Not Forgotten
Within each of the News Letters produced by Tom Wingham for the 102 Squadron Association there was a part entitled 'Not Forgotten'.
It was in essence an obituary column, and we intend to reproduce those obits here. In some cases we will omit people's names or addresses if we feel it wrong to put them on the internet. You will notice that on many occassions there will be a blue link with someones name. That indicates that we have a page on here for that person.
We will list them in order of year, and then the newsletter they appeared in.
2004
August
John Brush -
B/A Sept’43/Apr'44, John died on 5th.January after a short illness. He was a very well liked member of the squadron and managed to survive the dreadful decimation of the squadron in January 1944. Many of his last years were devoted to his disabled grandson whom he adored. He is survived by his widow, Margaret .
- Wing Commmander Louis Douglas Wilson DSO DFC AFC Commanding Officer June'44 —
Jan'45.
Died 6th June.
Douglas Wilson was involved in quite a lot of development work in flying warfare which made life safer
for the many in the RAF who followed.
Having joined the RAF in the mid 30's he won the Groves Memorisl Prize for the best pilot in his entry. Six days after the outbreak of war he led 6
Battles of 40 Sqdn on a reconnaissance of the Metz area but hortly afterwards he was appointed to the Photographic Development Unit and in April 1940 he commanded a small flight
to provide the BEF with photos of German Army movements.
Loaned
to Vickers Armstrong as a Test Pilot in Jan. 1941 he spent 2 years at Farnborough flying over 100 different aircraft including the first Gloster jet and captured enemy aircraft. He also took
part in hazardous tests on ballon cable cutting flying directly into the wires. It was during these tests that he had to force- land after almost being shot down by two German fighters.
- Of
more relevance to 102 was his involvement in collecting data needed to solve the problem of rudder stall on the early Halifaxes and, here again, it needed all his skill as a pilot to save himself and the aircraft.
After his spell as C.O. of 102 Sqdn in 1944 he went on to appointments in Iraq and the Far East before commanding Nos.9 and 49 Lincoln squadrons. Douglas
retired from the RAF in 1959 but continued in aviation with Rolls-Royce until his final retirement in 1973.
- External Link to The Telegraph's Obit
November
Larry W. Carr F/LT,Pilot. Larry joined the squadron as an NCO in August 1941 when Whitleys were still the order of the day.
Doing a second dickie trip he was in the crew of a Whitley which blew up on the airfield, damaging another Whitley and killing one of the ground crew, although all the aircrew were safe.
He did various trips on Whitleys before converting to Halifaxes at Dalton in the beginning of 1942. On 27th April 1942 he took off for his final trip against Cologne, this being the second Squadron Halifax to be lost due to enemy action, being shot down by a nightfighter in the early hours of 28th April over Belgium,.
Three of his crew were killed and three baled out and were taken POW.
Larry was fortunate on landing to be picked up by a Belgian Gendarme who asked him simply whether he wanted to go home. Of course he did, and so was passed down the Comete Escape Line becoming the 17th. of the 288 aircrew’ who were returned home by Comete via Gibraltar, reaching there on l3th.May - a somewhat quick delivery.
I could never get him to attend Reunions, but thanks for the memories. Ed Cooke - Frank Windmill who died of an unexpected heart attack on 1st. July in Robina, Queensland.
Frank had only joined the Association earlier this year through a member of his former
crew, Alec Taylor. Frank was a member of the Returned Services League of Australia and a member of that organization gave a
moving tribute to Frank's war service at the funeral .
- Douglas A. Mourton Wop/AG. who recently died in Western Australia.
Doug did a tour with 102 on Whitleys in Aug'40/May’41. He was still running his own business up to two years ago when,at the age of 90, he decided to emigrated to Australia to be near his family and from letters received was thoroughly enjoying his new life. Some members may have read
his book, "Lucky Doug", which was published in 1999
2005
March
Wilf Wainright A/G. Wilf died on 15th.January. He was an Air Gunner and was with the squadron from 1936 until 1940, having flown in Heyfords and Whitleys. He was rather unique in that, in the time before A/G's were a fulltime category, Wilf was the Squadron Clerk and so became, probably, the only Clerk/AG in the RAF - Bill McArter: RCAF Bomb Aimer. Died 22nd.February 2004.
Bill joined the Squadron at the beginning of 1943, staying until March’44. He was in a special category in that he was posted to 102 with two other Canadians as "Naval Ship Bombers", presumably with the intention that he should only fly on Ops with a naval connection. He did his first Op. on Minelaying
without having flown in a Halifax before.
-
August
John Hurst A/G John was a gunner on the squadron and was at Pocklington from November 1942 until May 1943 when he completed his tour - Alan G Lancaster Alan joined 102 in March 1942 at Topcliffe and stayed servicing 102 Halifaxes until disbandment in 1945 during which he was Mentioned in Dispatches, reaching the rank of Sergeant on his way.
Over the years he could always be relied upon to turn up at our squadron Reunions.
One of the great interests of his life was football and he became much respected throughout the football world as Secretary of Ashford Town F.C. of the Southern League, which was reflected by the number of people who attended his funeral.
- Jack H Rogers Jack was a Navigator with the squadron from August 1944 until May 1945.
He kept on with his calculating skills as an Accountant after the war and, as a keen cricketer,
played for Devon from time to time. He also found time to write and publish a book of his life as a navigator on 102 and although this was some years ago the book is still obtainable
- William (Bill) Ollerton A/G. Bill was on the squadron fron August’44 until June '45. while attacking Goch in Feb‘45 his aircraft was attacked by a nightfighter about 14 miles from the target on the
return leg.
The crew baled out over liberated territory (Belgium) but the pilot was killed when the aircraft crashed near Leopoldville. .
In the mid 90*s, the Belgians planted a tree with a plaque on the crash site after which Bill maintained contact with the Belgiums, visiting and maintaining contact with them until his death
November
Eric Dashper Passed away on the 25th.July. Eric entered the RAF in May 1936 after a two year youth training scheme. Training as a Wireless Operator in the Boys Wing at Cranwell, he was selected for flying duties and, on passing out, was posted to 102 Squadron at Honington in Sept.1937.
A year later, he was joined by Bill Jacobs, also from Cranwell, on 102 which was now at Driffield re—arming with Whitley Mk III 's. They were both officially re-mustered to Wireless Operator Aircrew in January 1939.
During the early months of 1940, Eric had rheumatic fever and was struck off the squadron strength. returning to operations with another squadron later in the year.
He received his commission during the late summer of 1942 after being selected to undergo training in Special Signals.
He left the Service in 1948. In the 1985 Squadron Reunion, Eric had great joy in being reunited with Bill Jacobs and Graham Hall, both pre-war members, and the next year with Wilf Wainwright, also of that ilk. Bill and Eric had their last Reunion in 2003, after which Eric became troubled with chest infections which had affected him for many years and from which
he eventually succumbed in July at the age of 86.
"A good friend and comrade whose unexpected passing leaves me feeling somewhat diminished with a great sense of personal loss." Bill Jacobs - Jim Fryett Wop/AG. Aug'4l/Jul'42. Jim was Wireless Operator in Vic Hunter’s crew,having joined the squadron in August 1941 to await a course in Gunnery.
In July'42, their aircraft was
hit by flak when attacking Hamburg. They were forced to ditch a few miles off the German coast and after being picked up by the Germans, Jim spent the rest of the war as a POW.
- Bill Pattison DFM,F/Eng. Apr’42/Apr'43 sadly passed away on the 26th.July.
Eddie Berry writes: Although I had been on the squadron since the previous Christmas, Bill did not join my regular crew until July 1942.
In the following month, when we crash—landed in Wales, Bill showed his mettle in risking his own life to ensure I was strapped in and then putting out the fire after we landed. (See "It's Suicide But It's Fun).
We did 15 Operations together, the last one being on 20th.November 1942, after which I was posted away from the Squadron.
- It was 40 years before we met again at the 1982 Reunion at Nottingham, followed by a meeting at Hendon and at several Reunions at Hull University. I believe Bill did another tour with another Hlifax squadron where he was awarded the DFM, richly deserved.
- He was very proud of having been a member of the crew who flew the Queen to Canada on one occasion. Bill was a very quiet, reliable and likeable person.
He was a proud family man and will be sadly missed by all who knew him.
- Harold Clayton F/MechE. It was with deep regret that we heard in August of the sudden death of Harold ’Titch‘ Clayton.
We had been great friends as Mechanics, Engine and Airframe, mainly working on "F"-Freddy with Dinty Moore's crew in 1944. Titch suffered a stroke several years ago which left him severely handicapped but supported by Chris,his wife, with the help of a wheel chair and friends he continued to be a regular attender at Reunions, including his last this year in July shortly before his death.
Our deepest sympathy goes out to Chris in her loss. Leo Etheringtun
2006
March
George Davies DFC,S/Ldr. Sadly passed away on the 24th.August.
George joined 102 as an NCO pilot in March 1944 and during his tour was commissioned
before completion in September. After the war,he stayed on in the RAF and retired as a Squadron Leader. - Jim (Jock) Williamson A/G. Well known to members attending the Reunions, Jim was one of the Whitley stalwarts, joining 102 at Topcliffe in March'41 and was the sole surviving member of his Whitley crew when they were shot down by flak during a raid on Hamburg at the end of November 1941.
He spent the rest of the war as a POW. After the war he was in the police for some 28 years and then spent some 20 years as a publican before finally retiring.
- George Wotherspoon DFC, Ft/Lt. George was a Navigator, joining the squadron in September 1943 and flew with 102 until the beginning of 1944 when he was posted to 10 Squadron at Melbourn. After the war he took a keen interest in the Air Training Corps
- Hugh Tyson Flt Mech. Hugh came to 102 in March 1943 and will be remembered for the article he wrote for the Newsletter which was published in March and August 2001.
In it he covered life at Pocklington in the last two years of the war which evoked many memories. After the war he became a school teacher and continued, with his hobbies of model making, aircraft spotting and amateur radio. He died in June last year
- George Titmus WOP/AG. Died 22nd December.
Derek Waters Writes: George joined up with John Dakeyne's crew on Wellingtons at Lossiemouth in July'44. After a spell at HCU,Rufforth we were posted to 102 Sqdn,arriving early in 1945.
George was the quiet man of the crew, always cheerful and hard working, a perfect team member.
Our regular aircrft was R—Roger, (The
Black Swan, after the hostelry we frequented in York), on which we completed 14 trips before the war ended.
We stayed together when we were transferred to Tansport and did several
trips before we were demobbed.
We remained in touch over the years but I was unable to attend his funeral so sent the message to his widow and daughter with the flowers,
- Stan Adams Wop/AG, Passed away on the 28th January. Stan joined the squadron in September’43 and flew for 4 months before being shot down on tha Magdeburg raid of 21st Jan.'44.
He survived with two other members of his crew but as a POW.
Stan was a regular with his wife Kathleen at tha Squadron Reunions and a few years ago published a booklet of his life in the RAF under the title,"Out in the Blue".
Kath pre—deceased him by two weeks or so. For many years he laid the Squadron wreath at the airfield memorial on Armistice day. He will be missed.
November
Mrs Helen Woodward (nee Lambert) died on 17th.August. Helen came to Pocklington in May 1942 and served as a WAAF Telephonist in the Ops. room until the end of 1945.
Originally from Norfolk, she and her husband settled in Durham in 1962 and became involved with many charities in the area as well as the Girl Guides and with flower arranging in the Cathedral.
Until her illness she was always to be seen at Barmby Moor church on Sundays of the Reunion weekends. Her funeral was conducted at Durham Cathedral on 24th.August. Pat,her husband of 55 years will continue as an Associate Member. - George Chance DFM George was a wop/AG and joined the Squadron in February 1944. His time with 102 was fairly brief as he and his crew were posted in April to 35 PFF Sqdn where he was awarded his decoration.
- R.G. Wilding AFM. A former member of the Squadron whose death was notified in the “Intercom".
- Arnold Emmerson Air Gunner. Arnold was with the Squadron in 1943 and died at the age of 92 on 10th March this year
- Douglas Skipworth passed away on the 15th.October. Douglas was a member of ground crew at Pocklington and was there from 1942 until, the end of the war He had not been well for some time
2008
August
Thomas Lister Fitter, passed away on the 8th March. Tom was on the Squadron from 1942 when it moved to Pocklington until the end of the war. Unfortunately, he broke his hip in February and
never full recovered. - Peter Hoyland DFC, Pilot. passed away on Tuesday, 6th.May.
Peter joined 102 in August 1944 and was with the squadron until the end of hostilities when he converted to Lancasters and joined 7 Sqdn at Oakington.
Following his demob in 1946 he moved to BOAC to fly Sunderlands out of Poole, continuing with what became British Airways until retirement in 1976. Peter then spent
several years flying freight to and from the Channels Isles before fully retiring and devoting much of his time to his real love — sailing.
- Earnest W. Jerrum (Jerry) F/ENG, Believed to have died in April this year.
Jerry operated, with 102 from February—October 1943.
Many members will be aware that it was the meeting with
"Jerry" that prompted Chris Goss to write “It's Suicide But It's Fun".
2009
August
Dennis Phillips DFC - F/Lt. passed away on the 16th July Aged 87.
Dennis was a Pilot with the Squadron from August 1943 - June 1944 and again from March 1945 - February 1945. It seems fitting that
we should publish in thsi issue his Navigator's account of their raid on Berlin on 20th.January 1945, 102's worst night. (This will appear on Tom Maddock's Page when we get the time to copy it out)- John Watkins Navigator, April/June'44. passed away on the 29th.June.
John was shot down by nightfighter near Beauvais and was one of two survivors who becamme POW. After the war he emigrated to Canada where he lived on the west coast outside Vancouver
We will be adding to this in the coming days as we get scans of newsletters going back into the ninties.
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