No.10 Squadron ORB Details needed

[Steve Smith]

Good morning all,

Has anyone the No.10 Squadron ORB for the period 1941. Looking for details on Sergeant P J Hickling DFM and his time on the squadron. Would like to establish his time on the squadron and when and where he was posted immediately after leaving No.10 Squadron.

TIA

Rgds

Steve

[Terry]

Steve, I wonder if this is your man:
Air Ministry,
6th June, 1941.
ROYAL AIR FORCE.
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards: —
Distinguished Flying Medal.
745012 Sergeant Peter Frank HICKLING, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 10 Squadron.
The above awards are for gallantry and devotion to duty in the execution of air operations.
LG 35183 dated 6 Jun 41.

Air Ministry,
4th July, 1941.
ROYAL AIR FORCE RESERVE
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
GENERAL DUTIES BRANCH.
The undermentioned are granted commissions for the duration of hostilities: —
As Pilot Officers on probation.
Sergeants.
15th May 1941.
745012 Peter Frank HICKLING (68134).

Air Ministry,
26th May, 1942.
ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE.
GENERAL DUTIES BRANCH.
Plt. Offs (prob.) confmd. in appts and to be Flg. Offs. on prob. (war subs): —
P. F. HICKLING (68134). 15th May 1942.

HICKLING, PETER FRANK
Initials: P F
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Squadron Leader (Pilot)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 218 Sqdn.
Age: 28
Date of Death: 09/11/1942
Service No: 68134
Awards: D F M
Additional information: Son of Frank Goodliffe Hickling and Antoinette Hickling, of Nottingham.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Coll. grave 12. G. 13-19.
Cemetery: HANOVER WAR CEMETERY
Regards, Terry

[gull20]

Hello, Steve,

I have copy of 10 Sqn ORB, but only for the 1941 year, so I do not know when Hickling joined the squadron. The first sortie for P. F. Hickling crew in 1941 took place on 3/4.01.1941 against Bremen (the operation was abandoned due to ASI failure). His last mission in 10 Sqn Hickling flew on 16/17.04.1941 - also against Bremen. On this time the operation was successful.
Unfortunately ORB has no information when and where Hickling was posted from the squadron. But the ORB appendices include the squadron crew lists for 16.04.1941 and 18.04.1941. The first of them mentions Hickling while the the second not, so most probably he departed from the squadron just after his last mission.

Best wishes,

Andrey

[Marks]

Hi Steve,

His recommendation is dated 28.4.1941 and mentions 28 Sorties - Flying Hours 250 !

Mark

[Rich Allenby]

Hi, just bought 10 Squadron ORB for September 1940 for my own research from the National Archives, 76 pages, superb value for this month. Below is all the mentions to Hickling flying Ops in September 1940.....

Sgt Hickling flew in Whitley P4952 on Ops on 14th/15th September 1940 as 2nd pilot with P/O Prior, Sgt White, Sgt Davis and Sgt Gardiner.

Sgt Hickling flew in Whitley P4952 on Ops on 17th/18th September 1940 as 2nd pilot with Prior, White, Davis and Gardiner.

In Whitley P4952 again on Ops on 20th/21st September 1940 as 2nd pilot, same crew. Aircraft hit by flak in the tail but crew returned to base. Damage must have been slight.

He flew in P4952 on Ops on 22nd/23rd September 1940, same crew.

and in P4994 on 24th/25th September 1940, same crew.

in T4178 on 27th/28th September 1940, same crew.

in P4946 on 30th September / 1st October 1940, same crew.


Prior was one Garfield Wallace Prior RAFVR (37611), I have not IDed the other three as yet.

Hope this helps, looks like he was posted to 10 Sqn in early September 1940 ? Regards Rich Allenby