in 1936 Bertram
‘Bert’ Harman F
II A. Joined B Flight in 1936. Resigned from RauxAF and joined AID when war
broke out. Spent the war in A V Roe factory at Yeadon. Held private pilots
licence Donald
M Harmer F
II E George
W Hart F
II A. Joined C Flight Norman
‘Tubby’ Herrington MT
Section. Joined B Flight in 1936 B
E Higginson William
‘Bill’ Hinchcliffe Operations
Clerk Dennis
Hitchcock Blacksmith.
Joined C Flight. His parents were killed in an air raid Hobson 809185
John W Holmes F
II A. Joined C Flight. Posted May 1940 to 249 Squadron at Church Fenton. Became
Flight Engineer 1942. Posted to 77 Squadron at RAF Elvington. Flew on 28
Operations, including over Berlin. Shot down on 22nd October 1943. Baled out and
became Prisoner of War in Dulag Luft IV (4 other crew members killed in burning
aircraft). Released by Russians in May 1945. Demobilised as Warrant Officer. J
Howarth Armourer A
R Humphrey Joined
A Flight in 1936 Arthur
C Hunter F
II A. Joined B Flight in 1936. Was the back - seat passenger / ballast in the
Hawker Hart / Hind piloted by John Dundas which parked on a house in Victoria
Terrace, Yeadon (the fin / rudder ending up in the upstairs bedroom window).
Posted in 1940 to 238 Squadron at Tangmere. Emigrated to Australia Post - War George
Ikin G
Eric ‘Eric / Jingle’ Ingall Fitter.
Joined A Flight in 1936 809214
John ‘Jacko’ Jackson BEM F
II A. Joined C Flight in 1939. Re-Enlisted 19th July 1945. Discharged as Flight
Sergeant 31st October 1957 C
E Jeffrey Joined
C Flight F
Jowett Joined
C Flight J
Kaye Joined
A Flight in 1936 P
S Kendall Joined
B Flight in 1936 J
L Kelsall Joined
C Flight 809006
E ‘Mike’ Kerrigan Fitter
/ Armourer. Joined A Flight in 1936. Joined RAF 5th May 1937, became 540474,
Commissioned 25th March 1943 as 50671. Was Sergeant in 58 (Bomber) Squadron, 4
Group, arming Armstrong - Whitworth Whitleys at Linton-On-Ouse from mid -
1940 - January 1941. Armed aircraft for the attacks on sundry targets, notably
the first long-range (for the aircrew, freezingly - arduous and meagrely
Navigation - aided) raids on Berlin, Milan and Turin. Armed Whitleys for the
first raid on Berlin on the night of 25th/26th August 1940. Released with the
rank of Squadron Leader. H
Killerby 809155
Iain Lambie Armourer.
Joined C Flight Gordon
L Lean F
II E. Joined A Flight in 1936 Ernest
'Ernie' Lightowler F
II E. Joined C Flight. Car Salesman Leslie
‘Les’ Lindley Joined
B Flight in 1936. Served in 609 throughout the war Jack
Lister Joined B Flight in 1936. Squadron photographer. Once accidentally fired a Spitfire's guns at Drem whilst testing the camera. H
W Luty Joined
B Flight in 1936 W
H Marshall Joined
A Flight in 1936 F
H Mather Joined
C Flight A
George ‘George’ Maycock Joined
A Flight in 1936. Moved to Rhodesia before the outbreak of war H
Metcalfe Joined
C Flight 809192
Eric Moorhouse Accounts
Clerk. Loined 1938. Left while at Catterick in 1939. Posted to Northolt – West
Africa – Middle East. Met J M ‘Bill’ Fitzgerald in Takoradi. Also met W D
Brearley as Untrained Pilot. A diabetic churchgoer, finished the war as a Flight
Sergeant J
‘Jack’ Moorhouse Joined
B Flight in 1936 H
H Mortimer Joined
C Flight Leslie
‘Les’ Mortlock Joined
B Flight in 1936 J
H Mowbray Charles
Moxon MBE Joined
A Flight in 1936. Trained as Pilot. Possibly posted to 616 Squadron A
McLevy Joined
C Flight Frederick
‘Fred’ Nettleton Metal
Worker. Joined C Flight C
A Nicholls Joined
C Flight Richard
B ‘Ginger’ Pape MM Joined
B Flight in 1936. Joined as untrained
Photographer. Worked for Yorkshire Post. Took private pilots licence at
Yorkshire Aero Club. Volunteered for aircrew, training as a navigator in the
RAFVR. Posted to 15 Squadron at Wyton. Shot down on his 9th operational sortie
in Short Stirlings over Holland while returning from an air raid on Berlin on
7th September 1941. 197 aircraft took part, with 15 being lost. The aircraft
crashed near the Dutch border and with the help of the Dutch resistance he
initially evaded capture, though he was eventually captured by the Germans and
incarcerated in Stalag VIIIB. He escaped twice but was caught on both occasions.
He was tortured by the Gestapo on the second. Repatriated to England in 1944 for
health reasons. After the war Pape wrote several books best-seller Boldness by
my Friend . In 1965 Pape returned his military medals to the Queen in protest
against the award of the MBE to the Beatles 809086
Jonathan ‘Johnny’ Payne Joined
B Flight in 1936. Posted in April 1943 to 618 Squadron at Wick in Northern
Scotland, then to Far East in October 1944. Flew under Sydney Harbour bridge.
Shot up by Messerschmitt BF109 crossing Manston Airfield Ronald
G ‘Ron’ Pickup Joined
A Flight in 1936 H
R ‘Pip’ Piper Joined
A Flight in 1936 W
Powell Joined
C Flight Ernest
‘Ernie’ Pratt Olaf
‘The Breed’ Priestley Engine Fitter. T
‘Tommy’ Preston Joined
B Flight in 1936 809033
Alan P Rabbidge Rigger.
Sergeant. Joined A Flight in 1936 809151
Ronald F ‘Claude’ Raines Armourer.
Posted 1941. Became personal gun tester to King Haakon of Norway at Biggin Hill N
J Raper Joined
A Flight in 1936 A
E Rawlings Joined
B Flight in 1936 Harold
A Rhodes Joined
B Flight in 1936 A
Rennison Joined
C Flight 809131
A Edward ‘Eddie / Richie’ Richardson C
Flight Fitter / Armourer. Flight Sergeant. Joined C Flight. Posted to Church
Fenton, Cranfield, Sicily, Salerno, Italy, Hurn. Part of Servicing Commando in Sicily. Brother of H Sidney ‘Sid’ Richardson 809068
H Sydney ‘Sid’ Richardson Joined
B Flight in 1936. Rode a Norton 500 Motorbike, CFC 607. Was posted to Canada and
became a well respected Senior NCO. Brother of A Edward ‘Eddie / Richie’
Richardson A
G H Rimmel Joined
B Flight in 1936
Edward
‘Teddy’ Robinson Clerk
to Engineering Officer, Warrant Officer Charlie Harvey. Joined B Flight in 1936.
Owned a Daimler William
‘Willie’ Robinson F II A. W
E Robshaw Equipment.
Joined B Flight in 1936 809132
Paul Victor Routledge Equipment
Section. Joined C Flight Ruston
CBE DFC Engine
Fitter. Joined while at Leeds Grammar School. His father was a professor.
Transferred to RAF and entered RAF Cranwell with a commission in 1938. Posted to
Coastal Command and flew Short Sunderland flying boats as pilot in Norway,
Mediterranean, and South East Asia. Retired as Air Commodore G
Ruthven Joined
C Flight. Chartered Accountant Arthur
Senior Joined
C Flight P
Scott Joined
Squadron in 1936 R
W Short Joined
B Flight in 1936 Harold
‘Harry’ Simpson Orderly
Room Clerk. Posted 7th September 1945 to Combined Operations HQ, Dover, as a
Sergeant. Injured when aircraft crashed into a bus crossing the Persian Desert 809202
J ‘Jack’ Simpson Electrician.
Joined C Flight in 1939. Posted to SHQ, Melbourne, York. Served UK only.
Discharged as Sergeant, Mentioned in Dispatches J
Smallwood Joined
C Flight E
G Smith Joined
A Flight in 1936 809091
A W ‘Bill / Ginger’ Smith Equipment
Section. Joined B Flight in 1936. Commissioned as Flying Officer. Finished war
as Navigator too late for operations K
Smith Joined
B Flight in 1936 Robert
Whitell ‘Bob’ Smith Joined
A Flight in 1936. Killed during bombing raid on Middle Wallop 14th August 1940 ‘Smudger’
Smith Volunteered
for Aircrew. Posted as Flight Engineer and was lost on operations. Further
details unknown 809013
William S ‘Bill Stevens Radio
Section. Joined A Flight in 1936, the 13th member of the squadron. Joined RAFVR,
trained as a pilot at RAF Brough. Shot down in a Vickers Wellington and became
Prisoner of War. Ex Coronation Drill Team 809092
Edward J ‘Teddy' Stockdale Joined
B Flight in 1936 809092
Sidney E ‘Sid’ Stockdale Joined
B Flight in 1936. Posted in 1942 from Biggin Hill to Wadi Alfa, Sudan on Vickers
Wellingtons. Emigrated to Australia postwar Phillip
J ‘Phil’ Stocks Airgunner
/ Armourer. Joined A Flight in 1936. Volunteered for aircrew and flew with
Bomber Command J
‘Jack / Scales’ Summerscales Operations
Clerk. Squadron Artist for lettering 809205
George Patchett Sunderland Armourer.
Joined C Flight in autumn 1938. Posted as Corporal to 131 Squadron at Ouston in
June 1942. Posted in Spring 1944 to 5001 Airfield Construction Unit, with which
he went to France. Demobilised as a Corporal in September 1945 from Eckenforde,
Schleswig. Top class journalist E
/ H Taylor Joined
A Flight in 1936 809095
Kenneth ‘Ken / Ackers’ Taylor Squadron
Pay Clerk. Joined B Flight in 1937. Attended Ramsgate and Thorney Island Camps.
In Early 1939 moved to Mc, and transferred to RauxAF Reserve. Called up to
Yeadon with 609 Squadron in August 1939. Posted 1943 to Egypt to RCAF HQ in
Cairo (for a two-year holiday) T
B ‘Tibby’ Taylor MT
Section. Joined B Flight in 1936 Arthur
Thompson Joined
C Flight Ernest
‘Ernie’ Thompson Engine
Fitter. Joined C Flight. Rugby player Frank
Thompson Joined
B Flight in 1936 J
R Thompson Joined
A Flight in 1936 809035
Harold ‘Harry’ Thorley Killed
during bombing raid on Middle Wallop 14th August 1940 Trevor
‘Tugger’ Tordoff Clerk.
Joined C Flight. Prewar reporter for Halifax Courier. Posted in 1939 to Records
office at Ruislip. Became shorthand writer to Judge Advocate, Courts Martial and
travelled extensively. First Auxiliary to leave the squadron P
D Trevor Joined
C Flight Edward
‘Ted’ Waite Armourer.
Corporal. Joined A Flight in 1936 809025
A Geoffrey ‘Black Geoff’ Walker Engine
Fitter. Joined A Flight in 1936 K
A Walker Joined
A Flight in 1936 809139
P Roland S ‘Roland / Groupie’ Walker Clerk.
Joined C Flight. Had the ear of Phillip ‘Pip’ Barran. Was in ‘Between
Friends’ Boulting Brothers film at Biggin Hill. Would sign passes in Barrans
name – not always with permission. When problems arose, would reply “I’ll
see the Pippin” W
Walker Joined
B Flight in 1936 809082
Robert ‘Bob / Strawberry / Airedale’ Walling Sergeant.
F II E Electrical fitter. Joined B flight in 1936. With 609 until February 1944.
He kept a diary of squadron events on the RAF form 398, the RAF W/T (Wireless
Telegraphy) Log. A keen rambler. After farming in Wales postwar Douglas
L ‘Dougie’ Ward F
II A. Joined A Flight in 1936. Squadron artist. Was posted in late 1941 to
Canada, becoming a Sergeant at a Flying Training School. Brother of G W Binns-Ward G
W Binns-Ward Airgunner
/ Armourer. Joined A Flight in 1936. Was posted in 1942 to a Flying Training
School in South Africa, to which he emigrated postwar. Brother of Douglas L ‘Dougie’
Ward Thomas
‘Tommy’ Watson Armourer.
Joined A Flight in 1936 809211
Stanley ‘Stan’ Waterson FIIA.
Joined C Flight. Posted to Middle East 809074
Thomas ‘Tom’ Webb F
II A. Joined B Flight in 1936. Famed for his skill with a file. Producing a test
piece of a mild steel block filed by hand to an accuracy of a thousandth of an
inch was so easy that his 'production line' enabled many colleagues to pass
their trade test board with ease. Posted to South Africa W
D Webb Joined
B Flight in 1936 J
Williamson Joined
A Flight in 1936 Kenneth
‘Ken’ Wilson F
II A. Joined C Flight. Colour Mixer. Killed
during bombing raid on Middle Wallop 14th August 1940 A
H Wood Sergeant.
Joined A Flight in 1936 809001
A Haslam-Wood Joined
A Flight in 1936. First Airman to join 609 (West Riding) Squadron. Travelled
from Barnsley to Yeadon for two years, before transferring to 616 Squadron at
Doncaster. Was Commissioned, becoming Squadron Leader Armaments Officer at
Fighter Command Headquarters. Managing Director and Chairman of a Barnsley Glass
company postwar Alfred
G ‘Alf / Spanner’ Wright F
II E Engine Fitter. Joined B Flight in 1936 Bernard
‘Tubby’ Wright F
II A. Joined C Flight. Rode a Velocette KTT Motorbike K
A Wrightson Wireless
Operator. Joined B Flight in 1936 |
