Attended an Aviation Candidate’s Selection Board at Euston House, 24 Eversholt Street, London NW, where he was recommended for training as an Observer. He then enlisted at the Combined Recruiting Centre, Duke’s Road, Euston, London as Aircraftman Second Class (AC2), and mustering as Air Crew Hand (Observer)

Transferred to the Reserve, pending call-up.

Called up to No. 1 Air Crew Reception Centre (ACRC), Lord’s Cricket Ground, St John’s Wood, London.

No. 5 Initial Training Wing (ITW), Castle Chambers, Torquay, Devon.

Remustered as under training Observer.

No. 1 Elementary Air Navigation School (EANS), Eastbourne College, Eastbourne, Sussex, remustering as under Training Observer (Air).

Promoted to Leading Aircraftman (LAC).

No. 1 EANS moves to Bridgnorth, Staffordshire.

Aircraft n/k

No. 1 (Observer) Advanced Flying Unit ((O) AFU), Wigtown, Wigtownshire.

Anson

Discharged on appointment to a Commission.

Commissioned as Pilot Officer on probation (emerg) from Flight Sgt (London Gazette, 25 May 43, p2326).

No. 28 Operational Training Unit (OTU), Course 15, Wymeswold, Leicestershire (Wellington); joins L R B Matthews crew.

Wellington

No. 1662 Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU), Blyton, Lincolnshire.

Lancaster/Halifax tbc

No. 1 Lancaster Finishing School, Hemswell, Lincolnshire (Lancaster); only if Lancasters not flown at HCU; date TBC.

Lancaster TBC

No. 101 Squadron, Ludford Magna, Lincolnshire (Lancaster)
Ops (8), L R B Matthews crew
27 Sep 43 – Hanover
29 Sep 43 – Bochum; faulty engine
03 Oct 43 – Kassel
07 Oct 43 – Stuttgart
22 Oct 43 – Kassel; abortive: engine fail
03 Nov 43 – Dusseldorf
10 Nov 43 – Modane
26 Nov 43 – Stuttgart

Lancaster

Promoted to Flying Officer (war substantive) (London Gazette, 08 Oct 43, p4453).

No. 576 Squadron, ‘B’ Flight, Elsham Wolds, Lincolnshire (Lancaster)
Ops (1): L R B Matthews (1)

Lancaster

Leipzig; lost in JB550 UL-T2, aged 30

Hit by flak on way to the target in the vicinity of Burg at about 2300 hrs or possibly shot down by Fw. Heinz Oberheide of 4./NJG3 at 0322 to the SW of Leipzig at 21,000 ft. and caught fire. Part of the bombload  jettisoned before the aircraft fell apart and crashed in two pieces, one near the brickworks in Stegelitz and the other in a field near Landhaus Zeddenick, near Möckern, 14 miles East of Magdeburg. The two villages are approximately 4 miles apart, which might suggest strong winds. Only one crew member (unknown) baled out but did not survive. 
Buried originally locally in the two villages, he and the crew were reinterred at City Cemetery, Möckern and were reinterred on 19 Jul 47 at the Berlin 1939-45 War Cemetery, Charlottenburg, in Collective grave, 6.H.4.

‘TO LIVE IN THE HEARTS OF THOSE WE LOVE IS NOT TO DIE’

Lancaster

Personal Records Restricted - not available to the public

Personal Documents Restricted - not available to the public