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Cranston Fine Arts  Aviation Art and Artists World War Two Aircraft More Aircraft Initials E to J  Havoc |
[UP] - Fiat CR42 - Fw200 - Gladiator - Hamilcar - Hampden - Havoc - He115 - He162 - He177 - He219 - Hellcat - Helldiver - Horsa - Hs129 - Hudson - I-153 - IAR - Invader - Ju287 - Ju52 - Ju87 - Ju88 |
| Havoc Aviation Prints |
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| Text for the above items : |
Raising Havoc by Stan Stokes. In 1936, under the supervision of Jack Northrop and Ed Heinemann, Douglas Aircraft began work on a new twin-engine light attack/observation aircraft designated the Model 7A. Powered by two R985 Wasp radials mounted in wing nacelles, the A-20 also utilized a tricycle landing gear configuration. The aircrafts fuselage was quite narrow and there was room for only 1 pilot and 1 crewmember. As the project proceeded it became clear that the 7A was not going to meet the Armys objectives. In early 1938, Northrop left Douglas to form his own company, and Heinemann began work on upgrading their design. One interesting feature was the use of interchangeable nose sections. A clear nose could be fitted with a bombardiers compartment, or alternatively a solid nose section could be fitted with an impressive total of 8 machine guns. More powerful Pratt and Whitney radials were incorporated into the design. Now designated the DB-7 by Douglas, a prototype aircraft was completed by October 1938. The new aircraft proved very fast, highly maneuverable, and capable of carrying a 2000 pound bomb load. While impressed with the aircrafts specs, the Army placed no immediate orders. The French, however, were impressed with this aircraft, and anxious to match the build-up of the Luftwaffe, they ordered more than 270 aircraft. The Havoc first saw combat in 1939 flying with the French Air Forces during the Battle of France. The French had received about 64 aircraft, and following the fall of France a decision was made to divert the balance of the French order to the RAF. By mid-1939 the Army placed an initial order for 63 A-20s. The A-20B variant was built in significant numbers with most being sent to Russia. (Almost 50% of the A-20s produced during the War were sent to Russia where they were utilized in many combat roles, including torpedo bombing.) The most significant variant was the G model with nearly 3000 produced. The G variant was produced with a solid nose section with lots of firepower. Many of the G models were fitted with an electrically driven Martin gun turret. More fuel tank capacity was added and with twin 1600-HP radials the A-20Gs were capable of a range in excess of 1000 miles, and could attain top speeds in excess of 340-MPH. The maximum bomb load was increased to 4000 pounds. The A-20 was the ideal low-level attack bomber. With its high speed, excellent maneuverability, and heavy firepower, Havocs were well suited for pinpoint bombing attacks on airfields, ammo dumps, etc. With their incredible forward firing power a flight of A-20s could easily overwhelm shipboard anti-aircraft guns. A-20s saw a lot of service in the Pacific. The Allied campaign of slowly retaking key islands was aided by the capabilities of the Havoc. Attacks on Japanese airfields with the A-20 were made with disastrous consequences to the Japanese, and there are several instances where flights of A-20s virtually wiped out Japanese ship convoys. Some A-20s were modified into night fighters (designated P-70) prior to the use of P-61 Black Widows. In Stan Stokes painting an A-20 in service with the 386th Bomb Squadron of the 312th Bomb Group rips up a Japanese airfield in Dutch New Guinea. |
V.E. Day - Heading Home by Nicolas Trudgian. Only 50 copies available. |
Raising Havoc in the Ardennes by Nicolas Trudgian. It is January 1945, and its cold. The German advance in the Ardennes is nearly over, but the Panzer Army is desperately throwing more troops into the breach who try to keep their momentum going in The Battle of the Bulge. Tasked with preventing German reinforcements from reaching the battle front, the Ninth Air Force launched a series of low-level attacks on enemy ground forces as they wind their way through the Ardennes. Flying conditions were not easy, cloud bases were low, and snow was in the air. Nicolas Trudgians new painting recreates an attack on January 23, 1945, by Douglas A-20 Havocs of the 410th Bomb Group. Locating an enemy convoy in open space near the German town of Blankenheim, the Havoc pilots make a swift attack diving from 8000 feet, catching the German force by surprise: Hurtling down the line of vehicles at 320mph they release their parafrag bombs from 300 feet then, dropping just above the roofs of the army trucks continue down the column blasting everything in sight with their forward-firing .50mm caliber machine guns. In the space of a few minutes the attack is completed and the convoy decimated. With ammunition expended and fuel running low the A-20 Havocs climb out of the zone and head for base in France. A 20mm shell has hit the lead aircraft wounding the Bombardier/Navigator Gordon Jones, which will seriously hamper their return through a blizzard, but all aircraft make it safely home - the lead aircraft, on landing, counting over 100 holes of various sizes. For their part in leading the successful attack the Lead Pilot Russell Fellers and Bombardier/Navigator Gordon G. Jones received the Silver Star. Published 2001. Signed by A-20 Havoc combat aircrews, including two Silver Star recipients, from World War Two. |
| Top Aces for : Havoc | ||
| A list of all Aces from our database who are known to have flown this aircraft. A profile page is available by clicking the pilots name. | ||
| Name | Victories | Info |
| Geoffrey Allard | 23.80 | |
| Branse A Burbridge | 21.00 | The signature of Branse A Burbridge features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available. |
| Havoc Pilot and aircrew signature details |
 Major Howard B Aines Our estimated value of this signature : £40 | Major Howard B Aines Lead Bombardier / Navigator with the 644th Sqn. Flew the first of his 65 combat mission in the A-20 on 4th May 1944. |
  Flt Lt Mike Allen DFC Our estimated value of this signature : £50 Died : 2001 | Flt Lt Mike Allen DFC Michael Seamer Allen was born in Croydon, Surrey on March 15th 1925, and educated at Hurstpierpoint College, Sussex. He then studied mechanical engineering at night school before being apprenticed to Fairey Aviation. Mike Allen managed with the help of his father to get Fairey Aviaiton to release him, so that he could join the RAF. Allen joined the RAF as a navigator in June 1941 and two months later was paired with Harry White at No 54 Training Unit, at Church Fenton, Yorkshire. They remained together throughout the war. They both joined No 29, a Beaufighter night squadron at West Malling, in Kent before going to No.534 at Tangmere, Sussex, from where they flew Havoc night fighters (converted Douglas Bostons), each equipped with a Turbinlite searchlight in the nose. The notion was that the Havocs would use their radar to search out enemy aircraft, which would then be picked out with the searchlight and shot down by an accompanying Hurricane. In practice, the scheme was none too successful, but Allen regarded the 15 months that he and White spent in Havocs as invaluable training in the art of night fighting. Allen along with Harry White spent a few months ferrying Beaufighters to the Middle East before Mike Allen and Harry White moved to No.141 Squadron having won two Bars to his DFC 1944. Sadlly around this time his parents were killed when a V2 rocket destroyed their house in July 1944. In January 1945 Allen and White had a close shave while taking off on their 91st operational sortie on a bleak evening in January 1945. The engine of their Mosquito failed as the aircraft left the ground, and the fighter nose-dived into a field. White and Alien found themselves in a heap in the cabin, with Allens foot jammed in the fuselage, White pinned underneath him, and the aircraft on fire, Fortunately, a farmer and two labourers who had seen the crash managed to pull them to safety just as the Mosquito went up in flames. Over the course of their partnerhsip they successfully destroyed at least 12 enemy aircraft. Flt Lt Mike Allen left the Royal Air Force in 1946, and began his civilian career working for Avro, the Manchester-based aircraft company, Pye Telecommunications, BTR and Rank Hovis McDougall. In 1966 he moved to South Africa, where he became chairman of the Pretoria branch of the South African Air Force Association. He returned to Britain in 1982 and worked for the Officers Association. In 1999 Mike Allen published the book Pursuit through Darkened Skies. Flight Lieutenant Mike Allen sadly died at the age of 78 on the 6th of June 2001. Mike Allen had won three DFCs as a navigator and radar operator in night fighters. |
 Lt Colonel Jame F Barkalow Our estimated value of this signature : £35 Died : 2009 | Lt Colonel Jame F Barkalow 49 combat mission A-20 Lead Pilot in the ETO. Born in Bradley Beach, he was a resident of Wildwood for over thirty years before residing in Northfield. He was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Untied States Army and served as a pilot with the 410th Bomb Group in the U.S. Army Air Corps in England and France. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross, received nine Air Medals and received the Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation. He was the Commanding Officer of the New Jersey National Guard Division, Cape May County for 19 years. Mr. Barkalow worked as a supervisor for the NJ Bell Telephone Company in Wildwood and Atlantic City for thirty two years. Sadly, Lt Colonel Jame F Barkalow passed away at his home aged 89, on 17th November 2009. |
 Staff Sergeant Donald Bjornson Our estimated value of this signature : £40 Died : 2012 | Staff Sergeant Donald Bjornson Born on February 8th 1923 in Bentley - Alberta, Canada, and raised raised in Spokane, Washington. He worked briefly in the Civilian Conservation Corps at age 16. Moved to Portland, Oregon and after some temporary jobs, received training and went to work for Boeing Aircraft in Seattle. Don went on to serve in the Army-Air Force during World War Two. He received 21 weeks of training in airplane mechanics, sheet metal fabrication, arc welding, and 50 caliber gunnery operation. He became a Aerial Gunner with the 645th Sqn and was assigned to an A-20 Havoc Light Bomber. He flew 65 combat missions with his crew in the battles of Normandy, Rhineland, the Ardennes, including the Blankenheim Strike and Northern France, Europe and Western Europe, engaging some of America's adversaries of that time, firing his two 50 caliber machine guns in direct airborne combat. He earned the silver star and five oak leaf clusters, the European-African-Middle Eastern Service, American Victory, and Good Conduct Medals. Separated from the 645th Bomb Squadron, then honorably discharged from the Army-Air Force on June 16th, 1945. Donald died on the 7th of May 2012 in West Sacramento. |
  Wing Commander Branse Burbridge DSO* DFC* Our estimated value of this signature : £55 Died : 2016 | Wing Commander Branse Burbridge DSO* DFC* Posted to 85 Squadron on night-fighters in October 1941, Branse Burbridge flew Havocs on his first tour, scoring just a single claim, but when he returned to 85 Squadron for a second tour - this time on Mosquitos, he was far more successful. His first enemy kill was in Febraury 1944 when he shot down a Messerschmitt 410 fighter plane off the Sussex coast. On the night of March 24, 1944 he became embroiled in a life-or-death dogfight with a Dornier 217 bomber over the Channel. His Mosquito chased the aircraft from 19,000ft to just 3,000ft before it crashed into the sea, with Wg Cmdr Burbridge pulling up with just 1,000ft to spare. During the period of the build up to the invasion of Normandy, and after, together with his radar navigator, Bill Skelton, They flew 30 sorties over Germany to provide escort cover to RAF bombers. His greatest achievement came on November 4, 1944 during a bombing raid over Bonn. He shot down three Junkers 88 bombers and a Me 110, firing just 200 rounds in the process. In total they claimed 21 victories in a ten month spell. In the days after D-Day, he shot down a Junkers 88 bomber on the France/Belgium border that was piloted by Major Herget, who was credited with 72 aerial victories. In June 1944 he also shot down three V-1s. With his final air victory, in January 1945, he passed the total set by John Cats Eyes Cunningham to become the highest scoring RAF night fighter Ace of the war. Following the war Wg Cmdr Burbridge studied theology at Oxford before becoming a lay preacher for the Scripture Union. He now lives in care in Chorleywood, Herts. |
 Captain Jerome M Coe Our estimated value of this signature : £45 | Captain Jerome M Coe Lead pilot with the 647th Sqn. Flew the first of his 61 combat missions in the A-20 on 15 Aug 1944 |
  Captain Ralph F Conte Our estimated value of this signature : £40 | Captain Ralph F Conte Navigator / Bombardier, Ralph flew 65 combat missions in the A-20 & A-26 A Clipped Signature is Available |
 Captain Narval F Davis Our estimated value of this signature : £50 Died : 2002 | Captain Narval F Davis Narval Francis Davis proudly served in the Army Air Corp during World War Two as a Captain with the 647th Squadron, part of the 410th Bomb Group flying 72 combat missions on both the A-20 and A-26 aircraft, the first on D-Day June 1944. He participated in five major battles including the Battle of the Bulge and earned the prestigious Distinguished Flying Cross. Sadly Captain Narval F Davis passed away on 27th June 2002. |
  First Lt Wayne E Downing Our estimated value of this signature : £45 Died : 2018 | First Lt Wayne E Downing A pilot, Wayne Downing flew Douglas A20 Havoc light bombers with the 416th Bomb Group, the first Group to fly the A20 in Europe. On D-Day the 416th BG targeted Argentan, a major German troop crossroads, and later in the day a second mission to hit a major marshalling yard. Moving to France in September 1944, in October he converted over to flying the more advanced A26 Invader. Wayne Downing flew a total of 86 combat missions. Post-war he stayed with the Air Force flying the B-47 and B-52 until 1962, becoming a maths teacher after leaving the service. He died on 4th August 2018. A Clipped Signature is Available |
  Air Commodore John Ellacombe CB DFC* Our estimated value of this signature : £50 Died : 2014 | Air Commodore John Ellacombe CB DFC* John Ellacombe joined the RAF in 1939 and was posted to 151 Squadron in July 1940, immediately converting to Hurricanes. On 24th August he shot down a He111, but a week later his Hurricane was blown up in combat and he baled out, with burns. Rejoining his squadron a few months later, in February 1941 was posted to 253 Squadron where he took part in the Dieppe operations. On 28th July, flying a Turbinlite Havoc, he probably destroyed a Do217. Converting to Mosquitos, John was posted to 487 Squadron RNZAF, and during the build up to the Normandy Invasion and after, was involved in many ground attacks on enemy held airfields, railways, and other targets of opportunity. He completed a total of 37 sorties on Mosquitos. Flying a de Havilland Mosquito XIII with a devastating set of four 20mm cannon in the nose, John Ellacombe flew deep into occupied France on the night before D-Day searching out and destroying German convoys and railway targets. As the Normandy campaign raged on, 151 Squadron intensified its interdiction sorties - including night attacks on Falaise and the Seine bridges. On August 1st Ellacombe took part in the famous attack by 23 Mosquitoes on the German bar-racks in Poitiers, led by Group Captain Wykeham Barnes. Ellacombe had first joined 151 Squadron during the Battle of Britain, direct from Flying Training School. Within weeks he had scored his first victory but also force landed in a field, having shot down a He 111, and baled out of a blazing Hurricane. He baled out a second time during the Dieppe Raid in 1942 but was picked up safely. Postwar he had a long and successful career in the RAE. Air Commodore John Ellacombe, who has died aged 94, survived being shot down three times during the Second World War - twice during the Battle of Britain. On August 15th 1940 the Luftwaffe launched Adler Tag (Eagle Day), with the object of destroying Fighter Command by attacking the ground organisation and drawing the RAF's fighters into the air. Nine Hurricanes of No 151 Squadron were scrambled during the afternoon and met enemy fighters near Dover at 18,000ft. Ellacombe attacked a Messerschmitt Bf 109 and fired three bursts. The enemy fighter rolled on to its back and dived into the sea. There was heavy fighting over the next few days, and on August 24 Ellacombe engaged a Heinkel III bomber. His fire hit its engines and the bomber crash-landed in Essex . During intense fighting on August 30 he attacked a formation of Heinkels head on. He hit one, which crashed, but return fire damaged the engine of his Hurricane and he was forced to land in a field, where a farmer accosted him with a pitchfork. On the following day Ellacombe damaged two Bf 109s before attacking a Junkers 88 bomber. When the Junkers returned fire, setting his Hurricane's fuel tank ablaze, he bailed out. As he drifted to the ground, a member of the Home Guard fired on him. He was then marched to a police station where he was assaulted by a constable who thought he was German. Later in life Ellacombe remarked: In two days, a farmer had attempted to kill me, the Home Guard had shot at me and a policeman had tried to kill me - quite apart from the Germans. I wondered whose side I was on. He received hospital treatment for his burns, and his fighting days during the Battle of Britain were over. After several months convalescing Ellacombe returned to No 151, which had been reassigned to night fighting. Equipped with the Hurricane and the Defiant, the squadron had little contact with the enemy; but Ellacombe developed a reputation for flying at night in the worst weather, and in April 1942 he was awarded a DFC for his service in the Battle of Britain and for showing the greatest keenness to engage the enemy. Posted to No 253 Squadron as a flight commander, he found night fighting dull, and volunteered for daylight operations. He flew in support of the ill-fated raid on Dieppe, and as he attacked a gun battery his aircraft was hit by flak. Ellacombe managed to get over the sea before bailing out and being picked up by a Canadian landing craft. After a rest tour, Ellacombe converted to the Mosquito before joining No 487 (NZ) Squadron, flying low-level intruder missions over France and the Low Countries. He attacked V-1 sites in the Pas de Calais and bombed roads and railways in support of the Normandy landings. He saw constant action attacking targets in support of the Allied armies and during the breakout from the Falaise pocket. After 37 intruder bombing patrols Ellacombe was rested and awarded a Bar to his DFC. He spent the remainder of the war on training duties, but still managed occasionally to take a Mosquito on an operational sortie. The son of an English doctor who had served during the Boer War, John Lawrence Wemyss Ellacombe was born at Livingstone, Northern Rhodesia, on February 28 1920 and educated at Diocesan College (Bishops) in Cape Town. In May 1939 he went to Britain to join the RAF, trained as a pilot and in July 1940 was posted to No 151 Squadron; he had never flown a Hurricane. Post-war he remained in the RAF, most of his flying appointments being in Fighter Command. After service in Aden he led No 1 Squadron, flying Meteor jets, and he commanded the Fighter Development Unit at the Central Fighter Establishment, developing tactics for the Hunter and Lightning . He served in Washington as a liaison officer with the USAF on fighter operations before commanding the RAF flying training base at Linton-on-Ouse, near York. Ellacombe was the senior serving representative at the Defence Operational Analysis Establishment, and on promotion to air commodore in 1968 was appointed Air Commander of Air Forces, Gulf, with headquarters at Muharraq, Bahrain. The withdrawal of British forces from Aden was scheduled for the end of that year, and Muharraq became a key staging post and support airfield . Ellacombe's calm handling of affairs in Bahrain was recognised by his appointment as CB. His final appointment was in the MoD, and he retired in 1973. Ellacombe then became Director of Scientific Services at St Thomas's Hospital in London, and later administrator to the hospital's trustees. A good cricketer and rugby player in his younger days, he played golf three times a week until he was 88, and he was a keen follower of Middlesex CCC. He particularly enjoyed watching his grandchildren play cricket (some of them at county junior level, including a granddaughter who turned out for Essex Ladies). John Ellacombe's wife, Mary, whom he married in 1951 when she was serving in the WRAF, had served on Winston Churchill's staff and been appointed OBE. She died in 2007, and he is survived by their son and two daughters. Air Commodore John Ellacombe, born February 28 1920, died May 11 2014. A Clipped Signature is Available |
 Captain John Fitch Our estimated value of this signature : £20 | Captain John Fitch Joining the Army Air Corps in 1941 he began his service flying the A-20 Havoc in North Africa. Volunteering for a second tour in 1944 he joined the 335th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group initially flying P-47s and on 18th November 1944 he shot down an Me262 over Germany. Transferring to P-51s he was shot down in March 1945 whilst strafing a train, and was taken prisoner. After the war he became a successful Grand Prix racing driver and an icon of the racing industry. |
Squadron Leader John Hall, DFC* Our estimated value of this signature : £25 Died : 2015 | Squadron Leader John Hall, DFC* John Anthony Sanderson Hall was born in Oxford on Christmas Day 1921. His father was William Glenvil Hall, MP for Colne Valley and Financial Secretary to the Treasury in Attlee's government. From his father, a life-long Quaker, John inherited a belief in practical action rather than ideology, along with a sense of decency and respect for the rights of individuals. He attended the Quaker co-educational Leighton Park School, Reading, then worked briefly as a publisher's reader and studied at the Sorbonne before returning to this country and joining the RAF at the height of the Battle of Britain. After training as a night-fighter pilot, Hall joined No 85 Squadron, At that time, 85 Squadron flew twin engine Havocs, a night fighter version of the American light bomber, the Boston, with the radar operator where the Boston's gun turret would have been and 12 machine guns in the nose, in place of the Boston's navigator. The radar then was the Mark 4, not very reliable, and with a very limited range. During 1942, the Squadron re-equipped with the much faster and more maneuverable Mosquito, with a scanner in the nose for the infinitely more effective Mark 8 radar and 4 cannon. After excelling on an air gunnery course at the Central Gunnery School, Hall became an instructor at No 51 Operational Training Unit. He became an ardent believer in the need for fighter pilots to understand fully the basics of air-to-air shooting, something that he felt most of them lacked. He likened the problem to shooting game birds when an estimate of range, line and deflection held the key to success. Hall joined the New Zealanders of No 488 in November 1943, and was crewed up with Cairns, an experienced radar operator. Two months after their initial success, Hall and Cairns were on a routine patrol over Essex when they were directed to a contact flying at 18,000ft. They identified a Junkers 88, which they shot down and saw crash with a tremendous explosion. The enemy aircraft had landed on a group of dispersed bombers on the USAAF airfield at Earls Colne, severely damaging a number of them. Hall was doubtful about claiming this as a kill. He shot down another bomber off the Essex coast on April 19 1944. As he approached to land, he was told to wait until another Mosquito had landed ahead of him. In the event, the other Mosquito turned out to be a Junkers 88; the crew claimed they thought they were landing in Holland. After shooting down their fifth German bomber, as it attacked Bristol on May 22, both Hall and Cairns were awarded the DFC. Hall's citation described him as a highly efficient and courageous fighter. On the night before D-Day, Hall flew one of the many night fighters that patrolled over the beachhead keeping German bombers away from the invasion fleet. By mid-August, the crews of No 488 had destroyed 49 enemy aircraft. The sum of £50 had been accrued at various fund-raising events, and it was agreed that this should go to the ground crew of the aircraft achieving the squadron's 50th success. During the night of August 14/15, Hall attacked a German bomber, but it escaped. Shortly afterwards a second bomber was attacked and Hall succeeded in shooting it down 20 miles south of Caen, much to the delight of his ground crew. After moving to an advanced airfield in France, further success came on the night of December 23/24. Two days later, however, Hall had a narrow escape. Flying in atrocious weather in an attempt to support Allied troops under attack during the German's lightning Ardennes offensive, he was prevented by blizzards from returning to his base at Amiens. With virtually no fuel, he saw a light and crash-landed on a US forward grass airstrip and the Mosquito was wrecked. Hall scored his last kill on March 27 1945. He pressed home his attack from such close range that his Mosquito was hit by debris from the enemy bomber. The port engine was damaged and subsequently caught fire, but Hall managed to crash land on an airfield in Holland; his aircraft was almost completely burnt out. A few days later, he and Cairns each received a Bar to their DFCs. After leaving the RAF at the end of 1946, Hall went up to Trinity College, Cambridge, to read Law. He was called to the Bar by Inner Temple in November 1948, and joined chambers at Lamb Building. He died on 24th September 2015. |
 Major Charles D LaMond Our estimated value of this signature : £35 | Major Charles D LaMond Pilot with the 644th Squadron. 41 combat missions in the A-20. |
 Squadron Leader Kenneth R Lusty Our estimated value of this signature : £45 Died : 2009 | Squadron Leader Kenneth R Lusty Kenneth Lusty joined the RAF as an Airman u/t Air Gunner on 4th September 1939. After call-up, he did his basic training at Padgate and then went to RAF Aldergrove on 30th December for a gunnery course. On 24th February 1940 Lusty joined 235 Squadron. As a Coastal Command Squadron, the need for WOp/AGs in the crews meant that Lusty was posted away on 14th May to 25 Squadron at North Weald. He served with the squadron throughout the Battle of Britain first flying Blenheims and then Beaufighters. He was nicknamed 'Lucky' after he survived an attack by a Ju88 with the only damage being a hole in his sleeve. Lusty retrained as a Radio Observer, was commissioned in May 1941 and on 16th July he joined 1453 Flight, newly-formed at Wittering and equipped with Turbinlite Havocs. On 1st August 1942 Lusty was rested. He returned to operations on 2nd April 1943, joining 410 (RCAF) Squadron at Drem operating Beaufighters. Lusty's pilot was posted to 406 (RCAF) Squadron at Predannack on 25th August and they went together but when the squadron became all-Canadian Lusty went to 264 Squadron at Fairwood Common on 9th October 1943. After completing his tour Lusty was sent to the Staff College on 5th July 1944. He was posted to 132 Squadron at Vavuyina, Ceylon on 28th November 1944 as Adjutant. He moved to BHQ Colombo on 23rd June 1945 as Senior Admin Officer. Lusty returned to the UK and was released from the RAF on 21st January 1946 as a Squadron Leader. He died on 18th September 2009. |
  First Lt Leonard R McBride Our estimated value of this signature : £40 Died : 2009 | First Lt Leonard R McBride Flew 65 missions with the 416th Bomb Group flying the A-20 Havoc and A-26 Invader. He died on 9th September 2009. A Clipped Signature is Available |
  Lt Colonel Arthur R Milow Our estimated value of this signature : £45 Died : 2012 | Lt Colonel Arthur R Milow Arthur Milow was Commanding Officer of the 643rd Squadron, 409th Bomb Group, and commanded a total of 66 combat missions flying the Douglas A20 Havoc, and A26 Invader. He flew combat missions during the D-Day operations, and later took part in the Battle of the Bulge. He died on 28th June 2012. A Clipped Signature is Available |
  Captain John L Minech Our estimated value of this signature : £45 | Captain John L Minech A pilot with the 647th Squadron, 410th Light Bomb Group, John Minech flew the first of his sixty-five combat missions in May 1944, flying the Douglas A20 Havoc. he flew two missions on d-Day itself, the second of which was a low level attack at 300ft during the evening. He flew thirty-five missions as a Flight Leader, and was Squadron Operations Officer for 5 months. He flew in Europe until the end of the war. A Clipped Signature is Available |
 Dietrich Peltz Our estimated value of this signature : £55 Died : 2001 | Dietrich Peltz Dietrich Peltz, born June 1914, joined the army in 1934, attending pilot training from late 1935. After training, he flew 320 missions on the Ju-87 Stuka before converting to Ju-88s in the summer of 1940. Awarded the Knights Cross in Octobr 1940, he attained the rank of Generalmajor, being awarded the Oak Leaves and Swords to his Knights Cross in December 1941 and July 1943 respectively. In January 1944, Dietrich Peltz took part in Operation Steinbock, the retaliatory bombing of England, referred to as the Baby Blitz, which ended in heavy losses for German bombers. Dietrich Peltz died 20th August 2001. |
  Colonel Daniel F Shea Our estimated value of this signature : £35 Died : 2004 | Colonel Daniel F Shea Flew with the 668th Bomb Squadron, 416th Bomb Group. Graduate of West Point. He flew 66 missions as A-20 Havoc pilot, including one on the 22nd of June 1944 where he was wounded when his aircraft was hit by flak over the target. He managed to get the aircraft safely to the ground in France. He died on 25th July 2004. A Clipped Signature is Available |
  Vivian Snell Our estimated value of this signature : £65 Died : 2010 | Vivian Snell Battle of Britain Hurricane pilot with No.501 Sqn. Shot down over Cranbrook on 25th October 1940 while flying Hurricane P2903, bailing out uninjured. During his service life Vivian flew the Fairy Battle with 103 Squadron, later flying the Hawker Hurricane with 151 and 501(F) Squadrons during the Battle of Britain in 1940. Vivian shot down a Bf109E on the 25th October 1940 and was then shot down himself while piloting Hurricane Mk.I serial N2438. After having minor wounds attended to he returned to his squadron and flew through the rest of the Battle of Britain. In 1941 he was flying the American built Douglas DB7 Havoc night fighter with number 85(F) Squadron. He commanded his own Mosquito Squadron towards the end of the War. Vivian was released from the RAF in 1946 with the rank of Wing Commander. He died on 21st February 2010. A Clipped Signature is Available |
  Colonel Dick Wheeler Our estimated value of this signature : £35 Died : 2009 | Colonel Dick Wheeler Graduating from West Point in 1943, he was a pilot of the A-20 Havoc with the 416th Bomb Group in England. He flew 69 missions in Europe, including D-Day. Remaining with the Air Force after the war, he set a world record for a high altitude bail out and was involved in missile testing. He remained in the aviation industry after retiring from the Air Force in 1968. He died on 29th December 2009. A Clipped Signature is Available |
| Havoc Squadron details |
409th Bomb Group Country : US | 409th Bomb Group |
410th Bomb Group Country : US | 410th Bomb Group |
416th Bomb Group Country : US | 416th Bomb Group |
46th Bomb Group Country : US | 46th Bomb Group |
643rd Bomb Group Country : US | 643rd Bomb Group |
644th Bomb Squadron Country : US | 644th Bomb Squadron |
645th Bomb Squadron Country : US | 645th Bomb Squadron |
647th Bomb Squadron Country : US | 647th Bomb Squadron |
No.161 Sqn RAF Country : UK Disbanded 2nd June 1945 Known Codes : , MA, JR, | No.161 Sqn RAF Liberate |
No.226 Sqn RAF Country : UK Disbanded 9th March 1963 Known Codes : , MQ, KP, | No.226 Sqn RAF Non sibi sed patriae - For country not for self |
No.23 Sqn RAF Country : UK The squadron disbanded on 2 October 2009, when it amalgamated with No 8 Squadron. Known Codes : , YP, MS, | No.23 Sqn RAF Semper aggessus - Always having attacked |
No.253 Sqn RAF Country : UK Disbanded 1st September 1957 Known Codes : , SW, | No.253 Sqn RAF Hyderabad State Come one, come all |
No.530 Sqn RAF Country : UK Disbanded 25th January 1943 Known Codes : , NH, | No.530 Sqn RAF |
No.534 Sqn RAF Country : UK Disbanded 25th January 1943 | No.534 Sqn RAF |
No.85 Sqn RAF Country : UK Disbanded 19th December 1975 Known Codes : , VY, NO, | No.85 Sqn RAF Noctu diuque venamur - We hunt by day and night |
No.93 Sqn RAF Country : UK Disbanded 31st December 1960 Known Codes : , HN, | No.93 Sqn RAF Ad arma parati - Ready for battle |
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