102 (Ceylon) Squadron
Tentate et perficite (Attempt and Achieve)
Flight Officer William J Petersen
Pilot
William Joseph Petersen b 21st Oct 1921 in Auckland, New Zealand
Joined 102 Squadron in December 1944 and flew his first operation in late January 1945.
The last raid for 102 Squadron was to Wangerooge on 25 April 1945.
Bill is back row, far left.. we are going to be filling in the rest of the names soon..
Above, the then, brand new Halifax Mk VI - DY-J, 'Joanne'. Bill and some of the crew
The crew of DY-J, with Bill Petersen.
Bill Petersen and the crew of DY-J 'Joanne' - 102 Squadron - March/April 1945
Bill does have this photo below in his collection, but this particular one was sent to us by the family of John Hodgson.
B Flight - Pocklingtoon 102 Ceylon Squadron March / April 1945
On the back of the photo we have to following names: (We understand that we have names missing... can you help???
Standing: F/O A.F. Bannatyne - F/O A. Maxie McVicar (Aus) - P/O John Hodgson - Beckett - F/O Bill Petersen (NZ) - Ian Adams (NZ) - ??? - ???
Sat Down: ??? - ??? - ??? - S/L A.R. Middleton - Fowler - F/O J.G. Withington
NOTE: We have been able to add to some of the names on the card already..
May 6th 1945 - VE Day.
"The story behind that photo is the car belongs to Roly Morell a NZ Navigator from B Flight.
The base had run out of beer but Roly had a mate who ran a Naffy store and he managed to get the Naffy beer they were drinking in the picture. Bloody awful beer is the old boys view. "