CREW MEMBER PROFILE |
||||||
Surname: |
GILES |
First Name/s: |
Arthur Ronald |
 |
||
|
||||||
Service No/s: |
417464 |
Service: |
RAAF |
Branch: |
Air Bomber |
|
|
||||||
Awards: |
||||||
SERVICE RECORDS |
|||
Date |
Event |
Aircraft Flown |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
10 Jul 1044 |
Set Rank from Flight Record |
||
|
11 Jul 1044 |
Set Rank from Flight Record |
||
|
25 Nov 1943 |
Joined 576 Sqn at Elsham Wolds, Linconshire |
Auto loaded with initial creation of profile |
|
576 Squadron FLYING RECORDS |
|||||||
Date |
Aircraft |
Code |
Flight Details |
T/O |
Land |
Flt Time |
Crew |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
07 Jun 1944 |
ND859 |
UL-L2 |
Training |
1700 |
2120 |
4h20 |
P1 Plt Off A.J. Aldridge |
NOTES: |
Cross-country navigation exercise through Scotland |
||||||
|
10 Jun 1944 |
NE115 |
UL-B2 |
Training |
1525 |
2035 |
5h10 |
P1 Plt Off A.J. Aldridge |
NOTES: |
Cross-country navigation exercise (Isle of Man) |
||||||
|
12 Jun 1944 |
LM439 |
UL-I2 |
Training |
1520 |
1720 |
2h00 |
P1 Plt Off A.J. Aldridge |
NOTES: |
Air to sea firing and practice bombing. |
||||||
|
12 Jun 1944 |
JA868 |
UL-J2 |
GELSENKIRCHEN |
nk |
0410 |
5h10m |
P1 Plt Off A.J. Aldridge |
NOTES: |
Target: Gelsenberg AG synthetic oil plant in Nordstern. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 16x 500lb bombs. |
||||||
|
14 Jun 1944 |
JA868 |
UL-J2 |
LE HAVRE |
nk |
2310 |
2h20m |
P1 Plt Off A.J. Aldridge |
NOTES: |
Target: Docks, E-boat pens and light naval forces which were harassing the Normandy beachheads. Load: 11x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. Returned early due to an engine failure, possibly jettisoning their load at sea. |
||||||
|
16 Jun 1944 |
JA868 |
UL-J2 |
STERKRADE |
nk |
0415 |
4h50m |
P1 Plt Off A.J. Aldridge |
NOTES: |
Target: Rhur-Chemie AG synthetic oil plant at Holten. Load: 1x 4000lb 'cookie', 16x 500lb bombs. |
||||||
|
17 Jun 1944 |
LM594 |
UL-G2 |
AULNOYE |
nk |
0420 |
4h30m |
P1 Plt Off A.J. Aldridge |
NOTES: |
Target: Road/rail bridge near the marshalling yards at Aulnoye-Aymeries. Load: 18x 500lb bombs. The Master Bomber instructed the crews to bomb the Target Indicators if they were visible through the low cloud, and if not, to return home. Most crews returned with their bombload intact. |
||||||
|
22 Jun 1944 |
ME854 |
UL-D2 |
MIMOYECQUES |
1410 |
1740 |
3h30m |
P1 Plt Off A.J. Aldridge |
NOTES: |
Target: V3 cannon construction site. Load: 18x 500lb bombs. |
||||||
|
23 Jun 1944 |
ME854 |
UL-J2 |
SAINTES |
nk |
0610 |
8h00m |
P1 Plt Off A.J. Aldridge |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling yards. Load: Either 10x 1000lb, 2x 500lb bombs for H2S-equipped aircraft, or 10x 1000lb, 3x 500lb bombs for all other aircraft. It appears Costigan, the crew's normal mid-upper gunner did not fly this trip as it is not entered in his logbook. It is unknown who took his place. |
||||||
|
27 Jun 1944 |
ME854 |
UL-D2 |
CHATEAU DE BERNAPRE |
0150 |
0545 |
3h55m |
P1 Fg Off A.J. Aldridge |
NOTES: |
Target: V1 flying bomb launch site. Load: 10x 500lb bombs. |
||||||
|
29 Jun 1944 |
ME854 |
UL-D2 |
DOMLEGER |
1140 |
1515 |
3h35m |
P1 Fg Off A.J. Aldridge |
NOTES: |
Target: V1 flying bomb storage and supply depot. Load: 11x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. |
||||||
|
30 Jun 1944 |
ME854 |
UL-D2 |
OISEMONT / NEUVILLE AU BOIS |
0555 |
1005 |
4h10m |
P1 Fg Off A.J. Aldridge |
NOTES: |
Target: V1 flying bomb launch site. Load: 11x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. |
||||||
|
02 Jul 1944 |
ME854 |
UL-D2 |
DOMLEGER |
1210 |
1620 |
4h10 |
P1 Fg Off A.J. Aldridge |
NOTES: |
Target: V1 flying bomb storage and supply depot. Load 7x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. |
||||||
|
03 Jul 1944 |
ME854 |
UL-D2 |
Air test |
1130 |
1145 |
0h15 |
P1 Fg Off A.J. Aldridge |
NOTES: |
Air test |
||||||
|
05 Jul 1944 |
ME854 |
UL-D2 |
DIJON |
nk |
0640 |
9h25 |
P1 Fg Off A.J. Aldridge |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling yards. Load: H2S aircraft: 8x 1000lb, 3x 500lb bombs; all other aircraft: 8x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. Diverted to Coningsby on return due to low cloud at Elsham Wolds. |
||||||
|
05 Jul 1944 |
ME801 |
UL-C2 |
Air Test |
1130 |
1200 |
0h30 |
P1 Fg Off A.J. Aldridge |
NOTES: |
Air test. |
||||||
|
06 Jul 1944 |
ME854 |
UL-D2 |
Coningsby to Elsham Wolds |
1220 |
1240 |
0h20 |
P1 Fg Off A.J. Aldridge |
NOTES: |
Return from diversion. |
||||||
|
07 Jul 1944 |
ME854 |
UL-D2 |
CAEN |
nk |
2345 |
4h15 |
P1 Fg Off A.J. Aldridge |
NOTES: |
Target: Enemy armour strongpoint and stores on the Northern outskirts of Caen. Load: 11x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. Flown in support of the Anglo-Canadian ground forces attack on the town (Operation CHARNWOOD) |
||||||
|
10 Jul 1944 |
ME854 |
UL-D2 |
Training |
1400 |
1630 |
2h30 |
P1 Fg Off A.J. Aldridge |
NOTES: |
'Y' (H2S) cross-country navigation exercise. |
||||||
|
11 Jul 1944 |
ME854 |
UL-D2 |
Training |
1430 |
1620 |
1h50 |
P1 Fg Off A.J. Aldridge |
NOTES: |
Fighter affiliation, practice bombing and circuits & landings. |
||||||
|
12 Jul 1944 |
ME854 |
UL-D2 |
REVIGNY |
nk |
0625 |
9h00 |
P1 Fg Off A.J. Aldridge |
NOTES: |
Target: Railway marshalling yards. Load: 7x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. The Deputy Master Bomber instructed all aircraft to return to base with their bombloads ( codeword 'Lysol') as low cloud was obscuring the target. Target marking was conducted by the 1 Group Special Duties Flight based at Binbrook. The crew were diverted to Lindholme due to poor weather at Elsham. |
||||||
|
13 Jul 1944 |
ME854 |
UL-D2 |
Lindholme to Elsham Wolds |
1345 |
1400 |
0h15 |
P1 Fg Off A.J. Aldridge |
NOTES: |
Return from diversion. |
||||||
|
20 Jul 1944 |
ME854 |
UL-D2 |
WIZERNES |
1915 |
2255 |
3h40 |
P1 Fg Off A.J. Aldridge |
NOTES: |
Target: Construction site for a V2 rocket site and bunker complex ‘La Coupole’. Load: 11x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. |
||||||
|
23 Jul 1944 |
ME854 |
UL-D2 |
KIEL |
2220 |
0340 |
5h20 |
P1 Fg Off A.J. Aldridge |
NOTES: |
Target: German Navy base, canal, and harbour. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 8x 500lb bombs, 5x 500lb ‘J’ Type incendiary cluster, or 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 16x 500lb bombs |
||||||
|
01 Aug 1944 |
ME854 |
UL-D2 |
BELLE CROIX LES BRUYERES (BAUDRINGHEM) |
1850 |
2205 |
3h15 |
P1 Fg Off A.J. Aldridge |
NOTES: |
Target: V1 flying bomb launch site. Load: 12x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. The Master Bomber ordered all aircraft to return to base with their bombloads due to cloud cover over the target. |
||||||
|
04 Aug 1944 |
ME854 |
UL-D2 |
PAUILLAC |
1320 |
2120 |
8h00 |
P1 Fg Off A.J. Aldridge |
NOTES: |
Target: Oil storage depot. Load: 9x 1000lb, 3x 500lb bombs. |
||||||
|
05 Aug 1944 |
ME854 |
UL-D2 |
BLAYE |
1415 |
2225 |
8h10 |
P1 Fg Off A.J. Aldridge |
NOTES: |
Target: Oil storage depot. Load: 9x 1000lb, 3x 500lb bombs. The attack was given a Mosquito and Spitfire escort. Diverted to Worksop due to poor weather at Elsham. |
||||||
|
06 Aug 1944 |
ME854 |
UL-D2 |
Worksop to Elsham Wolds |
nk |
nk |
0h20 |
P1 Fg Off A.J. Aldridge |
NOTES: |
Return from diversion. |
||||||
|
07 Aug 1944 |
ME854 |
UL-D2 |
FONTENAY-LE-MARMION |
2100 |
0115 |
4h15 |
P1 Fg Off A.J. Aldridge |
NOTES: |
Target: Concentration of enemy armour in battle area near Caen. Load: 11x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. Five Squadron aircraft in the final stage of the attack were instructed not to bomb and to return to base with their bombloads as the Aiming Point became obscured by smoke & dust. All other aircraft carried out their attacks. |
||||||
|
10 Aug 1944 |
ME854 |
UL-D2 |
PARIS (DUGNY) |
0905 |
1410 |
5h05 |
P1 Fg Off A.J. Aldridge |
NOTES: |
Target: Aviation fuel storage depot. Load: 13x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. The attack was given a Spitfire escort. |
||||||
|
11 Aug 1944 |
ME854 |
UL-D2 |
DOUAI |
1340 |
1745 |
4h05 |
P1 Fg Off A.J. Aldridge |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling yards. Load: 13x 1000lb, 4x 500lb bombs. |
||||||
|
12 Aug 1944 |
ME854 |
UL-D2 |
BORDEAUX |
1120 |
1820 |
7h00 |
P1 Fg Off A.J. Aldridge |
NOTES: |
Target: Oil storage facilities and U-Boat pens. Load: 6x 2000lb bombs. The attack was given a Mosquito and Spitfire escort. |
||||||
|
14 Aug 1944 |
ME854 |
UL-D2 |
FONTAINE LE PIN |
1315 |
1710 |
3h55 |
P1 Fg Off A.J. Aldridge |
NOTES: |
Target: Enemy positions in the Normandy battle area. Load: 20x 500lb bombs. Flown in support of the 3rd Canadian Division, which was advancing on Falaise. |
||||||
|
16 Aug 1944 |
ME854 |
UL-D2 |
STETTIN |
2150 |
0445 |
6h55 |
P1 Fg Off A.J. Aldridge |
NOTES: |
Target: Port and industrial areas. Load: 2x 2000lb bombs and 12x 500 'J'-Type incendiary clusters. |
||||||
|
12 Sep 1944 |
ME854 |
UL-D2 |
FRANKFURT |
1835 |
FTR |
nk |
P1 Fg Off A.J. Aldridge |
NOTES: |
Target: Marshalling Yards. Load: 10x 1000lb, 1x 500lb bombs. UL-D2 opened attack as Supporter with UL-A2, one of two aircraft from 576 Squadron briefed to act as Pathfinder Assistants. ME854 was probably shot down by an enemy nightfighter on it's way to the target, however there is still uncertainty as to the cause. There are two possibilities for the fate of the aircraft, however it does seem probable that the aircraft was hit by flak some time before it was downed. This comes from the report of a German flak battery. Originally, it was believed that the aircraft had collided with another Lancaster, PD262 of 218 Squadron. This is based on an eyewitness account and the fact that the wreckage of both aircraft and their crews were found in exactly the same location in Gundersheim. It later became apparent from Luftwaffe records that Hptm. Martin Becker, flying a Bf-110, claimed two Lancasters shot down at 2245 and 2253 that night. There appear to be only two aircraft lost in that area so it can be assumed that the two aircraft claimed by Becker were ME854 and PD262. His second claim for that night stated that the Lancaster had been 'coned' and already damaged with numerous holes in the fuselage and tail empennage, however it remains uncertain whether this aircraft was ME854 or PD262. |
||||||
PERSONAL INFORMATION |
|
Personal Records Restricted - not available to the public |
PHOTOS & DOCUMENTS |
|
Personal Documents Restricted - not available to the public |
