53 Squadron Group Portraits - Names & Services numbers

[stiggy128]

Greetings!
I would first like to thank all those who have given me advice and help in sourcing the names of the pilots and crew of the three 53 Squadron group portraits I have: Bircham Newton taken in July 1941, Limavady taken in January 1942 and Dorval, Canada taken in late December 1942.
There are, however, some names and service numbers that have been particularly hard to source, and I give the list below in the hope that someone out there might be able help:

-Bircham Newton July 1941
*Sgt. ? Stead (???)
*Sgt. ? ? Williams ???)
Sgt. ? Smith (???) – Not the Sgt. Norman Smith who appears in the Limavady and Dorval photos
however there were several Sgt.Smiths with the squadron at around this time - an R.
Smith, an S.E.Smith and a J. Smith
Sgt. G. Carty (???)
*Sgt. ? Perkins (???)
Sgt. ? Varley (???)
P/O ? Gibbs (?)
F/Sgt. ? Anderson (???)
Sgt. (??Eric Gabriel ‘John’ Brookes DFM??) Brookes (???)
* denotes those sent to the Far East to form No.62 Squadron

-Limavady, January 1942
P/O S. ‘Dave’ Davey (???)
P/O N? Woodhall (???) Possibly P/O Alan Gordon (65985)

-Dorval, Canada, Late December 1942
Sgt. Bert Alexander Wilton ?NZ (???)

Many thanks in advance, Jonathan

[Thumperbrookes]

Eric Gabriel Brookes was my grandfather. I have just started researching his RAF history and this popped up on a google search. I am not sure of the “John” part. I have never heard him be referred to as that. I have a commendation with all of his service info in if you still need it?

Thanks
Tom

[COL BRUGGY]

Hello,

Sgt Perkins, in all probability, 745869 F/Sgt (Obs.) William Frederick Frank PERKINS RAFVR. No.62 Sqn, Hudson III AE493 (61494 P/O [Pilot] Peter Michael Bonn RAFVR +), force-landed in Java after combat with Japanese fighters on 21 February, 1942. Perkins died two days later.

See:
Bloody Shambles Vol.2.
Shores,C. et al.
Londondon:Grub Street,1993.
p.214.

and ...

https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/c...ederick-frank/

Col.

[Resmoroh]

Stiggy128, (et al)
There’s a:
Gerard Carty (AIR 78/29/3 Image 127 Right Col, 2nd down.)
966870 was issued in early Sep 1939 in the Block 965000-1149977 between 1 Sep 1939 and 31 Mar 1941(?) at Padgate in the RAFVR.
Assuming he was 18 when he Enlisted I can’t find an E&W Birth Reg to fit (unless he lied about his age?).
b. 13 Feb 1925, Carty, Gerard (MMS Doyle), Reg Rochdale 8e 36 is a possibility?
d. Apr 1996 Reg Bury 0031A A45B 047
HTH
Peter Davies

[Resmoroh]

Hello All,
Eric Gabriel Brookes
940163 (TNA AIR 78/22/3 Image 74 Rt Col 3 Down).
Early-Oct 1939 940163 was issued in Block 935000-964999 in the RAFVR at Cardington between 1-Sep-39 and 31-Mar-40. So his birth (assuming Enlistment at age 18), must have a terminus post quem of 1921
Can’t find any E&W BMD.
HTH
Peter Davies

[Resmoroh]

Another definite maybe!
Alan Gordon Woodhall
b. 18 Jan 1917 (MMS Grant) Reg West Bromwich 6b 1401.
Early May 1940 Enlisted (1160418) RAFVR at Cardington. Age 23.
2 Apr 1941 1160418 Sgt Alan Gordon WOODHALL Cmd Plt Off(p) RAFVR GD( 65985).
d. Dec 2001 Reg Stoke-on-Trent 7371C C76F 104.
HTH
Peter Davies