CREW MEMBER PROFILE |
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Surname: |
RICCOMINI |
First Name/s: |
Geoffrey Charles "Ricci" |
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Service No/s: |
1333600 171723 |
Service: |
RAFVR |
Branch: |
Air Gunner |
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Awards: |
Air Crew Europe Star (France & Germany clasp), 1939-45 Star, Africa Star (N Africa 1942-43 clasp), 1939-45 War Medal, General Service Medal (Malaya clasp) |
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SERVICE RECORDS |
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Date |
Event |
Aircraft Flown |
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30 Nov 1940 |
Enlisted probably at Uxbridge or Weston-super-Mare as AC2 sometime after Nov 1940 - precise date tbc |
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04 Jun 1942 |
No.4 Air Gunnery School, Morpeth, Northumberland |
Botha |
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24 Jul 1942 |
Awarded Air Gunner's Badge and promoted to Sergeant. |
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07 Sep 1942 |
No.20 Operational Conversion Unit, Lossiemouth, Scotland. |
Wellington |
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23 Oct 1942 |
No.150 Squadron, 'A' Flight, Kirmington. Joined the JG Roberts crew. |
Wellington |
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15 Nov 1942 |
Commenced operations with 150 Squadron. These were: |
Wellington |
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01 Dec 1942 |
No.150 Squadron stood down from Operations to prepare for relocation to Blida, Algeria |
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09 Dec 1942 |
No.150 Squadron departs the UK for Blida, Algeria, vis Portreath. |
Wellington |
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20 Jun 1943 |
No.30 Operational Training Unit, Seighford & Hixon, Staffordshire, as an instructor. |
Wellington, Martinet |
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01 Aug 1943 |
No.1 Air Armament School, Manby, Lincolnshire. Instructor course. Precise date tbc. |
Blenheim. |
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08 Nov 1943 |
Discharged on appointment to commission. |
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09 Nov 1943 |
Commissioned as Pilot Officer on probation (emergency) (London Gazette, 14 Mar 44, p1217). |
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14 Jan 1944 |
Qualified as Air Gunner Instructor. |
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15 Jan 1944 |
No.30 Operational Training Unit, Seighford, as an instructor. |
Wellington |
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20 May 1944 |
Promoted to Flying Officer (war substantive) (London Gazette 30 Jun 44, p3085). |
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10 Jun 1944 |
No.1 Air Armament School, Manby, Lincolnshire (course) |
Wellington |
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13 Jul 1944 |
No.1481 (Bombing and Gunnery) Flight, Ingham, Lincolnshire. |
Wellington |
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17 Jul 1944 |
No.1662 Heavy Conversion Unit, Blyton, Lincolnshire. Joins K L Trent crew. |
Halifax |
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11 Aug 1944 |
No.1 Lancaster Finishing School, Hemswell, Lincolnshire. Precise date tbc. |
Lancaster |
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13 Aug 1944 |
No.576 Squadron, 'A' Flight, Elsham Wolds, Lincolnshire. |
Lancaster |
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23 Oct 1944 |
No.625 Squadron, 'C' Flight, Kelstern, Lincolnshire, with the K L Trent crew. Ops flown were: 25 Oct 44 - Essen; 28 Oct 44 - Cologne; 30 Oct 44 - Cologne; 31 Oct 44 - Cologne; 06 Oct 44 - Gelsenkirchen; 09 Nov 44 - Wanne Eickel. |
Lancaster |
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12 Dec 1944 |
Air Crew Allocation Centre, Brackla; for disposal |
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14 Feb 1950 |
Re-enlisted as Flying Officer, appointed on a short service commission (5 years on the active list, 4 years in the Reserve, seniority from 01 April 1949, and transferred to the Air Traffic Control Branch (London Gazette 04 Apr 50, p1653) |
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15 Feb 1950 |
School of Air Traffic Control, Shawbury, Shropshire (tbc). Precise date tbc. |
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01 Apr 1953 |
Promoted to Flight Lieutenant (London Gazette 07 Apr 53, p1940) |
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01 Jan 1954 |
Air Traffic Control, Changi, Singapore. (Precise date tbc). |
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01 Jan 1957 |
Air Traffic Control, Leuchars, Scotland. (Precise date tbc). |
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01 Jan 1960 |
Air Traffic Control, Valley, Anglesey (Precise date tbc). |
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01 Jan 1963 |
Air Traffic Control, Shawbury, Shropshire. (Precise date tbc). |
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01 Jan 1965 |
Air Traffic Control, Seletar, Singapore. (Precise date tbc). |
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01 Jan 1966 |
Promoted to Squadron Leader (London Gazette 04 Jan 66, p78). |
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01 Jan 1968 |
Air Traffic Control, St Mawgan, Cornwall (Precise date tbc) |
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01 Jan 1970 |
Ministry of Defence, Whitehall, London. (Precise date tbc) |
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01 Jan 1972 |
RAF Uxbridge (Precise date tbc) |
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31 Mar 1976 |
Retired at own request (London Gazette 05 Sep 76, p5059) |
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576 Squadron FLYING RECORDS |
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Date |
Aircraft |
Code |
Flight Details |
T/O |
Land |
Flt Time |
Crew |
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15 Aug 1944 |
NE115 |
UL-B2 |
Training |
1940 |
0015 |
4h35 |
P1 Plt Off K.L. Trent |
NOTES: |
Night cross-country navigation exercise with practice live bombing. |
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17 Aug 1944 |
LM439 |
UL-E2 |
Training |
2300 |
0400 |
5h00 |
P1 Plt Off K.L. Trent |
NOTES: |
Night cross-country navigation exercise. |
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26 Aug 1944 |
LM594 |
UL-A2 |
KIEL |
2020 |
0155 |
5h35 |
P1 Plt Off K.L. Trent |
NOTES: |
Target: Naval installations. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 108x 30lb and 1170x 4lb incendiaries |
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28 Aug 1944 |
ME854 |
UL-D2 |
Training |
1515 |
1805 |
2h50 |
P1 Plt Off K.L. Trent |
NOTES: |
'Y' (H2S) cross-country navigation exercise. |
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29 Aug 1944 |
LM227 |
U2 |
STETTIN |
nk |
0640 |
9h20 |
P1 Plt Off K.L. Trent |
NOTES: |
Target: Port area. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 60x 30lb and 660x 4lb incendiaries. |
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31 Aug 1944 |
LM122 |
UL-X2 |
AGENVILLE |
nk |
1710 |
3h55 |
P1 Plt Off K.L. Trent |
NOTES: |
Target: V1 'flying bomb' support site. Load: 13x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. Spitfire escort provided. |
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03 Sep 1944 |
ME854 |
UL-D2 |
EINDHOVEN |
1545 |
1920 |
3h35 |
P1 Plt Off K.L. Trent |
NOTES: |
Target: Enemy-held airfield. Load: 13x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. Spitfire escort provided. |
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04 Sep 1944 |
LM227 |
U2 |
Training |
1040 |
1150 |
1h10 |
P1 Plt Off K.L. Trent |
NOTES: |
Fighter affiliation. |
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05 Sep 1944 |
ME854 |
UL-D2 |
LE HAVRE |
nk |
nk |
nk |
P1 Plt Off K.L. Trent |
NOTES: |
Target: Enemy strongpoints and pockets of resistance around the town. Load: 13x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. DID NOT TAKE OFF as the aircraft was not bombed up in time. |
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06 Sep 1944 |
ME854 |
UL-D2 |
LE HAVRE |
1710 |
2035 |
3h25 |
P1 Plt Off K.L. Trent |
NOTES: |
Target: Enemy strongpoints & pockets of resistance around the town. Load: 13x 1000lb, 4x500lb bombs. |
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08 Sep 1944 |
LM227 |
UL-I2 |
Ludford Magna to Elsham Wolds |
1730 |
1745 |
0h15 |
P1 Plt Off K.L. Trent |
NOTES: |
Ferry flight after J R Steadman had taken the aircraft to Ludford Magna that morning (reason tbc). |
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08 Sep 1944 |
ME854 |
UL-D2 |
LE HAVRE |
nk |
nk |
nk |
P1 Plt Off K.L. Trent |
NOTES: |
Target: Enemy strongpoints to the north of the town & pockets of resistance. Load 13x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. DID NOT TAKE OFF due to a faulty bombsight. The aircraft was replaced by UL-V2. |
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10 Sep 1944 |
ME854 |
UL-D2 |
LE HAVRE |
1650 |
2035 |
3h45 |
P1 Plt Off K.L. Trent |
NOTES: |
Target: Enemy strongpoint ½ mile southwest of the Forêt de Montgeon. Load: 13x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. |
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11 Sep 1944 |
LM594 |
UL-A2 |
Training |
1120 |
1410 |
2h50 |
P1 Plt Off K.L. Trent |
NOTES: |
'Y' (H2S) cross-country navigation exercise. |
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12 Sep 1944 |
ME801 |
UL-C2 |
FRANKFURT |
1815 |
0135 |
7h20 |
P1 Plt Off K.L. Trent |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling Yards. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 14x Type 14 incendiary clusters, and 120x 4lb incendiaries. Riccomini records take-off at 1825; the ORB records state 1815. Awaiting verification. |
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13 Sep 1944 |
ME801 |
UL-C2 |
Training |
1535 |
1810 |
2h35 |
P1 Plt Off K.L. Trent |
NOTES: |
'Y' (H2S) cross-country navigation exercise. |
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15 Sep 1944 |
ME801 |
UL-C2 |
ARNHOLT |
2220 |
0445 |
6h25 |
P1 Plt Off K.L. Trent |
NOTES: |
Target: 'Gardening' (mine-laying) in the Kattegat near Arnholt (code name 'Silverthorne'. Load: 4x 1800lb and 6x 1500lb mines. Riccomini logs 7h05. |
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16 Sep 1944 |
ME801 |
UL-C2 |
LEEUWARDEN |
nk |
nk |
DNTO |
P1 Plt Off K.L. Trent |
NOTES: |
Target: Luftwaffe airfield. Flown in support of Operation MARKET GARDEN. Load: 20x 500lb bombs. During the take-off run an engine failed, causing the aircraft to swing. No one was injured but the flight was abandoned. The aircraft was undamaged and flew a successful air test the following day. |
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17 Sep 1944 |
ME801 |
UL-C2 |
FLUSHING (VLISSINGEN) |
1625 |
1920 |
2h55 |
P1 Plt Off K.L. Trent |
NOTES: |
Target: Enemy gun position to the north of the town. Load: 13x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. |
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18 Sep 1944 |
ME801 |
UL-C2 |
Air Test |
1610 |
1735 |
1h25 |
P1 Plt Off K.L. Trent |
NOTES: |
Air test |
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21 Sep 1944 |
LM227 |
UL-I2 |
Training |
1435 |
1710 |
2h35 |
P1 Plt Off K.L. Trent |
NOTES: |
'Y' (H2S) cross-country navigation exercise. |
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23 Sep 1944 |
LM227 |
UL-I2 |
NEUSS |
1835 |
2355 |
5h20 |
P1 Plt Off K.L. Trent |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling yards. Load: 12x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. |
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24 Sep 1944 |
LM227 |
UL-I2 |
CALAIS |
1615 |
1935 |
3h20 |
P1 Plt Off K.L. Trent |
NOTES: |
Target: Enemy fortifications and heavy gun positions defending the town. Load: 13x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. (Riccomini records T/O at 1600). |
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03 Oct 1944 |
NE115 |
UL-B2 |
Training |
1135 |
1315 |
1h40 |
P1 Plt Off K.L. Trent |
NOTES: |
Fighter affiliation. |
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04 Oct 1944 |
LM227 |
UL-I2 |
Training |
1430 |
1810 |
3h40 |
P1 Plt Off K.L. Trent |
NOTES: |
'Y' (H2S) cross-country navigation exercise. |
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05 Oct 1944 |
LM227 |
UL-I2 |
SAARBRUCKEN |
1820 |
0110 |
6h50 |
P1 Plt Off K.L. Trent |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up area. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 14x 4lb incendiary clusters. The attack was successful but on the return the crew was diverted to Wratting Common. |
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06 Oct 1944 |
LM227 |
UL-I2 |
Wratting Common to Elsham Wolds |
1115 |
1200 |
0h45 |
P1 Plt Off K.L. Trent |
NOTES: |
Return from diversion. The crew also carried Fg Off J MacDonald and crew, whose aircraft had to be left at Wratting Common, as passengers back to Elsham Wolds. (Riccomini records T/O as 1145). |
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07 Oct 1944 |
LM227 |
UL-I2 |
EMMERICH |
1200 |
1625 |
4h25 |
P1 Plt Off K.L. Trent |
NOTES: |
Target: Enemy strong point within the built-up area. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie' and 2520x 4lb incendiaries. The crew landed at Sandtoft due to low cloud at Elsham Wolds on the return. |
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08 Oct 1944 |
LM227 |
UL-I2 |
Sandtoft to Elsham Wolds |
1420 |
1435 |
0h15 |
P1 Plt Off K.L. Trent |
NOTES: |
Return from diversion. |
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13 Oct 1944 |
LM227 |
UL-I2 |
Training |
1145 |
1230 |
0h45 |
P1 Plt Off K.L. Trent |
NOTES: |
Air Test. Riccomini records T/O at 11:15. |
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14 Oct 1944 |
LM227 |
UL-I2 |
DUISBERG |
0610 |
1120 |
5h10 |
P1 Plt Off K.L. Trent |
NOTES: |
Operation HURRICANE. Target: Four separate aiming points (mines and coke ovens) in the Hamborn district of the city. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie' and 2,212x 4lb incendiaries. This was the crew's final operation on the Squadron. |
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PERSONAL INFORMATION |
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Details |
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Geoffrey Charles Riccomini, 'Ricci', was born on 23 March 1923 in Wakefield, Yorkshire, son of James Arthur Riccomini and Kate Lunn. He had four brothers; James b.1917, Robert b.1921, Desmond b.1926, and Basil b.1931, all of whom saw military service (Desmond and James both lost their lives on active service). It is believed he attended primary school in Nottingham, and Maidstone Grammar School where he was a member of the OTC. In 1938, aged 151/2 years old, he volunteered for service in the RAF but was told he would have to wait until he was old enough, so he entered the Civil Defence Organisation. By 1939 he was a messenger for the ARP in Maidstone. Ricci enlisted sometime after November 1940, probably at Uxbridge or Weston Super Mare. Whilst serving as an Air Gunner with Ken Trent on No.576 Squadron, his crew earned the disctiction of being the only crew in Bomber Command to have flown in three of the thirty-four Lancasters to have achieved more than 100 operational flights; LM594, LM227 and ME801. On 23 January 1944, whilst he was at No.30 Operational Training Unit at Seighford, he married Diana Mary Tomkinson, then serving with the ATS, at Eccleshall, Staffordshire. They had one daughter, Francesca b.1949. After demobilisation, Ricci became the Manager at his mother-in-law's Tomkinson's Garage in Eccleshall for a while before entering the civil service in Stafford. Bored with life as a civil servant, on 14 February 1950, he re-enlisted to become an Air Traffic Controller in the RAF. On 31 March 1976 he finally retired and moved to Moulton in Lincolnshire. Ricci, in his own preferred vernacular, 'kicked the bucket' on 21 February 2010 at the Pilgrim Hospital in Fishtoft, near Boston, Lincolnshire. Francesca Riccomini |
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PHOTOS & DOCUMENTS |
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Details |
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Riccomini shortly after enlisting in July 1941.F Riccomini |
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Riccomini (on left) undergoing training reportedly in Canada 1941-42F Riccomini |
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150 Squadron, 24 Feb 43 - Annotated by Riccomini himself: 'The aircraft is a Vickers Wellington Mk III, Airframe No.DF729, delivered new to No.150 Squadron at RAF Kirmington (now Humberside Airport) between 2nd and 6th December 1942. This photograph was taken early morning 24th February 1943 after landing at Blida, Algeria from a night operation to Bizerta, Tunisia. The person 2nd from left is General Doolittle, USAF, who was a passenger. He was Commander of the Combined Allied Air Forces, Operation TORCH. The RAF crew from left to right are: Fg Off Roberts, pilot; Sgt Cunliffe, WOp/AG; Sgt Riccomini, RG; Sgt Brittain, AB; and Sgt Wilkinson, Navigator.F Riccomini |
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Probably a commissioning photograph of Geoffrey Riccomini in November 1943.F Riccomini |
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The Trent crew, probably on 30 OTU early summer, 1944. Back row L-R: Reynolds, Wadsworth, Dalby. Front row L-R: Riccomini, Trent, Skelton.Gary Godel |
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The Trent crew on 576 Squadron, September 1944: annotated by Riccomini: 'The aircraft is Lancaster LM227 which completed 100 operational flights'. Back row, L-R: Fg Off Ken Trent, Pilot; Fg Off Geoffrey Riccomini, Mid-Upper Gunner; Sgt 'Red' Skelton, RAAF, Wireless Operator. Front row L-R: Bob Reynolds, Flight Engineer; Knowle (Noel) Wadsworth, Air Bomber; Sgt Clary Dalby, Rear Gunner; 'Brynne' Dunford, Navigator.F Riccomini |
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Riccomini's service medals, L-R: Air Crew Europe Star (F&G clasp), 1939-45 Star, Africa Star (N Africa 1942-43 clasp), War Medal, General Service Medal (Malaya clasp)Riccomini Family |
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