No 153 Squadron photograph

No 153 Squadron photograph

From information provided by the donor. Panoramic landscape photograph (stitched together from multiple images) of 153 Squadron at Scampton, dated 06/1945, PD Baxter is Front row, 14th from the left. Spreadsheet (on three tabs) identifying some of the individuals shown in PBaxterPD1603.tif and giving career details.

1945-06

One photograph and a series of Excel spreadsheets.

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PBaxterPD1603, PBaxterPD1604

[photograph]
No. 153 SQUADRON, R.A.F. STATION, SCAMPTON
June 1945
Pamore Ltd., London, W.C.1.

[page break]

Back Row

6
Sgt Den L Bolton
Rear Gunner
(in Spike Malone's crew)
From Rochester, Kent
5 Apr 1945: Posted in to Squadron 153, 'B' flight, RAF Scampton
Jun 1945: 4 operations credited
Aug 1945: Transferred to 'Y' Flight, No 12 Squadron, RAF Binbrook, to test H2S Mark IV radar device
Stayed in RAF; was posted away and worked in Pay Accounts

8
Sgt. Jock Burns
Bomb Aimer
(in Spike Malone's crew)
From Kirkcaldy, Fife
Trained in Canada
5 Apr 1945: Posted in to Squadron 153, 'B' flight, RAF Scampton
Jun 1945: 4 operations credited
Aug 1945: Transferred to 'Y' Flight, No 12 Squadron, RAF Binbrook, to test H2S Mark IV radar device

9
Sgt Les Pitt
Bomb Aimer
(in F/Lt R C Cooper's crew)
From Portsmouth
28 Apr 1945: Posted in to Squadron 153, 'B' flight, RAF Scampton
Jun 1945: 3 operations credited
Worked at Portsmouth dockyard
died of asbestosis, c. 1993

20
Sgt D M (Blackie) Black
Wireless Operator
(in Spike Malone's crew)
5 Apr 1945: Posted in to Squadron 153, 'B' flight, RAF Scampton
Jun 1945: 4 operations credited
Aug 1945: Transferred to 'Y' Flight, No 12 Squadron, RAF Binbrook, to test H2S Mark IV radar device
Very good snooker player; always beat Vic Townsend
Went to Australia after the war; came back to Dundee; Manager of a jute mill.
'He married a widow with an existing family, and they had some more’
d. 2003

Row 3

15
F/S Ken Foley
Navigator
(in Johnnie John's crew)
6 Apr 1945: Posted in to Squadron 153, 'B' Flight, RAF Scampton
Jun 1945: 3 operations credited
Aug 1945: Transferred to 'Y' Flight, No 12 Squadron, RAF Binbrook, to test H2S Mark IV radar device
Shared a room with Vic Townsend in the Sgts Mess at Marham.
Qualified as a Chartered Accountant; emigrated to Canada

16
F/S J Hall
P/F Engineer
(in Johnnie John's crew)
6 Apr 1945: Posted in to Squadron 153, 'B' Flight, RAF Scampton
Jun 1945: 3 operations credited
Aug 1945: Transferred to 'Y' Flight, No 12 Squadron, RAF Binbrook, to test H2S Mark IV radar device
'As a skilled Building worker he got an early release'

18
F/S Jack Garnham
P/F Engineer
(in Spike Malone's crew)
5 Apr 1945: Posted in to Squadron 153, 'B' Flight, RAF Scampton
Jun 1945: 4 operations credited
Aug 1945: Transferred to 'Y' Flight, No 12 Squadron, RAF Binbrook, to test H2S Mark IV radar device
'A real character. Older than the rest of us. A regular who had re-mustered from Ground Staff (Engine Fitter). Was a 'Halton brat' (boy entrant). Trained as a Pilot, but like a large number finished up doing the Flight Engineer's job – an excellent one too, with his background. Wonderful company – quite a ladies' man!'

Row 2

17
F/S Noel J Read
Navigator
(in P/O M F A Ryan's crew. Ryan, from Canada, was invalided out in Feb 1945 after 1 operation; replaced by F/O MA Ramsden, from NZ)
18 Feb 1945: Posted in to Squadron 153, B' flight, RAF Scampton
Jun 1945: 5 operations credited
'Nice chap. Suffered from a stammer which he overcame very well'
d. c.2000

18
Sgt William (Bill) I P Nelson
Flight Engineer
(in P/O F A Ryan's crew. Ryan, from Canada, was invalided out in Feb 1945 after 1 operation; replaced by F/O MA Ramsden, from NZ)
18 Feb 1945: Posted in to Squadron 153, B' flight, RAF Scampton
Jun 1945: 5 operations credited
When Jack Garnham was posted away Bill became Flight Engineer on Spike Malone's crew.
'He was one of the leading lights in organising the Y Flight Doomies Reunion, which started in 1946. By all accounts these were somewhat riotous occasions, with Bill on the piano...'
d. pre 1990

Front Row

14
F/Lt Peter D Baxter
Flight Engineer Leader
from Birmingham; previously at Halton, Cosford, Penrhos and St Athan before doing a full tour from Wickenby with 12 Squadron. Later moved to 50 Squadron at Waddington

16
(?) Turner
Navigation Leader

17
Jack Day
Radar Leader
Acted as Assistant Navigation Leader
From Oxford
'Jack had done a full tour, including a number on Berlin, in another Squadron when things were really tough ... a lovely chap
Worked at Barclays Bank

20
G Rodney
Squadron Commanding Officer
25 Apr 1945: Berchtesgaden (C, LM550; aborted, S/I Engine failure)
30 Apr 1945: Manna (3rd X, RA545)
3 May 1945: Manna (3rd J, NX556)
7 May 1945: Manna (4th A, NX573

21
(?)Lloyd
Station Commander

29
F/Lt R C Cooper
Pilot
28 Apr 1945: Posted in to Squadron 153, 'B' flight, RAF Scampton
4 May 1945: Manna (2nd W, RF205)
7 May 1945: Manna (3rd X, RA545)
Jun 1945: 3 operations credited
('Was Les Pitts' skipper')

PBaxterPD1604
Jun 1945 Part 2

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