Hi Daz,
AIR78 has 1491124 William Thomas PILKINGTON
AIR-78-127-2_3 pg 49/103
Regards,
Dave
A bit of a long shot, has anyone come across 1491125 SGT PILKINGTON, a WOp, possible initial is W. He served with 78 Squadron in 1944.
Many thanks
Daz
Hi Daz,
AIR78 has 1491124 William Thomas PILKINGTON
AIR-78-127-2_3 pg 49/103
Regards,
Dave
78SqnHistory (16th November 2022)
Dave
Many thanks much appreciated.
Daz
I have the 78 Sqdn ORB for May 1944; a crew of Sergeants apart from the Navigator (so, perhaps a sprog crew?) is recorded on operations on 9th May, a/c captain Sgt Richards. WOp is Sgt K Pilkington, no service number. However, for their next op on 11th May and thereafter his initial is given as W.
Edit: the Squadron Appendices might retain personnel lists giving his service number
Pat,
Thank you. I have the full ORB for the Squadron including the appendices, but his full details are not shown. The error in initials is sadly commonplace in the ORB and something I am working to address as I transcribe and correct the entire ORB (I’m currently up to July 1944). At one stage it would appear that the clerks compiling the ORB used to put a J down as the initial if they didn’t know the correct one. I also have a database of over 3,500 personnel who served on 78 Squadron during WW2, which shows their service number(s), full name, crew position, ranks, date arrived, date departed, details of operations, POW details, gallantry awards and general notes. He was one of those where I still needed to fill in the gaps.
Thanks
Daz
Aha, I see Daz! Good luck (I know what you mean about the clerking in ORBs, can be trying and/or baffling at times), a very worthy undertaking. As an aside, this brief excursion into 78 Sqdn was helpful to me as I noticed two crews - Dobbin and Deane - who were transferred in August 44 to 148 (SD) Sqdn, my particular interest.
Cheers, Pat
Pat,
I have J88688 (R155994) Samuel Milton DEANE RCAF Pilot. Arrived at 78 Squadron on 19/07/44 from 41 Base, transferred to 148 Squadron 08/44 but I don't have a specific date.
For DOBBIN I have J6139 Kenneth Charles Millen DOBBIN RCAF Pilot. Arrived at 78 Squadron on 28/06/44 from 41 Base, transferred to 148 Squadron 08/44 but again no specific date.
Do you have the dates they arrrived?
Daz
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