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Airfields Index
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RAF Waterbeach, situated just north of Waterbeach village adjacent to the A10 trunk road five miles outside Cambridge, opened in March 1941, although building work was not complete, the first squadron to arrive was No. 99, which brought its Wellingtons from Newmarket.
No. 99 Sqd remained until March 1942 when it was ordered overseas. At this time the station was being shared with No. 1651 Conversion Unit (established in January 1941) the first to be equipped with the Short Stirling to prepare crews for handling this four-engined type in No. 3 Group squadrons. The unit remained the main tutor for Stirling crews for nearly three years. By late 1943, No. 3 Group was turning to Lancasters and No. 1678 Heavy Conversion Flight appeared at Waterbeach, remaining until being disbanded in the summer of 1944..
No. 514 Squadron joined Bomber Command's mounting campaign in November 1943, flying Lancasters from teh base until the end of September 1944. The squadron remained at Waterbeach until the end of hostilities, for much of the time with three flights and a complement of over 30 aircraft.
Operational losses from Waterbeach amounted to 122 bombers, 33 Wellingtons, eight Stirlings and 81 Lancasters.
The airfield remained in use with the RAF until the 1980s when the station was transferred to the Army. It remains an MOD site today. A Hunter aircraft stands guard at the main gate in memory of the Hunter squadrons of the 1950s that operated from Waterbeach. A small, self funded museum, is open to the public. with displays about 514 Sqn RAF who were based at RAF Waterbeach 1943-45 and flew Lancasters.
 stood to left at front of back row based at Waterbeach.jpg)
ACW Ethel Billing stood to left at front of back row, based at Waterbeach.
based at Waterbeach.jpg)
WAAFs based at Waterbeach.jpg
WAAF Based at WaterBeach. Pilot from Waterbeach Taken January 1944
Fred based at Waterbeach taken 1944 Bob based at Waterbeach taken 1940s.
These are photos from R.A.F Waterbeach that my mum had.
She was based at Waterbeach & worked in the NAAFI in the 1940's. She had very fond memories and said that these were the best times of her younger life. Sadly mum is now in a nursing home, but she used to tell me stories of not feeding pilots before they flew out to save on food, but she would pack them sandwiches anyway. They would listen to see how many aircraft would fly back in, so they would know how many meals to make. She said it was always sad when for example, ten flew out and seven came back. She amused us with her stories of trying to learn to ride a bike at Waterbeach, and how she just could not get the hang of it. I don't think she ever got the hang of cooking for a regular sized family, she always made huge meals. I don't have my mum's papers but I do intend to find them. Can anyone suggest how to go about that? All I can find is her name ACW Billing (Ethel). What I do know is she was in love with someone in the Army called Harold.
ACW Ethel Billing Read her Story
My Dad, Peter Brown served at Waterbeach. Dad joined the RAF in 1943 and served until 7th June 1944 when he lost his leg when on a mission to bomb road and rail junctions 10 miles outside of Paris. He is now 82 years old.
Flight Sergeant GERALD EAGLESON SCOTT Gerald (Gerry) was born in Northern Ireland in 1922. He was the son of David and Margaret Scott. When WW2 started in 1939 he was seventeen years old and although this was below the minimum acceptable age he joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
After training he was assigned to Bomber Command and served as a Fight Sergeant, rear gunner on an Avro Lancaster. This was one of the most hazardous positions.
The sixteenth sortie was last major raid on Berlin and was scheduled for the night of 21/22 March 1944 but was postponed to the 24 March 1944. At that time he and his best friend Flight Sergeant R B McAllister (of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) were enjoying a well earned leave following completion of their requisite number of tours. Gerry was in Belfast visiting his family when he was unexpectedly recalled to duty.
They were assigned to Lancaster L.L 625-C (for Charlie) of their 514 Squadron, based in Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire.
Gerry Scott (on right) and Ron McAllister
The total force consisted of 811 aircraft - 577 Lancasters, 216 Halifaxes, 18 Mosquitoes. The losses were, 72 aircraft comprising 44 Lancasters, 28 Halifaxes. Gerry's Lancaster crashed on the return journey home, on Friday, 24 March 1944. The cause is not known. The crash occurred near Worlitz, a small town south of the Elbe and approximately 2-kms ENE of Dressau. Initially those who died were buried in Worlitz but were later relocated to the 1939-1945 War Cemetery in Berlin.
Gerry was killed as were the remainder of the crew with the exception of his friend R B McAllister. He was awarded posthumously; Defence Medal; War Medal 1939-1949; Air Crew Europe Medal; 1939-1945 Star.
The crew consisted of: F/O J R Laing; Sgt. P C K Bennett; Sgt. A Vickers; F/Sgt. J Knights; F/Sgt. G E Scott; F/Sgt. R B McAllister (RCAF POW); Sgt. C A Salt.
Gerry's name is inscribed on the War Memorial located in the town square, Ballynahinch, Northern Ireland.
Prepared by: Donald Stewart Forbes 01/04
My mum joined the W.A.A.F.S in 1942 and served at R.A.F Waterbeach as a telephonist. Her name during the war was Edna Mary Young. She put Bomber Harris through to Richard Dimbleby on the first daylight raid. If you remember her please get in touch.
Photographs
If you have any Photographs you would like to share please get in touch.
List of those who served here.
- F/L D. Beaton. 514 Squadon (d. 9th May 1945) Read his story
- Sgt. P C K Bennett. 514 Squadron. (d. 24 March 1944)
- F/Sgt J.G. Brittain. 514 Squadon (d. 9th May 1945) Read his story
- Flight Sgt Peter Guthrie Brown. rear gunner. Read his Story
- P/O O.C. Evers. RCAF 514 Squadon (d. 9th May 1945) Read his story
- F/O R.B. Hilchey. RCAF 514 Squadon (d. 9th May 1945) Read his story
- F/Sgt. J Knights. 514 Squadron. (d. 24 March 1944)
- F/O J R Laing. 514 Squadron. (d. 24 March 1944)
- Jack Lunn. pilot. Read his story
- F/Sgt. R B McAllister. RCAF. 514 Squadron. (Taken POW 24 March 1944)
- F/Sgt A. McMurrugh. 514 Squadon (d. 9th May 1945) Read his story
- Sgt. C A Salt. 514 Squadron. (d. 24 March 1944)
- F/Sgt. G E Scott. 514 Squadron. (d. 24 March 1944) Read his Story
- P/O R.M. Toms. RCAF 514 Squadon (d. 9th May 1945) Read his story
- Sgt. A Vickers. 514 Squadron. (d. 24 March 1944)
- Edna Mary Young. WAAF Telephonist
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
- Ernest 'Sunny' Gledhill and the Men He Flew With in Bomber Command
- RAF Waterbeach History
- The Lawrie Crew Story
Airfields Index
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