The Wartime Memories Project - RAF Croft

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Information. Croft is one of the most northerly of the airfields built during the Second World War for use by Bomber Command. Construction work started in 1940 and it was developed into a standard bomber airfield with three concrete runways. Known officially as Croft but frequently called Neasham by local inhabitants, the airfield opened in 1941 as a satellite for Middleton St.George. The airfields were in No.4 Group, Bomber Command, and the first squadron to arrive at Croft was No.78 Squadron which brought its Whitleys in from Middleton St.George on October 20th 1941 On October 1st 1942,No.419 Squadron RCAF arrived from Topcliffe, but on November 9th, they moved to Middleton St.George after equipping with Halifax Mk.IIs. No.427 (Lion) Squadron RCAF which formed at Croft on November 7th 1942. On January 1st 1943, Croft was transferred to No.6 Group RCAF and sometime during March, the station became No.64 Base Sub-station under the control of Middleton St.George. In early May 1943, 427 Squadron converted to Halifax B Mk.Vs and on the 4th of the month moved to 63 (RCAF) Base at Leeming. The station now had a brief change of roles, and on May 10th, No.1664 HCU formed at Croft. Equipped with Halifaxes, the unit's role was to provide conversion training on these aircraft. Training was continous, and with such a crowded circuit there were many crashes, and sadly, many fatalities. No.1664 HCU moved to Dishforth on December 7th 1943. On December 10th, 431 (Iroquois) Squadron arrived from Tholthorpe, and the following day was joined by No. 434 (Bluenose). Both Canadian units were to make Croft their last home in England. During March 1944, 431 Squadron re-equipped with Halifax Mk.IIIs, and the following May, No.434 Squadron followed suit. 431 & 434 Squadrons converted onto the Canadian built Lancaster MkX & Xa during December 1944 and it was these aircraft that they flew home in to Dartmouth Nova Scotia in June 1945 After the departure of the two RCAF units, which were disbanded at Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, on September 5th 1945, Croft saw very little activity until being brought back into use in the Autumn as a satellite For No.13 Operational Traning Unit which flew Mosquitoes from Middleton St.George, finally closing to flying in the summer of 1946. Today the site is home to a motor racing circuit. Parts of the runways remain although most of the buildings have been demolished. A memorial has been erected at nearby Dalton village. Squadrons stationed at RAF Croft 431 Squadron from Dec 1943 to Sept 1945 419 Squadron 30 Sept 42 to 9 Nov 42 427 Squadron 7 Nov 1942 to May 1943 No: 434 (Blue Nose) Squadron. from 12 Dec. 1943 to Sept 1945 434 Squadron was formed as part of RCAF 6 Group Bomber Command at Tholthorpe England on 13 June 1943. Its first Op was on the 12 August 1943 flying Halifax Vs (Inline Rolls Royce Merlin engines) during May 1944 switched to the Halifax lll (Radial Hercules engines) The last Op from Tholthorpe was on the 11 December 1943. The Squadron moved to Croft, North Yorkshire, on the border with Durham on the 12 December 1943. It was known as the Bluenose Squadron and had a Bluenose Schooner on the Squadron's Crest. It was adopted by the Rotary Club of Halifax Nova Scotia. It was therfore known as the Bluenosers, the nickname for Nova Scotians.The Squadron unit code was WL. The Spinners on the engines of its aircraft were painted blue. Summary. Crest :The schooner Bluenose. Motto : in excelsis vincimus ( We conquer in the heights). Aircraft flown ; Handley Page Halifax B Mk V June 1943 - May 1944. Handley Page Halifax B Mk lll May 1944 - December 1944. Avro Lancaster B Mk.X & Xa's December 1944 - September 1945. (Canadian built). The Wartime Memories Project would like to hear from anyone who was stationed at Croft during the war years, or anyone who lived nearby. We would love to hear your recollections of life on the base and the surrounding area. Please contact us: Click to send an email. or Click here to complete the online form. Does anyone remember my uncle and namesake "Murray Flewelling?" I have pictures of him beside a Halifax bomber, standing on a stack of bombs that has Bluenose Squadron written on them. I also have a picture of him being decorated by King George the 5th, with a Distinguished Flying Cross. I cannot put my hands on that picture at the moment, but I know I have seen it. This has been confirmed by relatives. He also was apparently a member of the "Caterpillar Club". I was also informed that he flew 30 bombing missions from England as pilot. He was a quiet man and did not talk about the war at all. He passed away in 1986. His home town is Calgary Alberta. Can anyone give me info on this man. I am planning to buy an RAF bomber jacket and have it decorated in his honor. Wing Commander Ralph Frederick Davenport aged 32 of Belleville, Ontario.Pilot of 431 squadron, RCAF & commanding officer Wendelin Rink, air bomber, aged 21 from Kendal,Saskatchewan.,431 squadron RCAF.jpg Clarence Lecky, aged 28 air gunner 431 squadron RCAF of Port Arthur,Ontario.jpg These photos are part of the crew of the Davenport crew. Wing commander Ralph Davenport was only a commanding officer at Croft between jan 14th 1945 to March 11th 1945,when he and his crew ,flying Lancaster KB853 SE-A,were shot down over Essen. They took off at 11.42 from Croft & crashed in the target area. All were laid to rest in the Sud-West Friedhof. Six are now buried in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, while P/O gunner Clarence Lecky was exhumed by an American Graves inspection team & interred on 17th May at Hargraten. Since then his remains have been recovered to Venray War Cemetery. The other crew members who also did not survive this mission were Navigator Donal Kevin Joseph Hector aged 24,a graduate of the University of Toronto & from Toronto,Canada. Wireless operator Charles William Fraser,aged 24 from Windsor,Ontario,Canada. P/O & M/Upper gunner Hubert (Bertie) Bishop,aged 30 from Glace Bay,Nova Scotia.& P/O Flight engineer Arthur Clifford Pettifor aged 29 from Beaver Mines,Alberta,Canada. On the Essen raid on 11/3/1945 only 3 crews were shot down-The Davenport crew of 431 squadron. The Fern crew of 434 squadron who also flew out of Croft. & the Gibbins crew of 153 squadron. My brother, F/O Roy E. Carter, RCAF, was a navigator with the Blachford crew ( shot down on June 17, 1944 on the Sterkrade OP) He was an evader until executed by the Gestapo in Tilburg, Holland on July 9, 1944 with two others ( RAF and RAAF). See Todd`s `Pilgrimages of Grace` for details or see his story at www.bombercrew.com On this site you will also see the story of my cousin, F/O Joe R. Latremouille RCAF W/OP KIA March 11, 1944 ( Essen OP). He was with 434 and also flew from Croft. I have visited Croft (2003)and it was a thrilling time for me to see the site almost 60 years after two family members had flown from there. Fred Carter My father, Angus MacKay, served at Croft in 1942. He was a wireless operator air gunner u/t with 78 conversion flight. He flew in a whitley that crashed at Croft and to the day he died he had a burned wrist due to the crash. He flew on the 1000 bomber raid. 78 was notorious as the biggest squadron of Halifaxes and NCO aircrew who should have been officers. The crews were allowed to live out. My mum rembered my father coming home in the mornings with his uniform smelling of woodsmoke. A senior officer swore at my father and his Highland roots, that night my father broke into the officers mess and cut off half of his handle bar moustache as he slept. My father never spoke of his war but he only said a Halifax was known as The Queen of the skies because it could be landed with ease, it was also very easy to get out. He went to the HCU and was grounded with an abscess in the ear, he was at the big hospital in Blackpool and there saw Ken Dodd's first performance. I researched my fathers war - it was not good Charles E. Mac Kay Photographs This photo of a Lancaster belonged to my Uncle Bob Hooker who flew with R W Harrison. Read his Story Ron LePage Shelter at the old airfield entrance One of the remaining huts, now used for agriculture. Old airfield hut being out to good use this one may have been relocated from its original possition. Decaying remains of the airfield. Remains of the runway Remains of a taxi way close to the racing circuit. If you have any Photographs you would like to share please get in touch. List of those who served here. Sgt Oscar P Adlam. Pilot 427 sqd RAF.(d 12 Feb 1943) Read his story F/O Edson G Armour. Navigator 434 Sqd RCAF (d. 18 Mar 1944) Read his story Frank Alexander Badgery. Pilot. Australian. 431 Sqd. Victor Baker Flt Eng. (d. 20th Jan 1944 ops to Berlin) 434 Bluenose Squadron. Sgt William Ball 427 sqd RAF (d 12 Feb 1943) Read his story P/O Robert E Ballentine. Air Gunner 434 Sqd RCAF (d. 18 Mar 1944) Read his story P/O Hubert "Bertie" Bishop. mid upper gunner. 431 Sqd. Read his Story F/O Blachford pilot. 431 Sqd. (d. 16/17 June 1944 ) Read his story F/O C S Brest RCAF (d. 20th Jan 1944 ops to Berlin) 434 Bluenose Squadron. P/O C. Broadfoot. 434 sqd. (d. 20 Feb 1944) Read his Story F/O Roy E. Carter. RCAF. nav. 431 Sqd. (d. 9 July 1944) Read his story Colin Cassey W/Op (d. 20th Jan 1944 ops to Berlin) 434 Bluenose Squadron. F/O C.K. Chapman. pilot 434 sqd. Read his Story Sgt Herbert P D Charlton. Air Gunner 1664 HCU RAFVR (d. 9 Oct 1943) Read his story Sgt Arnold C Clifford 427 sqd RAF (d 12 Feb 1943) Read his story James Clinksgill pilot RCAF (d. 20th Jan 1944 ops to Berlin) 434 Bluenose Squadron. F/S J.M.Content. 431 Sqd. Read his Story F/O Thomas Donovan Copeland. bomb aimer 434 Sqd. (d. 11th March 1944) Read his story Sgt Walter Cotton. W Opp/Air Gunner 434 Sqd RAFVR (d. 18 Mar 1944) Read his story Sgt R T Cox RAF (taken POW 20th Jan 1944) 434 Bluenose Squadron. Sgt P R A Dack RAF (d. 20th Jan 1944 ops to Berlin) 434 Bluenose Squadron. Wing Commander Ralph Davenport. pilot. 431 Sqd. Read his Story Sgt L H Doe RAF (d. 20th Jan 1944 ops to Berlin) 434 Bluenose Squadron. Sgt A P Dean W/Op. RCAF. 427 Squadron P/O J. W. Donnelly. 434 sqd. (d. 20 Feb 1944) Read his Story Sgt J Dove. 434 sqd. (d. 20 Feb 1944) Read his Story P/O W C Drumm RCAF (taken POW 20th Jan 1944) 434 Bluenose Squadron. F/O G.Dumville. 431 Sqd. (d. 6 Jul 1944) Read his Story F/O A.W. Dunn. nav 434 sqd. Read his Story F/O Bryan Dunn. Navigator 427 sqd RAF(d 12 Feb 1943) Read his story F/O David C Evans. Pilot 434 Sqd RCAF (d. 18 Mar 1944) Read his story F/LT Raymond John Fern. pilot. 434 Sqd. (d. 11th March 1944) Read his story Murray Flewelling, DFC. 434 Sqd. Read his Story Charles William Fraser. W/op 431 Sqd. Read his Story David Gilliam. Air gnr. (d. 20th Jan 1944 ops to Berlin) 434 Bluenose Squadron. Sgt. Gould 431 Sqd. (d. 16/17 June 1944 ) Read his story P/O M Gnius RCAF (d. 20th Jan 1944 ops to Berlin) 434 Bluenose Squadron. F/O R.W. Harrison. pilot. 431 Sqd. Read his Story Sgt. Hattey 431 Sqd. Read his story F.O W D Hayter. 434 sqd. (d. 20 Feb 1944) Read his Story Donal Kevin Joseph Hector. nav. 431 Sqd. Read his Story Angus Brown Heron. 431 Sqd. F/O Raymond H Highsted. Pilot 1664 HCU RCAF (d. 28th Sep 1943) Read his story Sgt H B Hill RAF (d. 20th Jan 1944 ops to Berlin) 434 Bluenose Squadron. WO1 Robert J. Hooker. W/op. 431 Sqd. Read his Story Ron (Dutch) Hulland RAF Flight Engineer. 434 Squadron P/O Geoffrey Hutt. Flight Eng 434 Sqd RAFVR (d. 18 Mar 1944) Read his story P/O Donald E Jackson. Air Bomber 434 Sqd RCAF (d. 18 Mar 1944) Read his story Sgt William C I Jelley. Wireless opp 427 sqd RAF (d 12 Feb 1943) Read his story Charles Jones bomb aimer (d. 20th Jan 1944 ops to Berlin) 434 Bluenose Squadron. P/O William Jones. flt eng. 434 Sqd. (d. 11th March 1944) Read his story Sgt. Kennedy 431 Sqd. Read his story P/O W M Kipp RAF (taken POW 20th Jan 1944) 434 Bluenose Squadron. F/O Joe Richard Latremouille. RCAF W/OP 434 Sqd. (d. 11th March 1944) Read his story P/O Clarence Lecky. rear gunner. 431 Sqd. Read his Story F/O Lough 431 Sqd. (d. 16/17 June 1944 ) Read his story Sgt Frederick J Luckett. Bomb Aimer 1664 HCU RAFVR (d. 28th Sep 1943) Read his story Sgt W Lumsden Air gnr 427 Squadron Edwin McCaffrey Mid up gnr RCAF (d. 20th Jan 1944 ops to Berlin) 434 Bluenose Squadron. Sgt R E McGregor. 434 sqd. (d. 20 Feb 1944) Read his Story Angus MacKay. W/Op Ag. 78 conversion flight. Sgt J A McKenna RAF (d. 20th Jan 1944 ops to Berlin) 434 Bluenose Squadron. F/O Henri Bernard Marceau. rear gnr.434 Sqd. Read his story Sgt. Tom Masdin 431 Sqd. Read his story P/O C.A. Matthews. Flight Eng 434 sqd. Read his Story Sgt John C Mitchell. Navigator 1664 HCU RAFVR (d. 28th Sep 1943) Read his story Sgt J R Morgan RCAF (d. 20th Jan 1944 ops to Berlin) 434 Bluenose Squadron. P/O Don Mortimer navigator 427 Squadron sgt G C Mould RCAF (d. 20th Jan 1944 ops to Berlin) 434 Bluenose Squadron. F/O Murray. 434 sqd. (d. 20 Feb 1944) Read his Story Sgt James Nelson. Air Gunner 1664 HCU RAFVR (d. 28th Sep 1943) Read his story Sgt A G Pearce. 434 sqd. (d. 20 Feb 1944) Read his Story P/O Arthur Clifford Pettifor. flt eng. 431 Sqd. Read his Story F/O A.H.Phillips. 431 Sqd. Read his Story Sgt E J C Porter (d. 20th Jan 1944 ops to Berlin) 434 Bluenose Squadron. Wendelin Rink. air bomber 431 squadron Read his Story P/O Joseph S Sleighter. Air Gunner 434 Sqd RCAF (d. 18 Mar 1944) Read his story F/LT Alfred George Rowe D.F.C. nav.434 Sqd. (d. 11th March 1944) Read his story Sgt F.Samson. 431 Sqd. Read his Story F/O William Russel L "Rus" Sloan navigator 434 Bluenose Squadron. Read his story F/O Gibson Scott. mid up gnr.434 Sqd. (d. 11th March 1944) Read his story P/O J Snowsell RCAF (d. 20th Jan 1944 ops to Berlin) 434 Bluenose Squadron. Sgt G T Southwood pilot 427 Squadron Ft Lt Carl Taylor. Pilot 427 Squadron Sgt K.J.Taylor. 431 Sqd. Read his Story P/O Douglas A Thicke. Pilot 434 Sqd RCAF (d. 18 Mar 1944) Read his story P/O W.E. Thompson. rear gunner 434 sqd.Read his Story F/O John "Jack" Thornton. Flight Engineer - B Flight F/Sgt John J Timmins. F Eng 1664 HCU RAFVR (d. 28th Sep 1943) Read his story F/O E.L. Vawter. bomb aimer. 434 sqd.Read his Story Sgt Charles F West. W Opp 1664 HCU RAFVR Read his story P/O H.A. Whish. Midupper gunner 434 sqd. Read his Story P/O W.R. Williams, DFM. W/op 434 sqd.Read his Story F/Sgt A M Wilson RCAF (taken POW 20th Jan 1944) 434 Bluenose Squadron. If you have any names to add to this list, or any recollections or photos of those listed, please get in touch. If you have a story which you would like to share, or a website dedicated to an airfield or aircrew, please get in touch. Send an E-mail to The Wartime Memories Project Links Bomber Command History Croft circuit William Russel Sloan Recomended reading Pilgrimages of Grace by A A B Todd Airfields Index The Wartime Memories Project is a non profit organisation. This website is run out of our own pockets and from donations made by visitors. 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