The Wartime Memories Project - RAF Kirmington



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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII

Information.

Opened in 1942 by Bomber Command the Kirmington was home to 150 sqd flying Wellingtons.

In January, 1943 166 Squadron arrived and remained at Kirmington for the remainder of the war, flying Wellington then Lancaster bombers.

After the war the station closed after being used for dispersal sales. In 1970 the airfield was bought by the County Council. Today the site is home to Humberside International Airport.
Squadrons based at Kirmington during the Second World War:



Danish air gunner Andreas Petersen, RCAF, served with 166th squadron in 1944. He was rear gunner on I. Item, and in 1985 he published a book -in danish - about his time in the RCAF, (Natbomber - ISBN 87-00-85782-3). Here's the list of the crew as taken from his book. (surnames missing for those of the crew he was no longer in touch with in 1985) Pilot, Flying Officer W.I. Warmington, RAF; Navigator, Flying Officer J.F. Clark, RAF; Bomb aimer, Flight Sergeant Jack, RAAF; Wireless operator, Sergeant Don, RAF; Flight engineer, Eric, RAF; Mid upper gunner, Bill, RAF; Rear gunner, Flight Sergeant Andreas Petersen, RCAF

In 1985, W.I. Warmington was a flight instructor in Wanganui New Zealand, and John F. Clark a retired bank manager, (Midland bank) somewhere in Yorkshire.

Arrival date is listed as April 27th 1944. On June 7th, Andreas Petersen had one confirmed kill, an ME410 night fighter shot down on an operation against the German supply lines near Versailles. On August 1st, 1944, the crew finished their tour of operations, having narrowly avoided being transferred to a Pathfinder squadron. In November, 1944, the following medals were awarded to members of the crew:- W.I. Warmington - DFC; Jack F. Clark - DFC; Andreas Petersen - DFM.

After the tour ended, Andreas Petersen was transferred to RCAF Mountain View, where he served as an instructor for the air gunners who were to go on in the post-war permanent RCAF staff. During his time there he was promoted to Pilot Officer.



George Edmund Henry Ceeney was killed in action, on the 28th of November, 1942, during his service with 150 Squadron. My family's memories are incorrect according to records, and I am looking to find more accruate information about George.

Update: His crew mates were: Sgt K.Magness, Sgt J.Wood, Sgt D.G.Smith and Sgt D.R.Riley, all were killed. Their aircraft was a Wellington MkIII, serial number BK194 carrying squadron markings JN-B and their mission that night was dropping mines in the North Sea, close to the coast of Europe. The aircraft vanished without trace and no bodies were recovered



I got all my Dad's crew together from V.Victor pilot, John Stratford, flight engineer, Ted Peters, rear gunner,Albert Jones,a ir bomber Cyril Cook, navigator, Harry Smith, mid upper gunner, Alf Holliday, possible wireless op. f/o Buckland. all in 166 squadron at Kirmington. I have all his flight operations papers, also a photo of the reunion I have lots of information about war time escapades what they got up too going to the village pub and staying on course when the rest of the flight veered off on the wrong course further on they came back to v.victors course.

Alan Peters



Colin Gregory Phelps (Australian) 166 Sqd RAF

Colin was born 1/9/1913 in Glenelg, South Australia He died on 19/4/1992 in Willunga, South Australia at the age of 78 He was laid to rest in St Jude's Cemetery Brighton, South Australia with his parents. Walter James and Ida May (nee. Gregory) Phelps. Colin lived most of his life in Sturt and Willunga, South Australia working as a Market Gardener, Vigneron and Almond Grower. During World War Two he enlisted on 11/10/1941 at 5th Recruit Centre Adelaide .Sth Australia in the RAAF and on 5/2/1941 he went to the 4th Initial Training School, Victor Harbour, South Australia. He was remustered to air crew on 1/12/1941 and moved to the 1st Elementary Flying Training School, Parafield, Sth Australia, progressing on the 5/2/1942 to 6th Services Flying Training School Mallala, South Australia, qualifing as Sergeant Pilot. On the 17/9/1942 he embarked from Sydney New South Wales to take up operational duties in Europe with Bomber Command. He joined 166 Squadron based at Kirmington, Lincolnshire, England under Wing Commander F S POWLEY D.F.C. A.F.C. The Squadron Motto was Tenacity. Colin was the pilot of Lancaster Bomber "V" Victor.

His crew were:-

  • P.O E.D (Earl) NESBITT Navigator
  • Sgt E ( Roland) WINDER Wireless Operator
  • Sgt W H ( Bill) CLARK Mid Upper Gunner
  • Sgt Homfray R GIBBON Rear Gunner
  • Sgt E P (Ted) HILLYARD Flight Engineer
  • (USAAF) M/Sgt W W (Bill) MITCHELL Air Bomber

Photo of "V" Victor taken 22/8/1943

Left to Right Standing (Hand on knee) Homfray GIBBON Seated (White sweater) Roland WINDER Standing (behind prop) Bill Mitchell Standing (white sweater) Bill CLARK Seated ( on wing) Ted HILLYARD Seated (on spinner) Earl NESBITT Pilot Colin PHELPS The Rest are ground crew.

Colin was promoted to Flight Sergeant on the 17/3/1943.

On the 28/29/1/1944 Plane took off from Kirmington 2400hrs, visibility good had to cross a front lying over the North West Gulf which was causing icing. Operations by the ground defence were slight, but there was fighter activity heavy. The crew were not heard from after take off. Colin was listed as missing in action presumed killed on the 29/1/1944 and his parents were notified 7/2/1944. To their relief on 8/3/1944 Colin was reported as P.O.W. Number 3456, Stalag Luft 3, Belarig His parents were notified on 28/4/1944. Colin was the only survivor of the crew. He had been very lucky to survive as his foot was pinned in the aircraft. His RAAF issue flying boots were too large for him, which allowed him to get his foot out and he left the boot behind in the plane.

Whilst in captivity he was promoted to Flying Officer 14/4/1944 and he was recovered by the allies in Western Europe May 1945 and repatriated to U.K.

Colin arrived safely in U.K. on 11/5/1945 and disembarked Sydney NSW 28/7/1945 He was discharged from the RAAF as Flight Lieutenant on 22/10/1945

Photo of Colin taken October 1941

On discharge from the Air Force Colin visited all the relatives of his crew including those in the U.S.A.

His sister Nancy Jean corresponded with all the relatives on a regular basis until her death in 1959 when Christine, (Colin's niece) took over these duties.

Christine Tillett


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