415 Squadron, RCAF Crews – Albacore Era – 1943 - 1944

[Temujin]

415 Squadron, RCAF Crews – Albacore Era – 1943 - 1944

Swordfish - The Story of 415 Squadron - recalls that in September 1943 part of the Squadron began conversion training on Fairey Albacores. Six crews were sent to RAF Manston to commence training with 841 Squadron, which was a land based Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Unit. 841 Squadron’s aircraft assets, which included +12 Albacores and 3 Fairey Swordfish, were transferred to 415 Squadron in November 1943. This left 415 Squadron as the only Allied operational unit flying bi-planes. In April 1944, the Albacore Flight was moved to Thorney Island and the number of aircraft was increased to twenty. A comprehensive article on this era of the Squadron has been written by Mr. Andrew Thomas.

Crews consisted of two personnel, a pilot and navigator.

ARMSTRONG

Pilot F/Lt R. Armstrong (RAF)
Navigator F/O H.R.D.S. Cuddon (RAF)


BOWERS

Pilot F/Sgt W.C. Bowers (RAF)
Navigator P/O D.J.G. McKenzie (AUS)


BRASNETT

Pilot F/O W.G. Brasnett DFC
Navigator F/O T.H. Parnell DFC (RAF)
F/Sgt R. Lynes (RAF)


BROUGHTON

Pilot F/O F.W. Broughton
Navigator P/O J.M. Dawkins


BROWN

Pilot F/O R.E. Brown (RAF)
Navigator P/O L.W. Fostitt (RAF)
F/Sgt H.A. Hufford (RAF)


CAMPBELL

Pilot F/L J.D.W. Campbell
Navigator F/O J.E Lundy


CHADWICK

Pilot F/O N. Chadwick
Navigator W/O A.N. Bernel


COWAN – KIA 20 January 1944

Pilot S/Ldr E.W. Cowan
Navigator F/O D.T. Wood (RAFVR)


DAVIS

Pilot S/Ldr J.T.J. Davis DFC
Navigator F/O H.J. Thompson DFC


EADIE

Pilot F/O C.M. Eadie
Navigator Lt H. Pincknes (US)


EMMOTT

Pilot W/O R.H. Emmott (RAF)
Navigator W/O D.M Meek (RAF)


FRYER

Pilot F/O A. Fryer (RAF)
Navigator F/Sgt K.W.W. Bradley (RAF)


GADZOS

Pilot P/O W. Gadzos
Navigator W/O A.W.T. Joyce
F/Sgt K.E. Ashworth (RAF)


GATES

Pilot P/O R.C. Gates
Navigator Lt V.T. Rice (US)


GORDON

Pilot S/Ldr R.A. Gordon
Navigator F/O C.W. Collins (RAF)
P/O G.T. MacKenzie DFM
F/O J.F. Nowell (RAF)



GRAYSTON

Pilot F/Sgt V.S. Grayston (RAF)
Navigator P/O J.P. Rollefson


GUY

Pilot F/O B. Guy (RAF)
Navigator F/O A.J. Bridge (RAF)


HILDEBRANDT

Pilot P/O A.F. Hildebrandt
Navigator P/O W.E. MacCausland


KEILLOR

Pilot S/Ldr H.G. Keillor DFC
Navigator F/O C.A. Wondolowski (DFC)


MACKIE – Killed 9 April 1944

Pilot F/O P.D. Mackie (RAF)
Navigator F/O F. McFarland (RAFVR)

passengers also killed:
AM2 A.L. Thomas (RAFVR) (U/T Nav)
​F/L L.G. Loft (RAFVR) (Flying Control)


McNEIL-WATSON

Pilot P/O D.B. McNeil-Watson (RAF)
Navigator P/O W. Tyler (RAF)


MENNIE

Pilot F/O O.H. Mennie
Navigator W/O R.A. Leach


PERRY

Pilot F/O R.A. Perry DFM (RAF)
Navigator P/O J.G. Jobe


PILKINGTON

Pilot F/L W.G. Pilkington
Navigator F/L R.S. Arrand (RAF)​​


RABBETS

Pilot F/O A.J. Rabbets (RAF)
Navigator F/O C. Grant (RAF)



REYNOLDS

Pilot F/Sgt E.J. Reynolds (RAF)
Navigator P/O J.T. Steele (NZ)


RIVERS

Pilot F/O L.W.F. Rivers (RAF)
Navigator F/O A.F.G. Hughes (Died of wounds 24 Mar 1943)
Navigator F/O A.W. Griffiths (RAF)


ROSS

Pilot F/L E.S.M. Ross (RAF)
Navigator F/Sgt J. Hyans (RAF)


SCANTLEBURY

Pilot F/Sgt W.J. Scantlebury (RAF)
Navigator F/O R.A. Moulton (AUS)


SENECAL

Pilot F/O J.H.A. Senecal
Navigator F/O T.R. Burtch (RAF)


THOMSON

Pilot F/O D.C. Thomson DFC
Navigator F/O A.H. Bartlett DFC


Source: http://www.415sqn.com/albacore-crews.html

[georgetanksherman]

Could not find a lot of info on these crews as far as serial numbers and the exact date of which Navigator F/O A.F.G. Hughes was initially wounded., but this is what I found:

COWAN

R.C.A.F. No. 415 Squadron, Fairey Albacore Ser# Unknown, January 20, 1944

On January 20, 1944, S/Ldr E.W. Cowan was leading an anti-shipping patrol off the coast of France, piloting an Albacore aircraft trying to spot German ships. He and his squadron spotted two Kriegsmarine destroyers (German battleships carrying supplies). Emerson tried to stop them but went down in the process and was lost at sea along with his navigator, F/O D.T. Wood. Emerson's Albacore was most likely shot down. His body was never found.

Pilot S/Ldr E.W. Cowan, RCAF, C/853, M.I.A., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Navigator F/O D.T. Wood, RAFVR, 129415, Hometown Unknown

[georgetanksherman]

MACKIE

R.C.A.F. No. 415 Squadron, Fairey Albacore Ser# Unknown, April 9, 1944

It is said that the aircraft crashed during fighter evasive tactic training in the United Kingdom

Pilot, F/O P.D. Mackie RAFVR, 127824, K.I.A., Goodrington, Devon, United Kingdom
Navigator, F/O E. McFarland, RAFVR, 127822, K.I.A., Great Clifton, Cumbria, United Kingdom

Passengers also killed:
AM2 A.L. Thomas, RAFVR, U/T Nav, 1809886, K.I.A., Highbury, London, United Kingdom
F/L L.G. Loft, RAFVR, (Flying Control) 104798, K.I.A., Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom

[georgetanksherman]

RIVERS

R.C.A.F. No. 415 Squadron, Fairey Albacore Ser# Unknown, Date of attack not known.

Aircraft while attacking E-Boats sustained heavy hits during the attack, wounding F/O A.F.G. Hughes

Crew:
Pilot F/O L.W.F. Rivers (RAF), survived
Navigator F/O A.F.G. Hughes, RCAF, J/13752, (Died of wounds 24 Mar 1943) Cereal. Alberta Canada
Navigator F/O A.W. Griffiths (RAF), survived