CREW MEMBER PROFILE |
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Surname: |
CALDWELL |
First Name/s: |
John Hamilton |
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Service No/s: |
1370276 |
Service: |
RAFVR |
Branch: |
Wireless Operator |
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Awards: |
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SERVICE RECORDS |
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Date |
Event |
Aircraft Flown |
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02 Jan 1941 |
Enlisted at the Music Hall, 54 George Street, Edinburgh, Scotland, as Aircraftman Second Class (AC2), mustering as Air Crew Hand (Wireless Operator). |
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03 Jan 1941 |
Transferred to the Reserve, pending call-up. |
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24 Mar 1941 |
Called up to No. 10 (Signals) Recruit Centre, Blackpool, Lancashire. |
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01 Apr 1941 |
Attended Nos.17 or 18 (tbd) Aviation Candidates’ Selection Board (ACSB), Blackpool, Lancashire, where he was recommended for training as an Air Gunner or Wireless Operator (Ground). Date TBC. |
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13 Jul 1941 |
No. 3 Signals School (SS), Compton Bassett, Wiltshire. |
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12 Oct 1941 |
RAF Station, Catfoss, Yorkshire. |
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05 Jun 1942 |
RAF Station, Benbecula, Hebrides, Scotland. |
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01 Oct 1942 |
Promoted to Aircraftman First Class (AC1) |
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11 Oct 1942 |
Remustered as Wireless Operator. |
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28 Oct 1942 |
No. 4 Signals School (SS) (became 4 Radio School (RS) on 01 Jan 43), Madley, Herefordshire. |
Dominie |
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06 Feb 1943 |
No. 11 Air Gunnery School (AGS), Andreas, Isle of Man. |
Anson |
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15 Feb 1943 |
RAF Station, Boulmer, Northumberland tbc. |
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28 Feb 1943 |
Promoted to Leading Aircraftman (LAC). |
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02 Apr 1943 |
Promoted to Sergeant, and remustered as Wireless Operator/Air Gunner. |
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13 Apr 1943 |
No. 21 Operational Training Unit (OTU), Moreton in Marsh, Gloucestershire. |
Wellington |
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14 Jun 1943 |
Attached to No. 311 Ferry Training Unit (FTU), Moreton in Marsh, Gloucestershire. |
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30 Jun 1943 |
Returned to No. 21 Operational Training Unit (OTU), Moreton in Marsh, Gloucestershire (Wellington); date TBC. |
Wellington |
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01 Jul 1943 |
Attached to No. 30 Aircraft Despatch and Reception Unit (ADU), Pomigliano, Naples, Italy; date TBC. |
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04 Jul 1943 |
Returned to No. 21 Operational Training Unit (OTU), Moreton in Marsh, Gloucestershire. |
Wellington |
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25 Aug 1943 |
No. 27 Operational Training Unit (OTU), Lichfield, Staffordshire; joins F R Scott RAAF crew which comprised: |
Wellington |
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16 Sep 1943 |
No. 1662 Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU), Blyton, Lincolnshire; crew joined by Flight Engineer S V Cull and Air Gunner B P Wicks RAAF (ex No. 166 Sqn). |
Lancaster |
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02 Dec 1943 |
No. 576 Squadron, ‘A’ Flight, Elsham Wolds |
Lancaster |
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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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16 Dec 1943 |
LM332 |
UL-B2 |
BERLIN |
1655 |
FTR |
n/k |
P1 Flt Sgt F.R. Scott RAAF |
NOTES: |
Target: Built-up Area Load: 1x 4,000lb 'Cookie', 56x 30lb and 1122x 4lb incendiaries There was plenty of low cloud over Elsham Wolds, but not sufficiently bad to prevent the aircraft from 576 and 103 Squadrons taking off for the mission to Berlin. During the briefing, crews were cautioned about the weather conditions and were instructed that after take-off they should maintain the prescribed climb-out procedures until reaching the prescribed height and then turn towards the North Sea on the briefed route to the target. It was stressed that crews should not deviate from these instructions in any way. At 1637, the crew of Flt Sgt Richter, comprising a scratch crew of 103 and 576 Squadron crews. Shortly afterwards, at 1656, the Scott crew took off for what was to be their first operation. What follows next is largely conjecture. It seems that as Richter's aircraft was climbing out, Scott's aircraft suddenly appeared out of the cloud and flying directly towards them. The collision was inevitable and the two Lancasters crashed head-on. The collision occurred over the village of Ulceby and the wreckage from both aircraft was spread over a wide area. There were no survivors. In 2000, a plaque was erected at the Ulceby War Memorial to commemorate both crews. The 103 Squadron aircraft's crew were: Pilot Flt Sgt V Richter Flight Engineer Sgt F S Copping Air Bomber Fg Off C R Jacques, 576 Squadron Navigator Sgt C W Plampton Wireless Operator Flt Sgt T L H Kay, RAAF Mid-Upper Gunner Sgt P Coopman Rear Gunner Sgt F A Furrie, 576 Squadron |
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PERSONAL INFORMATION |
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Personal Records Restricted - not available to the public |
PHOTOS & DOCUMENTS |
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Personal Documents Restricted - not available to the public |
