Lancaster Bomber 514 Squadron

Well Skipper I too am glad to be still around as is our family. Glad you mentioned Christian.
I have been working on a better frame for is work of art "Luftwaffe Versus Royal Air Force".
Would like to have the link to more of his work You are thoughtful.
All the best to you and yours. Alex Campbell

 

Alex,
You are very welcome. I have had the occasional crew member send me a message with thanks. Very gratifying indeed. I would like all surviving aircrew individuals to seen this video, so please spread the word (video) if you can. If you know of other internet sites where I could reach surviving members of the Lancs, please let me know.
With regards and best wishes!
Laurie Doering

 

While recently browsing other sites I've encountered a number of familiar names. To mention just a very few such as Martin Bull, Erich and of course Skipper67. You have all contributed so thoughtfully to the thread introduced by Wayne in March of 2006. It feels as though I've bumped into an old friend when I see your name. Assuming it is still socially acceptable I shall just wish all of you a Merry Christmas and of course good health and happiness.
Thanks Alex Campbell

 

...and may I wish you and your Family the very same, Mr Campbell !

Also, of course, our sincere thanks for your presence and contributions to this Forum.

Good health to you in 2011.

 

Alex coming from you, I take this compliment with pride and honor. I hope 2011 will be another prolefic year for this 514 Squadron thread. I wish I had more time to dig ou what still has to be done. Best wishes of health to you and your family and thank you for your service and risking your life for us.

 

hello, i realise this maybe a bit of a long shot but i have joined this forum to try and track down a relative, the reg davey that id mentioned here i believe to be my great unlce, my mum has been trying to find him for yrs i would be gratful to anyone if they have any info about him or a way to trace him

 

i was wondering if you could help me, its abit of a long shot as i realise this conversation is a few years ago, but i believe the reg davey you are talking about is my uncle and im trying to find out any info i can, or even contact him my email is heidi_2311@hotmail.co.uk thanks

 

Hi Heidi, nice to have you here. This thread was started in 2006, but it's still going and as you can see it did'nt take me long to note your message. If Mr Campbell does not see it, I will contact him and let you know you have posted here.

 

Hi Wayne and Alex, I have some excellent news! I just learnt from a friend about the place Alex stayed in 1944 ( Arthur's?) .

Apparently he was at the same address with Lyons , Donaldson and Jones when they were joined by 3 others Chamberlain, Grimsey (from Manitowa) and Kemley (all 3 from 432 Squadron). They stayed in a village called "Villemblain" which is the village just south east of Saint Cloud . The man who hosted them there was the roadmender of the village. I will try to find his name. the three others had crashed on July 26th which means they were hidden elswhere until July 29th when Alex's Lancaster crashed.

 

Skipper once again you have found more amazing details of our demise and the wonderful people who took such risks to save our lives. We are still enjoying good health here and sincerely wish the best for you and yours.
Alex Campbell

 

Thanks Alex, I also have received your email this morning. I have some new leads now, including a picture of someof the RCAF airmen who were in that farm with you just before yo uleft for Freteval. I will send it over and hope you might recognize someone. Also Villamblain only had around 400 inhabitants at the time, so you might recognize a building there, it's been a long time, but you never know.

 

Hi my wifes Uncle was Sgt Steel, the flt eng that died on this a/c lw166. Jack Bester was their nav. we've done a huge amount of research on the events of this night 4/5 july 44, and subsequent events. weve also got his various reports given to the military authorities after the war etc. we've even been lucky to track down one of the gunners on that a/c sgt james finnie and had many telephone conversations with him. however, we are still unable to make contact with jack bester himself or any of his family, i guess its very possible hes passed away now. if anyone knows of any family surviving we'd love to be put in touch. my wife is actually writing a book documenting the events of this crew and the night in question.

regards

paul

 

i believe he died in 2006. i have a picture of the individual and one of his a/c ju88 4R + AK if anybody is interested

 

Readers my be interested in the research I've been doing on the rear gunner of the ill-fated LL678 who was killed when the plane crash landed. Don Savage was mentioned in my Dad's memoirs as one of his best pals and I've created a page of information about him here. I'd be grateful if someone would confirm that the two pictures below here are both the LL678 as I found the chronology a little confusing. I am in touch with Don's family and I know they wouild be interested in these pics. I am so chuffed that having had not even a photo of Don, I now have a super one from his family together with pics of his plane and allsorts, including the details of the German ace who shot his plane down.

I'll have to get my signature changed as Dad's memoirs have now been published by Pen and Sword. I'd love to hear from anyone with more info on my story above. Thanks, Paul

 

Hi Paucheall. Your internet site honoring Don Savage is a great tribute, thank you for sharing this with us. I couldn't see any pictures of LL678 though.

 

Hi - I'm trying to track down more info on LL678 as I am in touch with the family of Don Savage, the rear gunner on board this aircraft when it crashed. I have bought the Lancaster at War vol. 3 but it doesn't have the photo you describe on page 23 and only brief mention is made of the plane, certainly not the picture below. I wonder if my copy of the book (1984) is a different edition to yours - I notice on Amazon there is a 1983 edition of Volume 3. Could you kindly confirm that the picture below is indeed on p 23 of your volume and that your bok is the 1983 version, in whch case I'll have to buy th alternate.

(See Page 7 of this topic, abpout half way down the page. Entries #168, 169 and 170) Sorry I know I've asked this twice now but I got lost in the forum and thought my first entry had not been posted.


Many thanks in anticipation,
Paul

 

Hi Paul , you could maybe send Ta a private message as well. This way you'd be sure he reads your request

 

Hi Paul, shane Delacour here I have finally got around to becoming a member of a forum. I have sent an email backto you about my Uncle Bert Delacour who was the Pilot Officer of the Lily Mars with some photos. More than happy to send more information and photos I may even have of Don Savage.

 

Well Shane and Paul it's high time I responded to your postings. First off welcome to this thread and all those who have made it a success.
Glad to see confirmation of the a/c coding that is "A2" for "C" flt aircraft whereas "A" & "B" flts were designated "J1"
I think we called your uncle Bert,Herb as well. He was one of 2 experienced pilots who gave me some worthwhile advice. Don't use "George" at night. This was auto pilot and it was illustrated to us very abruptly about that time. We were on a southerly course over the sea and had a sharp alteration to port. Instantly 2 screams on the inter-com
"PULL UP SKIPPER!". This I did with alacrity and avoided a nasty "mid-air".I cancelled my intention to "Let George do it" right then and there. George takes some 20 or 30 seconds to become functional after engaging. It takes probably 1 or 2 seconds to disengage. That could be 1 second too long.
The RAF issued to captains of aircraft a Smith and Wesson .38 cal revolver. Another Aussie, by the name of Woods,
pointed out a number of unplesantries awaiting you. You could be shot immediately as an armed intruder on arrival.
I did not test this theory.
We saw many going down during our raid on Gelsenkirchen. It was always disturbing and depressing. We would pretend it did not bother us. We used comments on our intercom such as Tough luck lads, Better luck next time. I see 2 chutes skipper- another chute, Another plane going down ----no chutes.
It's your morning time there- 9 pm here and 40 degrees C. Bed time
Cheers chaps. Alex Campbell

 

Dear Alex,


Today my thoughts are with you , your former crew and particulary Bob Giffin who was the only one who did not survive.
My research goes on and July 28th-29th is engaved in my memory as if it were my own anniversery.
I will visit a Stuttgart Operation casualty grave near my home this morning. Then I will meet a family and have a barbeque with them.

Thank you for your service and the freedom we owe to people like you, I will never forget and teach my children to honor the fallen and hope they will teach their children when time comes.

Best regards,