Interview with Lawrence Henry di Placito. One
Lawrence di Placito served as a second-class coxswain on the RAF Air Sea Rescue launches during the Second World War. He was born in Chertsey and attended Egham grammar school where he was a member of the cadet force. Upon leaving school in 1936 he was employed with the Post Office as a clerk/telephonist. Early in 1939 he joined the 6th Battalion East Surrey (Territorial Army). Lawrence went through military training, but he was told he would not be allowed to remain in the unit because of his Italian parents.
At the outbreak of war, he left the Post Office and was employed building naval vessels at a boat yard on the Thames in Chertsey. It was here that he first heard about RAF Air Sea Rescue, which he successfully enrolled into. Following training at various establishments he was posted to Newhaven on High Speed Launch 190 as a gunner.
Lawrence describes rescue operations: a Spitfire leading them to an airman in a dinghy; a Wellington aircrew rescued close to Le Havre on 17 July 1943; a German wireless operator who baled out from a downed Ju 88 and his parachute being divided amongst the crew, and finally rescuing the United States serviceman T G Giles who baled out of a P-38.
Occasionally they would come across mines that had broken free. These would be guarded until the Navy arrived and detonated them. This would result in the surface being covered in stunned fish which the crew would be able to scoop up.
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2017-02-09
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01:27:39 audio recording
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AdiPlacitoLH170209, PdiPlacitoLH1701
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Extract from 57 Squadron O.R.B (Air.27/258)
Account highly successful attach on Turin on 12/13 July 1943 by aircraft of 57 Squadron which included Sgt E H Tansley as second pilot in aircraft ED655. Includes list of aircraft and bomb load of ED655. Account of a further attack on Milan on 16/17 July 1943. Tansley did not take part. Post it note state that this was 'Dad's first op from Scampton as second pilot with Jack Russell'.
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MTansleyEH149542-160929-03
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Peter Jenkinson's personnel documents
Gives personal details. Mentions killed in action and award of DFM and postings.
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Two page form document handwritten filled in
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SJenkinsonPR1826262v10081
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15 Squadron Wyton, 1651 HCU Waterbeach and 214 Squadron operations
List of operations from July 1941 until September 1943 for 15 Squadron, 1651 HCU at RAF Waterbeach and 214 Squadron at various airfields. Note at bottom; losses 19 Stirlings 4 Fortresses.
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MMackieGA855966-180130-02
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Fred Richardson's log book. Two
Pilots flying log book 2 for F J Richardson, covering the period from 3 March 1943 to 8 October 1945. Detailing his operations flown, flying training and instructor duties. He was stationed at RAF Langar, RAF Ossington, RAF Church Broughton, RAF Gamston, RAF Castle Combe and RAF Lulsgate Bottom. Aircraft flown were Lancaster, Oxford, Tiger Moth and Wellington. He flew a total of 25 operations with 207 Squadron. Targets were Hamburg, Saint Nazaire, Berlin, Kiel, Duisberg, Spezia, Stuttgart, Stettin, La Rochelle, Essen, Pilsen, Dortmund, Wuppertal, Dusseldorf, Bochum, Friedrichshaven, Cologne, Gelsenkirchen, Turin, Cislago and Leghorn. A second pilot on an operation was Flight Sergeant Kirkwood.
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1943
1944
1945
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One booklet
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LRichardsonF146443v2
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