The Wartime Memories Project - No: 50 Squadron

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Information. During World War Two, No 50 Squadron were part of 5 Group Bomber Command, reforming at Waddington in 1937, having been disbanded after the Great War. The squadron flew Hawker Hinds, Hampden Mk I, Anson mk I, Master mk 1 and later Manchesters and Lancasters mk I and mk III 50 Squadron dropped approximately 21,000 tones of bombs, the highest total of any 5 Group squadron. 176 Aircraft were lost during 767 raids. Airfields at which No: 50 Squadron were based: Waddington. 1939 to 10 Jul 1940 Lindholme. 10 Jul 1940 to 19 Jul 1941 Swinderby 19 Jul 1941 to 26 Nov 1941 Skellingthorpe. 26 Nov 1941 to 20 Jun 1942 Swinderby 20 Jun 1942 to 17 Oct 1942 Skellingthorpe. 17 Oct 1942 to 15 Jun 1945 Sturgate from 15 Jun 1945 A Dutch friend phoned me who has been contacted by HIS friend asking for help. It seems this chap when he was very young remembers a Lancaster being shot down over his parents farm near the village of Epe. His father subsequently discovered a parachute and an RAF cap hidden under a bush. The cap bore the name T. B. Cole. The cap has survived all these years, despite a fire at their farm some years ago. The chap has suddenly decided he would like to contact any surviving family of Mr. Cole to return it to them. He has done some research and found that the aircraft was from 50 Squadron, RAF Skellingthorpe, target was Gelsenkirchen and it was shot down on 22 June 1944 at 02.20. He also quoted the serial number LL 840. My query is that I would like some pointers as to how to continue my search, if anyone can help. UPDATE: The Lancaster took off at 23:17 on the 21st June 1944 from Skellingthorpe. Shot down by a night- fighter and crashed at Oene (Gelderland), 5 km E of Epe. The crew were: S/L T.B.Cole. taken PoW and interned in Stalag Luft III. F/S Kenneth H.C.Ingram. flight engineer, initially evaded, but fell into the hands of the Gestapo and was shot on the 2nd of October 1944. He is buried in Apeldoorn (Ugchelen-Heidehof) General Cemetery. F/O J.Craven. Evaded capture. F/S A.G.Beresford. taken PoW P/O E.J.Blakemore. Evaded capture. W/O J.F.Lane. second Wireless Operator was killed Sgt Frederick Henry Shorter, air gunner. killed, he is buried at Epe Sgt D.Copson. killed, he is buried at Epe. On 17th April every year, the people of Ugchelen commemorate those who died for the freedom of their country. F/S Kenneth Ingram is one of fifty-seven aircrew, buried in the Heidehof cemetery, Ugchelen. Read the Story Photographs If you have any Photographs you would like to share please get in touch. List of those who served with 50 Squadron. Sgt. Kenneth George Alsopp. AG 50 Sqd. (d 8th July 1944) Alfred George Bake. 50 sqd. (d. 2nd June 1942) F/S A.G.Beresford. Read his story Flt Lt. Ernest 'Bill' Berry DFC. RAAF. P/O E.J.Blakemore. Read his story John Downie Brown. (d. 2nd June 1942) S/L T. B. Cole Read his story Sgt D.Copson. (d. 22 Jun 1944) Read his story F/O J.Craven. Read his story P/O N.Hannah Read his story Robert Isaac Hart. 50 sqd. (d. 2nd June 1942) Sgt. George Albert Higgins. AG 50 Sqd. (d 8th July 1944) F/S Kenneth Herschel Callender Ingram. flt eng. (d. 2nd October 1944) Read his story F/Sgt. Clifford Jackson. nav. 50 Sqd. (d 8th July 1944) William Lewis Lambert. 50 sqd. (d. 2nd June 1942) W/O J.F.Lane. Wireless Operator Read his story Sgt. Edgar Charles Prytherch Lloyd. pilot 50 Sqd. (d 8th July 1944) F/S H.S.McDonald Read his story F/Sgt. Charles Joseph O'Connor. Bomb Aim 50 Sqd. (d 8th July 1944) F/S S.E.Packard Read his story George Robson. 50 sqd. (d. 2nd June 1942) Sgt C.J.Scott (d. 30 April 1942) Read his story Sgt Frederick Henry Shorter. air gunner. (d. 22 Jun 1944) Read his story Wing Commander Charles Darwen Stenner, DSO, DFC. Read his Story F/Sgt. Eric John Walter Stirling. W/Op 50 Sqd. (d 8th July 1944) Sgt. George Henry Tucker. flt eng. 50 Sqd. (d 8th July 1944) F/S S.Willett DFM. pilot Read his story Sgt D.A.Williams RAAF (d. 30 April 1942) Read his story 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 a soldier or regiment please get in touch. Send an E-mail to Links Allied Forces 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. The popularity of the site means that it is far exceeding available resources. If you are enjoying the site, please consider making a donation, however small to help with the costs of keeping the site running. Or by cheque to: PO Box 325, Stockton on Tees, TS20 1XL. Website and ALL Material © Copyright MMII - All Rights Reserved