CREW MEMBER PROFILE

Surname:

PALEY

First Name/s:

George Henry

No Image

Service No/s:

(999121) 179271

Service:

RAFVR

Branch:

Pilot

Awards:

Return

SERVICE RECORDS

Date

Event

Aircraft Flown

06 Jul 1944

Appointed to commission to be Pilot Officer (Plt Off ) on probation (emergency) from Sgt 06 Jul 44 (Gazetted 29 August 44, p3998).

07 Jul 1944

No. 11 Base, Lindholme; administrative HQ for No. 1 Group heavy bomber conversions
Nos. 1656, 1662, or 1667 Heavy Conversion Units (HCU)
No. 1 Lancaster Finishing School (LFS), Hemswell tbc.

27 Sep 1944

No. 576 Squadron, ‘A’ Flight, Elsham Wolds, Lincolnshire

Lancaster

14 Oct 1944

Set Rank from Flight Record

06 Jan 1945

Plt Off on probation confirmed in appointment and to be Flying Officer (Fg Off) (war substantive) 06 Jan 45 (Gazetted 09 Feb 45, p813).

576 Squadron FLYING RECORDS

Date

Aircraft

Code

Flight Details

T/O

Land

Flt Time

Crew

14 Oct 1944

PB472

UL-E2

DUISBURG

2330

0445

5h15

P1   Fg Off G.H. Paley
P2   
FE   Sgt R. Beales
AB   Sgt R. Potter
NAV  Sgt R.P. Belshaw
WOp  Sgt G.B. Burns
MUG  Sgt R. Black
RG   Sgt C.S. Mason

NOTES:

Operation HURRICANE. Built-up area to the north of the docks Load: B2, K2, M2: 1x 4,000lb ‘Cookie’, 2,732x 4lb incendiaries All other a/c: 12x 1,000lb & 4x 500lb bombs.

19 Oct 1944

PB635

UL-N2

STUTTGART

1700

0010

7h10

P1   Fg Off G.H. Paley
P2   
FE   Sgt R. Beales
AB   Sgt R. Potter
NAV  Sgt R.P. Belshaw
WOp  Sgt G.B. Burns
MUG  Sgt R. Black
RG   Sgt C.S. Mason

NOTES:

Bad Constatt marshalling yards & Robert Bosche works Load: F2,G2,K2,N2,Q2,Y2,Z2: 1x 4,000lb ‘Cookie’ & 1,800x 4lb incendiaries All other a/c: 9x 1,000lb and 4x 500lb bombs First Wave: Bad Constatt marshalling yards.

23 Oct 1944

NE115

UL-B2

ESSEN

1615

2200

5h45

P1   Fg Off G.H. Paley
P2   
FE   Sgt R. Beales
AB   Sgt R. Potter
NAV  Sgt R.P. Belshaw
WOp  Sgt G.B. Burns
MUG  Sgt R. Black
RG   Sgt C.S. Mason

NOTES:

Built-up & Industrial areas (incl. Krupps) Load: B2,J2,N2,Z2: 1x 4000lb and 2220x 4lb incendiaries. All other a/c: 11x 1000lb & 4x 500lb bombs

25 Oct 1944

NE115

UL-B2

ESSEN

1255

1800

5h05

P1   Fg Off G.H. Paley
P2   
FE   Sgt R. Beales
AB   Sgt R. Potter
NAV  Sgt R.P. Belshaw
WOp  Sgt G.B. Burns
MUG  Sgt R. Black
RG   Sgt C.S. Mason

NOTES:

2 APs in the Krupps works Load: B2, J2, N2, Z2: 1x 4,000lb, 2,220x 4lb incendiaries All other aircraft: 11x 1,000lb, 4x 500lb bombs.

28 Oct 1944

ND521

UL-L2

COLOGNE

1335

1855

5h20

P1   Fg Off G.H. Paley
P2   
FE   Sgt R. Beales
AB   Sgt R. Potter
NAV  Sgt R.P. Belshaw
WOp  Sgt G.B. Burns
MUG  Sgt R. Black
RG   Sgt C.S. Mason

NOTES:

Two APs: Mulheim district of Cologne, and the SW part of the city. Load: A2, B2, C2, F2, G2, N2: 1x 4,000lb ‘Cookie’, 2,332x 4lb incendiaries All other aircraft: 1x 4,000lb ‘Cookie’, 5x 1,000lb, 6x 500lb bombs 6 aircraft were scheduled to attack the Mulheim AP first, followed by the rest on the second AP.

30 Oct 1944

PA173

UL-G2

COLOGNE

1745

0005

6h20

P1   Fg Off G.H. Paley
P2   
FE   Sgt R. Beales
AB   Sgt R. Potter
NAV  Sgt R.P. Belshaw
WOp  Sgt G.B. Burns
MUG  Sgt R. Black
RG   Sgt C.S. Mason

NOTES:

NW Area of City Load: F2, G2, I2, J2, M2, R2: 1x 4,000lb ‘Cookie’, 2070x 4lb incendiaries All other aircraft: 1x 4,000lb ‘Cookie’, 6x 1,000lb, 6x 500lb bombs.

31 Oct 1944

NF975

UL-J2

nk

nk

0h15

P1   Fg Off G.H. Paley
P2   
FE   Sgt R. Beales
AB   Sgt R. Potter
NAV  Sgt R.P. Belshaw
WOp  Sgt G.B. Burns
MUG  Sgt R. Black
RG   Sgt C.S. Mason

NOTES:

Transit ELSHAM WOLDS – FISKERTON (Times N/K). Passengers: 973 Warrens FMA 725 Darby FME

04 Nov 1944

PA173

UL-G2

BOCHUM

1730

2230

5h00

P1   Fg Off G.H. Paley
P2   
FE   Sgt R. Beales
AB   Sgt R. Potter
NAV  Sgt R.P. Belshaw
WOp  Sgt G.B. Burns
MUG  Sgt R. Black
RG   Sgt C.S. Mason

NOTES:

Built-up area RUHR Load: 1x 4,000lb ‘Cookie’, 6x 1,000lb, 6x 500lb bombs. COMBAT – Attacked three times by Ju88 just before bombing run. Aircraft badly damaged but landed safely: no crew injuries reported. Combat report attached.

06 Nov 1944

ME317

UL-C2

GELSENKIRCHEN (NORDSTERN)

1155

1620

4h25

P1   Fg Off G.H. Paley
P2   
FE   Sgt R. Beales
AB   Sgt R. Potter
NAV  Sgt R.P. Belshaw
WOp  Sgt G.B. Burns
MUG  Sgt R. Black
RG   Sgt C.S. Mason

NOTES:

Nordstern synthetic oil plant Load: 1x 4,000lb ‘Cookie’, 6x 1,000lb, 6 or 7x 500lb bombs.

09 Nov 1944

ME317

UL-C2

WANNE-EICKEL

nk

nk

nk

P1   Fg Off G.H. Paley
P2   
FE   Sgt R. Beales
AB   Sgt R. Potter
NAV  Sgt R.P. Belshaw
WOp  Sgt G.B. Burns
MUG  Sgt R. Black
RG   Sgt C.S. Mason

NOTES:

Synthetic Oil Plant Load: 1x 4,000lb ‘Cookie’, 16x 500lb bombs.

11 Nov 1944

PD363

UL-K2

DORTMUND

1600

2110

5h10

P1   Fg Off G.H. Paley
P2   
FE   Sgt R. Beales
AB   Sgt R. Potter
NAV  Sgt R.P. Belshaw
WOp  Sgt G.B. Burns
MUG  Sgt R. Black
RG   Sgt C.S. Mason

NOTES:

Hoesch Benzin GmbH synthetic oil plant Load: J2, Q2: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, ?x 1000lb, 6x 500lb bombs All other aircraft: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 6x 1000lb, 6x 500lb bombs.

18 Nov 1944

PD363

UL-K2

WANNE-EICKEL

1550

2125

5h35

P1   Fg Off G.H. Paley
P2   
FE   Sgt R. Beales
AB   Sgt R. Potter
NAV  Flt Sgt R.P. Belshaw
WOp  Sgt G.B. Burns
MUG  Sgt R. Black
RG   Sgt C.S. Mason

NOTES:

Krupps synthetic oil plant RUHR Load: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 16x 500lb bombs Most aircraft diverted to Bury St Edmunds (Rougham), Tempsford or Mepal due to poor visibility - only four Squadron aircraft landed at base.

20 Nov 1944

PA173

UL-G2

FISKERTON TO ELSHAM WOLDS

1600

1620

0h20

P1   Sqn Ldr B.A. Templeman-Rooke
P2   Fg Off K.A. Moore
FE   Sgt J. Grindlay
AB   Sgt S.T. Hammond
NAV  Flt Sgt I. Miller RAAF
WOp  Fg Off R.C. Goodes RAAF
MUG  Sgt F. Harvey
RG   Sgt A.H. Watson
PAX   Fg Off G.H. Paley

NOTES:

29 Nov 1944

PD363

UL-K2

DORTMUND

1215

1725

5h10

P1   Fg Off G.H. Paley
P2   
FE   Sgt R. Beales
AB   Sgt R. Potter
NAV  Flt Sgt R.P. Belshaw
WOp  Sgt G.B. Burns
MUG  Sgt R. Black
RG   Sgt C.S. Mason

NOTES:

Industrial and rail targets within the built-up area RUHR Load: K2, Q2, R2, W2, Z2: 1x 4,000lb ‘Cookie’, 14 x No.14 incendiary clusters, and 120 x 4lb incendiaries. All other aircraft: 1x 4,000lb ‘Cookie’, 5x 1,000lb and 7x 500lb bombs. |Hit by flak. Landed with the assistance of FIDO.

03 Dec 1944

PD363

UL-K2

URFT DAM

0735

1200

4h25

P1   Fg Off G.H. Paley
P2   
FE   Sgt R. Beales
AB   Sgt R. Potter
NAV  Flt Sgt R.P. Belshaw
WOp  Sgt G.B. Burns
MUG  Sgt R. Black
RG   Sgt C.S. Mason

NOTES:

Walled masonry dam Load: 14x 1000lb bombs Master Bomber called off the attack due low cloud over target and the proximity of Allied troops. All aircraft returned with bombloads.

04 Dec 1944

PD363

UL-K2

KARLSRUHE

1630

2315

6h45

P1   Fg Off G.H. Paley
P2   
FE   Sgt R. Beales
AB   Sgt R. Potter
NAV  Flt Sgt R.P. Belshaw
WOp  Sgt G.B. Burns
MUG  Sgt R. Black
RG   Sgt C.S. Mason

NOTES:

Built-up area Load: C2, H2, Q2, X2: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 14 x No.14 incendiary clusters and 120x 4lb incendiaries A2: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 4x 1000lb, and 9x 500lb bombs All other aircraft: 13x or 12x 1000lb bombs.

06 Dec 1944

PD363

UL-K2

MERSEBURG

1640

0055

8h15

P1   Fg Off G.H. Paley
P2   
FE   Sgt R. Beales
AB   Sgt R. Potter
NAV  Flt Sgt R.P. Belshaw
WOp  Sgt G.B. Burns
MUG  Sgt R. Black
RG   Sgt C.S. Mason

NOTES:

IG Farbenindustrie synthetic oil refinery, Leuna Load: F2, I2, L2, P2, W2: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 3x 1000lb and 5x500lb bombs A2, G2, Q2, R2, X2: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 3x 1000lb and 6x 500lb bombs Y2: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’ and 10x 500lb bombs B2, D2, J2: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 11x No.14 incendiary clusters and 120x 4lb incendiaries C2, H2, K2, M2: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 12 x No.14 incendiary clusters and 120x 4lb incendiaries.

15 Dec 1944

NG119

UL-D2

Training

1335

1435

1h00

P1   Fg Off G.H. Paley
P2   
FE   Sgt R. Beales
AB   Sgt R. Potter
NAV  Flt Sgt R.P. Belshaw
WOp  Sgt G.B. Burns
MUG  Sgt R. Black
RG   Sgt F.A. West

NOTES:

Fighter affiliation. RG: F A West

17 Dec 1944

PD363

UL-K2

ULM

1510

2235

7h25

P1   Fg Off G.H. Paley
P2   
FE   Sgt R. Beales
AB   Sgt R. Potter
NAV  Flt Sgt R.P. Belshaw
WOp  Sgt G.B. Burns
MUG  Sgt R. Black
RG   Sgt C.S. Mason

NOTES:

Marshalling yards, and Magirius-Deutz & Kassbohrer lorry factories Load: A2, H2, I2, P2, T2, Y2: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’ and 1604x 4lb incendiaries All other aircraft: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 6x No.15 and 5x No.14 incendiary clusters, and 120x 4lb incendiaries.

22 Dec 1944

PD363

UL-K2

KOBLENZ

1505

2200

6h55

P1   Fg Off G.H. Paley
P2   
FE   Sgt R. Beales
AB   Sgt R. Potter
NAV  Flt Sgt R.P. Belshaw
WOp  Sgt G.B. Burns
MUG  Sgt R. Black
RG   Sgt C.S. Mason

NOTES:

Marshalling yards Load: C2, H2, I2, O2, Z2: 1x 4000lb, 6x 1000lb and 6 or7x 500lb bombs All other aircraft: 13x 1000lb bombs On return the Squadron was ordered to divert to Charterhall in Scotland due to poor weather across most of England. All aircraft landed at Charterhall except L2 and Y2 which landed at Manston, and T2 which landed at Carnaby. Diverted to Charterhall.

23 Dec 1944

PD363

UL-K2

Fiskerton

nk

nk

nk

P1   Fg Off G.H. Paley
P2   
FE   Sgt R. Beales
AB   Sgt R. Potter
NAV  Flt Sgt R.P. Belshaw
WOp  Sgt G.B. Burns
MUG  Sgt R. Black
RG   Sgt C.S. Mason

NOTES:

Charterhall-Base

29 Dec 1944

PD363

UL-K2

SCHOLVEN BUER

1530

2050

5h20

P1   Fg Off G.H. Paley
P2   
FE   Sgt R. Beales
AB   Flt Sgt R. Potter
NAV  Flt Sgt R.P. Belshaw
WOp  Flt Sgt G.B. Burns
MUG  Sgt R. Black
RG   Sgt C.S. Mason

NOTES:

Hydeierwerke Scholven synthetic oil refinery in Gelsenkirchen Load: 1x 4,000lb ‘Cookie’, 16x 500lb bombs.

02 Jan 1945

PD363

UL-K2

NUREMBURG

1450

2305

8h15

P1   Fg Off G.H. Paley
P2   
FE   Sgt R. Beales
AB   Sgt R. Potter
NAV  Flt Sgt R.P. Belshaw
WOp  Sgt G.B. Burns
MUG  Sgt R. Black
RG   Sgt C.S. Mason

NOTES:

Marshalling Yards & Built-up Area Load: C2, D2, J2, L2, O2, X2, Z2: 1x 4000lb, 1,598x 4lb incendiaries A2, F2, G2, H2, K2, Q2, V2, W2, Y2 1x4000lb, 14x 500 R2 1x 4000lb, 4x 1000lb, 5x 500lb

16 Jan 1945

PD363

UL-K2

ZEITZ – TROGLITZ

1730

0115

7h45

P1   Fg Off G.H. Paley
P2   
FE   Sgt R. Beales
AB   Sgt R. Potter
NAV  Flt Sgt R.P. Belshaw
WOp  Sgt G.B. Burns
MUG  Sgt R. Black
RG   Sgt V.C. Mattocks

NOTES:

Braunkohle Benzin synthetic oil plant (low grade MT fuel) Load: All aircraft: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 12x 500lb bombs. Sighted Fw190 – no combat

22 Jan 1945

PD363

UL-K2

DUISBURG

1650

2200

5h10

P1   Fg Off G.H. Paley
P2   
FE   Sgt R. Beales
AB   Sgt R. Potter
NAV  Flt Sgt R.P. Belshaw
WOp  Sgt G.B. Burns
MUG  Sgt R. Black
RG   Sgt C.S. Mason

NOTES:

Steelwork coking ovens & rolling mills in the Hamborn area of the city and a benzol plant in Bruckhausen Load: All aircraft: 1x 4,000lb ‘Cookie’, 16x 500lb bombs.

28 Jan 1945

PD363

UL-K2

STUTTGART (ZUFFENHAUSEN)

1950

0235

6h45

P1   Fg Off G.H. Paley
P2   
FE   Sgt R. Beales
AB   Sgt R. Potter
NAV  Flt Sgt R.P. Belshaw
WOp  Sgt G.B. Burns
MUG  Sgt R. Black
RG   Sgt C.S. Mason

NOTES:

Hirth aero-engine factory & Boash ignition works Load: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’ and 12x 500lb bombs. (First force attacked the railyards at Kornwestheim) Sighted Ju88 but did not engage due to range.

03 Feb 1945

PD363

UL-K2

BOTTROP

1630

2200

5h30

P1   Fg Off G.H. Paley
P2   
FE   Sgt R. Beales
AB   Sgt R. Potter
NAV  Flt Sgt R.P. Belshaw
WOp  Sgt G.B. Burns
MUG  Sgt R. Black
RG   Sgt C.S. Mason

NOTES:

Prosper coking plant & benzol refinery Load: 1x 4,000lb ‘Cookie’, 16x 500lb bombs Sighted a bomber being shot down after being coned at 1937.

08 Feb 1945

PD363

UL-K2

POLITZ

1925

0335

8h10

P1   Fg Off G.H. Paley
P2   
FE   Sgt R. Beales
AB   Sgt R. Potter
NAV  Flt Sgt R.P. Belshaw
WOp  Sgt G.B. Burns
MUG  Sgt R. Black
RG   Sgt C.S. Mason

NOTES:

IG Farben synthetic oil plant 5333.5N 01444.5E Master Bomber: Snodgrass 1 & 2 MF: Press On Load: All aircraft: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’ and 10x 500lb bombs.

14 Feb 1945

PD363

UL-K2

CHEMNITZ

2000

0435

8h35

P1   Fg Off G.H. Paley
P2   
FE   Sgt R. Beales
AB   Sgt R. Potter
NAV  Flt Sgt R.P. Belshaw
WOp  Sgt G.B. Burns
MUG  Sgt R. Black
RG   Sgt C.S. Mason

NOTES:

Operation THUNDERCLAP - City Load: B, C, F, J, K, N: 1x 2000lb, 1478x 4lb incendiaries L: 1x 2000lb, 1650x 4lb incebdiaries All other a/c: 1x 4000lb, 1170x 4lb incendiaries.

20 Feb 1945

PD363

UL-K2

DORTMUND

2135

0350

6h15

P1   Fg Off G.H. Paley
P2   
FE   Sgt R. Beales
AB   Sgt R. Potter
NAV  Flt Sgt R.P. Belshaw
WOp  Sgt G.B. Burns
MUG  Sgt R. Black
RG   Sgt C.S. Mason

NOTES:

Rhenania Ossag oil refinery, Reisholz district RUHR Load: M, N, O, P, Q, R, T, V: 1x 4,000lb ‘Cookie’ and 1,604x 4lb incendiaries. X: 1x 4,000lb ‘Cookie’ and 2,220x 4lb incendiaries. J, K, L: 1x 2,000lb bomb and 2,100x 4lb incendiaries. B, C, D, F, H: 1x 2,000lb bomb and 1,846x 4lb incendiaries.

02 Mar 1945

PD363

UL-K2

COLOGNE

0700

1220

5h20

P1   Fg Off G.H. Paley
P2   
FE   Sgt R. Beales
AB   Sgt R. Potter
NAV  Flt Sgt R.P. Belshaw
WOp  Sgt G.B. Burns
MUG  Sgt R. Black
RG   Sgt C.S. Mason

NOTES:

Roads to W of the Rhine leading to Hohenzollern Bridge Load: All aircraft: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 10x 500lb, 2x 500lb, and 4x 250lb bombs. Starboard outer engine failure on return leg over France - returned on three engines.

05 Mar 1945

PD363

UL-K2

CHEMNITZ

1645

0200

9h15

P1   Fg Off G.H. Paley
P2   
FE   Sgt R. Beales
AB   Sgt R. Potter
NAV  Flt Sgt R.P. Belshaw
WOp  Sgt G.B. Burns
MUG  Sgt R. Black
RG   Sgt C.S. Mason

NOTES:

Built-up area – Flown in support of Operation THUNDERCLAP Load: D, F, H, M, N, P, X, Y: 1x4000lb ‘Cookie’ and 1170x 4lb incendiaries. All other aircraft: 1x 2000lb bomb and 1650x 4lb incendiaries.

07 Mar 1945

PD363

UL-K2

DESSAU

1655

FTR

uk

P1   Fg Off G.H. Paley
P2   
FE   Sgt R. Beales
AB   Sgt R. Potter
NAV  Flt Sgt R.P. Belshaw
WOp  Sgt G.B. Burns
MUG  Sgt R. Black
RG   Sgt C.S. Mason

NOTES:

Built-up area Load: D, G, H, K, L, M, N, W, X, Z: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’, 1170x 4lb incendiaries All other aircraft: 1x 2000lb, 1650x 4lb incendiaries. 08 Mar 45 – All lost in PD363 UL-K2 Details of the fate of the aircraft is not known, although it was heard broadcasting the winds at 2135. The aircraft crashed in Bauhofstr., Ziebigk, a SW suburb of Dessau. There were no survivors. The crew were initially buried at the cemetery in Dessau, which, post-war, was in the Russian Zone. In 1947 the Russians finally allowed access to the allies Missing Persons Research units. In error, the Americans transferred all the remains from isolated cemeteries such as Dessau to one of the US cemeteries in France. In 1949, the error was discovered by the British and the crew reburied in the French cemetery at Choloy Buried at the Choloy War Cemetery, France, Coll. grave 4.C.1-7.

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