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No.103 Sqn RAF

Name : No.103 Sqn RAF Founded : 1st September 1917 Disbanded : 31st July 1975 Country : UK Fate : Disbanded 31st July 1975 More Details : Nili me tangere - Touch me not Known Code Letters : , GV, PM,

No 103 Squadron RFC was formed on 1st September 1917, at Beaulieu, Hampshire and in 1918 was employed on day-bombing and reconnaissance missions on the Western Front flying DH9 aircraft. 103 Squadron was disbanded in 1919. In August 1936, as No.103 (Bomber) Squadron, was reformed and flew Hawker Hinds. With the outbreak of World War Two, 103 Squadron were equipped with Fairey Battles and given the role of short-range day-and night-bombing attacks. Their first misison was on the 10th of May 1940 : 4 Fairey Battles were sent to bomb German troops advancing through Luxembourg. From the four aircraft, three were lost. Their other missions included bombing the Meuse bridges and the invasion ports. The squadorn would later be re-equipped with heavier bombers with longer-range - the Wellington bomber (Oct 1940-Jul 1942) followed by Halifaxes (Jul 1942-Oct 1942) and finally Lancasters. In August 1943, it contributed 24 Lancasters to the force of 600-odd Bomber Command heavies which was sent to make the first-ever raid to Peenemunde to bomb the German V-weapons experimental station. The most distinguished Lancaster of them all, Lancaster III ED888 M2 (Mike Squared), was flown by 103 Squadron flying initially 66 missions before being transferred to 576 Squadron where it flew another 65 missions before returning back to 103 squadron to fly a further 9 missions plus, logging a total of 140 missions and totalling 974 operational hours. The aircraft made its first operational sortie - to Dortmund on 4/5th May 1943, This was a Bomber Command record but the aircraft Mike Squared was not saved from the scrap yard to be preserved and was finally scrapped in 1947. 103 Squadorns last bombing mission was on 25th April 1945 when 16 Lancasters bombed SS barracks at Berchtesgaden, but still had a roll to play as on 7th May 1945 : 19 Lancasters from the squadron dropped supplies to Dutch at Rotterdam.

Known Service Details :
Pilot or Aircrew	Rank	Start of Service	End of Service	Known Dates	Aircraft	Airframes	Notes
Allen	Sergeant	unknown	unknown	30th March 1941	Wellington	R1043
Auliff	Pilot Officer	unknown	unknown	30th March 1941	Wellington	R1043
L. C. Butcher	Sergeant	unknown	25th February 1941		Wellington	T2621	Killed in Action
G. Chadd	Sergeant	unknown	unknown	10th February 1941	Wellington	T2610
W. R. Crich	Sergeant	unknown	unknown	10th February 1941	Wellington	T2610
Davies	Pilot Officer	unknown	unknown	30th March 1941	Wellington	R1043
Davies	Sergeant	unknown	unknown	30th March 1941	Wellington	W5612
Elliott	Sergeant	unknown	unknown	30th March 1941	Wellington	W5612
G. A. Farley	Sergeant	unknown	unknown	10th February 1941	Wellington	T2610
Garbutt	Sergeant	unknown	unknown	30th March 1941	Wellington	R1043
Hedley		unknown	unknown
H. C. S. Hordern	Pilot Officer	unknown	unknown	25th February 1941	Wellington	L7859
A. E. Laing	Sergeant	unknown	25th February 1941		Wellington	T2621
R. Layfield	Sergeant	unknown	unknown	10th February 1941	Wellington	T2610
C. E. Littler	Wing Commander	unknown	31st March 1941		Wellington	R1043	Killed in Action
McCudden	Flight Sergeant	unknown	unknown	30th March 1941	Wellington	W5612
W. McIntosh	Sergeant	unknown	25th February 1941		Wellington	T2621	Killed in Action
Mellor	Squadron Leader	unknown	unknown	30th March 1941	Wellington	W5612
J. R. C. Pratt	Sergeant	unknown	25th February 1941		Wellington	T2621	Killed in Action
J. K. C. Ralston	Pilot Officer	unknown	25th February 1941		Wellington	T2621	Killed in Action
Summers	Sergeant	unknown	unknown	30th March 1941	Wellington	R1043
C. V. Thomas		unknown	unknown
L. F. Waern	Sergeant	unknown	unknown	10th February 1941	Wellington	T2610
Kenneth Horatio Wallis		1941	unknown		Wellington
D. G. Watt	Sergeant	unknown	25th February 1941		Wellington	T2621	Killed in Action
M C Wells	Flight Lieutenant	unknown	unknown	10th May 1940		K9372	Shot down in Battle K9372 by ground fire and abandoned near Luxembourg. Flight Lieutenant M C Wells taken prisoner, Sergeant H F Bullock taken prisoner, Leading Aircraftsman T H Bowen taken prisoner.

Pilots and Aircrew for : No.103 Sqn RAF
A list of all aircrew from our database who are associated with this squadron. A profile page is available by clicking their name.
Name	Info
Allen, Click the name above to see a profile of Allen,	Allen,
Asson, Click the name above to see a profile of Asson,	Asson,
Auliff, Click the name above to see a profile of Auliff,	Auliff,
Avery, G Click the name above to see a profile of Avery, G	Avery, G
Beardsley, G Click the name above to see a profile of Beardsley, G	Beardsley, G
Beardsley, G Click the name above to see a profile of Beardsley, G	Beardsley, G
Bell, William Click the name above to see a profile of Bell, William	Bell, William Bill joined the RAF in 1941 and was posted to 103 Squadron at RAF Elsham Wolds as a Navigator on Halifaxes. He was later transferred to 166 Squadron, and was on his 20th operation, flying to Berlin in November 1943 when he was shot down and ended up as a PoW in Stalag Luft IVb. He escaped on three separate occasions but was recaptured every time - the war finished just before his fourth attempt!
Bligh, P I Click the name above to see a profile of Bligh, P I    Died : 10 / 6 / 1940	Bligh, P I
Bowen, T H Click the name above to see a profile of Bowen, T H	Bowen, T H 10th May 1940 Shot down in Fairy Battle K9372 by ground fire and abandoned near Luxembourg. Flight Lieutenant M C Wells taken prisoner, Sergeant H F Bullock taken prisoner, Leading Aircraftsman T H Bowen taken prisoner.
Briggs, Graham Click the name above to see a profile of Briggs, Graham	Briggs, Graham Weapons Operator, 58 and 103 Squadrons.
Brumby, Click the name above to see a profile of Brumby,	Brumby,
Bullock, H F Click the name above to see a profile of Bullock, H F	Bullock, H F 10th May 1940 Shot down in Fairy Battle K9372 by ground fire and abandoned near Luxembourg. Flight Lieutenant M C Wells taken prisoner, Sergeant H F Bullock taken prisoner, Leading Aircraftsman T H Bowen taken prisoner.
Butcher, L. C. Click the name above to see a profile of Butcher, L. C.    Died : 25 / 2 / 1941	Butcher, L. C.
Chadd, G. Click the name above to see a profile of Chadd, G.	Chadd, G. Sergeant G.Chadd of No.103 Squadron was injured on February 10th 1941 when his Wellington (T2610) lost engine power and ditched into the North Sea. He was rescued by the SS Tovelil two days later.
Cooper, W A Click the name above to see a profile of Cooper, W A    Died : 10 / 9 / 1940	Cooper, W A
Crich, W. R. Click the name above to see a profile of Crich, W. R.	Crich, W. R. Sergeant W.R.Crich of No.103 Squadron was injured on February 10th 1941 when his Wellington (T2610) lost engine power and ditched into the North Sea. He was rescued by the SS Tovelil two days later.
Cunningham, V A Click the name above to see a profile of Cunningham, V A	Cunningham, V A
Davies, Click the name above to see a profile of Davies,	Davies,
Davies, Click the name above to see a profile of Davies,	Davies,
De Sanouel-Servier, Click the name above to see a profile of De Sanouel-Servier,    Died : 10 / 9 / 1940	De Sanouel-Servier,
Drabble, K J Click the name above to see a profile of Drabble, K J    Died : 10 / 5 / 1940	Drabble, K J
Drinkwater, F Click the name above to see a profile of Drinkwater, F    Died : 10 / 9 / 1940	Drinkwater, F
Duddell, Ken Click the name above to see a profile of Duddell, Ken	Duddell, Ken Completed a full Tour with 103 Sqn as a Flight Engineer on Lancasters during 1944 and went on to be Chairman of the 103 Squadron Association, leaving the RAF in 1968 as a Master Engineer.
Dunstan, Donald Click the name above to see a profile of Dunstan, Donald	Dunstan, Donald Trained as Flight Mechanic working on Fairy Battles then transferred to 103 Squadron, Bomber Command on Wellingtons. After a Fitter 2E course he joined 161 Squadron at Tempsford with their Lysanders. During the "Moon Period" often working at Tangmere. He serviced the aircraft of Wing Commanders Pickard and Hodges.
Elliott, Click the name above to see a profile of Elliott,	Elliott,
Farley, G. A. Click the name above to see a profile of Farley, G. A.	Farley, G. A. Sergeant G.A.Farley of No.103 Squadron was injured on February 10th 1941 when his Wellington (T2610) lost engine power and ditched into the North Sea. He was rescued by the SS Tovelil two days later, Farley had broken his collarbone.
Fitzgerald, T B Click the name above to see a profile of Fitzgerald, T B	Fitzgerald, T B
Garbutt, Click the name above to see a profile of Garbutt,	Garbutt,
Hawkins, R Click the name above to see a profile of Hawkins, R	Hawkins, R
Hayward, E G Click the name above to see a profile of Hayward, E G    Died : 26 / 5 / 1940	Hayward, E G
Hedley, Click the name above to see a profile of Hedley,	Hedley,
Hubbard, W F Click the name above to see a profile of Hubbard, W F    Died : 26 / 5 / 1940	Hubbard, W F
Hugill, F Click the name above to see a profile of Hugill, F	Hugill, F
Hutchinson, O A Click the name above to see a profile of Hutchinson, O A    Died : 10 / 5 / 1940	Hutchinson, O A
Johnson, J Click the name above to see a profile of Johnson, J	Johnson, J
Laing, A. E. Click the name above to see a profile of Laing, A. E.    Died : 25 / 2 / 1941	Laing, A. E.
Lamble, P J Click the name above to see a profile of Lamble, P J    Died : 10 / 5 / 1940	Lamble, P J
Layfield, R. Click the name above to see a profile of Layfield, R.	Layfield, R. Sergeant R.Layfield of No.103 Squadron was injured on February 10th 1941 when his Wellington (T2610) lost engine power and ditched into the North Sea. He was rescued by the SS Tovelil two days later.
Lee, H Click the name above to see a profile of Lee, H	Lee, H
Lewis, G F Click the name above to see a profile of Lewis, G F	Lewis, G F
Lewis, G F Click the name above to see a profile of Lewis, G F	Lewis, G F
Leyden, J N Click the name above to see a profile of Leyden, J N	Leyden, J N
Littler, C. E. Click the name above to see a profile of Littler, C. E.    Died : 31 / 3 / 1941	Littler, C. E.
Lowne, C. H. Click the name above to see a profile of Lowne, C. H.	Lowne, C. H.
Madkins, Click the name above to see a profile of Madkins,	Madkins,
Max, Roy D Click the name above to see a profile of Max, Roy D    Died : 1 / 7 / 2007	Max, Roy D Group Captain Roy Max, who has died aged 88, Roy Max was born on November 24 1918 at Brightwater, near Nelson in New Zealand. After attending Nelson College he learned to fly at the local aero club when he was 18. travelled from New Zealand to join the RAF and received a short servcie commission in August 1938 as a pilot and survived the crippling losses of bombers deployed to France at the outbreak of the Second World War; already a veteran at 24, he was made a wing commander and appointed to command No 75 (NZ) Squadron, the first Commonwealth squadron in Bomber Command. Shortly after the declaration of war in September 1939 No 103 Squadron, equipped with the Fairey Battle, deployed to France. in May 1940 along with the other 9 Fairy Battle squadorns. took part in action against the german Offensive But the Fairy battles were outclassed by the german fighters. On one occassion a force of 70 fairey Battle aircraft took part in a bombingmission on bridges at sedan a total of 41 aircraft were lost., Captain Roy Max dived on a group of enemy tanks in a valley and found that the guns were shooting down on him. His aircraft was hit and unable to climb. Although he and his gunner were wounded, he managed to land on a French airfield. Returning to operations a few days later, he was told that he had been awarded the Croix de Guerre and the news reached his parents and newspapers in New Zealand. In the chaos of the collapsing French administration, however, the paperwork was lost and he never received the medal. By the middle of June No 103 had lost 18 aircraft and nine crews, and Max was lucky to survive when a German fighter strafed the airfield as he was standing on the wing refuelling his aircraft. He jumped into a trench and watched his bomber burst into flames with all his belongings inside it. In the sole surviving aircraft he took off for a maintenance unit near Nantes, where a number of other Battles were found. Ground crew were loaded into the cramped cockpit of Max's aircraft and he headed towards England. He navigated using a map torn from a calendar, skirting the Channel Islands and landing at the first airfield he came to after crossing the English coast in order to determine where he was; he then pressed on to Abingdon. Roy Max his squadorn but now 103 squadron was now equipped with Wellington bombers, and Max flew on the squadron's first operation bombing the docks at Ostend in December 1940. Roy Max also attacked targets in the Ruhr. in March 1941 Roy Max spent some time ferrying Amercina built Hudson bombers form the Us to England, after this he re joined 103 squadron. On July 24th 1941 a 100 boomber day light raid took place against the german naval ships at Brest, Roy Max was leading a section of Wellingtons with no fighter escort, and losses were heavy. But he pressed home his attack, and his bombs were seen exploding on a dry dock. He was awarded the DFC. In July 1943 Max's short service commission was completed, and he reverted to the RNZAF as a squadron leader. Almost immediately he was informed that it had been decided that a native New Zealander should command No 75 (NZ) Squadron and he was promoted to wing commander. Max began operations on August 19 1943, flying the Stirling bomber from an airfield near Cambridge. The Battle of Berlin was under way and the Stirling, unable to climb to the higher levels of the Lancaster and Halifax, suffered heavy losses. Roy Max as the squadorn Commnader flew operations with his crew but, was not expected to fly on every sortie. The Stirling was eventually withdrawn from long-range bombing operations, and Max and his crews flew mining sorties and parachute drops to resistance groups. After converting to the Lancaster and flying a few more operations in support of the impending D-Day landings, his tour ended in May 1944, when he was awarded the DSO, an award that he always claimed belonged to his air and ground crews. Max returned to New Zealand to command a flying training airfield near Christchurch. In 1947 he accepted a permanent commission in the RAF, returning to England as a flight lieutenant. Having attended a course at the RAF Flying College he commanded the bomber squadron at the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment at Boscombe Down, where the new jet bombers for the RAF were being tested. After commands in Germany and Italy and other Air ministry Jobs, in 1965 he became ADC to the Queen and finally retiring form the RAF in November 1968. Sadly on the 1st July 2007 Roy Max passed away.
McCudden, Click the name above to see a profile of McCudden,	McCudden,
McIntosh, W. Click the name above to see a profile of McIntosh, W.    Died : 25 / 2 / 1941	McIntosh, W.
Mellor, Click the name above to see a profile of Mellor,	Mellor,
Morgan-Deal, G B Click the name above to see a profile of Morgan-Deal, G B    Died : 12 / 5 / 1940	Morgan-Deal, G B
Morton, E E Click the name above to see a profile of Morton, E E    Died : 12 / 5 / 1940	Morton, E E
Norrington, D Click the name above to see a profile of Norrington, D	Norrington, D
Poole, C J S Click the name above to see a profile of Poole, C J S    Died : 10 / 5 / 1940	Poole, C J S
Pratt, J. R. C. Click the name above to see a profile of Pratt, J. R. C.    Died : 25 / 2 / 1941	Pratt, J. R. C.
Ralston, J. K. C. Click the name above to see a profile of Ralston, J. K. C.    Died : 25 / 2 / 1941	Ralston, J. K. C.
Ross, A S Click the name above to see a profile of Ross, A S    Died : 12 / 5 / 1940	Ross, A S
Ross, N R Nicky Click the name above to see a profile of Ross, N R Nicky    Died : 18 / 4 / 2008	Ross, N R Nicky No's 40, 103 and 617 Squadrons. "Born 1 st August, 1917 at Greenock. Joined RAFVR at Edinburgh 12/7/39. Trained at 11 EFTS, Perth gained wings at 2 FTS Brize Norton, completed training at 20 OTU Lossiemouth Dec 1940, Joined 40 Squadron, 22/1141 as Sgt Pilot on Wellingtons at Wyton and Allconbury. Completed 1st tour 3/7/41 and "screened" at 27 OTU Lichfield, participating in the three "Thousand Force" raids on Cologne, Essen and Bremen in 1942. Commenced 2nd tour with 103 Squadron, at Elsham Wolds as Warrant Officer Pilot on Lancasters, 27th March 1943 completing end June. Awarded DFC 517/43. Took crews and Lancaster to Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio via Gander to do experimental work for USAAF ( dropping two Bren Gun Carrier type vehicles by parachute from various heights to target zone. Returned to England and commenced third tour as P/ 0 with 617 Squadron October 1943 at Coningsby and Woodhall. Spa until July 1944. As Flying Officer was awarded DSO (Immediate award). Released from Service asF/Ltin 1946." Nicky Ross passed away on 18th April 2008.
Sewell, H B Click the name above to see a profile of Sewell, H B    Died : 12 / 5 / 1940	Sewell, H B
Smith, T D Click the name above to see a profile of Smith, T D    Died : 10 / 5 / 1940	Smith, T D
Snell, Vivian Click the name above to see a profile of Snell, Vivian    Died : 21 / 2 / 2010	Snell, Vivian Battle of Britain Hurricane pilot with No.501 Sqn. Shot down over Cranbrook on 25th October 1940 while flying Hurricane P2903, bailing out uninjured. During his service life Vivian flew the Fairy Battle with 103 Squadron, later flying the Hawker Hurricane with 151 and 501(F) Squadrons during the Battle of Britain in 1940. Vivian shot down a Bf109E on the 25th October 1940 and was then shot down himself while piloting Hurricane Mk.I serial N2438. After having minor wounds attended to he returned to his squadron and flew through the rest of the Battle of Britain. In 1941 he was flying the American built Douglas DB7 Havoc night fighter with number 85(F) Squadron. He commanded his own Mosquito Squadron towards the end of the War. Vivian was released from the RAF in 1946 with the rank of Wing Commander.
Summers, Click the name above to see a profile of Summers,	Summers,
Summers, J E Click the name above to see a profile of Summers, J E	Summers, J E
Thomas, C. V. Click the name above to see a profile of Thomas, C. V.    Died : 10 / 6 / 1940	Thomas, C. V.
Thompson, Sam Click the name above to see a profile of Thompson, Sam	Thompson, Sam As a Mid Upper Gunner he was posted to 103 Sqn on Halifaxes before transferring to 9 Sqn where he completed 3 raids on the Tirpitz and also Berchtesgaden, completing 50 Ops in total.
Thorougood, G W Click the name above to see a profile of Thorougood, G W	Thorougood, G W
Vickers, J H Click the name above to see a profile of Vickers, J H    Died : 5 / 10 / 1939	Vickers, J H
Vpan, A L Click the name above to see a profile of Vpan, A L	Vpan, A L
Waern, L. F. Click the name above to see a profile of Waern, L. F.	Waern, L. F. Sergeant L.F.Waern of No.103 Squadron was injured on February 10th 1941 when his Wellington (T2610) lost engine power and ditched into the North Sea. He was rescued by the SS Tovelil two days later.
Wallis, Kenneth Horatio Click the name above to see a profile of Wallis, Kenneth Horatio    Died : 1 / 9 / 2013	Wallis, Kenneth Horatio Kenneth Horatio Wallis was born on April 26 1916 at Ely, Cambridgeshire, where his father ran a cycle and motorcycle shop, and was educated at The Kings School. Kenneth had limited vision in his right eye and as a child wore an eye patch and in 1936 this defect led to his rejection by the RAF. Undeterred, he paid £14 to obtain a private flying licence which required only a certificate signed by his GP, obtaining the licence after just 12 hours flying a Gypsy Moth. Having failed another test for the RAF in 1938, when he tried again after the outbreak of war Wallis decided to cheat. While the doctors back was turned, he sneaked a look with his good eye at the bottom line of letters on the test chart and passed. After flying Westland Lysander patrols with No 268 Squadron, in 1941 Wallis transferred to Bomber Command, flying Wellingtons with No 103 Squadron, based at RAF Elsham Wolds in north Lincolnshire, attacking heavily defended targets in the Ruhr. Though he survived 28 missions over cities in Germany he gained something of a reputation for being accident prone, earning the nickname Crasher. Returning from Frankfurt in September 1941, Wallis found his airfield blanketed by fog. He made a number of abortive attempts to land but, with his fuel tanks almost dry, he climbed to allow his crew to bail out. After they had done so, his parachute snagged on his seat — he finally got clear at very low level, and his parachute opened only seconds before he hit the ground. After a tour as a bombing instructor, Wallis left for Italy and flew bombing operations with No 37 Squadron. Having survived another crash when his aircraft was struck by lightning, he applied to fly Mosquito bombers at night — a mistake, as it meant that his night vision was tested. All hell let loose — You have been flying with a bomber crew and you cant see properly!’ he recalled being told. But the RAF ophthalmologist was more positive. He said, Wallis, I would rather have a man with a bit of fire in his belly who wants to fly than some of the perfect specimens I get here who do not. Wallis remained in the post-war RAF and specialised as an armament officer, among other things solving the problems of loading bombs efficiently on to the RAFs first jet bomber, the Canberra, and testing the Mach 2 – later known as the Lightning. During a two-year posting to the USAFs Strategic Air Command armament and electronics division in the 1950s, he flew B-36s laden with nuclear bombs over the North Pole and participated in powerboat races in vessels that he made from redundant parts, winning the 56-mile Missouri Marathon. He also set about building his first autogyro. He returned to Britain to be the Command Armament Officer at Fighter Command. Wallis demonstrated his autogyros at numerous RAF air shows before leaving the RAF in 1964 in the rank of wing commander. He moved to Norfolk, hoping that he would be able to put them into commercial production for reconnaissance, research and development, surveillance and military purposes. But it never happened. Instead, during the 1970s, he worked with a company that pioneered a type of multi-spectral aerial photography that could detect where bodies were buried, as a result of which he was called in to help in several high-profile missing-person searches. He also flew an autogyro at 18,976ft without oxygen; became the oldest pilot to set a world record when, aged 81, he accidentally achieved the fastest climb to 3,000ft, in seven minutes 20 seconds; and he set a world speed record for an autogyro of 129.1mph at the age of 89. kenneth Wallis never found a commercial manufacturer for his autogyros, although he was delighted when the James Bond film producer Cubby Broccoli recognised its dramatic potential: Wallis and his autogyro, Little Nellie, were duly dispatched to the set of You Only Live Twice, where Wallis stood in for Sean Connery in a famous sequence in which Bond, in a rocket-firing autogyro, fights baddies in orthodox helicopters, zipping around an active volcano — Wallis received many national and international awards, was appointed MBE in 1996. Wing Commander Kenneth Wallis, born April 26 1916, died September 1 2013.
Warren, Bernard Click the name above to see a profile of Warren, Bernard	Warren, Bernard Joined the RAF on 25th January 1943 and qualified as an Air Gunner from No7 AGS Stormey Down in July 1943. After ITW he was posted to 28 OTU in August where he crewed up as a Rear Gunner. The crew then moved to No 1662 Conversion Unit at Blyton until they were posted to 103 Sqn - 1 Group - Elsham Wolds. His first op as a spare Mid-upper Gunner was to Augsberg on 25th February 1944. On the same op his pilot went with another crew and failed to return. With a new pilot they commenced ops and had completed seven when they were shot down and baled out over Dusseldorf on 22nd April 1944. He spent the next 12 months in POW camps and left the RAF in August 1946.
Watt, D. G. Click the name above to see a profile of Watt, D. G.    Died : 25 / 2 / 1941	Watt, D. G.
Webber, Click the name above to see a profile of Webber,	Webber,
Wells, M C Click the name above to see a profile of Wells, M C	Wells, M C K9372 was piloted by F/Off M C "Blackie" Wells. Apparently the German column was well equipped with 20mm and 37mm cannon and the Battles were briefed to bomb from 250 feet. Shot down by ground fire and abandoned near Luxembourg. Flight Lieutenant M C Wells taken prisoner, Sergeant H F Bullock taken prisoner, Leading Aircraftsman T H Bowen taken prisoner. "Wells also crossed the incendiary bullets and shrapnel barrier which hit his engine, starting off a fire and a leak in the coolant tank. His cockpit was covered in smoke and oil. He pulled the joystick back in order to gain sufficient height for a parachute jump. When he turned back, he saw that his two colleagues had disappeared from sight. He made a 150 feet parachute jump, when his feet were starting to catch fire. He landed rather heavily on the ground near the remains of his burning plane. He was promptly captured by the Germans who gathered around him. He would later find his companions (Sgt H F Bullock and LAC T H Bowen) in Stalag Luft 3."
Werner, Click the name above to see a profile of Werner,	Werner,
Werner, Click the name above to see a profile of Werner,	Werner,

Aircraft for : No.103 Sqn RAF
A list of all aircraft associated with No.103 Sqn RAF. A profile page including a list of all art prints for the aircraft is available by clicking the aircraft name.
Aircraft	Info
Battle Click the name above to see prints featuring Battle aircraft. Manufacturer : Fairey	Battle 14th May 1940 was a bad day for losses for the Fairey battle aircraft and its crews during the Battle for France. Sedan was situated on the east bank of the Meuse River. Its capture would give the Germans a base from which to capture the Meuse bridges and cross the river. On 14 May 1940 the Allied air forces, tried to destroy the bridges to slow down the German advance. During these sorties No 71 Wing RAF lost 10 Fairey Battles and 5 Blenheims No.75 Wing RAF lost 14–18 Battles and No 76 Wing RAF lost 11 Battles. Out of 71 bombers dispatched, 40–44 bombers were lost, meaning a loss rate of 56–62 percent Here is the list of Aircraft shot down and the names of their crews Battle K9189 , GB-?, - Shot down near Sedan. Pilot Officer F H Ridley killed, Sergeant G Atkinson killed, Aircraftsman 1 J S Thomson killed. Battle K9333 , WT-?, - Shot down near Ecly. Pilot Officer H L Oakley ok, Sergeant Martin ok, Aircraftsman 1 Presto ok. Battle K9342 , GB-?, - Shot down near Sedan. Pilot Officer F A G Lascelles ok, Sergeant Ordway ok, Aircraftsman 1 Weir ok. Battle K9343 , MQ-?, - Crashed near Sedan. Sergeant V H Moseley killed, Sergeant S D Hibberd killed, Corporal H F Little killed. Battle K9383 , MQ-?, - Damaged by enemy but returned to base. Abandoned during fall of France. Sergeant E E Hopkins ok, Sergeant J Callaghan ok, Aircraftsman 1 D Barber ok. Battle K9483 , JN-?, - Crashed near Sedan. Pilot Officer A F Posselt killed, Sergeant D J Bowen killed, Aircraftsman 2 N V Vano killed. Battle L4946 , JN-?, - Crashed near Douchery. Flying Officer J Ing killed, Sergeant J D Turner killed, Aircraftsman 1 W J Nolan killed. Battle L4950 , PH-V, - Crashed near Sedan. Flying Officer E R D Vaughan killed, Sergeant C Shelton-Jones killed, Aircraftsman 1 J D Wright taken prisoner. Battle L4952 , PH-X, - Shot down near Sedan. Flight Lieutenant G D Clancey taken prisoner, Sergeant K Alderson killed, Aircraftsman 1 R T Ainsworth killed. Battle L5188 , PH-C, - Lost near Sedan. Sergeant H R W Winkler taken prisoner, Sergeant M D Smalley taken prisoner, Aircraftsman 1 L R Clarke taken prisoner. Battle L5190? , PM-?, - Shot down near Sedan. Flying Officer T B Fitzgerald injured, Corporal Madkins ok. (Note Flying Officer Fitzgerald may not have been in this aircraft but instead P2191.) Battle L5230 , GB-?, - Lost without trace around Sedan. Flight Lieutenant H C Sammels killed, Sergeant F B Abbott killed, Leading Aircraftsman R D Hughes killed. Battle L5232 , HA-?, - Shot down at Sauville. Pilot Officer W A R Harris injured but returned to unit, Sergeant N B Herriot killed, Aircraftsman 1 W Robinson killed. Battle L5233 , RH-?, - Returned to base damaged and was subsequently abandoned during the fall of France. Battle L5235 , HA-?, - Shot down near Sedan. Pilot Officer A M Imrie taken prisoner, Leading Aircraftsman A J Taylor killed. Battle L5238 , GB-?, - Shot down near Sedan. Flight Lieutenant R N Wall killed, Sergeant A C Morgan killed, Leading Aircraftsman H Hatton killed. Battle L5250 , GB-?, - Force landed and abandoned at Suipped. Pilot Officer D C F Murray ok, Sergeant Hemingway ok, Aircraftsman 1 Hill ok. Battle L5422 , HA-?, - Shot down near Sedan. Flying Officer J F R Crane killed, Aircraftsman 1 T W Holloway taken prisoner. Battle L5438 , MQ-?, - Crashed near Sedan. Flight Sergeant W A Dunn killed, Sergeant A F Sedgewick killed, Aircraftsman 2 M B Millar killed. Battle L5516 , PM-?, - Shot down near Sedan. Pilot Officer V A Cunningham ok, Aircraftsman 1 J Johnson ok. Battle L5517 , WT-?, - Crashed near Sedan. Flight Lieutenant K R Rogers killed. Battle L5523 , GB-?, - Crashed near Sedan. Pilot Officer H E White killed, Sergeant G A Cartwright killed, Aircraftsman 1 J Potter killed. Battle L5581 , RH-?, - Shot down near Sedan. Sergeant W G Ross killed, Sergeant F E Beames killed, Leading Aircraftsman J H K Gegg killed. Battle L5585 Mk.1 , GB-?, - Shot down and crashed behind enemy lines Battle P2182 , JN-?, - Shot down near Douzy. Flight Sergeant J Boon killed, Sergeant J D F Williams killed, Aircraftsman 1 S Martin killed.14May1940Battle P2191 , PM-?, - Shot down by an Me109 near Sedan. Sergeant G Beardsley ok, Leading Aircraftsman G F Lewis ok. (Note Sergeant Beardsley may not have been in this aircraft, but in L5190.)14May1940Battle P2246 , WT-?, - Shot down and crash landed behind enemy lines. Squadron Leader J F Hobler injured but evaded capture, Sergeant R V T Kitto evaded capture, Corporal D J Barbrooke evaded capture.14May1940Battle P2267 , MQ-?, - Shot down near Sedan. Squadron Leader C E S Lockett taken prisoner, Sergeant F J Percival killed, Corporal R S Clark killed.14May1940Battle P2324 , HA-?, - Shot down by ground fire near Sedan. Flying Officer D A J Foster taken prisoner, Aircraftsman 1 T J Bryan taken prisoner.14May1940Battle P2333 , WT-?, - Crashed near Sedan. Sergeant A N Spear evaded capture, Sergeant J Brookes killed, Leading Aircraftsman R H Nugent killed.14May1940Battle P2360 , HA-?, - Lost without trace near Sedan. Pilot Officer R T L Buttery killed, Aircraftsman 2 W C Waterston killed.14May1940Battle P5229 , PH-O, - Shot down near Sedan. Sergeant A G Johnson killed, Sergeant E F White killed, Aircraftsman 1 F T Spencer taken prisoner. Battle P5232 , JN-?, - Crashed near Sedan. Flight Sergeant G T Barker killed, Sergeant J D F Williams killed, Leading Aircraftsman A K Summerson evaded capture.
DH9 Click the name above to see prints featuring DH9 aircraft. Manufacturer : De Havilland Production Began : 1917 Retired : 1920 Number Built : 4091	DH9 The first deliveries were made in November 1917 to 108 Squadron RFC and it first went into combat over France in March 1918 with 6 Squadron, and by July 1918 nine squadrons operational over the Western Front were using the type. The DH.9's performance in action over the Western Front was a disaster, with heavy losses incurred, both due to its poor performance and to engine failures, despite the prior derating of its engine. Between May and November 1918, two squadrons on the Western Front (Nos. 99 and 104) lost 54 shot down, and another 94 written off in accidents. Nevertheless, on 23 August 1918 a DH9 flown by Lieutenant Arthur Rowe Spurling of 49 Squadron, with his observer, Sergeant Frank Bell, single-handedly attacked thirty Fokker D.VII fighters, downing five of them.[citation needed] Captain John Stevenson Stubbs managed 11 aerial victories in a DH9, including the highly unusual feat of balloon busting with one. The DH.9 was also more successful against the Turkish forces in the Middle East, where they faced less opposition, and it was used extensively for coastal patrols, to try to deter the operations of U-boats. Following the end of the First World War, DH.9s operated by 47 Squadron and 221 Squadron were sent to southern Russia in 1919 in support of the White Russian Army of General Denikin during the Russian Civil War. The last combat use by the RAF was in support of the final campaign against Mohammed Abdullah Hassan (known by the British as the "Mad Mullah") in Somalia during January—February 1920. Surprisingly, production was allowed to continue after the end of the war into 1919, with the DH.9 finally going out of service with the RAF in 1920
Halifax Click the name above to see prints featuring Halifax aircraft. Manufacturer : Handley Page Production Began : 1941 Retired : 1952 Number Built : 6177	Halifax Royal Air Force heavy Bomber with a crew of six to eight. Maximum speed of 280mph (with MK.VI top speed of 312mph) service ceiling of 22,800feet maximum range of 3,000 miles. The Halifax carried four .303 browning machine guns in the tail turret, two .303 browning machines in the nose turret in the MK III there were four .303 brownings in the dorsal turret. The Handley Page Halifax, first joined the Royal Air Force in March 1941 with 35 squadron. The Halifax saw service in Europe and the Middle east with a variety of variants for use with Coastal Command, in anti Submarine warfare, special duties, glider-tugs, and troop transportation roles. A total of 6177 Halifax's were built and stayed in service with the Royal Air Force until 1952
Hind Click the name above to see prints featuring Hind aircraft. Manufacturer : Hawker Production Began : 1935	Hind The Hawker Hind entered service with the Royal Air Force in November1935 and eventually 20 RAF bomber squadrons equipped with Hawker Hinds. Many Hinds were also sold to foreign customers including Afghanistan, the Irish Free State, Latvia, Persia (Iran), Portugal, South Africa, Switzerland, and Yugoslavia. The Hawker Hind was gradually phased out of frontline service from 1936 onwards and replaced by the Fairey Battle and Bristol Blenheim. At the outbreak of world war two only 613 squadorn was still equipped with Hawker Hinds in the roll of Army co-operation before re-equipping the Hawker Hector in November 1939. The Hawker Hind became a training aircraft from 1938 being the next step up from basic training on Tiger Moths. In 1941, Hinds flew combat missions in their original role as light bombers. South African Hinds were employed against Italian forces in Kenya, Yugoslav Hinds were used against the Germans and Italians.
Lancaster Click the name above to see prints featuring Lancaster aircraft. Manufacturer : Avro Production Began : 1942 Retired : 1963 Number Built : 7377	Lancaster The Avro Lancaster arose from the avro Manchester and the first prototype Lancaster was a converted Manchester with four engines. The Lancaster was first flown in January 1941, and started operations in March 1942. By March 1945 The Royal Air Force had 56 squadrons of Lancasters with the first squadron equipped being No.44 Squadron. During World War Two the Avro Lancaster flew 156,000 sorties and dropped 618,378 tonnes of bombs between 1942 and 1945. Lancaster Bomberss took part in the devastating round-the-clock raids on Hamburg during Air Marshall Harris' Operation Gomorrah in July 1943. Just 35 Lancasters completed more than 100 successful operations each, and 3,249 were lost in action. The most successful survivor completed 139 operations, and the Lancaster was scrapped after the war in 1947. A few Lancasters were converted into tankers and the two tanker aircraft were joined by another converted Lancaster and were used in the Berlin Airlift, achieving 757 tanker sorties. A famous Lancaster bombing raid was the 1943 mission, codenamed Operation Chastise, to destroy the dams of the Ruhr Valley. The operation was carried out by 617 Squadron in modified Mk IIIs carrying special drum shaped bouncing bombs designed by Barnes Wallis. Also famous was a series of Lancaster attacks using Tallboy bombs against the German battleship Tirpitz, which first disabled and later sank the ship. The Lancaster bomber was the basis of the new Avro Lincoln bomber, initially known as the Lancaster IV and Lancaster V. (Becoming Lincoln B1 and B2 respectively.) Their Lancastrian airliner was also based on the Lancaster but was not very successful. Other developments were the Avro York and the successful Shackleton which continued in airborne early warning service up to 1992.
Wellington Click the name above to see prints featuring Wellington aircraft. Manufacturer : Vickers Production Began : 1938 Retired : 1953	Wellington The Vickers Wellington was a Bomber aircraft and also used for maritime reconnaissance. and had a normal crew of six except in the MKV and VI where a crew of three was used. Maximum speed was 235 mph (MK1c) 255 mph (MK III, X) and 299 mph (MK IIII), normal operating range of 1805 miles (except MK III which was 1470miles) The Wellington or Wimpy as it was known, was the major bomber of the Royal Air Force between 1939 and 1943. The Royal Air Force received its first Wellingtons in October 1938 to 99 squadron. and by the outbreak of World war two there were 6 squadrons equipped with the Vickers Wellington. Due to heavy losses on daylight raids, the Wellington became a night bomber and from 1940 was also used as a long range bomber in North Africa. and in 1942 also became a long range bomber for the royal Air Force in India. It was well used by Coastal Command as a U-Boat Hunter. The Wellington remained in service with the Royal Air Force until 1953. Probably due to its versatile use, The aircraft was also used for experimental work including the fitting of a pressure cabin for High altitude tests. The Vickers Wellington could sustain major damage and still fly, probably due to its construction of its geodesic structure and practical application of geodesic lines. Designed by Sir Barnes Wallis