CREW MEMBER PROFILE

Surname:

LAIT

First Name/s:

Frederick Ronald "Sparky"

No Image

Service No/s:

1891798

Service:

RAFVR

Branch:

Wireless Operator

Awards:

Return

SERVICE RECORDS

Date

Event

Aircraft Flown

Set Rank from Flight Record

25 Jul 1935

Set Rank from Flight Record

25 Nov 1943

Joined 576 Sqn at Elsham Wolds, Linconshire

Auto loaded with initial creation of profile
15 Dec 1944

Set Rank from Flight Record

28 Jan 1945

Set Rank from Flight Record

21 Feb 1945

Set Rank from Flight Record

25 Jun 1945

Set Rank from Flight Record

576 Squadron FLYING RECORDS

Date

Aircraft

Code

Flight Details

T/O

Land

Flt Time

Crew

12 Dec 1944

LM594

UL-A2

ESSEN

1605

2205

6h00

P1   Fg Off K. Halnan Junior RCAF
P2   
FE   Sgt R.W.G. Young
AB   Plt Off G.T. Shepherd RCAF
NAV  Fg Off E.N. Weldon RCAF
WOp  Sgt F.R. Lait
MUG  Sgt H.G.C. Farey RCAF
RG   Sgt R.M. Gray

NOTES:

Target: Krupp munitions factory and a rail centre at 5126.5N 00701E. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 16x 500lb bombs

15 Dec 1944

PB753

UL-X2

MANNHEIM

1455

2130

6h35

P1    K. Halnan Junior RCAF
P2   
FE   Sgt R.W.G. Young
AB    G.T. Shepherd RCAF
NAV   E.N. Weldon RCAF
WOp   F.R. Lait
MUG   H.G.C. Farey RCAF
RG    R.M. Gray

NOTES:

Target: I.G. Farbenindustrie chemical works, marshalling yards and oil refinery. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 4x 1000lb, 7x 500lb bombs.

28 Jan 1945

PD271

*UL-T2

STUTTGART - ZUFFENHAUSEB

1950

0305

7h15

P1   Flt Lt K. Halnan Junior RCAF
P2   
FE   Sgt R.W.G. Young
AB   Plt Off G.T. Shepherd RCAF
NAV  Flt Off E.N. Weldon RCAF
WOp  Sgt F.R. Lait
MUG  Sgt H.G.C. Farey RCAF
RG   Sgt R.M. Gray

NOTES:

Target: Hirth aero-engine factory & Boash ignition works. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 12x 500lb bombs.

21 Feb 1945

NG464

UL-O2

DUISBERG

1940

FTR

uk

P1   Flt Lt K. Halnan Junior RCAF
P2   
FE   Sgt R.W.G. Young
AB   Fg Off G.T. Shepherd RCAF
NAV  Fg Off E.N. Weldon RCAF
WOp  Flt Sgt F.R. Lait
MUG  Flt Sgt H.G.C. Farey RCAF
RG   Sgt R.M. Gray

NOTES:

Target: Built-up area and docks. Load: 1x4,000lb ‘cookie’, 1,770x 4lb incendiaries. At 0100 the aircraft was hit by flak and a fire broke out in the bomb bay and rendered the hydraulic system unserviceable. The crew turned towards a diversion airfield at Jouvincourt but were forced to bail out in the neighbourhood of Rheims. All the crew landed safely and returned to operations on 16 Mar 1945, Young returning on 02 March..

16 Mar 1945

PD271

UL-T2

NUREMBURG

1725

2000

2h35

P1   Flt Lt K. Halnan Junior RCAF
P2   
FE   Sgt R.W.G. Young
AB   Fg Off G.T. Shepherd RCAF
NAV  Fg Off E.N. Weldon RCAF
WOp  Flt Sgt F.R. Lait
MUG  Flt Sgt H.G.C. Farey RCAF
RG   Sgt R.M. Gray

NOTES:

Target: Built-up area. Load: 1x 4000lb ‘cookie’, 1470x 4lb incendiaries. Returned to base shortly after take-off having a rear turret and compressor unserviceable. Their bombs were jettisoned at sea.

18 Mar 1945

PD271

UL-T2

HANAU

0040

0725

6h45

P1   Flt Lt K. Halnan Junior RCAF
P2   
FE   Sgt R.W.G. Young
AB   Fg Off P.J. Smith
NAV  Fg Off E.N. Weldon RCAF
WOp  Flt Sgt F.R. Lait
MUG  Sgt K. Oliver
RG   Sgt R.M. Gray

NOTES:

Built-up Area. Load: All aircraft: 1x 4000lb ‘Cookie’ and 1620x 4lb incendiaries.

25 Jun 1945

RA594

UL-V

FLENSBURG

0650

1150

5h00

P1   Fg Off K. Fry
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt H.W. Parkins
AB   Flt Sgt H. Woodliff
NAV  Flt Sgt D.G. Smith
WOp  Flt Sgt F.R. Lait
MUG  Sgt A.G. Younger
RG   Flt Sgt J.N. Watkins

NOTES:

Exercise POST MORTEM 1: A test of the German air defence radar system.

26 Jun 1945

RA594

UL-V

Training

1525

1645

1h20

P1   Fg Off K. Fry
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt H.W. Parkins
AB   Flt Sgt H. Woodliff
NAV  Flt Sgt D.G. Smith
WOp  Flt Sgt F.R. Lait
MUG  Sgt A.G. Younger
RG   Flt Sgt J.N. Watkins

NOTES:

Air-to-sea firing.

27 Jun 1945

RA594

UL-V

Test flight

1315

1340

0h25

P1   Fg Off K. Fry
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt H.W. Parkins
AB   Flt Sgt H. Woodliff
NAV  Flt Sgt D.G. Smith
WOp  Flt Sgt F.R. Lait
MUG  Sgt A.G. Younger
RG   Flt Sgt J.N. Watkins

NOTES:

Rigging test.

27 Jun 1945

RA594

UL-V

Training

1430

1800

3h30

P1   Fg Off K. Fry
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt H.W. Parkins
AB   Flt Sgt H. Woodliff
NAV  Flt Sgt D.G. Smith
WOp  Flt Sgt F.R. Lait
MUG  Sgt A.G. Younger
RG   Flt Sgt J.N. Watkins

NOTES:

'Y' (H2S) cross-country navigation exercise and air-to-sea firing.

29 Jun 1945

RA594

UL-V

FLENSBURG

1015

1550

5h35

P1   Fg Off K. Fry
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt H.W. Parkins
AB   Flt Sgt H. Woodliff
NAV  Flt Sgt D.G. Smith
WOp  Flt Sgt F.R. Lait
MUG  Sgt A.G. Younger
RG   Flt Sgt J.N. Watkins

NOTES:

Exercise POST MORTEM II; test of the German air defence radar network.

01 Jul 1945

RA594

UL-V

FLENSBURG

1210

1750

5h40

P1   Fg Off K. Fry
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt H.W. Parkins
AB   Flt Sgt H. Woodliff
NAV  Flt Sgt D.G. Smith
WOp  Flt Sgt F.R. Lait
MUG  Sgt A.G. Younger
RG   Flt Sgt J.N. Watkins

NOTES:

Exercise POST MORTEM III; test of the German air defence radar network.

03 Jul 1945

RA514

UL-R

Training

1010

1320

3h10

P1   Fg Off K. Fry
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt H.W. Parkins
AB   Flt Sgt H. Woodliff
NAV  Flt Sgt D.G. Smith
WOp  Flt Sgt F.R. Lait
MUG  Sgt A.G. Younger
RG   Flt Sgt J.N. Watkins

NOTES:

'Y' (H2S) cross-country navigation exercise.

04 Jul 1945

RA587

UL-U

FLENSBURG

1310

1835

5h25

P1   Fg Off K. Fry
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt H.W. Parkins
AB   Flt Sgt H. Woodliff
NAV  Flt Sgt D.G. Smith
WOp  Flt Sgt F.R. Lait
MUG  Sgt A.G. Younger
RG   Flt Sgt J.N. Watkins

NOTES:

Exercise POST MORTEM V; test of the German air defence radar network.

22 Jul 1945

PB753

UL-X

Incendiary disposal

1645

1815

1h30

P1   Fg Off K. Fry
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt H.W. Parkins
AB   Flt Sgt H. Woodliff
NAV  Flt Sgt D.G. Smith
WOp  Flt Sgt F.R. Lait
MUG  Sgt A.G. Younger
RG   Flt Sgt J.N. Watkins

NOTES:

Dropping 10,000 lb of incendiaries in the North Sea.

25 Jul 1945

NF976

UL-Z

Incendiary disposal

1645

1800

1h15

P1   Fg Off K. Fry
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt H.W. Parkins
AB   Flt Sgt H. Woodliff
NAV  Flt Sgt D.G. Smith
WOp  Flt Sgt F.R. Lait
MUG  Sgt A.G. Younger
RG   Flt Sgt J.N. Watkins

NOTES:

Dropping incendiaries in the North Sea.

25 Jul 1945

NF976

UL-Z

Incendiary disposal

nk

nk

1h20

P1   Fg Off K. Fry
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt H.W. Parkins
AB   Flt Sgt H. Woodliff
NAV  Flt Sgt D.G. Smith
WOp  Flt Sgt F.R. Lait
MUG  Sgt A.G. Younger
RG   Flt Sgt J.N. Watkins

NOTES:

Dropping incendiaries in the North Sea. Second sortie of the day

25 Jul 1945

NF976

UL-Z

Incendiary disposal

nk

nk

1h25

P1   Fg Off K. Fry
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt H.W. Parkins
AB   Flt Sgt H. Woodliff
NAV  Flt Sgt D.G. Smith
WOp  Flt Sgt F.R. Lait
MUG  Sgt A.G. Younger
RG   Flt Sgt J.N. Watkins

NOTES:

Dropping incendiaries in the North Sea. Third sortie of the day.

26 Jul 1945

ME862

UL-J2

Training

1355

1430

0h35

P1   Fg Off K. Fry
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt H.W. Parkins
AB   Flt Sgt H. Woodliff
NAV  Flt Sgt D.G. Smith
WOp  Flt Sgt F.R. Lait
MUG  Sgt A.G. Younger
RG   Flt Sgt J.N. Watkins

NOTES:

Fighter affiliation.

27 Jul 1945

RA563

UL-Q

Training

0925

1000

0h35

P1   Fg Off K. Fry
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt H.W. Parkins
AB   Flt Sgt H. Woodliff
NAV  Flt Sgt D.G. Smith
WOp  Flt Sgt F.R. Lait
MUG  Sgt A.G. Younger
RG   Flt Sgt J.N. Watkins

NOTES:

Fighter affiliation.

27 Jul 1945

RA563

UL-Q

Training

1310

1540

2h30

P1   Fg Off K. Fry
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt H.W. Parkins
AB   Flt Sgt H. Woodliff
NAV  Flt Sgt D.G. Smith
WOp  Flt Sgt F.R. Lait
MUG  Sgt A.G. Younger
RG   Flt Sgt J.N. Watkins

NOTES:

High-level practice bombing.

30 Jul 1945

RA587

UL-U

Training

0045

0140

0h55

P1   Fg Off K. Fry
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt H.W. Parkins
AB   Flt Sgt H. Woodliff
NAV  Flt Sgt D.G. Smith
WOp  Flt Sgt F.R. Lait
MUG  Sgt A.G. Younger
RG   Flt Sgt J.N. Watkins

NOTES:

Night fighter affiliation.

02 Aug 1945

RA594

UL-V

Training

1030

1250

2h20

P1   Fg Off K. Fry
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt H.W. Parkins
AB   Flt Sgt H. Woodliff
NAV  Flt Sgt D.G. Smith
WOp  Flt Sgt F.R. Lait
MUG  Sgt A.G. Younger
RG   Flt Sgt J.N. Watkins

NOTES:

Loop homing and circuits. Burst tyre.

02 Aug 1945

RA587

UL-U

Training

1830

0020

5h50

P1   Fg Off K. Fry
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt H.W. Parkins
AB   Flt Sgt H. Woodliff
NAV  Flt Sgt D.G. Smith
WOp  Flt Sgt F.R. Lait
MUG  Sgt A.G. Younger
RG   Flt Sgt J.N. Watkins

NOTES:

Night exercise 'BULLSEYE'

04 Aug 1945

RA594

UL-V

Incendiary disposal

1515

1720

2h05

P1   Fg Off K. Fry
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt H.W. Parkins
AB   Flt Sgt H. Woodliff
NAV  Flt Sgt D.G. Smith
WOp  Flt Sgt F.R. Lait
MUG  Sgt A.G. Younger
RG   Flt Sgt J.N. Watkins

NOTES:

Dropping 6,000 lb of incendiaries in Cardigan Bay.

05 Aug 1945

RA514

UL-R

FISKERTON – POMIGLIANO

0720

1435

7h15

P1   Fg Off R.L. Ash
P2   Fg Off K. Fry
FE   Fg Off Willis
AB   
NAV  WO Spicer
WOp  Flt Sgt F.R. Lait
MUG  Flt Sgt F. Willie
RG   

NOTES:

Operation DODGE Normal crew for DODGE: Pilot, 2nd pilot, FE, Nav, WOp, Air Gunner (1). Occasionally other aircrew trades would replace the gunner. Route:Base-Selsey Bill-Caen-Poitiers-Elba-Naples-Pomigliano

07 Aug 1945

RA514

UL-R

POMIGLIANO – GLATTON

nk

nk

6h35

P1   Fg Off R.L. Ash
P2   Fg Off K. Fry
FE   Fg Off Willis
AB   
NAV  WO Spicer
WOp  Flt Sgt F.R. Lait
MUG  Flt Sgt F. Willie
RG   

NOTES:

Operation DODGE Normal crew for DODGE: Pilot, 2nd pilot, FE, Nav, WOp, Air Gunner (1). Occasionally other aircrew trades would replace the gunner. Load: 20 passengers.

07 Aug 1945

RA514

UL-R

GLATTON – FISKERTON

1840

1900

0h20

P1   Fg Off R.L. Ash
P2   Fg Off K. Fry
FE   Fg Off Willis
AB   
NAV  WO Spicer
WOp  Flt Sgt F.R. Lait
MUG  Flt Sgt F. Willie
RG   

NOTES:

Operation DODGE Normal crew for DODGE: Pilot, 2nd pilot, FE, Nav, WOp, Air Gunner (1). Occasionally other aircrew trades would replace the gunner.

13 Aug 1945

RA594

UL-V

Incendiary disposal

1245

1455

2h10

P1   Fg Off K. Fry
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt H.W. Parkins
AB   Flt Sgt H. Woodliff
NAV  Flt Sgt D.G. Smith
WOp  Flt Sgt F.R. Lait
MUG  Sgt A.G. Younger
RG   Flt Sgt J.N. Watkins

NOTES:

Dropping 6,000 lb of incendiaries in Cardigan Bay.

16 Aug 1945

SW276

UL-G

FISKERTON TO POMIGLIANO

0715

1335

6h20

P1   Fg Off K. Fry
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt H.W. Parkins
AB   Flt Sgt H. Woodliff
NAV  Flt Sgt D.G. Smith
WOp  Flt Sgt F.R. Lait
MUG  Sgt A.G. Younger
RG   

NOTES:

Operation 'DODGE' - Positioning Flight. These DODGE sorties comprised Pilot, Engineer, Air Bomber, Nav, WOp and a gunner in the mid-upper turret. The route flown was: Base - Aylesbury - Selsey Bill - Poitiers - Toulouse - Corsica - Elba - Pomigliano.

20 Aug 1945

SW276

UL-G

POMIGLIANO TO GLATTON

0645

1345

7h00

P1   Fg Off K. Fry
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt H.W. Parkins
AB   Flt Sgt H. Woodliff
NAV  Flt Sgt D.G. Smith
WOp  Flt Sgt F.R. Lait
MUG  Sgt A.G. Younger
RG   

NOTES:

Operation 'DODGE' Repatriating 20 Allied Servicemen to the UK.. 'DODGE' sorties comprised Pilot, Engineer, Air Bomber, Nav, WOp and a gunner in the mid-upper turret.

20 Aug 1945

SW276

UL-G

GLATTON TO FISKERTON

1450

1510

0h20

P1   Fg Off K. Fry
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt H.W. Parkins
AB   Flt Sgt H. Woodliff
NAV  Flt Sgt D.G. Smith
WOp  Flt Sgt F.R. Lait
MUG  Sgt A.G. Younger
RG   

NOTES:

Return to base carrying the K Hignell crew as passengers.

01 Sep 1945

NX562

UL-F

Transit Woodbridge to Fiskerton

1445

1605

1h20

P1   Fg Off K. Fry
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt H.W. Parkins
AB   Flt Sgt H. Woodliff
NAV  Flt Sgt D.G. Smith
WOp  Flt Sgt F.R. Lait
MUG  Sgt A.G. Younger
RG   Flt Sgt J.N. Watkins

NOTES:

Woodbridge to Fiskerton. The crew had positioned as passengers to Woodbridge on RA563 with the G M Henderson crew to collect NX562 which had been under repair since diverting in on 24 Aug 45. Crew names to be confirmed.

09 Sep 1945

LM294

UL-P

FISKERTON TO POMIGLIANO (LANDED ISTRES)

0800

1445

6h45

P1   Fg Off K. Fry
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt H.W. Parkins
AB   Flt Sgt H. Woodliff
NAV  Flt Sgt D.G. Smith
WOp  Flt Sgt F.R. Lait
MUG  Sgt A.G. Younger
RG   

NOTES:

Operation 'DODGE' positioning flight. The aircraft encountered very bad weather and thunderstorms on the way and suffered an engine failure and WT receiver failure and diverted to Istres in France.

10 Sep 1945

LM294

UL-P

ISTRES TO POMIGLIANO

1040

1325

2h45

P1   Fg Off K. Fry
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt H.W. Parkins
AB   Flt Sgt H. Woodliff
NAV  Flt Sgt D.G. Smith
WOp  Flt Sgt F.R. Lait
MUG  Sgt A.G. Younger
RG   

NOTES:

Operation 'DODGE' - Transit flight to Pomigliano after some rough repairs.

12 Sep 1945

P4-Q

POMIGLIANO TO GLATTON

1000

1325

3h25

P1   Fg Off K. Fry
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt H.W. Parkins
AB   Flt Sgt H. Woodliff
NAV  Flt Sgt D.G. Smith
WOp  Flt Sgt F.R. Lait
MUG  Sgt A.G. Younger
RG   

NOTES:

Operation 'DODGE' repatriation of 20 Allied Servicemen to the UK. LM294 remained unserviceable and was left in Pomigliano. The crew flew to Glatton in 'borrowed' 153 Sqn's P4-Q.

12 Sep 1945

P4-Q

GLATTON TO FISKERTON

1705

1730

0h25

P1   Fg Off K. Fry
P2   
FE   Flt Sgt H.W. Parkins
AB   Flt Sgt H. Woodliff
NAV  Flt Sgt D.G. Smith
WOp  Flt Sgt F.R. Lait
MUG  Sgt A.G. Younger
RG   

NOTES:

Transit to Fiskerton (tbc) in 153 Sqn's P4-Q.

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