Seeking ID of 152 Sqn. RAF Pilots

[Tom Semenza]

Mojmir, many thanks for your well documented response. Very useful info on W.P. Paris. As regards McLean I had suspected that the 412, 152, 401 C. S. McLean was the same as the 603, 249 C. B. McLean but had failed to find the transfer from 401 to 603. It must be in the 401 ORB appendix which I hadn't been able to locate. As you have seen, his commissioning notice in the Canada Gazette gives his name only as "Charles McLean" without any middle name. It is also a bit curious that his transfer from 603 to 249 is dated 4.6.42 in the 249 ORB whereas Brian Cull's "249 at War" and "Spitfires Over Malta" (as well as "Malta: The Spitfire Year 1942") indicate that McLean was transferred immediately on arrival in Malta on 20.4.42. Perhaps he initially was only "on loan." The initials "C.B." are apparently incorrect as the AIR 81 casualty report refers to him as "C. S. McLean."

Regards.
Tom

[vrajm]

Hi Tom,

FLIGHT SEPTEMBER 24TH, 1942 Casualty Communique, No. 155 WOUNDED OR INJURED IN ACTION . — P/O C. S. McLean

C. McLean again:

1946-02-02 Item 38 of 177 https://recherche-collection-search....&IdNumber=8246

403 Sqn ORB:

5 March, 1944

F/O C.S. McLean was posted to the Squadron today from A.D.G.B. HQ. He has done a tour in Malta and all of the pilots welcomed him to our Squadron.

10 May, 1944

Chuck McLean, a veteran of Malta, left us today for the land of milk and honey, lucky stiff.

R85695 John Wynd Tindale (J16559) Pilot comm 25th Sept 1942 Item 25 of 100 1943-04-10

https://recherche-collection-search....&IdNumber=7910

Regards

Mojmir

[Tom Semenza]

Excellent research, Mojmir. Thanks so much for sharing. Doing a search in the Canada Gazette is such a hit or miss proposition as many are poorly reproduced, some virtually illegible; very time consuming and frustrating. I have downloaded most of the WW2 era GC issues and made an index of officer service numbers for pilots. So that helps but only if I know the service number.

Regards,
Tom

[vrajm]

Hi Tom,

The name McLean rang a bell but I could not remember where I had heard it before!

He was a member of the Guinea Pig Club!

https://www.rafcommands.com/forum/sh...g-Club-Members

https://www.eastgrinsteadmuseum.org....ients/maclean/

Rita Donovan: Appendix C: Canadian Guinea Pigs for Whom No Stories Are Available: .. C. „Chuck“ Maclean. …

https://www.google.cz/books/edition/...PAAACAAJ?hl=en

Regards

Mojmir

[Tom Semenza]

Mojmir,

Thanks once more. Interesting that here the name is spelt "Maclean." I also discovered that there is a book by a Charles MacLean (note spelling) titled "The Heavens are not Too High" published in 1957 by William Kimber. Although not available on Amazon there is a photo of the book jacket showing a Spitfire attacking a Ju 88. I can find little info about the book and do not know whether the author is the Charles McLean (MacLean) who was shot down. It is not even clear whether the book is an autobiographical history or a novel.

Regards,
Tom

[vrajm]

Hi Tom,

„Walker, F/O L. (posted in as Sgt, on 26 May 42 - WiA on 28 Nov. 42)“ and F/Sgt R.N. Cruit KIA:

https://www.rafcommands.com/database...ame=&serialno=

FLIGHT MARCH 11TH, 1943 Casualty Communique No. 205:

F/Sgt R.N. Cruit MISSING and F/Sgt L. Walker WOUNDED OR INJURED IN ACTION

The AEROPLANE: 1378863 F/Sgt. L. Walker; AIR 78: Leigh Walker; LG 1378863 Leigh WALKER (139939) Dated 1943-03-26, but comm 1942-09-25

Regards

Mojmir

[Tom Semenza]

Mojmir,

This latest post caused me to take a closer look at the 152 ORB for Nov. 1942. Unfortunately the Form 541 (which is barely legible) does not show Walker on the 28th, however he is listed on the 14th with the rank of F/Sgt. Obviously Med. Air War Vol.3 was incorrect in showing him as a Flying Officer on the 28th. The hand-written Form 540 for the 28th has this to say:

""Hubby" WALKER was badly wounded by a 109 which he damaged." (note no rank given and the unusual nickname)

So with a new appreciation of his correct rank, 1378863 Leigh Walker becomes a good candidate. Do we know for certain that Leigh Walker is the pilot we are talking about or just making a reasonable assumption? I will just point out that according to the London Gazette Leigh Walker was commissioned from the rank of Sgt. rather than F/Sgt.

By the way, from where are you getting the Casualty Comminiques that you site?

Again many thanks and best regards,
Tom

[vrajm]

Hi Tom,

Sgt Walker could be/was promoted to F/Sgt cca 3 Nov 1942. ORB 152 Sqn: „…, 1 Sgt to F/Sgt effected over the phone within 10 minutes.“

So he could be/was commissioned from the rank of Sergeant.

http://www.95squadron.co.uk/document...t_AS1943-1.pdf

Look at the page 39/93. Flight, March 11th 1943. The Casualty Communique No. 205 is there.

The same communique was published in The Aeroplane, March 5th March 1943. There are service numbers of casualties in all (war) issues of the magazine.

(1378863 F/Sgt. L. Walker – my notes, I am not an owner of that issue)

Regards

Mojmir

[Tom Semenza]

Excellent stuff, Mojmir, many thanks. I was not even aware of the existence of Flight Magazine to say nothing of its availability on the 95 Sqn. website. It's a very useful tool. Little wonder that the Germans were able to compile such extensive dossiers on Allied aircrews!

Regards,
Tom