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| Name: | Keith Jack |
| E-mail address: | keith@fourjacks.co.uk |
| Comments: | This has been a very useful find as I am completing research on my father's Stalag Luft III experiences. The following books are very useful:
The Last Escape by John Nichol & Tony Rennell ISBN 9780141003887 Stalag Luft III by Arthur A Durand ISBN 0671682989 |
| Name: | Hugh Timmerman |
| E-mail address: | hubert.timmerman@sympatico.ca |
| Comments: | After several years of intense research, I was able to uncover many details of the downing of MZ563 LK-Y of 578 Sqdn RAF and LV867 ZA-D of 10 Sqdn RAF. The latter made a belly landing in a peat bog just minutes prior to the crash landing of MZ563, which came down in a ball of fire witnessed by me as a then 13-year old boy in the Netherlands. Its pilot, Stanley Sparkes, at 90 years of age, is the only one of that crew still alive today. I had occasion to visit him in north western Alberta, Canada, where he immigrated to in 1955 with his family. His own story of his escape and evasion that he wrote 50 years after war's end appears in full in my book "Bombers In The Night Sky" and is available on line at:
http://www.lulu.com/content/1230633 Thank you for allowing me this space in your dreambook, Pete, so more readers will learn of the perils endured by those gallant airmen in helping secure our freedom. Hugh Timmerman. |
| Name: | angel |
| E-mail address: | depravedangel1st@aol.com |
| Comments: | an update... i still dont know anything but i do have some photos now of him standing next to his plane with his crew and in eygpt i think ...so someone out there is standing with my grandad in the photo's ... it could be you..
i loved reading your site ... my grandad past away 2 weeks ago and he was part of 158 squadron at raf lissett, i dont know what year, i know the halifax b3 bomber he crewed i think was called "L for Love" his name was MR. Arthur.R.Colclough roy to his mates , i think he was a wireless operator/gunner.... i would love to find out more as ive been trying to search for anything to do with him or his squadron .... Monday, August 16th 2004 - 01:47:38 PM |
| Name: | Bob Hurst |
| E-mail address: | bobhurst5@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | My uncle, Mieczyslaw Wojciechowski, flew with the Polish contingent of the RAF during WW11. He flew SOE missions out of Tempsford England and was killed in 1942 on Halifax V9976. There is a moving website by the same name, Halifax V9976, outlining the "Mysterious last mission of Halifax V9976. He was 26 years old. I am a retired Military Officer, and am in the process of building a commemorative Shadow Box to hold his Militari Virtuti Medal and British Decorations. I am trying to obtain an embroidered patch/badge of the 138 Squadron to include in the box. Does anyone know where I might obtain one? |
| Name: | kim Lowe |
| E-mail address: | chicargo@btopenworld.com |
| Comments: | My Mother is Joan Jefferies aka JUDGE..She was in 158 Squadron during the 2nd world war in Radar Section. Mam is alive and well at 82 years young and I have just had the 3 photos enlarged and framed for her that have all the service personel sitting on and under the famour Hailfax Bombers. Her recall of those years are as clear as a bell yet can't recall where she put her glasses!!
Keep up the good work and Bless you all Kim |
| Name: | Donald P. Evans |
| E-mail address: | dpevans@Sympatico.ca |
| Comments: | I just met Jack Patterson yesterday at our Meaford, Ontario United Church Men's Saturday breakfast club. Jack gave me this site info which I will pass on to several old buddies who were "In the Bag".
I'm a Canadian Aviation Historical Society member as well as a retired Secretary/Treasurer of the CAHS Toronto Chapter as well as the Chapter's newsletter FLYPAST editor. In addition I'm also the retired CAHS National Exec.webmaster who produced & developed www.cahs.ca over the past 10 years. I resigned from this job as webmaster 3 years ago. Recently www.cahs.ca has been revised by a new webmaster whom has saved my Links as well as the CAHS Journal sections of my original site. I intend to pass on your site to many CAHS members around the world. Best wishes Don |
| Name: | Duncan McKillop |
| E-mail address: | duncanmckillop@shaw.ca |
| Comments: | My father Flight Lieutenant Duncan Traylen McKillop was in room 19 in hut 106 in the north compound of Stalag Luft#3 from July 5 1944 to January 28 1945.He marched to Spremberg and then by cattle car to Tarmstadt & Milag Marlag.He then marched to near Lubeck where he was released on May 2 1945. A most unpleasant experience. I followed the route about 10 years ago and visited the camp.Ihope to go to Sagan again this fall where we hope to erect a memorial to the Great Escape. A group from Calgary Canada is involved in this |
| Name: | Robin Jones |
| E-mail address: | shakelton@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | My great uncle was killed in 1944 over Germany. His name was John Meredith Roberts. He was 22 years old. He was part of the 158 squadron. |
| Name: | Al Mann |
| E-mail address: | boatmann@kent.net |
| Comments: | I have just finished reading Jack Patterson's story( who directed me to this great site.) I was prompted to contact Jack after reading a recently acquired book, "We Flew, We Fell,We Lived" by Philip Lagrandeur (Vanwell Publishing 2006.)Jack lived two doors from me while he was manager of the Wallaceburg, (Ont) T-D Bank. Jack was kind enough to share his wartime experiences with me over the phone and via EMail. Your web site has allowed an enchancement of learning about Jack's experiences and also provides many other fascinating stories. Thanks |
| Name: | Jack Patterson |
| E-mail address: | jpat@sympatico.ca |
| Comments: | I am the last surviving member of Pop's crew and will be 91 next month. Just wish to say how fortunate we were to have such skilled pilot and capabl Capital as Geoffery Porter. Also wish to complement Peter Porter for the wonderful web page Pop's Pogress he has set up in memory of his father. Also should mention Don Hall's story of Pow life and thne long march. and my memories of being a member of a small British group of Pow's members of a large forced labour group at Auschvitz which included some 5000 or so Jewish prisoners from a nearby prison camp. |
| Name: | Carole Bourne |
| E-mail address: | carole1230@sbcglobal.net |
| Comments: | Yuo just never KNOW who you will meet up with on the internet
My Dad Frank Osborne was in the navy during WW11 |
| Name: | Amy Coen |
| E-mail address: | kreases@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | Hey!
I love this website, it's really informative and helps a little girl like me feel a bit humble :) Shows we all have alot to be thankful for, so I thank you for putting all this up! Also I have to do the whole gushing thing about Ian! Wow - my favourite film ever (times a million) is Saving Private Ryan, so when I was browsing this site to see he worked on the film was amazing for me. I think it's testament to how much I love the film that I can remember bits such as when Ian shouts out the broken window at Upham to 'gear up' or something to the like. I just have to congratulate you on your work, and to look at your pictures from the set means alot. I hope you had a brilliant time filming, because you produced a brilliant film :) One of my mum's friends worked on a film with Giovanni Ribisi (Christopher Eccleston) so I'm just in love with all the actors of the film. You were very lucky to work with them. I'm jealous, can you tell? Hehe. Well I hope you and your family are well. Respond back if you can, it would mean alot. xxx |
| Name: | Jim Berg |
| E-mail address: | Jwberg21@aol.com |
| Comments: | Former US AIR CORPS 6TH AF.. |
| Name: | chris costigan |
| E-mail address: | chriscostigan@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | hi im looking for william costigan ( bill ) who flew as a crew membmer on 158 sqdn halifax b3 bomber. ive serched the web with no joy
|
| Name: | Henry |
| E-mail address: | rsvp99REMOVE@THISgmail.com |
| Comments: | There's another good guestbook here:-
http://interactives.alxnet.com/cgi-bin/slither/Driver.py/InterActives/Guestbook/Guestbook.render?guestbook_id=31068&page=5&logged_in=0 My father was a document forger in Stalag Luft 3 at the time of the Great Escape. I visited the camp during May 2005, hired an aircraft and took aerial 'photos too. Email me at rsvp99(at)gmail.com if you'd like 'photos etc. I have a brick from Hut 104's support where the escape tunnel "Harry" started. The GPS coordinates of the start of Harry is in degrees, minutes and seconds and tenths of a second; N15.35.58.3 E015.18.30.0. You can use www.mapquest.com and enter these coordinates to see exactly where Harry started. PS. Remove the words REMOVE and THIS each side of the "@" in the email address. |
| Name: | DAMIEN PAYTON |
| E-mail address: | damien.payton@tesco.net |
| Comments: | I am very interested to find your website.I was at East Moor airfield yesterday 26.07.05,63 years after my uncle Sgt R H C Seymour 1166511 flew on his last mission.I have been trying to find anyone who may have known him but have had no success,I only wish that I had been able to meet Pop as it is very interesting to learn that he was the one to go and search for my uncles plane W1162 NP-D. If any of the crew of W1211 NP-J are still alive please contact me.Thank you for a wonderfull website. |
| Name: | John Sage |
| E-mail address: | john.sage@dsl.pipex.com |
| Comments: | An excellent site with much information that helps me to complete my own father's wartime history.
Squadron Leader Bobby Sage was shot down on 9th/10th March on a mission from Elvington to bomb the BMW diesel engine works in Munich. The Halifax from 77 Squadron based at Elvington was in trouble from the moment it took off with instrument failures. Despite this it managed to reach the target, however without any navigation aids it fell foul of German anti aircraft activity over Mons. 6 of the crew survived and father ended up at Stalag Luft 3 until the forced march at the end of the war. The trauma of the forced march meant that father never discussed this aspect of his wartime experiences. |
| Name: | James |
| E-mail address: | jwvh64@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | My father Sgt George Harris was stationed at Lissett, he was a crew member of Halifax II LW317 NP-P, which was shot down on Oct 8/9 1943. Does anyone remember him or has any further information, so that I can tell his grandchildren.
March 1st.2005 |
| Name: | jonathan brett |
| E-mail address: | jonbrett@att.net |
| Comments: | I was trying to find an old girlfriend and somehow came upon this site, which is fascinating. My late father, Flt/Lt Peter Brett, was a fighter pilot in the Battle of Britain -- I think it was 79th squadron(Tiger Squadron). I have his log books which make great reading. It would be amazing to find anyone out there who flew with him/knew him. |
| Name: | Hugh Timmerman |
| E-mail address: | hubert.timmerman@sympatico.ca |
| Homepage URL: | http://N/A |
| Comments: | The other day I was invited to go cross-country skiing by a man in his 90st year. He was none other than Mr. Jack Patterson, the man featured in one of the articles on your website. You would have had to be a navigator in a WW II bomber to be that spritely. I admire this man for his wits and stamina. At only 74, I'll have some catching up to do!
Hugh Timmerman. |
| Name: | aquatic-store.com |
| E-mail address: | sales@aquatic-store.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://1001porngalleries.com/incest_links.html |
| Comments: | Visit my site www.aquatic-store.com ! |
| Name: | Trevor Danks |
| E-mail address: | tdankspes@aol.com |
| Comments: | I did my NationaI Service in the RAF as an Airframe Mech (Rigger) and I was posted to RAF Merryfield in January 1956 following my trade training at RAF Kirkam. (Now a prison I understand.) I was one of the groundcrew of 231OCU working mainly on Meteors but sometimes on Canberras. When Merryfield transferred to the Navy in October 1956 I was posted to RAF Gaydon and became one of the groundcrew on Valiant WZ365. I was there until August 1957 when I completed my National Service. I enjoyed my time in the RAF both at Merryfield and Gaydon. (Gaydon is now home of the test centre for Ford companies Jaguar and Land Rover.) In September 2002 my wife and I together with an old colleague from Gaydon and his Wife attended the 60th Anniversary of the opening of RAF Gaydon in 1942. It was somewhat different to when we were there in 1957 but the control tower has survived as a museum to RAF Gaydon.
A few years back I was returning from Devon along the M5 and decided to make a detour to visit the village of Ilton. On driving down the lane to see what still existed of the airfield I was somewhat surprised to see a new entrance gate marked RNAS Merryfield. I had passed the remnants of the old main gate in the lane. I had a chat with the guy on the gate and he told me visitors are usually welcome but there was no one available that day. I'm still mad about aircraft and as we live 8 miles from RAF Wittering I always dash outside when a Harrier goes over or if I am lucky the Battle of Britain flight. From the top of the hill behind us you can see them doing circuit and bumps and it always brings back happy memories of lying on an airfield watching this activity. An absolutely fascinating site particularly stories of your Father and your days at school in Germany. Best wishes to all who have memories of Merryfield. |
| Name: | tony zillessen |
| E-mail address: | tonyzill@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | Hi
My father was also in the great escape and as such i am sure he would have known yours. My father was about to enter the tunnel when it broke. H e later escaped during the forced march and returned to the camp which by now was full of refugees where they were liberated by the allied forces. My father learnt fluent German in Germany before the second world war learning the wool trade. This gave him the job as a scrounger. In the book by Paul Brickhill there is a chapter dedicated to his job and he is referred to as Axel Zillessen which was to be his name if he escaped. Regards Tony Zillessen |
| Name: | italiancharms231 |
| E-mail address: | italiancharms231@hotmail.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.italiancharms.cc/24k_gold_charms.html |
| Comments: | Hello, you have been making good site :) Respect. |
| Name: | Ebintel132 |
| E-mail address: | Ebintel132@hotmail.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://ebintel.com/ |
| Comments: | that's pretty good site |
| Name: | Hans ooms |
| E-mail address: | j.p.g.ooms@zonnet.nl |
| Comments: | Hi Pete,
Wasnt able to sent you the following meteo- and other given data by using your emailadress, unfortunately. So lets try it by this means. Ive already sent you the abb-list, very useful in explaining the terms, I guess ! The name/adress of the provider of these informations is known to me, if you like, give a ring. Regards, Hans ----------------------------------------------------------- DATA CONCERNING THE RAID YOUR FATHER FLEW AND AFTER WHICH THEY WERE DOWNED : 25/26 JULY 1942 DUISBURG, INTRUDERS, MINELAYING OFF ST. NAZAIRE AND VERDON, LEAFLET FLIGHTS, SOE OPERATIONS SYNOPTIC SITUATION : Anticyclonic. Transitory ridge over England. Low 995 mb Trondheim with occlusion St.Petersburg-Riga-Warsaw-Frankfurt-Clermont-Biarritz. Low 1005 mb approaching Ireland from W FLYING CONDITIONS : E&SE England : SW/10-15 sct Sc tempo skc NW Germany : mist ovc Sc bkn/ovc As French Atlantic coast : mist bkn/ovc Sc bkn/ovc Ac SOE operations ( ) : ( ) a/c incl ( ) Whitleys HAZARDS : icing ---------------------------------------------------------- Duisburg (313) : 177 Wellingtons, 48 Stirlings, 41 Halifaxes, 33 Lancasters, 14 Hampdens (thick cloud covered the target. Duisburg reports property damage, though not as heavy as on the last two raids. 6 people were killed) Intruders (21) : 21 Blenheims Minelaying off St. Nazaire and Verdon (8) : 6 Lancasters, 2 Hampdens Leaflet flights (7) : 7 Halifaxes OPERATIONAL LOSSES (18) {5,2%} [aircrew : 92 (63 kia, 28 pow, 1 evd) ] : --------------------------------------------------------- WEHRMACHTBERICHT : The British air force again attacked W Germany and especially Duisburg, Homberg and Moers. The civilian population suffered some losses. Considerable damage was caused locally to buildings in residential areas. Night-fighters and flak destroyed 11 aircraft KRIEGSTAGEBUCH OKW : 120 enemy a/c penetrated over W Germany [...], with Duisburg as centre of gravity [...]. Night-fighters destroyed 9 and flak 2 aircraft |
| Name: | Hans Ooms |
| E-mail address: | j.p.g.ooms@zonnet.nl |
| Comments: | Hi Pete,
Does your emailadress (pporter@socal.rr.com)not function anymore ? Ive tried to mail some data to you but the mails were returned several times. Hans |
| Name: | angel |
| E-mail address: | depravedangel`@aol.com |
| Comments: | i loved reading your site ... my grandad past away 2 weeks ago and he was part of 158 squadron at raf lissett, i dont know what year, i know the halifax b3 bomber he crewed i think was called "L for Love" his name was MR. Arthur.R.Colclough roy to his mates , i think he was a wireless operator/gunner.... i would love to find out more as ive been trying to search for anything to do with him or his squadron .... |
| Name: | Daniel Paton |
| E-mail address: | daniel.paton2@btopenworld.com |
| Comments: | Thanks for the interesting site. I am development officer at Montrose Air Station Museum carrying out research into No 8 Flying Training School and No2 Flying Instructors School. I am interested to hear from anybody who served at Montrose. |
| Name: | Les White |
| E-mail address: | les@showbizgb.com |
| Comments: | Hello,
I served as an LAC (leading aircraftsman)at RAF Netheravon servicing glider tow ropes during 1948. I remember Squadron Leader Porter who, like our Commanding Officer, "Groupie" Day was well liked and respected (unlike some other officers). Both had been "through the mill" during the war,and had an understanding of we lower mortals. On one occasion I remember a billet inspection by Warrant Officer Emblem (SWO Discip) and S/L Porter. There was a fuel shortage at the time and some of us had raided the Horsa "graveyard", and were in the process of reducing a flap to firewood. Mr Emblem made a few disparaging comments, expecting to be backed up but the response from the S/L was "It`s good to see someone showing a bit of initiative!" A quote from my book "The Lure of the Blue" as remembered at the time of writing 1993; "On the day of RAF Netheravon`s annual garden party in June 1948 we lounged in the afternoon sun listening to the Central Band of the RAF playing selections from "Oklahoma" and other current West End shows. A roar of aero-engines starting up was just audible and as the sound swelled above the music, all our serviceable Dakotas took off in a stream bound for North Luffenham and then on to the Berlin Airlift. It was a moment fit for the climax of the corniest Hollywood movie, yet as I watched,it suddenly crossed my mind that what I was witnessing was something utterly typical of the British character, carrying on in the normal way even when world shattering events were happening around us; ....... Patriotism is no longer fashionable but on that day gazing skywards with a lump in my throat, it was a scenario that stirred my deepest feelings.... and I was not alone! For all anyone knew at that point in time, the Russians may well have shot these unarmed aircraft out of the skies in a desperate attempt to maintain the embargo they had imposed by closing the corridor between West Germany and the Allied sectors of Berlin. A Lincoln had strayed into Russian airspace a short time previously and had been promptly shot down despite the fact that it was only a few miles outside the corridor, so that fears regarding the safety of our transports were not unfounded. The Dakotas of 1333TSTU, whose ropes we serviced, had the honour of being the first aircraft to participate in the operation and it was very satisfying to see D-Dog, in which I had flown more than once, being loaded as I sat in the Regent cinema in Christchurch watching the Pathe newsreel a week later." Why not check out my books on www.slpublishing.co.uk? Your Pop was a member of one of the finest bodies of men this country has ever produced and to which we all, even now, owe so much. Thanks for the memory! |
| Name: | Graeme Stringer |
| E-mail address: | strings@supanet.com |
| Comments: | Interested to see your website. I am the Officer in Charge at Merryfield and am always keen to hear stories about Merryfield when it was active in the 40s and 50s. If any other old boys/girls see this message, please get in touch with me and pass on your memories and recollections (photos/memorabilia would also be most welcome). |
| Name: | Robin Jones |
| E-mail address: | shakelton@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | My great uncle John Meredith Roberts served with the 158 squadron (RAF) and was killed in 1944. He is buried in Rheinberg. |
| Name: | Raymond |
| E-mail address: | freediver@wp.pl |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.teensguidebook.com/anja_hartmann_beatles.html |
| Comments: | Hello!
I'm looking for any infos about last flight of Halifax B Mk II,JN910,138 Squadron.The plane was probably shutdown by Germans on september 1943 on the Baltic Sea? (where exactly?)did the plane crashed on the sea or on the land? Probably only Sgt A.S. Dove - pilot?survived.how can I contact to his family?are there some infos about this accident in any archives? I would be very thankfull for any informations |
| Name: | ERNEST CONSTABLE |
| E-mail address: | conny.conny@tiscali.co.uk |
| Comments: | I was in Stalag Luft 3 from 1941 until the end of the war
You have a\wonderful site. Congratulations Conny |
| Name: | Pauline Braaksma |
| E-mail address: | pauline_braaksma@msn.com |
| Comments: | Such an excellant job you have done with this most interesting site. I'm in the midst of researching my fathers days in WW2 .He was in the Royal Regiment of Canada. Wounded and captured at Puys..during Dieppe Raid. Ended up in Stalag 8B . Had his right leg amputated on his return to Toronto, Canada in 1944. Anyone who knew him , love to hear from you. |
| Name: | William R Chorley |
| E-mail address: | william@chorley.fsnet.co.uk |
| Comments: | As the author of the revised history of 158 Squadron (In Brave Company - 158 Squadron Operations), I congratulate you on a well prepared site which, I trust, you will continue to develop. |
| Name: | Alec Smith |
| E-mail address: | alec.smith30@ntlworld.com |
| Comments: | I put up Merryfield in search and up came this wonderful site. It brought back so many memories, mostly happy of the time I spent at Merryfield.That was from early 1952, until my posting to Gremany, I was serving as a regular, electrical mech ground. got to know a number of the aircrew on the apron as I got out there with the trolley acc as often as possible.
I last visited Ilton and the camp area in 1998, Made a special trip to the churchyard opposite the pub to the graves of some of the pilots who "dived in". As a 6ft airman I usually got roped in for funeral party duties. Thank you for this site, I will be visiting often |
| Name: | Geoff Thomas |
| E-mail address: | geofrs@msn.com |
| Comments: | Hello,
I found your site whilst looking for an illustrated copy of "High Flight" a poem that has lived with me for many years, I lost my copy in a move years ago. I wish you the very best in your worthy endeavour, as an Ancient Englishman Ex RAF (postwar)I remember the men and women who helped to save England and europe in the 2WW. Good luck, Geoff Thomas |
| Name: | Christopher Hoare |
| E-mail address: | gpsurvey@telusplanet.net |
| Comments: | You have a very interesting website here -- I found you through looking up old music hall songs.
I do have an interest in WW2 RAF as my father served in 242 Squadron RAF, and was captured in Java by the Japanese Army and died on the Death Railway. If anyone reading this has interest or information on the topic I'd be glad to correspond. |
| Name: | Robert J. Medina |
| E-mail address: | 35325@verizon.net |
| Comments: | Just passing through, I have a avid interest in WWII, being to young to serve but old enough to remember those days. Thanks for the oppertunity to peruse you website. |
| Name: | Helen Chalifoux |
| E-mail address: | helenchalifoux@rogers.com |
| Comments: | I am a friend of Jack Patterson who features in your dad's story. Jack has been telling me about these airforce experiences, including the P.O.W. experiences, and tonight I dropped around to his home to get your address. I look forward to enjoying your website. |
| Name: | robert jackson |
| E-mail address: | rjack711@aol.com |
| Comments: | Was referred to this site. My dad, a B-17 U.S. Army Air Corps pilot (8th Air Force; 351st BG,heavy; 509th squadron),stationed in Polebrook and shot down in June of 1942, was a "guest" of the Germans at Stalag Luft III, and shared the camp facitlites with the various nationalities. I remember, though vaguely, his stories of the forced march after their liberation, and of times spent there during his nearly 3 years of incarcination. I have the book "Clipped Wings" which details life (and photos) there during the POW years. |
| Name: | eze ego |
| E-mail address: | eze-ego@ijesha.com |
| Comments: | it's pretty cool. 11yrs |
| Name: | Jack Frith |
| E-mail address: | jack@lafayolle.net |
| Homepage URL: | http://membres.lycos.fr/jackfrith/56th.htm |
| Comments: | You really have put a lot of work into the site.
Congratulations |
| Name: | Peter E. Porter |
| E-mail address: | porterkarate@hotmail.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.wolfsanctuary.com |
| Comments: | I put my name in a google search engine and you popped up. Neat reading about your journey. From one Pete Porter to another....Enjoy life!
Pete |
| Name: | Mac Hawkins |
| E-mail address: | mac@hawkeditions.com |
| Comments: | Whoops! pressed the button to sign in before checking message. Sorry for typing errors! |
| Name: | Mac Hawkins |
| E-mail address: | mac@hawkeditions.com |
| Comments: | Absolutely fascinated to read about the Merryfield aspect. I remeber this aerodrome as a boy when Vampires were stationed here. It was also from here (together with Exeter, Upottery and others) that the first airborne elements of the assault D-Day were launched, when no fewer than 90 odd C-47s took off at 10 second intervals with members of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions during the last hour of June 5th 1944.
I am an author and publisher of local hisroty books and wrote one entitles "Somerset at War, 1939-1945", in which the history of Merryfield was covered. For my own records, I should dearly love to acquire photos from the period that your Pop was stationed here. |
| Name: | John L. Berry |
| E-mail address: | jlbassoc@flash.net |
| Comments: | Loved the Music Hall Songs - do you have the music: my Dad used to sing " A Mother's Lament", but I don't have the ability to to do it right without music. |
| Name: | Jon Hipkins |
| E-mail address: | jonny956@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | A fascinating and evocative story of a brave man's life. I am honoured that you have allowed us to share it.
kind rgds Jonathan R D Hipkins Captain AGC (RMP) |
| Name: | Irene |
| E-mail address: | irene@cuteandsingle.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://cuteandsingle.com |
| Comments: | Congratulations on your site! |
| Name: | Tony Price |
| E-mail address: | filetelictony@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | R.A.F West Raynham, 1956-1958
Enjoying the web site very much, especialy the links keep up the good work ! |
| Name: | Christa Mee |
| E-mail address: | Christa.Mee@tesco.net |
| Comments: | Most interesting site. I am currently typing up my own father's memoirs of WWII. He was F/Lt Derek Roberts, navigator on a Whitley bomber shot down over Germany in August 1941. Stalagluft III was the last of his 4 POW camps. He would have loved this site - sadly, I only found it 15 months after his death, at the age of 90, in September 2001. However, I am really glad that I and my brothers persuaded him to write an account of his war, which he did in the 1980s. It makes fascinating reading, and it is great, for example, to be able to compare his account of the March from Stalagluft III with the one on your website. Many thanks! |
| Name: | Mike Skeet |
| E-mail address: | skeet@worldonline.co.uk |
| Homepage URL: | http://skeet.worldonline.co.uk/ |
| Comments: | Great New Ops Records pages Pete. I hope you might get some more feedback from them. |
| Name: | Miles |
| E-mail address: | miles@documentedlife.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://documentedlife.com/otherpeople.htm |
| Comments: | Peter,
I enjoyed reading your father's memoirs and your annotations.... I'll be including them at http://documentedlife.com/otherpeople.htm with other illustrated autobiographies and biographies. Miles |
| Name: | Ralph S. Swift |
| E-mail address: | rsswift@stny.rr.com |
| Comments: | I was part of the new jet age converting from pistons and joined 208 course Merryfield in Sept 1952. My instructor, F/O Bennett. The Vampire T11 was not yet in service so we flew dual on the Meteor 7 and were then sat in a Vampire 1 or 3 and launched into the sky. Your first solo was your first flight in a Vampire and it could be tricky when you lowered the flaps, the nose would pitch up sharply. It was a rudimentary aircraft and the instrumentation was deffinately piston era. We lost about one pilot per month in training. My pal Johnny Gillard speared in at Curry Rivel one stormy day and is buried at the local churchyard. |
| Name: | Michael |
| E-mail address: | michal-marco@wp.pl |
| Comments: | I've got some information about Halifax B Mk II,JN910,138 Squadron, which was shut down by Germans on 14\15 september 1943 near my town Rugenwalde ( now Dar³owo) and lies on the sea bad at the deapth c.a. 12 meters.I've got GPS position of this wreck.I haven't yet dived to him but i'm gonna search for this and dive it this summer 2002year.At that accident almost 60 years ago died:
E.C.HART,J.D.L.CLOUTIER,K.R.NORIE,L.C.GAY,S.J.SMITH.W.H.MUDGE,K.C.WINDSOR. only A.S.Dove didn't die. |
| Name: | Enid |
| E-mail address: | enid@andalusian-horses.org |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.andalusian-horses.org |
| Comments: | Great ideas on your website! |
| Name: | Scott Dance |
| E-mail address: | spitfirefactory@aol.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://spitfirefactory.co.uk |
| Comments: | Intresting site. Look forward to return visits. |
| Name: | Allan Starling |
| E-mail address: | allan.starling@virginnet.co.uk |
| Comments: | I am delighted to find a reference to my late grandfather Captain Eric Starling. I actually have in front of me a copy of the photograph used in you book which my grandfather wrote on the back,'Eric Starling at the controls of "The Norseman" flying between Newcastle and Stravanger Sept 1938.'
His autobiography is titled 'The Flight of the Starling.' I have enjoyed your website and now think that I would love to make the same sort of tribute that you have to a lost generation of great men! |
| Name: | Pete Porter |
| E-mail address: | pporter@socal.rr.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.dreamwater.org/trasksdad/ |
| Comments: | This is just to alert readers of the CServe Ourworld site that, as the CServe limit of 5MB has now been reached, it has also been copied to http://dreamwater.org/trasksdad/ in order for further items to be added. In particular, I have added the story of my father's bombaimer, Don Hall, who was interned at Lamsdorf after he was captured following the crash of their Halifax in Holland. Any further modifications to the original "Pop's Progress" site will now be made at the Dreamwater site. |
| Name: | Daniel BON |
| E-mail address: | danone.63@wanadoo.fr |
| Comments: | hello,
i'm trying to find some documents or photographs about the Halifax B. MkII NP-V serial : DT579 which came down near my village, during the night (11/12 December 1942) in France : the mission was Turin (Italy) this aircraft was shoot down by the Flak of Le Creusot (a town of my department) and crashed in "Villeneuve-en- Montagne" (pilote F/Lt C.L. Sparke and 6 others crewmen were dead) Thank you very much by anticipation Bye Daniel BON |
| Name: | Chris Kenny |
| E-mail address: | chriskenny51@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | Congratulations on such a good site....and a good and brave father. I came across your site whilst trying to find some info on my uncle John William (Bill) Kenny. He was with 158 sqdr. but was killed aged 21 in feb 1945. Sorry if it looks like im using you as a search engine but your site is as far as I can get. Again apolloges...and well done.
Chris |
| Name: | Linda Couillard |
| E-mail address: | manouk58_excite.ca |
| Comments: | I really enjoyed visiting your site, and certainly intend to come back often since I am doing research myself pertaining to the Canadian Volunteers of WWII and you have got yourself a gold mine of stories.
Lest We Forget! Yours respectfully, Linda Couillard I can be reached at my e-mail:manouk58@excite.ca |
| Name: | Paul Tobolski |
| E-mail address: | ptobolsk@telusplanet.net |
| Homepage URL: | http://abilityhomeinspections.com |
| Comments: | As I have a great intrest in the events at Stalag Luft 111,
your web page is really intresting history.I was glad I was able to help you identify some of the names in the Xmas 43 photograph. Two of the men identified went out the tunnel on the night of the 24/25 March. My father F/L Pawel Tobolski was one of the victims of that escape. It was really great to find your page and eventually talk to you on the phone. Paul Tobolski Banff, Alberta |
| Name: | Len Morley |
| E-mail address: | lenmorley@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | very good site, |
| Name: | Melanie |
| E-mail address: | melnrick@bigvalley.net |
| Comments: | Geoff was my grandad.I'm very proud of him for his effort
for the war.He didn't talk much about his experiences until the last few years of his life. My father was there for him when he was ready to talk about his experiences. What a wonderful way to share his life. Thanks dad |
| Name: | TED WICK |
| E-mail address: | terence.wick@btinternet.uk |
| Comments: | pete
this is the sort of history i like ,and have faith in its sort of second hand but as close as you can sometimes get. there is nothing like speaking to some who was there ,and the amount of stuff they say that is in no historical files because it does not fit ! ted |
| Name: | Jack Newman |
| E-mail address: | mpython@mts.net |
| Comments: | I am researching my cousin: Peter F.E.Newman who was killed
January 9th, 1943. Sergeant #1382409 Nav./Bomber, 158 Squadron RAFVR. and is buried at Esbjerg Cemetery Ref. A111.8.15. Attempting to find Halifax # and crash site with crew listing. Your site is very interesting and well constructed. Keep up the good work!! Thanks Jack Newman 357 Madison Street, Winnipeg, Mb. Canada R3J 1H9 |
| Name: | http://website.lineone.net/~booksforsale | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Homepage URL: | http://website.lineone.net/~booksforsale | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Comments: | I hope to have a good look at this site:
Please have a look at my booksforsale website. THANKS
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