Found this. I expect the diary is his Red Cross "Wartime Log" similar to my father's. I would be interested to see how much this goes for in auction and would imagine E. Taylor of 100 Squadron could be easily identified. Pictured: The amazing tin can bomber made by British pilot in Great Escape POW camp | Mail Online
That's bloody impressive. Mr Taylor was certainly a skilled man. The caption and article goes on about it being a Lanc...when it's a Halibag. EDIT: also assumes he's a pilot.
Oh dear, there appears to be little research carried out in that article: 1) The map clearly shows that the route for the attack on that date was from Italy so possibly 205 Group 2) The aircraft is NOT 100 squadron. Their code was HW. That aircraft seems to have a code of BK-F or DK-F. Neither fit Lancaster squadrons. 3) A number of Taylor's at L3 so not completely easy to check which one, especially as Ross's list is from mid or late 1944 EDIT: I need to be slapped - of course it's a halifax, not a Lanc. Well done Andy
RAF Squadron Codes - WWII This website does no list BK or DK as allocated squadron codes. Might not be comprehensive of course. I tried PK until I realised that was 315 Polish Sqn flying Spits and Mustangs among others and RK is 248 Sqn flying Blenheims, Beaus and Mossies (later with Coastal Command).
That list isn't comprehensive Andy. I have a copy of Combat Codes which lists all of them, even the one's used for a very short time. I have just had a look at Through Darkness to Light but the book deals mainly with the raids against Romania, so I cannot find this loss
Two of 205 Group's Halifax squadrons were 178 (formerly on Wimpeys) and 614 (Tom Scotland's Voice from the Stars is a good account of them).
178 Squadron was flying Libs and on that date they lost Liberator EW160 on a mission to Poland, but the only casualty is buried in Belgrade, so not our aircraft. I'm starting also doubt the date of the loss given in the article
According to It's Dicey Flying Wimpys, 205 Group lost one aircraft on a mission to mine the Danube on the night of the 28/29 Aug - but no detailsof aircraft, crew or where it was lost
Sorry, K, I meant to make a comment about 178 flying Halis in 1943 - they were Mk IIs as well which the model seems to represent, IIRC. Perhaps we're looking at a long termer who first flew Halifaxes before conversion to Libs? I've always liked the look of that book, you lucky basket!
It's an interesting read but not brilliant for precise details. It's very much the writer's experiences etc.
I know the feeling at the moment about precise details! Can you read the text on the diary map at bottom left? The aircraft looks like it's camouflaged a la a Halibag (as opposed to most 205 Group Libs) and I'm sure I can see a "1943" but that's probably wishful thinking.
The lads on rafcommands seem to be having the same problems tracking the loss 614 Squadron loss 22 Aug 44 Samuel KWINTER - RafCommands Forums
Mullock's have it listed. Historical Document - Lot Number 172 - Auction Date 29/01/09 WWII - Prisoner of War the diary of E Taylor a crew member of a Lancaster Bomber recording his experiences after his Bomber crashed in Hungary while on a raid aimed at Berlin in 1944 written in pencil on 15pp 8vo in a YMCA produced Wartime Log for British Prisoners. There are two further pages in ink recording the words of two songs sung by Bomber Crews and a few press cuttings affixed to further pages. A particularly interesting book. Although not of great length Taylor nevertheless provides a vivid picture of what it was like for downed RAF personnel behind enemy lines : '...we were in a small dirty cell that was alive with bugs and I was bitten badly...we were greeted by mobs of people that were very infuriated at us and we did not feel too happy. We were marched to the military barracks where we stayed for a while. We then departed by lorry for the jail. This jail was our accommodation for the next seven days our food had been bad until now but it was undrinkable here...' Eventually Taylor was sent to the notorious Luft 3 - scene of the two most famous escape attempts of the whole of WWII - the legendary 'Great Escape' and also the 'Trojan Horse' escape attempt. Taylor provides both a description of the camp but also includes two well executed illustrations - the first showing part of the camp itself showing huts and the perimeter fence and the second showing the sleeping arrangement of the prisoners. Another illustration shows a well executed map of the route of his Bomber and where it crash landed. Historical Document - Lot Number 173 - Auction Date 29/01/09 WWII - a finely crafted model of a Halifax Bomber made by crewmember E Taylor (see previous lot) during his time in the notorious Stalag Luft 3 Taylor has used materials available to him in order to produce a model which by anyone's standards is very good.
Apparently the model Halifax sold for £900.00. The squadron letters on the model were RK which designated a 10 OTU aircraft. The diary sold for £440.00 which to me seems cheap.
Thanks to Bill Turner for the following information: Hopefully, Bill has some more information he can share
Good morning. I'm still digging away at every record I can find and so far no new information on my uncle, Jackie Turner. I spoke to one of his surviving brothers last week and he was astounded to find out that Jackie's real name was John Johnston Turner (fancy not knowing your brothers real name) however, the whole family referred to him as Jackie - makes searching a bit more difficult - having to search on all possible names. Anyway, I've just finished reading "RAF Liberator over the Eastern Front" by Jim Auton MBE and "The Men Who Went To Warsaw" by Lawrence Isemonger (which I had shipped from South Africa). Both interesting books but didn't help my research much /) Anyway - will go back onto the net for a few hours of hunting. Regards Bill
Welcome aboard, Bill. I've recently discovered the first book you mention but have yet to buy it. Was asking Anne Storm about SAAF aircrew and she mentioned the Isemonger book. Great to see more 205 Group/Italy etc books coming out.
