141 Squadron Sgt pilots

[Alex Crawford]

Hi,

Does anyone know when the following Sgt pilots were posted to/from 141 Sqn?

Sgt Peter Alan Dale 45550
Sgt Herbert Edward Green
Sgt Russel Chapman Hamer 566261
Sgt Steven Francis Henry Keene 514292
Sgt George Laurence 518381
Sgt William Mason 745149
Sgt Arthur Stanely Wickens

I have the ORB for Oct-Feb when the squadron operated Gladiators. By the end of October 1939 there were 5 Sgt pilots on strength, two of them being Green and Wickens. So these two arrived sometime in October. The ORB records officer pilots to/from the Squadron but it doesn't do the same for the Sgt pilots.

By the end of September there were 7 Sgt pilots. Five of them being Green, Wickens, Hamer, Mason and Keene. I have since found that Laurence and Dale were also with the Squadron at this time.

Green and Wickens survived the war whereas the other five all lost their lives.

Any help appreciated.

Alex

[Phil Listemann]

Hi Alex,

Some info :

Sgt Peter Alan Dale 45550 : killed while serving 141 Sqn 09.05.41
Sgt Herbert Edward Green : posted to CFS Jan-42
Sgt Russel Chapman Hamer 566261 : killed while serving 141 08.09.42
Sgt Steven Francis Henry Keene 514292 : ?
Sgt George Laurence 518381 : Posted out Tour expired 12-42
Sgt William Mason 745149 : Posted to 235 Sqn
Sgt Arthur Stanely Wickens : WICKINS and not WICKENS posted to 54 OTU May-41

Hope this helps

Phil

[Alex Crawford]

Hi Phil,

Thanks for the additional info and corrections.

Alex

[BillG]

Alex,
W/O R C "Lofty" Hamer was recommended for a VC for his action in the sortie that cost him his life. It was eventually reduced to an Mid.
Source: "Pursuit Through Darkened Skies" by Michael Allen DFC.
Hope this is of interest.
Bill

[Alex Crawford]

Hi Bill,

Very interesting. Do you have the details of this sortie?

Alex

[BillG]

Alex,
Extract from M. Allen's book;
"The award would have been a posthumous one, because he (Hamer) lost his life in saving that of his navigator, after they had shot down a Heinkel III in the Channel, just south of the Isle of Wight. Lofty had been hit by the return fire of the enemy gunner and he was sorely wounded. He flew the Beaufighter back over dry land, enabled F/Sgt Walsh to bale out safely, then, being unable to get out himself, went in with his damaged aircraft."
Surely a case of "Greater love hath no man..............................."

The brackets are mine, by the way.
Bill.

[Alex Crawford]

Hi Bill,

Thanks for the info.

Alex

[phill jones]

hi just seen your thread covering the above , LOFTY HAMER is buried locally to me In llanidloes , of interest is BOOK called NIGHT FLYER , that is written by a A NAV/RO
who served with 141 called BRANDON , he was decorated for his wartime service .
he mentions the incident in which LOFTY HAMER LOST HIS life , the book came out not long after the war if my memory serves me correct , i dont have the book to hand at the moment , but i could find it if you needed more gen , i do believe the book was reprinted not so long ago . phill jones

[255 Squadron Association]

I beg to differ when it comes to the fate of Peter Alan DALE (522011, became 45550 <https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35158/page/2671>). He moved to No.255 Squadron and was killed in the crash of R2309 at Coltishall 13.Dec.1941. See <https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=185604>, <http://www.255.org.uk/roll-of-honour.html#DALE> and the CWGC Database.