Researching 415 Squadron Operations from January 1944-August 1944

Discussions related to researching soldiers of the second world war.
heatherje
Assistant
Assistant
Posts: 5
Joined: Mon Feb 25, 2019 1:25 pm
Commendations: 0

Re: Researching 415 Squadron Operations from January 1944-August 1944

Post by heatherje » Tue Feb 26, 2019 5:40 pm

Hi there,
Wow this is amazing! I started trying to look through the records but it is quite the task! Im amazed you found this information!! Thank you so much!

Yes, it seems he was only with 415 for a short time. I believe he finished his second 'tour' August 7, 1944 and was then 'screened'. I can't seem to find any record of many flights that he did with them...

I have found that he completed 22 operations while with RAF Squadron 158. Then he was posted to 1664 Heavy Conversion Unit, Croft on June 29, 1943 as a wireless operator instructor. Somewhere in there I think he was moved to 1666 but I have yet to find any details of that...Then he came to No.415 Squadron.

It says that he flew a total of 48 operations with the two tours of duty so I'm just trying to track down any details I can about his second operation. Cant seem to find much. Also, he was awarded the DFC as per London Gazette as he was F/O with 415 squadron so I guess thats the result of a successful second tour completion.
He returned to Gander in 1946.

User avatar
Temujin
Meritorious
Meritorious
Posts: 2899
Joined: Sat Apr 14, 2018 6:39 pm
Commendations: 137

Re: Researching 415 Squadron Operations from January 1944-August 1944

Post by Temujin » Tue Feb 26, 2019 7:34 pm

heatherje wrote:
Tue Feb 26, 2019 5:40 pm
Hi there,
Wow this is amazing! I started trying to look through the records but it is quite the task! Im amazed you found this information!! Thank you so much!

Yes, it seems he was only with 415 for a short time. I believe he finished his second 'tour' August 7, 1944 and was then 'screened'. I can't seem to find any record of many flights that he did with them...

I have found that he completed 22 operations while with RAF Squadron 158. Then he was posted to 1664 Heavy Conversion Unit, Croft on June 29, 1943 as a wireless operator instructor. Somewhere in there I think he was moved to 1666 but I have yet to find any details of that...Then he came to No.415 Squadron.

It says that he flew a total of 48 operations with the two tours of duty so I'm just trying to track down any details I can about his second operation. Cant seem to find much. Also, he was awarded the DFC as per London Gazette as he was F/O with 415 squadron so I guess thats the result of a successful second tour completion.
He returned to Gander in 1946.
Well so far I found just one mission (already posted)......I’ll look thru the rest of the 2 months and see what I can find. Also, you will not that when he arrived at 415 Squadron, he came from 433 Squadron.......so he must have spent time their also. I’ll look thru those records after I have finished looking thru 415. Keep checking back and I’ll continue to post anything I find

Cheers

User avatar
Temujin
Meritorious
Meritorious
Posts: 2899
Joined: Sat Apr 14, 2018 6:39 pm
Commendations: 137

Re: Researching 415 Squadron Operations from January 1944-August 1944

Post by Temujin » Tue Feb 26, 2019 8:04 pm

Heather, I only found ONE mission he flew with 415 Squadron.

His pilot (of his crew) was killed on the 21st Aug 1944 in a flying accident. Records are below.......but he wasn’t with the crew.......he had FINSIHED his second tour on the 8th Aug 1944 and was “screened” (wasn’t sent on any more missions - Record is also below)

So as far as I can see, he only flew ONE operational mission while at 415 Squadron......I’m going to check 433 Squadron (the unit he was posted in from, and see if I can find any info on him)
B7D386AC-B30B-48D4-ACD8-F0DB06161E0A.jpeg
B7D386AC-B30B-48D4-ACD8-F0DB06161E0A.jpeg (176.04 KiB) Viewed 9806 times
FE36D94A-6C31-46CA-849E-E3BEE4D92315.jpeg
FE36D94A-6C31-46CA-849E-E3BEE4D92315.jpeg (172.48 KiB) Viewed 9806 times
Here’s his records telling us he completed his second tour on the 8th Aug 44, and didn’t fly any further operational missions with 415 Squadron
897A1A3A-3DE3-495B-898A-DF336E119F3E.jpeg
897A1A3A-3DE3-495B-898A-DF336E119F3E.jpeg (186.88 KiB) Viewed 9806 times
These users commended the author Temujin for the post:
Phil (Tue Feb 26, 2019 9:29 pm)

User avatar
Temujin
Meritorious
Meritorious
Posts: 2899
Joined: Sat Apr 14, 2018 6:39 pm
Commendations: 137

Re: Researching 415 Squadron Operations from January 1944-August 1944

Post by Temujin » Tue Feb 26, 2019 9:40 pm

Heather, I was able to confirm that McNeill and his crew flew for 433 Squadron before joining 415 Squadron. I’m finding all their missions right now (and their were a lot) and will post them up when I have them all, hopefully in the next little while)

Cheers
These users commended the author Temujin for the post:
heatherje (Wed Feb 27, 2019 4:52 am)

User avatar
Temujin
Meritorious
Meritorious
Posts: 2899
Joined: Sat Apr 14, 2018 6:39 pm
Commendations: 137

Re: Researching 415 Squadron Operations from January 1944-August 1944

Post by Temujin » Tue Feb 26, 2019 10:13 pm

OK, here’s all the info. J.G. McNeill and crew were posted into 433 Squadron FROM 1679 Conversion Unit on the 4 Jan 1944.

this first record is of their posting into 433 Squadron
046F20C8-ECD1-4698-9AAE-2A52F12894CF.jpeg
046F20C8-ECD1-4698-9AAE-2A52F12894CF.jpeg (211.74 KiB) Viewed 9802 times
And then all these records of the 20 missions they were on with 433 Squadron until they were posted out to 415 Squadron
FF65459B-5A33-4098-942B-21A69874A4D6.jpeg
FF65459B-5A33-4098-942B-21A69874A4D6.jpeg (217.3 KiB) Viewed 9802 times
7EDBB38A-365E-474D-BD49-0DE997FA09DA.jpeg
7EDBB38A-365E-474D-BD49-0DE997FA09DA.jpeg (208.49 KiB) Viewed 9802 times
ACDBBB70-0226-4298-A29B-759FCA3D67BE.jpeg
ACDBBB70-0226-4298-A29B-759FCA3D67BE.jpeg (216.93 KiB) Viewed 9802 times
B2D5F027-15FD-47B9-9933-7A87B71A82D2.jpeg
B2D5F027-15FD-47B9-9933-7A87B71A82D2.jpeg (181.68 KiB) Viewed 9802 times
787D0DBF-64E2-46E6-B836-20B7C947C31A.jpeg
787D0DBF-64E2-46E6-B836-20B7C947C31A.jpeg (197.82 KiB) Viewed 9802 times
F7A65BDB-065A-4FF5-9D4F-CE602C2E61B1.jpeg
F7A65BDB-065A-4FF5-9D4F-CE602C2E61B1.jpeg (232.8 KiB) Viewed 9802 times
4477169E-88C6-41F2-A2B2-3ED8FE429E7A.jpeg
4477169E-88C6-41F2-A2B2-3ED8FE429E7A.jpeg (217.54 KiB) Viewed 9802 times
57CDFFED-FDE0-421A-B7D2-5D452C4FC0F5.jpeg
57CDFFED-FDE0-421A-B7D2-5D452C4FC0F5.jpeg (196.06 KiB) Viewed 9802 times
D68CC8C4-32C2-461B-A9A9-53F6F42F456B.jpeg
D68CC8C4-32C2-461B-A9A9-53F6F42F456B.jpeg (208.79 KiB) Viewed 9802 times
6B812648-D8AD-4C3D-A841-36A8B595E1A7.jpeg
6B812648-D8AD-4C3D-A841-36A8B595E1A7.jpeg (203.08 KiB) Viewed 9802 times
3E98BE0D-BB15-4502-8618-967451953283.jpeg
3E98BE0D-BB15-4502-8618-967451953283.jpeg (192.1 KiB) Viewed 9802 times
693FA48B-906D-498D-BE55-8D11FB9FC9C1.jpeg
693FA48B-906D-498D-BE55-8D11FB9FC9C1.jpeg (203.97 KiB) Viewed 9802 times
A84C278C-F092-4DD0-8422-ACB967313502.jpeg
A84C278C-F092-4DD0-8422-ACB967313502.jpeg (183.96 KiB) Viewed 9802 times
4D7DD923-21A6-434B-8816-036F0A29299E.jpeg
4D7DD923-21A6-434B-8816-036F0A29299E.jpeg (213.46 KiB) Viewed 9801 times
46A7B5C8-86A0-4299-8780-0BED7A32A974.jpeg
46A7B5C8-86A0-4299-8780-0BED7A32A974.jpeg (186.01 KiB) Viewed 9801 times
B8926863-A18C-46E2-ACDE-F3F981CDC8A4.jpeg
B8926863-A18C-46E2-ACDE-F3F981CDC8A4.jpeg (203.97 KiB) Viewed 9801 times
9CD88A3B-1B92-4111-9761-D1DE22EEE118.jpeg
9CD88A3B-1B92-4111-9761-D1DE22EEE118.jpeg (183.96 KiB) Viewed 9801 times
BBC0F526-BDE1-4AE6-9264-4F18C0B27A8A.jpeg
BBC0F526-BDE1-4AE6-9264-4F18C0B27A8A.jpeg (217.38 KiB) Viewed 9801 times
BBBCF8DA-779F-4186-8519-A4307B27873C.jpeg
BBBCF8DA-779F-4186-8519-A4307B27873C.jpeg (157.21 KiB) Viewed 9801 times
58D97A37-2642-4C1A-8D1C-1020EBF86DA2.jpeg
58D97A37-2642-4C1A-8D1C-1020EBF86DA2.jpeg (179.83 KiB) Viewed 9801 times

And finally, here’s the record of his posting OUT of 433 Squadron
AF59EC13-CE7E-4166-A5F0-549C85EE62ED.jpeg
AF59EC13-CE7E-4166-A5F0-549C85EE62ED.jpeg (190.19 KiB) Viewed 9799 times
These users commended the author Temujin for the post:
Phil (Wed Feb 27, 2019 7:43 am)

User avatar
Temujin
Meritorious
Meritorious
Posts: 2899
Joined: Sat Apr 14, 2018 6:39 pm
Commendations: 137

Re: Researching 415 Squadron Operations from January 1944-August 1944

Post by Temujin » Tue Feb 26, 2019 10:52 pm

That’s all I can find Heather. As you can see, he flew 20 missions with 433 Squadron and then 1 mission (or possibly 2, I may have missed one) with 415 Squadron. Before the were sent to 433 Squadron, the crew was at 1679 Heavy Conversion Unit, a unit set up to train crews for RCAF Squadrons.


I can’t seem to find the 22nd mission, but the records are sometimes hard to read. The “hard ones” (very dark microfilm) I have “lightened” so you can see them better........but I may have missed one.

So most of his second tour was flow with 433 RCAF Squadron.

A side note, his pilot, W/C J. C. McNeill was killed in a flying accident. His aircraft crashed into another aircraft (both crews killed) returning from another airfield. The “prop” came off of one on his aircraft engines and they were flying in a tight formation and his aircraft swerved into the other aircraft.

Your grandfather had completed his 22nd mission (second tour) just before this.

So recap, on his Second Tour:

1679 Heavy Conversion Unit,
433 Squadron, RCAF - 20 Missions
415 Squadron, RCAF - 1 or 2 Missions

Let me know if I can be of any further help

Cheers

heatherje
Assistant
Assistant
Posts: 5
Joined: Mon Feb 25, 2019 1:25 pm
Commendations: 0

Re: Researching 415 Squadron Operations from January 1944-August 1944

Post by heatherje » Wed Feb 27, 2019 5:01 am

Thank you so much for your help with this! I am very happy to have these records and it is amazing to read through the reports!

I have his list of attacks while with the 158 squadron but may see if I can dig futhuer to find the log reports for those as well. Those would be RAF archives I think - and I hVe yet to find any of those online although I have contacted the RAF museum in london to see what they may have in digital format.

Thanks again and once I get this all together I may check back! My son is also planning a Heritage Project on my Grandfather so if he has questions I will certainly be back!

Sincere thanks!

User avatar
Temujin
Meritorious
Meritorious
Posts: 2899
Joined: Sat Apr 14, 2018 6:39 pm
Commendations: 137

Re: Researching 415 Squadron Operations from January 1944-August 1944

Post by Temujin » Wed Feb 27, 2019 9:39 am

Your welcome Heather and good luck on your further research
These users commended the author Temujin for the post:
heatherje (Wed Feb 27, 2019 2:16 pm)

heatherje
Assistant
Assistant
Posts: 5
Joined: Mon Feb 25, 2019 1:25 pm
Commendations: 0

Re: Researching 415 Squadron Operations from January 1944-August 1944

Post by heatherje » Thu Mar 21, 2019 3:32 pm

I was grateful for assistance with my first 'round' of questions and now I'm continuing to dig up whatever I can about my grandfather! I found a small blue slip of paper in some of his belongings that shows "No. 4 Manning Depot Quebec"... it seems to be a day pass, and I suppose this was his during training before he went overseas?. Is there any way to find out more information about his stay there... any records I could search... are there any photos of the facilities. I also have a casual group photo so I'm trying to figure out where it was taken.. he looks quite young and relaxed so I'm thinking it might have been during training days... I know that's a needle in the haystack but you never know!

User avatar
Temujin
Meritorious
Meritorious
Posts: 2899
Joined: Sat Apr 14, 2018 6:39 pm
Commendations: 137

Re: Researching 415 Squadron Operations from January 1944-August 1944

Post by Temujin » Fri Mar 22, 2019 7:58 pm

Heather, here is what “Manning Depots” did

Manning Depots

Recruits began their military careers at one of seven Manning Depots where they learned to bathe, shave, shine boots, polish buttons, maintain their uniforms, and otherwise behave in the required manner. There were two hours of physical education every day and instruction in marching, rifle drill, foot drill, saluting, and other routines. Remedial high school education was offered to bring 17 and 18 year old recruits up to the RCAF academic level. There was also a standard aptitude test: the RCAF Classification Test.

After 4 or 5 weeks a selection committee decided whether the recruit would be trained for aircrew or ground crew. Aircrew “Wireless Air Gunner” candidates went directly to a Wireless School. “Air Observer” and “Pilot” candidates went to an Initial Training School.

Recruits were often assigned “tarmac duty” to keep busy. Some were sent to factories to count nuts and bolts, some were sent to flying schools and other RCAF facilities to guard things, clean things, paint things, and polish things. Tarmac duty could last several months or more.


No. 4 Manning Deport - Quebec City, Quebec

Post Reply