The Wartime Memories Project - No. 635 Squadron

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Information. No. 635 Squadron was formed on the 20th March 1944 from "B" Flight of No 35 Squadron and "C" Flight of No 97 Squadron. The aircraft they flew were: Lancaster MkI, MkIII and Mk VI and operational trials of Lancaster Mk VI. The Squadron was disbanded 1st September 1945 Airfields at which No. 635 Squadron were based: Downham Market. 20th March 1944 to 1st September 1945 Have you any record of F/Lt. Henry Morley DFC serving in 35 Squadron. I have been asked to try and locate any information I can get, although I run the Website specifically for 97 Squadron. I am told he was with 635 Squadron in 1944 to 1945 and this squadron was made up from B flight 35 Squadron and C Flight 97 Squadron. I have checked our list of Aircrews and I cannot find any reference to him, so I have assumed he was with 35 Squadron. Can anyone help? I was a Corporal in the RAF from 1941-1947, servicing Lancasters for 8 Group, Pathfinders, 635 Squadron at Downham Market and for 35 Squadron at Gravelely. I had wanted to be in flight crew when I joined up, but didn’t make it, which at the time was disappointing. But now looking back, if I had been in a flight crew then I probably would not have survived the war. I was mainly involved in instrument repairs, particularly to bomb sights, automatic controls and general instruments. We had six aircraft in our flight and our job was to make sure they were always serviceable and ready for action. I remember one time when an aircraft had a faulty automatic valve which we were having difficulty in fixing. The sergeant rang to ask how it was going, and I replied that I thought I would have to register the plane as unserviceable. The sergeant said that would be impossible — it had to be ready. So I went back and had another look at the valve, which had a smaller valve inside, one I was not meant to touch. I fiddled around with it for a while and finally got it to work. The plane was OK and the Wing Commander was so impressed that he asked if I could service his aircraft! On another occasion we were getting ready for a bomber raid which would need every aircraft. Unfortunately in one plane the oxygen supply for the pilot was not working properly. I'd tried all sorts of things to make the flow meter work, but still it wouldn’t. I discovered that it would work when the meter registered 7,000 feet but not when it was at 5,000. So I came up with a rough and ready solution. As the bombing mission wasn’t going to be a long one, I changed the meter and moved the pointer from seven to five thousand so that the oxygen would flow. My engineer officer said that he couldn’t approve the repair. Butthe aircraft was desperately needed so I went ahead regardless, the aircraft flew on the sortee, and I switched the meter back when it returned the next morning. Gordon Vickers. Photographs If you have any Photographs you would like to share please get in touch. List of those who served. W/C "Tubby" Baker, DSO, DFC. C.O. Squadron Leader Ian Willoughby Bazalgette, DFC, VC. Read his Story Flight Lieutenant R M Clarke pilot RAAF Read his Story Sgt Wilson Peter Collinson (d.25th Apr 1944) F/O Donald M. Currie Read his Story F/O Gerald Herbert Cruwys. nav. (d. 20th Apr 1944)Read his Story F/S Ernest Hambling. mid upper gunner. (d. 20th Apr 1944) Read his Story W/O John Richard Hanson. W/Op (d. 20th Apr 1944)Read his Story P/O G.K.Hendy RAAF 635 Read his Story F/L H.M. Johnston. F/Sgt Ledgerwood. rear gunner. F/L Donald William Mansbridge pilot. (d. 20th Apr 1944) Read his Story F/Lt. Henry Morley DFC Read his Story Sgt Charles D Mountain. W/Op RAFVR Read his Story F/O Walter Thomas Oylott. bomb aimer. (d. 4th June 1944) P/O Padden. W/op F/S Albert Stanley Palmer. flt eng. (d. 20th Apr 1944) Read his Story P/O W.T.Pethard Read his Story F/S T.Robertshaw Read his Story Cpl Gordon Vickers. Read his Story F/S Percival Ashford Walder. rear gunner.Read his Story P/O A.A.Wiggins Read his Story F/S J.H.Watson. Read his Story F/Sgt Stanley Wharton. air gunner (d. 4th June 1944.) F/S William Courtney White. bomb aimer. (d. 20th Apr 1944)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. Add Your Story 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-MMIXI - All Rights Reserved