Bennett's Staff

[Kyt]

Brian Watson McMillan 40550

Acting P/O 18th Feb. 1938
P/O 6th Dec. 1938
F/O 6th June;. 1940.
F/L 6th June 1941
S/L 11th Oct. 1944.

Air Force Cross 2nd June 1943 Honours list
Flight Lieutenant Brian Watson McMiLLAN (40550), Reserve of Air Force Officers.

Distinguished Service Order 19 Dec 1944
Acting Wing Commander Brian Watson MCMILLAN, A.F.C. (40550), R.A.F.O., 582 Sqn.
This officer has set a fine example of skill, courage and devotion to duty in operations against the enemy. He has participated in a large number of sorties against strongly defended targets, including such centres as Berlin, Stuttgart, Stettin, Duisburg and Kiel. In October, 1944, Wing Comanander McMillan took part in an attack on Cologne. In spite of considerable anti-aircraft fire, this intrepid pilot remained over the target for many minutes to press home a most determined and successful attack. This officer is a highly efficient flight commander, whose sterling qualities have impressed all.

Distinguished Flying Cross.16th Feb 1945
Acting Wing Commander Brian Watson MCMILLAN, D.S.O., A.F.C. (40550), R.A.F.O., 582 Sqn

[Kyt]

43373 Joseph Richard Wood

P/O 1st Apr 1940 (590618 Sgt Joseph Richard WOOD)
F/O 1st Apr. 1941
F/L 1st Apr. 1942

24 Squadron 1948

S/L (Perm)1st Feb. 1949
Retirement. J. R. WOOD, D.F.C. (43373). 28th June 1958

Distinguished Flying Cross. 12 October 1943
Flight Lieutenant Joseph Richard WOOD (43373), Royal Air Force, No. 10 Squadron

Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross. 21st April, 1944
Acting Squadron Leader Joseph Richard WOOD, D.F.C. (43373). Royal Air Force, No. 35 Squadron.

[Kyt]

Thought I'd try one from the bottom of the list.

John Cecil MACGOWN (72766).

MEDICAL BRANCH.
The undermentioned is granted commission in the ranks stated. 23rd May 1939:
Flight Lieutenant John Cecil MACGOWN, M.D., Ch.B

S/L 16 December 1941

Mentioned in Despatches 2nd June 1944
Acting Wing Commander J. C. MACGOWN (72766), R.A.F.V.R.

Distinguished Flying Cross. 6th June, 1944
Acting Wing Commander John Cecil MACGOWN (72766), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. (8 Group HQ)

Relinquished commission 10th Feb. 1954:
Squadron Leaders, retaining the rank of Wing Commander J. C. MACGOWN, D.F.C., M.D., Ch.B. (72766).

[Kyt]

William Holden Robinson

P/O - 571837 William Holden ROBINSON, D.F.M. (48464). 31st Mar. 1942.
F/O 1st Oct. 1942
F/L 31st March 1944
F/L - 9th Feb. 1949

Retirement Flight Lieutenant W. H. ROBINSON, M.B.E., D.F.C., D.F.M. (48464) (retaining the rank of Squadron Leader). 26th Sept. 1964

Distinguished Flying Medal. 19 December 1941
571837 Acting Flight Sergeant William Holden ROBINSON, No. 7 Squadron.
In November, 1941, this airman was the flight engineer of an aircraft which participated in a daylight attack on shipping off Borkum. The aircraft was subjected to intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire and sustained damage to the starboard outer engine oil system. Owing to the presence, of 8 enemy fighters, Flight Sergeant Robinson manned nis turret, but, fully realising the danger of the engine seizing, instructed another member of the crew to give him acommentary on the behaviour of the damaged engine. Skilfully dividing his attention between his gunnery and engineering duties, Flight Sergeant Robinson was able to keep the damaged engine going until the engagement was broken off. During the battle, he shot down one of the enemy aircraft in flames. Afterwards, when the port outboard engine .also. became unserviceable,. Flight Sergeant Robinson carefully calculated the amount of fuel necessary to reach base, jettisoned as much as possible of the remainder and so made it possible to return safely on 2 engines. This airman has . participated in many successful operations on one of which, although wounded, tie carried out his duties fully and, until the aircraft was safely landed, he did not indicate that he had been wounded in the groin.

Mentioned in Despatches 29 Dec 1942
Pilot Officer W. H. ROBINSON, D.F.M. (48464).

Distinguished Flying Cross. 22nd January, 1943
Flying Officer William Holden ROBINSON, D.F.M. (48464), No. 7 Squadron.
One night in December, 1942, this officer was the engineer of an aircraft detailed to attack Munich. During the return flight the aircraft was attacked by an enemy fighter. The fuselage, tailplanes and port wing were hit by cannon and machine gun fire, and the fuel cock control cables to the port tanks were severed. Displaying great skill and perseverance, Flying Officer Robinson kept the engines functioning while tracing the damaged cables and repairing them sufficiently to ensure an adequate supply of petrol for the remainder of the flight. He then made a thorough search of the interior of the aircraft and extinguished a small fire which was smouldering among the engine covers. Throughout, Flying Officer Robinson displayed great courage'and efficiency. He has participated in a large number of sorties and his technical ability has been amply demonstrated on many occasions.

To be Ordinary Members of the Military Division of the said Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) 5 June 1959 :
Flight Lieutenant William Holden ROBINSON, D.F.C., D.F.M. (48464), Royal Air Force

[Antipodean Andy]

A common thread I'm picking up with these guys is their involvement on daylight raids.

[Kyt]

John Derek Bolton 67531

P/O 915543 LAC John Derek BOLTON 11th May 1941
F/L 11th May 1943
S/L 15th Mar. 1945

CO 162 Squadron Dec 1944 - April 1945

Mentioned in Despatches 14th January, 1944
Squadron Leader J. D. BOLTON (67631) (Acting) R.A.F.V.R.

Distinguished Flying Cross. 8 Dec 1944
Acting Squadron Leader John Derek BOLTON (67531), R.A.F.V.R., 608 Sqn

DSO 26 Oct 1945
Act. W/C J. D. BOLTON. D.F.C., R.A.F.V.R., No. 162 Sqn
Since the award of the D.F.C. this officer has taken part in many operational sorties. He has invariably displayed outstanding airmanship, courage and great determination. In December 1944, Wing Cdr. Bolton assumed command of his present squadron, and under his splendid leadership many notable successes have been achieved.

[Kyt]

Douglas Aubrey Cracknell 72985

P/O 11th Apr. 1940
F/O 3rd Sept. 1940
F/L 3rd Sept. 1941
S/L 24th Dec. 1943

CO 7 Squadron 1st Jan 1945 - 5th June 1945

Before the war, he seem to have been a civil flying instructor, and a reservist. After the war, he appears to have had a long career in civil aviation, starting with BOAC.

Distinguished Flying Cross 14th May, 1943
Acting Squadron Leader Douglas Aubrey CRACKNELL (72985), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 49 Squadron.

Mentioned in Despatches 29 December 1944
Acting Wing Commander D. A. CRACKNELL, D.F.C. (72985), R.A.F.V.R.

Distinguished Service Order. 6th February, 1945
Acting Wing Commander Douglas Aubrey CRACKNELL, D.F.C. (72985), R.A.F.V.R., 35 Sqn.
This officer was pilot and captain of an aircraft detailed to attack Dusseldorf one night in November, 1944. Before reaching the target the aircraft came under fire from the ground defences and was hit several times. Despite this, Wing Commander Cracknell went on to execute a long and steady bombing run. The accuracy of the attack was well proved by the photograph obtained. This officer has completed many sorties on his third tour of operational duty and has displayed great personal gallantry and devotion to duty.

Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross. 23 October 1945
Wing Commander Douglas Aubrey CRACKNELL, D.S.O., D.F.C. (72985), R.A.F.V.R., 7 Sqn.

[Kyt]

This looks like the man, as there is no other H Almond that fits the bill. Andy, tis another 105 man, so could you check the book?

Henry Almond 106110

P/O - 1072976 LAC Henry ALMOND 17th Sept. 1941.
F/O 16th Sept. 1942
F/L 17th Sept. 1943

F/O 10th Dec 1947
F/L 1st Mar. 1951
Commission relinquished
Flight Lieutenant H. ALMOND, D.S.O., D.F.C. (106110). 10th Dec. 1952.

Distinguished Flying Cross.13 Oct 1944
Flight Lieutenant Henry ALMOND (106110), R.A.V.R., 105 Sqn.

DSO 27th April 1945
Acting Squadron Leader Henry ALMOND, D.F.C. (106110), R.A.F.V.R., 105 Sqn.
This officer's operational record is most impressive. Since being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross he has completed a large number of sorties, many of them against targets in the Ruhr and Rhineland areas. On one occasion, whilst over Cologne, his aircraft was severely damaged .when hit by anti-aircraft fire. Nevertheless, Squadron Leader Almond flew back to an airfield in this country. When coming into land, the starboard engine failed. The hydraulic system had sustained damage and. the undercarriage would not lower, beyond the half-way, down position. Despite these hazards, and .without the assistance of the flaps, Squadron Leader Almond effected a successful crashrlanding. This officer has invariably displayed skill, courage and coolness of a high order.

[Antipodean Andy]

Have found a mass of references to Ralston in Scott's Mosquito Thunder. Might not have time to scan the bigger stuff but will try to present an idea of his time with 105 Sqn.

Page 26-27:
July 11, 1942, saw six Mossies attack Flensburg in a diversionary raid for 44 Lancs hitting the northern Polish port of Danzig, now Gdansk, in semi-daylight. P/O Joseph Roy George Ralston with P/O Syd Clayton flew DK300 "N" as number two to the leader of the first threesome, S/L Channer. The weather worsened and "The low pressure caused an over-reading of their altimeters, so the formation climbed up to about 500ft to avoid any obstacles." They hit the slipways in harbour and damaged several U-boats. "While over the town, Channer had been flying about 10ft over the buildings when Holland (Channer's nav) observed Ralston and Downe (Channer's number 3, RAAF) coming along to formate on him...Ralston's logbook entry notes that his aircraft had been 'hit in the tail unit by flak', the result being a safely executed crash landing back at base." One Mossie in the other group of three did not return.

Page 29:
July 16, Ralston and Clayton were one of two aircraft to head for the iron and steelworks at Ijmuiden in the Netherlands. A gas plant was hit instead with Ralston scoring a direct hit and damaging the ammonia gas-holder.

Page 33:
August 12, Ralston and Clayton in DK317 "K" flew a follow up trip to bomb and photograph Mainz hit the previous night by the heavy bombers.

Page 41:
September 22 saw now F/L Ralston and F/S Armitage in DZ313 "E" lead the morning attack on the Royal Dutch Blast-Furnace and Steel Mill Ltd at Ijmuiden. Two other Mossies accompanied him but bombs were dropped on the gas works at Haarlem. Ralston realised the navigational error, made for the steelworks and dropped his bombs from 100 feet on the coke ovens.

Page 66:
October 15, Ralston and Clayton in DK338 "O" (see this thread for another mention of this aircraft's activities on Oct 11 etc in the hands of Patterson - Sqd Ldr Charles Patterson RIP) led a successful dusk shallow dive attack on the Hengelo Stork diesel works. Ralston noted in his log book that the dive had commenced at 4,000 feet. The attack was repeated the next day but from 100 feet. Ralston and Clayton were on again. On a rover on Oct 21, in a new Mossie DZ343 "Z", Ralston and Clayton attacked Hengelo, Nordhorn and Lingen. Ralston said, "On this trip we spent rather too long in the target area, so we were spotted by two FW 190s. Luckily I saw them as they saw us, and so after 15 minutes' chase, we pulled away and they gave up." It was a bit more complex than that. At 3,000 feet on the way home over the East Frisian island of Ameland, two FW 190s got within 500 yards. Ralston dived the aircraft to sea level and then performed skidding manoeuvres to escape the enemy fire. The cannon fire splashed about 50/100 yards behind the Mossie. Ralston then hauled the aircraft into a steep climb and disappered in 8/10s cloud at 1,500 feet. Oct 23 had them up again and heading for Hengelo.

Page 68:
November 7 saw an anti-shipping strike in the Bay of Biscay when two blockade runners carrying rubber from the Far East were found. Six hours flying at wave-top height. Mike Carreck, one of the navs: "Roy Ralston led us...with Syd Clayton as navigator, perhaps the finest crew in Bomber Command."

I'll stop there as just went to scan and discovered the printer isn't working. More soon!

[Kyt]

I cannot be sure whether this is the right one, but he certainly is an interesting case.

Ronald Clive Walker 108835

ROYAL ARTILLERY.
The undermentioned War Subs. Lts. relinquish their commns. on appt. to commns. in the R.A.F.V.R. —
30th Sept. 1941 R. C. Walker (85721).

30th Sept. 1942
F/O 30th Sept. 1943.

Commission resigned.
Flight Lieutenant R. C. WALKER, D.F.C. (108835). 1st May 1947

Duke of Lancaster's Ownwn Yeo.
Capt. R. C. .WALKER, D.F.C. (85721) is granted the actg. rank of Maj., 1st May 1947.

Distinguished Flying Cross. 10 October 1944
Flight Lieutenant Ronald Clive WALKER (108835), R.A.F.V.R., 582 Sqn