Anson I L7056

[robstitt]

Would appreciate any information on the crew members:

Pilot: Sgt Robert Ernest Lubbock, 1332144
Navigator: P/O Charles George Fox, 1336878
Navigator: P/O Antony William Lawrence, 1333943
Wireless operator: Sgt William Baird, R131545

TIA.

Robert

[Resmoroh]

Rob, Hi

Pilot: Sgt Robert Ernest Lubbock, 1332144
Enlisted 1330001 to 1340000 Nov 1940 Uxbridge and Weston-super-Mare
Births Jun 1921 (>99%)
Luckock Robert E Pindard Romford 4a 1069
(NB Note the surname is Luckock)

Navigator: P/O Charles George Fox, 1336878
Fox was from Carshalton, Surrey
Enlisted 1330001 to 1340000 Nov 1940 Uxbridge and Weston-super-Mare
Cmd 21st Aug. 1942. 1336878 Charles George Fox (129395).

Navigator: P/O Antony William Lawrence, 1333943
Births Jun 1921 (>99%)
Lawrence Antony W Mullett Croydon 2a 580
Enlisted 1330001 to 1340000 Nov 1940 Uxbridge and Weston-super-Mare
Cmd 21st Aug. 1942. 1333943 Anthony William LAWRENCE (129408).
(NB Note spellings of first forename. Think Antony correct)

Can't help with Baird - your backyard?!!

HTH
Peter Davies

[robstitt]

Thanks, Peter. 'Luckock' noted - my slip.

Robert

[robstitt]

Hi Peter,

The accident report says 'Anthony'. Any particular reason you feel it might be Antony?

Robert

[Resmoroh]

Rob, Hi,

There are two BMD sites (Free BMD, and Find My Past) that use Antony for his first forename in the Birth Reg:-

Births Jun 1921 (>99%)
Lawrence Antony W Mullett Croydon 2a 580

Civil registration event: Birth
Name: LAWRENCE, Antony W
Registration district: Croydon. County: Surrey
Year of registration: 1921. Quarter of registration: Apr-May-Jun
Mother's maiden name: Mullett
Volume no: 2A Page no:580

You use Antony in your Post #11

We first get Anthony from the LG Commissioning:-

21st Aug. 1942. 1333943 Anthony William LAWRENCE (129408).

This is how the RAF knew him. The Crash Record, and CWGC, will, therefore, have used his RAF Docs. I have no axe to grind. I merely noted a forename anomaly. Perhaps others with access to UK BMD data may be able to clear up the difficulty!

HTH
Peter Davies

[robstitt]

Now have the Form 78 for L7056. Would appreciate help with locations for the following:

10.37: 23 Group ANS Manston (ANS=Air Navigation School?)
03.38: 9 FTS
08.40: 6 FTS
04.41: 37 MU (Burtonwood?) (assume being prepped for shipment to Canada)
05.41: Burtonwood (ditto)
06.41: Canada 33 FTS

TIA

Robert

[Resmoroh]

Rob, Hi,

10.37: 23 Group Air Navigation School was at Manston until the outbreak of WW2
03.38: 9 FTS Hullavington
08.40: 6 FTS
04.41: 37 MU was at Burtonwood from 1 Apr 40 to Jun 42 (Wiki)

HTH
Peter Davies

PS And as a complete afterthought, is it known why we were sending badly needed aircraft (of any sort) from UK to Canada when - by all accounts - the Canadian aero industry was already out of first gear and accelerating? Or am I being thick, and missing the obvious?

[robstitt]

Good question, Peter. Have not delved into that yet. Perhaps someone else can elaborate on why the UK was sending aircraft to Canada - I would guess that the Anson was considered well past it's prime by the Air Ministry. This was a 1937-vintage aircraft after all but could fulfill a very useful training role in Canada.

Thanks 'laoniu'.

Robert

[Bill Walker]

It was all part of the BCATP program. This was a multi-national effort, with each country providing what they had, and sending students wherever there was room. The UK had more aircraft than safe flying space, the Canadians were building aircraft as fast as they could, but had lots of flying space. A large portion of the aircraft sent to Canada were used to train RAF aircrew. The unit in question here, 32 OTU, was on the RCAF books for administrative purposes, but was largely manned by the RAF and mostly trained RAF aircrew.

L7056 arrived in Canada in June 1941, the first Canadian built Ansons were delivered to Schools in September 1941. Production was slow to ramp up, and UK deliveries continued until at least April 1942. The last few Anson Is taken on RCAF strength were assembled from UK supplied bits and pieces plus Canadian built wings in early 1943. The last Canadian built Anson was delivered in early 1945.

[robstitt]

Thanks, Bill. Do you have a reference for more background on 32 OTU?

Robert