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No.83 Sqn RAF

Name : No.83 Sqn RAF Founded : 7th January 1917 Disbanded : 31st August 1969 Country : UK Fate : Disbanded 31st August 1969 More Details : Strike to defend Known Code Letters : , OL, QQ,

Known Service Details :
Pilot or Aircrew	Rank	Start of Service	End of Service	Known Dates	Aircraft	Airframes	Notes
Dennis Lyster		1935	unknown		Hind
R Anderson	Flight Lieutenant	unknown	unknown	11th February 1941	Hampden	AD734
J. Badcock	Pilot Officer	unknown	unknown	11th February 1941	Hampden	AD734
D. W. F. Barker	Sergeant	unknown	12th February 1941		Hampden	N1490	Killed in Action
Tom Bennett		unknown	unknown
D. Brand	Sergeant	unknown	17th January 1941		Hampden	AD731	Killed in Action
T. P. Byrne	Sergeant	unknown	unknown	11th February 1941	Hampden	AD734
L. Emmerson	Sergeant	unknown	27th February 1941		Hampden	X3124	Killed in Action
W. A. Foster	Sergeant	unknown	7th April 1941		Hampden	X2899	Killed in Action
Guy Penrose Gibson		unknown	23rd April 1940	16th November 1937	Hind Hampden
James Goldie		unknown	unknown	13th August 1943
C. B. Harrison	Sergeant	unknown	30th March 1941		Hampden	AD800	Killed in Action
Hedley Hazelden		December 1941	unknown		Manchester Lancaster
M. A. Hollingshead	Sergeant	unknown	7th April 1941		Hampden	X2899	Killed in Action
D.V. House	Sergeant	unknown	17th January 1941		Hampden	AD731	Killed in Action
A. E. Jackson	Pilot Officer	unknown	7th April 1941		Hampden	X2899	Killed in Action
C. B. James	Sergeant	unknown	unknown	20th March 1941	Hampden	X3132
W. H. Lowson	Sergeant	unknown	12th February 1941		Hampden	AD722	Killed in Action
D. MacCallum	Sergeant	unknown	unknown	20th March 1941	Hampden	X3132
A. M. Melville	Pilot Officer	unknown	27th February 1941		Hampden	X3124	Killed in Action
W. E. Miller	Sergeant	unknown	21st March 1941		Hampden	X3132	Killed in Action
A. M. Murray	Sergeant	unknown	4th April 1941		Hampden	AD748	Killed in Action
H. R. Northwood	Sergeant	unknown	30th March 1941		Hampden	AD800	Killed in Action
J. T. Owen	Sergeant	unknown	30th March 1941		Hampden	AD800	Killed in Action
A. F. Phillips	Pilot Officer	unknown	7th April 1941		Hampden	X2899	Killed in Action
E. W. Reynolds	Pilot Officer	unknown	30th March 1941		Hampden	AD800	Killed in Action
W. W. Stainthorpe	Sergeant	unknown	27th February 1941		Hampden	X3124	Killed in Action
P. J. Strong	Pilot Officer	unknown	17th January 1941		Hampden	AD731	Killed in Action
G. Targett	Sergeant	unknown	12th February 1941		Hampden	AD722	Killed in Action
E. D. Thompson	Flight Lieutenant	unknown	4th April 1941		Hampden	AD748	Killed in Action
D. V. Weaving	Sergeant	unknown	unknown	11th February 1941	Hampden	AD734
N. S. Weir	Sergeant	unknown	21st March 1941		Hampden	X3132	Killed in Action
A. G. S. White	Sergeant	unknown	17th January 1941		Hampden	AD731	Killed in Action
F. S. Wilson	Sergeant	unknown	12th February 1941		Wellington	AD722	Killed in Action
Denis Woolley		unknown	unknown

Pilots and Aircrew for : No.83 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
Anderson, R Click the name above to see a profile of Anderson, R	Anderson, R
Badcock, J. Click the name above to see a profile of Badcock, J.	Badcock, J.
Barker, D. W. F. Click the name above to see a profile of Barker, D. W. F.    Died : 12 / 2 / 1941	Barker, D. W. F.
Bennett, Tom Click the name above to see a profile of Bennett, Tom    Died : 9 / 1 / 2013	Bennett, Tom Born in 1919, Tom Bennett was a specialist navigator with 30 ops with 49 Sqn Lancasters followed by selection for Leonard Cheshires elite Mosquito Marker Force within the legendary 617 Sqn. Following the D-Day landings on 5 - 6th June, there was a very great danger that the Germans would reinforce their troops with their reserves Panzer tank corp. These had been stationed at Calais due to the Germans belief that the invasion would come at that point. The only way to get the Panzer through to the Beachhead at Normandy was via the French Saumur tunnel. 617 squadron were assigned to destroy this and were led by the famous Leonard Cheshire VC OM DSO DFC. He used 3 Mosquitoes as a marker force for the main 617 Bomber Force and the dropping of flares was so accurate that one of the Lancasters put a 12000 tall boy straight through the roof of the tunnel and the tunnel was not reopened until 1946. Thomas Ben Bennett was born in 1919 in Poplar. After a civilian career as a clerk he volunteered for military service in 1939. Called up in the spring of 1940, he was told that he did not qualify for pilot training as his maths was not sufficiently strong to enable him to cope with aerial navigation. Instead he would train as a wireless operator/air gunner. Tom's Morse skills were insufficient, with the result that he only qualified as an Air Gunner. Service life being what it is, he was then offered, and took, an opportunity to re-muster a navigator. (There were later to be a number of times over Germany when he wished he had taken the advice of the Wing Commander at Uxbridge). After an initial course on Ansons and Blenheims at Jurby, Isle of Man, in April 1942 he was transferred to No. 19 OTU, Kinloss, where he would team up with his pilot Gerry Fawke. His first operational posting was to No. 49 Sqn at Scampton in June 1942. He considered himself fortunate in that they had just declared Manchesters non-operational as he arrived and that the Squadron was converting to Lancasters. On an early operation to Duisburg, their aircraft was coned and only violent evasive action by Fawke saved the day. During a low level operation against Wismar in September 1942, he received a slight flesh wound from shrapnel and was admitted to RAF Hospital Rauceby Fawke and Bennett took part participated in the daylight Le Creusot attack of 24 October 1942 During that month Tom was recommended for the DFM and subsequently awarded a commission. Further trips followed, to include Berlin and targets in Italy. The crew were just about to depart on their 30th operation, against Bremen, when they were prevented from taxying out by Charles Whitworth, Scampton's Station Commander, who told them that they would not be going, and that their tour was over. Tom was then screened and posted for duties at No. 1661 CU, thence to HQ No. 5 Group at St Vincents, Grantham, before being sent to No. 1654 CU, Wigsley as an instructor. Promoted to Flying Officer in April 1944, he had just arrived on No. 83 Sqn at Wyton, a Pathfinder Squadron, when he received a phone call informing him that he was to team up with his former captain at the Mosquito Training Unit at Warboys, prior to transfer to 617 Sqn. As one of the Mosquito Marker crews Tom and Gerry Fawke were to help perfect the low level marking technique against increasingly defended targets, starting with the French rail yards of Juvisy and La Chapelle, then targeting targets in Germany, including Munich. Returning to their forward operating base at Manston after the latter trip on 24/25 April, the crew discovered to their chagrin that their markers had hung up and were still there suspended in the bomb bay.Transferring to the Lancaster for Operation Taxable, Tom was one of the key navigators responsible for perfecting the pattern of overlapping orbits and perfect timing that were vital to the operation's success. Such was Tom's desire to see recognition for ALL the Squadron's navigators that he was later to lobby Leonard Cheshire to campaign for a retrospective award, but without success. Reverting to the Mosquito and their marking role, the crew participated in the attack on the Saumur tunnel, and Le Havre. The Squadron then switched to daylight attacks on the large V-weapon sites at Watten, Wizernes, Mimoyecques and Siracourt, before again targeting U-boat pens and port facilities. During one of the latter operations, an attack on the Gueydon at Brest, after diving to low level Fawke opened fire on a vessel with the Mosquitos cannon and machine guns, prompting Tom to comment You've just killed four German sailors in LA PALLICE. Later operations also saw the crew armed with cameras to photograph proceedings, and he made the only known image of one of the Squadron s Mustangs as he used up footage filming Wg Cdr Cheshire formating on his Mosquito. With the Squadron's marker role now firmly established with No. 627 Sqn, Gerry Fawke and Tom returned to the Lancaster. Tom became Squadron Navigation Officer during August 1944, and was responsible for overseeing navigation for the first two Tirpitz operations and the attacks on West Kapelle and the Kembs dam. The latter would be Tom's final operation on the strength of 617 Sqn. Posted as Station Navigation Officer, Woodhall Spa at the end of October 1944, he was still able to keep an eye on his successor and in February 1945 flew with the Squadron on two further operations. He would later recall: I flew 62 trips, that's why I tell people I'm lucky to be alive. But I lost a lot of friends and you always remember them as they were — young men.Post war Tom remained in the RAF, serving with the RAF Delegation in Greece in 1949 and later with No. 38 Squadron, flying Lancasters on Maritime Reconnaissance in the Mediterranean. His final posting saw him as Wing Adjutant of the RAF's Initial Training School before he left the Service, as a Squadron Leader, in March 1955.
Brand, D. Click the name above to see a profile of Brand, D.    Died : 17 / 1 / 1941	Brand, D. Sergeant D.Brand of No.83 Squadron was killed on January 17th 1941. His Hampden (AD731) was shot down into the sea off Norfolk. He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Brennan, M Ben Click the name above to see a profile of Brennan, M Ben	Brennan, M Ben Ben Brennan volunteered for the RAF in 1941, qualifying as a Flight Engineer in early 1943. Converting to Lancasters, he was posted to join 619 Squadron at Woodall Spa. In late 1943 he went to 83 Squadron at Wyton, as part of the Lancaster Pathfinder Force, before joining No 5 Group at Coningsby. He flew a total of 80 operations during the war.
Byrne, T. P. Click the name above to see a profile of Byrne, T. P.	Byrne, T. P.
Emmerson, L. Click the name above to see a profile of Emmerson, L.    Died : 27 / 2 / 1941	Emmerson, L.
Foster, W. A. Click the name above to see a profile of Foster, W. A.    Died : 7 / 4 / 1941	Foster, W. A.
Gibson, Guy Penrose Click the name above to see a profile of Gibson, Guy Penrose    Died : 19 / 9 / 1944	Gibson, Guy Penrose Leader of the Dambusters Raid for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross. He had served with No.83 Sqn on Hinds and Hampdens, then No.29 Sqn on Blenheims and Beaufighters. Later he joined No.106 Sqn on Manchesters and Lancasters before flying with No.617 Sqn for the Dambusters raid. He was killed when his Mosquito crashed on 19th September 1944.
Goldie, James Click the name above to see a profile of Goldie, James	Goldie, James No's 7, 83, 97 and 224 Squadrons. Joined RAF trained as Air Gunner.Flew 73 missions with Bomber Command - 38 Main Force, 35 Pathfinders and 38 with Coastal Command. Total flying hours 1,630. Crashed in an Avro Manchester 13109/41. Spleen removed as a result of injuries sustained in the crash and returned to Operations. Raids included 6 Essen, 6 Duisberg, 3 Berlin, 4 Hamburg, 5 Bremen and 3 Nuremberg. Served with 83 Squadron at RAF Wyton, 97 Squadron RAF Coningsby/ Woodhall Spa and 7 Squadron Oakington. Demobilised 1956. Service number 620563. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross as a Warrant Officer with No.83 Sqn, which was gazetted on 17th August 1943, and the Distinguished Flying Medal as a Flight Sergeant with No.97 Sqn, gazetted on 20th November 1942. We have been informed that he has now passed away, but do not have any information as to the date.
Harrison, C. B. Click the name above to see a profile of Harrison, C. B.    Died : 30 / 3 / 1941	Harrison, C. B.
Hazelden, Hedley Click the name above to see a profile of Hazelden, Hedley    Died : 0 / 8 / 2001	Hazelden, Hedley Hedley was born in 1915 at Sevenoaks, Kent. Leaving school in 1933 he joined Standard Life. In November 1938 he joined the RAFVR and in June 1939 he reported to 6 E and RFTS at Sywell where he began his flying career on the Tiger Moth later moving to Redhill flying Hinds, Harts and Audax. Called to full time service on the day before war was declared in September 1939 and after brief training at Cambridge University he was posted to 12 SFTS at RAF Spittlegate flying Ansons. Moving to 14 OTU at RAF Cottesmore he converted to the Hampden before being posted to 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron at RAF Waddington early in 1940. He was commissioned in December 1940. April 1940 saw the end of his tour with 43 operations to his credit and a Distinguished Flying Cross. Back to RAF Cottesmore for 6 months as an instructor on 14 OTU then to RAF Finingley with 25 OTU for conversion to the Manchester and crewing. Christmas 1941 saw him posted to RAF Scampton with 83 Squadron flying the Manchester before converting to the Lancaster. His first Lancaster operation was the thousand bomber raid on Cologne. After 22 operations and a bar to his DFC he was posted to RAF Bassingborn 11 OTU as an instructor. He moved to RAF Oakley as Station Commander with 39 Wellington 1cs of 11 OTU. His rank by this time was Squadron Leader. In June 1943 he joined the newly formed Test Pilots School at RAF Boscombe Down. Of the 18 who started the No.1 Course Hedley was one of the 13 who passed in January 1944. After spending a month at Avro at Woodford production testing Lancasters he joined the Heavy Test Squadron A and AEE as its commanding officer in which time he flew every heavy bomber type before it entered RAF service. Following the end of the war he commanded the newly formed large civil aircraft squadron. He move to Handley Page in April 1947 as Cheif Test Pilot working on the Hastings and Hermes. He was a development consultant on the Victor, eventually taking it on its maiden flight on Christmas Eve 1952. Many Victor flights followed and he flew the maiden flight of the Herald on the 15th of August 1955. Headley left Handley Page in 1966, and having gained his civil licence he flew Heralds for Autair International and BAC-111s for Court Line. He finally retired in January 1981. He died in August 2001.
Hollingshead, M. A. Click the name above to see a profile of Hollingshead, M. A.    Died : 7 / 4 / 1941	Hollingshead, M. A.
House, D.V. Click the name above to see a profile of House, D.V.    Died : 17 / 1 / 1941	House, D.V. Sergeant D.V.House of No.83 Squadron was killed on January 17th 1941. His Hampden (AD731) was shot down into the sea off Norfolk. He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Ingmire, Mervyn Click the name above to see a profile of Ingmire, Mervyn	Ingmire, Mervyn As a young man, Mervyn Ingmire witnessed the great air battles over London and Kent during August 1940 from his home in Margate. He volunteered for the RAF and while waiting to be called for aircrew training he saw the huge German raids being intercepted by RAF fighters and watched Ju87s dive-bombing Manston airfield. He joined 115 Squadron in 1941 at Marham, flying Wellingtons and had completed a full tour of operations by April 1942. After a spell on Whitleys in the Western Desert and Mediterranean theatre during 1943, he joined 83 Squadron at Coningsby, part of the 5 Group Lancaster Pathfinder Force. In late December 1944, his aircraft, PB533 OL-Q, was diverted to Metheringham on return from a mission to bomb the synthetic oil refineries at Politz. Short of fuel, the Lancaster crashed while attempting to land in early morning fog, killing the other seven crew of the Lancaster (Squadron Leader Leslie Hatcher DFC AFM, Flight Sergeant H J Naldrett, Flight Lieutenant A J Booker DFC, Pilot Officer E Marron, Wireless Operator R F Goodman, Flight Lieutenant C Summerscales DFC and Wireless Operator F J Bell), but Ingmire was rescued from the wreckage and despite terrible injuries, he survived. After the war Mervyn Ingmire enjoyed a career in the motor industry before retiring to live in Norfolk and sharpen his bridge-playing skills.
Jackson, A. E. Click the name above to see a profile of Jackson, A. E.    Died : 7 / 4 / 1941	Jackson, A. E.
James, C. B. Click the name above to see a profile of James, C. B.	James, C. B.
Learoyd, Roderick Click the name above to see a profile of Learoyd, Roderick    Died : 24 / 1 / 1996	Learoyd, Roderick On the day that war was declared Rod Learoyd was on patrol flying Hampdens with 49 Sqn. Continually involved with low level bombing, on the night of 12th August 1940, he and four other aircraft attempted to breach the heavily defended Dortmund - Ems canal. Of the four other aircraft on the mission, two were destroyed and the other two were badly hit. Learoyd took his plane into the heavily defended target at only 150 feet, in full view of the searchlights, and with flak barrage all around. He managed to get his very badly damaged aircraft back to England, where he circled until daybreak when he finally landed the aircraft without inflicting more damage to it, or injuring any of his crew. For his supreme courage that night he was awarded the Victoria Cross. He later joined 44 Sqn with the first Lancasters, and then commanded 83 Sqn. He died 24th January 1996. Citation for the Victoria Cross, gazetted 20th August 1940. This officer, as first pilot of a Hampden aircraft, has repeatedly shown the highest conception of his duty and complete indifference to personal danger in making attacks at the lowest altitudes regardless of opposition. On the night of I2th August, 1940, he was detailed to attack a special objective on the Dortmund-Ems Canal. He had attacked this objective on a previous occasion and was well aware of the risks entailed. To achieve success it was necessary to approach from a direction well known to the enemy, through a lane of especially disposed anti-aircraft defences, and in the face of the most intense point blank fire from guns of all calibres. The reception of the preceding aircraft might well have deterred the stoutest heart, all being hit and two lost. Flight Lieutenant Learoyd nevertheless made his attack at 150 feet, his aircraft being repeatedly hit and large pieces of the main planes torn away. He was almost blinded by the glare of many searchlights at close range but pressed home this attack with the greatest resolution and skill. He subsequently brought his wrecked aircraft home and, as the landing flaps were inoperative and the undercarriage indicators out of action, waited for dawn in the vicinity of his aerodrome before landing, which he accomplished without causing injury to his crew or further damage to the aircraft. The high courage, skill and determination, which this officer has invariably displayed on many occasions in the face of the enemy, sets an example which is unsurpassed. London Gazette, 1940.
Lowson, W. H. Click the name above to see a profile of Lowson, W. H.    Died : 12 / 2 / 1941	Lowson, W. H.
Lyster, Dennis Click the name above to see a profile of Lyster, Dennis    Died : 24 / 6 / 2010	Lyster, Dennis joined the RAF in January 1935 and completed his pilot training at the RAF’s flying school in Egypt before joining 83 Squadron to fly the Hind biplane bomber. In 1938 the Squadron was Re-equipped with Hampden's, Lyster had always had a deep interest in navigation and at the end of 1940 attended a specialist navigation course before returning to No 83 as a flight commander. The navigators on Hampdens were usually inexperienced pilots, so Lyster keenly monitored their efforts. Isolated in his pilot’s cockpit, he had a map strapped to his knee and carried his own sextant on his long-range operations. He was thus sometimes able to correct the efforts of his “navigatorâ€�. Over the next few months he attacked numerous German cities, flying inadequate and unheated bombers in all weathers on sorties that were often in excess of seven and eight hours. After completing another 22 operations, Lyster was rested and became an instructor at a bomber training unit. He was assessed as exceptional and was awarded the DSO. For the remainder of the war, Lyster remained a bombing instructor but, on the night of June 1/2 1942, he was co-opted to take part in the second of the Thousand Bomber Raids when Essen was the target. For his services as a chief flying instructor he was awarded the AFC. After the war, he completed the RAF Staff College course at Haifa before joining the staff HQ Middle East Air Force in Egypt. Whenever Lyster was given a ground appointment he made strenuous efforts to fly as often as possible. In February 1948, he took a Spitfire from Fayid in Egypt to the South African Air Force base at Waterkloof near Johannesburg, a flight which involved 10 refuelling stops. He then demonstrated the aircraft at airfields in South Africa and in Northern and Southern Rhodesia. Lyster converted to jets in 1951 and in January 1953 was appointed to command the Examination Wing of the Central Flying School. It was the responsibility of Exam Wing, or the “trappersâ€� as they were irreverently known, to test and standardise the flying instructors of the RAF. They were also in great demand by overseas air forces and the wing made annual tours worldwide. In October 1954 Lyster, flying his own transport aircraft, led a team to Ceylon, Australia and New Zealand to test the instructors of those air forces. At the end of his period in command, Lyster was classed as an A1 instructor of exceptional ability and was awarded a Bar to his AFC. He commanded the fighter airfield at Stradishall in Suffolk, where he flew the latest jets, and his final appointment was at Headquarters Fighter Command. He retired in January 1961 having flown 64 different types of aircraft.
MacCallum, D. Click the name above to see a profile of MacCallum, D.	MacCallum, D.
Mackie, Norman Click the name above to see a profile of Mackie, Norman    Died : 1 / 1 / 2003	Mackie, Norman Joining the RAF in 1940 he was posted in April 1941 to 83 Sqn at Scampton flying Hampdens and Manchesters, joining OTU as an instructor on Wellingtons in March 1942. He then rejoined 83 Sqn now at Wyton as a Pathfinder flying Lancasters until he was shot down by German Night Fighters in March 1943. Having been captured he escaped to Switzerland and after a period there managed to return to Britain through France and Spain. In May 1944 he joined 571 Sqn flying Mosquitoes with the Light Night Strike Force taking part in many of the units operations over Western Germany. He left the RAF in December 1967.  He died 1st January 2003.
Melville, A. M. Click the name above to see a profile of Melville, A. M.    Died : 27 / 2 / 1941	Melville, A. M.
Miller, W. E. Click the name above to see a profile of Miller, W. E.    Died : 21 / 3 / 1941	Miller, W. E.
Morgan, Alun Click the name above to see a profile of Morgan, Alun	Morgan, Alun Air Commodore Alun Morgan was called up for National Service in 1950, and was then selected for RAF College Cranwell, (1951-53). His first tour was on 81 Sqn in Singapore flying Meteor PR 10s and Pembroke's. He joined the V-Force in 1960, first as a co-pilot then as a captain on Vulcan Is and 1As. From 1967- 67 he was FIt Cdr on 83 Sqn at Scampton flying the Blue Steel Vulcan 11. A short tour in 1974 as OC the Vulcan Standardisation Sqn was followed by a tour at Akrotiri, Cyprus as OC Vulcan Bomber Wing. A desk tour at HQ 1 Group followed as Vulcan Operations, but he still managed two of the USAF Bombing Competitions in the USA, leading the Vulcan High Noon and Giant Voice detachments in 1975 and 1977. From 1978-81 he was the NATO Targeting Representative at Headquarters SAC at Offutt USA, and retired in 1986 as the UK National Military Representative at SHAPE, Belgium. He flew his last Vulcan sortie on 18 Nov 1982.
Murray, A. M. Click the name above to see a profile of Murray, A. M.    Died : 4 / 4 / 1941	Murray, A. M.
Northwood, H. R. Click the name above to see a profile of Northwood, H. R.    Died : 30 / 3 / 1941	Northwood, H. R.
Owen, J. T. Click the name above to see a profile of Owen, J. T.    Died : 30 / 3 / 1941	Owen, J. T.
Pearson, R Click the name above to see a profile of Pearson, R	Pearson, R Joined the RAF in 1943 to begin training as an Air Gunner. After the usual short attachments at various training stations eventually ending up at No 2 AGS Dalcross. Air firing was carried out from an Avro Anson. There was always a mad rush to be first aboard the aircraft on every detail, not from enthusiasm, but from trying to avoid winding up the undercarriage after take off. M/Sig Pearson went from Dalcross to Kinloss to join a crew flying Whitleys and several months later ended up at 158 Sqdn Lissett to commence operations on Halifaxes. After half a tour and very happy at Lissett his crew were posted onto a PFF Sqdn, 635 Sqdn Downham Market. His first operation, and very nearly his last, was a daylight raid on Hamburg. On the bombing run, they had the misfortune to be selected by the pilot of a ME262 as his victim. He was not spotted until he was dead astern and blazing away with the four 30mm cannon in the nose. Evasive action was given and the pilot promptly stood the Lanc on its nose. Unfortunately not all the cannon shells missed and they lost quite a piece of fuselage leaving ammo belts hanging out in the slipstream. After regaining level flight, they were attacked again by another ME262, but this time they were lucky. Both ME pilots decided to push off and find some other sitting duck! Despite these attacks, they carried on and bombed, making their way home across the North Sea, not a pleasant journey. The pilot received an immediate award of the DFC. M/Sig Pearson finished the war out at Downham Market and after the war in Europe ended was posted to 83 Sqdn Conningsby for Tiger Force training and operations against the Japanese. Fortunately the war in the east ceased just as they were ready to depart. He was demobbed in May 1947, but was not happy out of uniform so was back in again at the end of 1949 as an A/G flying on Lincolns at 9 Sqdn. Binbrook. He had a short detachment with 617 Sqdn at Shallufa, Egypt and at the end of 1952 was posted onto B29 aircraft with 15 Sqdn. Coningsby. After six months he was posted to Little Rissington on a Link Trainer course and then to FTS Syerston as a Link instructor to Naval cadet pilots. In 1955, he was required to either remuster to a ground trade or take another aircrew trade. He was posted to Swanton Morley to take training as an Air Signaller and from then to St Mawgan 228 Sqdn on Shackletons. Next came a posting to Northolt in a drawing office drawing En-Route charts and Terminal Approach Procedures. Back to flying in 1961 and a posting to 224 Sqdn Gibraltar and then to Air Traffic Control School at Shawbury. On completion of this course came a posting to RAF Lyneham as Local Controller and thence to RAF Colerne as Approach Controller. He left the service in 1968.
Phillips, A. F. Click the name above to see a profile of Phillips, A. F.    Died : 7 / 4 / 1941	Phillips, A. F.
Reynolds, E. W. Click the name above to see a profile of Reynolds, E. W.    Died : 30 / 3 / 1941	Reynolds, E. W.
Scrivener, Norman Click the name above to see a profile of Scrivener, Norman    Died : 5 / 2007	Scrivener, Norman One of the top RAF navigators of the war who went on more than 100 sorties in Bomber Command. Squadron Leader Norman Scrivener was born in Birmingham in November 1915 and joined the Royal Air Force in early 1939. Norman Scrivener trained at Staverton Aerodrome, in Gloucestershire, where he discovered he suffered from air sickness. He joined 97 (New Zealand ) Squadron, became a pilot officer and was one of the first navigators to use the developing radar systems and later flew with Wing Commander Guy Gibson (before Gibson moved to the Dambusters.) with 106 Squadron and in 1943 joined the Pathfinders of 83 Squadron as navigator to the Squadron Commander John Searby and took part in the raid on the German radar facilities in Peenemunde where the German V2 and V1 rockets were produced and tested. Squadron Leader Norman Scrivener was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Distinguished Flying Order. Sadly Squadron Leader Norman Scrivener died in Worcester aged 91 in May 2007.
Searby, John Click the name above to see a profile of Searby, John    Died : 14 / 1 / 1986	Searby, John John Searby joined the RAF in 1929 as a Halton apprentice but was a Sergeant Pilot flying bombers when war broke out. Joining 106 Squadron he flew Lancasters with Guy Gibson and eventually took over as Squadron Commander when Gibson left for 617 Squadron. A specialist in navigation, he was then chosen by Arthur Harris to take command of No.83 Pathfinder Squadron at Wyton. Searby quickly developed a superb reputation as a Pathfinder and was involved in countless precision raids including his role as Master Bomber on the Peenemunde raid, coordinating the attack by over 600 heavy bombers. He died on 14th January 1986. Citation for the award of the Distinguished Service Order One night in August, 1943, this officer participated in a bombing attack on an important target at Peenemunde. Enemy fighters. were extremely active over the target area, but in spite of this Group Captain Searby executed his difficult task with consummate skill. He displayed faultless leadership, great courage and resolution throughout.
Stainthorpe, W. W. Click the name above to see a profile of Stainthorpe, W. W.    Died : 27 / 2 / 1941	Stainthorpe, W. W.
Stone, Frank Click the name above to see a profile of Stone, Frank	Stone, Frank Rear Gunner on Hampdens with 83 sqn, he was shot down in August 1940 aged 17 over Ludwigshafen and sent to Stalag Luft III. In Hut 104 he was in charge of the hidden radio that aided the ‘Great Escape’ and had it been a success he would have been part of the second escape attempt two weeks later. We have learned that Frank Stone has now sadly passed away.
Strong, P. J. Click the name above to see a profile of Strong, P. J.    Died : 17 / 1 / 1941	Strong, P. J. Pilot Officer P.J.Strong of No.83 Squadron was killed on January 17th 1941. His Hampden (AD731) was shot down into the sea off Norfolk. He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Targett, G. Click the name above to see a profile of Targett, G.    Died : 12 / 2 / 1941	Targett, G.
Thompson, E. D. Click the name above to see a profile of Thompson, E. D.    Died : 4 / 4 / 1941	Thompson, E. D.
Watts, Fred Click the name above to see a profile of Watts, Fred    Died : 6 / 8 / 2007	Watts, Fred Fred Watts joined the RAF in 1940, and qualifying as a pilot was posted to 630 Squadron in 1943 flying 15 operations on Lancasters out of East Kirby. He joined 617 Squadron in April 1944 and took part in many of the precision operations that the Squadron was renowned for, including raids on V1 sites, V2 rocket bases, and all three attacks on the Tirpitz. He left 617 Squadron in March 1945 to join 83 Pathfinder Squadron for Far East deployment with Tiger Force but VJ-day brought disbandment of the Force before it could be despatched. He stayed on in the RAF after the end of the war, retiring in 1964. He died 6th August 2007.
Weaving, D. V. Click the name above to see a profile of Weaving, D. V.	Weaving, D. V.
Weir, N. S. Click the name above to see a profile of Weir, N. S.    Died : 21 / 3 / 1941	Weir, N. S.
White, A. G. S. Click the name above to see a profile of White, A. G. S.    Died : 17 / 1 / 1941	White, A. G. S. Sergeant A.G.S.White of No.83 Squadron was killed on January 17th 1941. His Hampden (AD731) was shot down into the sea off Norfolk. He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Wilson, F. S. Click the name above to see a profile of Wilson, F. S.    Died : 12 / 2 / 1941	Wilson, F. S.
Woolley, Denis Click the name above to see a profile of Woolley, Denis    Died : 28 / 12 / 2009	Woolley, Denis Flight Lieutenant Dennis William, Woolley. DFC, DFM. 106 (5 Group) and 83 (S-PFF- Group) Squadrons. 1940 - Volunteered for air crew service. 1941 - Trained as an Air Observer in Manitoba. 1942 - Did 1st tour, on Manchesters (6 trips) and on Lancasters (27 trips). Awarded DFM. 1942 - 3 - Instructor at Winthorpe, Notts. 1943 - Engaged in special operations relating to the advancement of the Italian campaign. Based latterly in Sicily. 1944 - Did 2nd tour in Bomber Command in 83 (PFF) Squadron. 25 trips in Lancasters. Awarded DFC and Pathfinder Badge. 1944 - 5 - Joined Transport Command, Transatlantic Ferry Unit based at Darval, Montreal. 1945 - 6 - Seconded to what is now known as British Airways. Based at Poole, navigating Sunderland flying boats to and from Singapore. 1946 - Demobilised. A long time resident of Chipstead, Denis Woolley, died on 28th of December 2009, at the age of 89. The following Obituary was prepared by Rupert Courtenay-Evans: Denis Woolley was born in London and as a boy lived in Kew. He was educated at Latimer Upper School, which he enjoyed. When he left school he briefly went to work at the Gas, Light and Coke Company; however when war was declared he joined the RAFVR as a navigator on the grounds of not liking the sound of the sea or army and his love of maths at school! His initial operational training of navigation, bombing and gunnery was mainly in Canada, because of the practical difficulties of flying in Britain at the time. Navigation at night in those pre-radar days involved astral navigation which depended on seeing the stars as well being able to fly straight and level for 15 minutes, often not very safe or practical on night raids over enemy occupied Europe as Denis would jokingly say. He went on to become an expert in all forms of more sophisticated electronic navigational equipment including G, Oboe and H2S which were radar systems. On return to England in 1942, he joined an operational bomber squadron at Coningsby in Lincolnshire as a sergeant navigator. Initially he was in the poorly performing Manchester bombers, but after six trips the squadron was converted to its successor, the Lancaster bomber and all his subsequent 27 trips with this unit were in these aircraft. Most of these trips were with Guy Gibson as squadron commander, with whom he seemed to get on very well. With the exception of two, all trips were at night, which of course relied very heavily on navigational skills. Of the two day trips one was to Le Cressau, which involved flying at 250 feet to avoid the enemy flack and the other was over the Alps to bomb Milan, which turned out to be very poorly defended by recruits firing rifles, and all the aircraft got back safely! After a brief tour to Sicily as an instructor to help set up a bomber base from which to attack Italy more easily in support of the advancing ground forces, which, in Denis`s words, was abortive as the Italians surrendered immediately! He returned to operational flying in England and was considered good enough to be commissioned and to join the newly formed Pathfinder Force under the brilliant Australian airman Don Bennett. Pathfinder Force or Group 8 was set up against the wishes of Bomber Harris, the chief of Bomber Command, but with the agreement of Churchill. Its purpose was to reduce casualties, and to improve the accuracy of identifying targets at night, by marking not only the appropriate route to the target, but also the target itself by a force of selected crews specialised in these skills. Harris was against it as he felt it would create jealousy and have an adverse on effect on morale. The Pathfinder planes, which roughly were in a ratio of 1 to 15 of the main force, which could be 800 or more strong, would lead the raid to the target along the pre-arranged route often with diversionary tactics, then drop their marker bombs and leave. Denis modestly used to say that the German gunners let Pathfinders through safely and then concentrated their fire on the following main force. Denis was not only selected to join Group 8 but went on to be a Master Bomber whose role had been extended to be a sort of Master of Ceremonies, whose plane circulated the target correcting aiming points and co-ordinating the raid by radio. Denis did his final 6 trips in this position, thus completing 58 bombing raids without being shot down, such was his luck as he would say, but others would put it down to his skill and calmness under stress. Denis always said that every bomber crew set off on a raid convinced that they would not be shot down on that trip. At this stage the RAF decided to take him off further combat flights, enough was enough. He completed his service with Transport Command and was demobbed in 1946. He ended his RAF career as a Flight Lt. with the DFC, the DFM and the cherished Pathfinders Badge. After the war he had hoped to continue his flying career with BOAC, the fore-runner of BA, but they unexpectedly decided to charge him a £500 training fee, which he did not have, and probably thought was unnecessary. Instead he joined the Bank of England. He died 28th December 2009.

Aircraft for : No.83 Sqn RAF
A list of all aircraft associated with No.83 Sqn RAF. A profile page including a list of all art prints for the aircraft is available by clicking the aircraft name.
Aircraft	Info
Hampden Click the name above to see prints featuring Hampden aircraft. Manufacturer : Handley Page Retired : 1942 Number Built : 1500	Hampden The Handley Page HP.52 Hampden was a twin-engine medium bomber built for the Royal Air Force and was used by Bomber Command in the early years of world war two. Along with the other medium bombers the Whitley and Wellington, the Hampden bore the brunt of the early bombing war over Europe, taking part in the first night raid on Berlin and the first 1,000-plane raid on Cologne. The newest of the three medium bombers, the Hampden was known as the Flying Suitcase because of its cramped crew conditions. A total of 226 Hampdens were in service with eight Royal Air Force squadrons by the start of the Second World War. Despite its speed and agility, in operational use the Hampden was no match for the fighters of the Luftwaffe (ME109 and FW 190) and the Hampdens role as a day bomber was brief, but Hampdens continued to operate at night on bombing raids over Germany and in mine laying (code-named gardening) in the North Sea. Almost half of the Hampdens built – 714, were lost on operations, witht he loss of 1,077 crew killed and another 739 missing. German flak accounted for 108; with one Hampden being lost due to German Barrage balloons; 263 Hampdens crashed due to a variety of causes, and 214 others were classed as missing. Luftwaffe pilots claimed 128 Hampdens, shooting down 92 at night. The Hampden soon became obsolete for its roll as a medium modern bomber, after operating mainly at night, it was retired from Bomber Command service in late 1942. but continued with Coastal Command throughout 1943 as a long-range Torpedo Bomber (the Hampden TB Mk I which carried the Mk XII torpedo in an open bomb-bay and a single 500 lb (230 kg) bomb under each wing) The Hampden was also used by the Royal Canadian Air Force and Royal New Zealand Air Force.
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.
Lincoln Click the name above to see prints featuring Lincoln aircraft. Manufacturer : Avro Production Began : 1945 Retired : 1967 Number Built : 624	Lincoln he first RAF Lincolns joined No. 57 Squadron at East Kirby in 1945. No. 75 (New Zealand) Squadron RAF began re-equipping with Lincolns at RAF Spilsby during August 1945. However, 75 (NZ) Sqn received just three aircraft before VJ Day. In the postwar Royal Air Force, the Lincoln equipped many bomber squadrons. Nearly 600 Lincolns were built to equip 29 RAF squadrons, mainly based in the United Kingdom. They were partially replaced by 88 Boeing Washingtons, on loan from the USAF, which had longer range and could reach targets inside the Iron Curtain. Small numbers remained in use with Nos 7, 83 and 97 Squadrons until the end of 1955, when they were replaced by the first of the V bombers. RAF Lincolns were used in combat during the 1950s, in Kenya against the Mau-Mau, operating from Eastleigh, and also served in Malaya during the Malayan Emergency, against insurgents aligned to the Malayan Communist Party. In Malaya, Lincolns operated from Changi and Tengah, More than 3,000 sorties were flown during their  7 1⁄2-year deployment, with half a million pounds of bombs dropped. This equated to 85% of the bomb tonnage dropped during the Malayan emergency. On 12 March 1953, a RAF Lincoln (RF531 "C") of Central Gunnery School was shot down 20 mi (32 km) NE of Lüneburg, Germany by several Soviet MiG-15s as it flew to Berlin on a radar reconnaissance flight, resulting in the deaths of the seven crew members. In November 1955, four Lincolns of No. 7 Squadron RAF were detached for duties in British territories in the Middle East. In Bahrain, they carried out border patrols of the then Trucial States. When 7 Sqn was disbanded in December 1955, the four detached crews and aircraft became No. 1426 Flight RAF, officially a photographic reconnaissance unit. It was later sent to Aden, carrying out patrols in the lead up to the Aden Emergency. As the RAF Lincolns became unserviceable due to wear and tear, they were replaced by jet aircraft. The Lincolns of Bomber Command were phased out from the mid-1950s and were completely replaced by jet bombers by 1963. The last Lincolns in RAF service were five operated by No. 151 Squadron, Signals Command, at RAF Watton, Norfolk, which were retired on 12 March 1963. From late 1946, Australian-built Lincolns were phased into No. 82 Wing RAAF at RAAF Amberley, replacing the Consolidated Liberators operated by 12, 21 and 23 Squadrons. In February 1948, these units were renumbered 1, 2 and 6 Squadrons respectively; a fourth RAAF Lincoln squadron, No. 10 was formed on 17 March 1949 at RAAF Townsville as a reconnaissance unit. RAAF Lincolns took part in operations in Malaya in the 1950s, operating alongside RAF examples. The RAAF based the B.Mk 30s of No.1 Squadron at Tengah, for the duration of operations in Malaya. The RAAF Lincolns were retired in 1961, with the MR.Mk 31s of No. 10 Squadron being the final variant to see service in Australia.
Manchester Click the name above to see prints featuring Manchester aircraft. Manufacturer : Avro	Manchester Full profile not yet available.
Vulcan Click the name above to see prints featuring Vulcan aircraft. Manufacturer : Avro Production Began : 1955	Vulcan The Avro Vulcan was the worlds first delta winged heavy bomber. the first prototype flew on the 30th August 1952 and the first production Vulcan flew in February 1955. The first Avro Vulcan's arrived for service with the Royal Air Force with 230 operational Conversion Unit (OCU) at RAF Finningley in May 1956. with the first squadron to receive the Vulcan in July 1957 was 83 squadron. In April 1968 Bomber Command merged into the Newly created Strike Command with eight Squadrons being equipped with Vulcan's. A terrain Hugging variant was introduced (the Vulcan SR2) in 1973, to all squadrons except no. 27 squadron (Flying Elephants) which was a Maritime reconnaissance Sqd. The Last Major role for the Avro Bomber was the bombing of Argentinean Airfields in the Falkland Islands During The Falklands Conflict The Avro Vulcan high Altitude Bomber with a crew of five. Top Speed 650 mph with a ceiling of 60,000 feet. maximum range of 5750 miles (with in flight refuelling). with a conventional bomb load of 21 x 1000 lb bombs
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