Entry #: 36

Entry Date: 2009-12-02 21:36:28

Name: Carol Baxter
Site Rating: 10
Visitor Comments: I have just got my Dad's service record and discovered that he was at Tempsford in 1942 (as an anti-aircraft gunner I think).  His name was William (Bill) Dudson.  I wonder if anyone knows him?  I wonder what he did?  He was there between 6.3.42 and 26.7.42.  I had never heard of this base before today - I live in Australia.

Entry #: 35

Entry Date: 2009-11-19 05:16:49

Name: Barbara E Haner
Site Rating: 10
Visitor Comments:

Researching the activities of Thorfinn James Gunn 1915-1996  Member of Queens Flight & Squadron 161. DFC (1942), Croix de Guerre (1943). For two years (1969-71) owner of The Wheelwrights in the village of Pencombe, Herefordshire where we are researching the history of our Pub. Any exploits connected with him would be much appreciated.


 


Thank you 

Entry #: 34

Entry Date: 2009-10-29 05:43:38

Name: luc BERNARD-CATINAT
Site Rating: 10
Visitor Comments:

This summer, i walked in archèche mountains near Marcols les Eaux in France and i found a piece of aluminium aeronautical metal with a number and, perhaps, a hole of bullet. I think this is a piece of halifax II, NF-H, serial DT-726, 138 th squadron which is crashed in november 1943 after take off of Tempsford the 3th november.ffice" />


I read a book on the history of this heroes, but can you help me to identify the place of this triangular piece of metal on this plane (wings or tail, etc..) or can you give me a contact who can help me ? The number of this piece is 57287B or 5-287B


Ideally, i look for a plan of this plane


Thank you very much for your answer

Entry #: 33

Entry Date: 2009-09-24 11:41:41

Name: Tim Norris
Site Rating: 10
Visitor Comments: My late father Peter Norris was pilot of BB329/NFZ. If you want to read a little bit about his activities with 138 Squadron then have a look at www.tnorris.com

Entry #: 32

Entry Date: 2009-08-31 14:58:22

Name: mike wallace
Site Rating: 10
Visitor Comments: great site does anyone have any info on JOHN KEMPTON he was a Sgt air gunner in 161 sqn he was k.i.a. on 14/03/43 during operation IRIDIUM he was my uncle, he is buried in Durnbach Cemetary in Germany with the rest of the crewhis no was 1233859 and he was on a Halifax B,mK V number DG 245W thank you great site.
Admin Reply:

Mike,

have sent you emails. 

Entry #: 31

Entry Date: 2009-07-08 15:10:18

Name: Nick Leader
Site Rating: 10
Visitor Comments: I live in a small French village, Bargemon, in the Var dept. Locals are proud of their Resistance network and we aim to have a full acccount of their activities in the local museum. We are looking for details of parachute drops on the plateau de Canjuers 1942-44 when the netwrk members pcked up canistes for disrtibution to the Maquis. any info. would be greatly appreciated.
Nick Leader

Entry #: 30

Entry Date: 2009-07-04 18:38:08

Name: RICHARD C WOODS
Site Rating: 10
Visitor Comments: I WAS POSTED AS AN AIR MECHANIC TO TEMPSFORD AND WORKED ON LIBERATOR AIRCRAFT TO REMOVE THE BOMB BAYS AND FIT SEATS, TO TRANSPORT EX-POW'S FROM EUROPE AND FAR EAST 1945

Entry #: 29

Entry Date: 2009-06-16 21:42:57

Name: Tom Townsend
Site Rating: 10
Visitor Comments: Do you have a higher-resolution image of the layout at Tempsford? I cannot identify which buildings are which on the one you have on your website.

Fantastic job, by the way.

Tom Townsend
Dayton, Ohio, USA

Entry #: 28

Entry Date: 2009-06-04 15:37:17

Name: Matt Poole
Site Rating: 10
Visitor Comments:

It would help if I added the website.  Sorry...absentminded of me.  The LK312 story:


http://www.flensted.eu.com/1945018.shtml

Entry #: 27

Entry Date: 2009-06-04 15:19:58

Name: Matt Poole
Site Rating: 10
Visitor Comments:

Hi again.


After posting my last message, moments ago, I googled on Stirling LK312 and found a superb site, with photos.  Ain't the web great??


Cheers,


Matt
 

Entry #: 26

Entry Date: 2009-06-04 15:14:14

 

Name: Matt Poole

 

Site Rating: 10

 

Visitor Comments:

I came upon your Tempford website -- VERY nice job you've done -- while looking for more info on a 161 Sqn airman who is commemorated in Stoke Newington, London, along with two other local lads, one of whom died with my mother's first husband in 1944. 

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission info on one of these three, 1384393 W/O Eric Edward GRAY, gives his date of death as 5 March 1945 and his unit as 161 Sqn.  He is buried in Logstor General Cemetery in Denmark.

The mention of 161 Sqn led me to your site.  In the website’s listing of casualties I see that seven men, including Eric Gray, are listed as dying on 5 March 1945.  With some additional info from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission here are the seven:>


W/Cdr Michael Andrew BROGAN, DFC MID, pilot

F/O Norman CLARKE, navigator

W/O Eric Edward GRAY, air gunner

W/O Frederick MAHONEY, air gunner

F/Lt Harold O. SHARMAN, DFC, wireless operator

F/O Frederick John WATSON, DFM, flight engineer

F/O Henry Thomas WIGLEY, DFC, air bomber

 

The book "Flights of the Forgotten" by K. A. Merrick has this info:

"The night of 4/5 March marked a return to Denmark in force by Tempsford crews. . .No 161 Squadron's new CO, W/C Brogan, was flying Stirling LK312 "W" which failed to return."

I am assuming that the seven men listed above all died in the loss of LK312 "W", or its aftermath.

I would be grateful for any further details.

I found a photo of Eric Gray on-line and would like to post information on his loss in a comment box under the photo.  This photo can be downloaded from the website and might be a suitable addition to your own photo section.

Eric Gray's portrait, framed with two other Stoke Newington-linked men, is found at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarflondondunc/540190798/

The photo hangs on the wall in the Stoke Newington Library next to a memorial bench honoring the three.Recently the photographer (Duncan is his name) has added a photo of the associated memorial bench honoring the three men, and a photo of the engraved plaque attached to the bench. Perhaps Duncan might be able to take a better photo for you to use.He's a very friendly chap. So there you go...And if anyone can add additional info on the loss of the Brogan crew's Halifax on 5 March 1945, I would be most grateful. I suspect there is more to the story, given the fact that three separate Danish cemeteries are involved: Fjerritslev General Cem (Brogan and Sharman), Logstor General Cem (Clarke, Gray, Mahoney, and Wigley), and Shejerslev Churchyard Cem (Watson). Thank you kindly, Matt Poole, Wheaton, Maryland USA