My parents both served in WW2...(the images in my avatar.) Just lost Mum a few months ago...Dad still going strong at 87. He never spoke much of wartime until there were reunions held here in Winnipeg, Manitoba...Seeing his old crew again renewed the camaraderie aspect again, and the result was opening up and speaking about some of it for the first time.... Those reunions also sparked his imagination to create some pretty fabulous posters, a few of which are displayed at the Brandon Air Museum ( depict the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan stations and aircraft across Canada so are related ) The others lay under a bed until recently...my husband photographed them in sections, and I will put them back together digitally for posterity... I likely won't contribute much on here but will do a lot of reading throughout the site when I have time...Looks great. A bit more about Mom & Dad Brandon Air Museum online all the best, J.J.
J.J Thanks for sharing this with us; I had a good read of your website. You have a family to be proud of, several of whom paid the ultimate price. Brian Daly must have been one of the first to be killed in Lancasters; you probably know that the daylight Augsburg raid of 17/4/42 was its first major operation. Seven out of 12 Lancasters were lost; S/L John Nettleton was awarded the Victoria Cross. Adrian
Welcome JJ. Hope you have a good stay in the forum. There are a lot of knowledgeable people in the forum who i'm sure would be willing to help with any questions. Regards Sniper
Hello Adrian...Thank you for the reply. I have a link from Brian Daly to the Lost Bombers site where it says his Lanc "L7536 took part in the Key Operation against Essen 10/11Mar42 - the first Lancaster operation..." Lost Bombers - World War II Lost Bombers But I see other sites that agree with you...so perhaps if this is an error ...if so, it needs to be pointed out to them? I imagine it was scads of work to put that site together, and mistakes can be made...J.J.
Hi Kitty and Sniper...thanks for the welcome and offer to help... I will probably need lots of it when I want to add more detail to my site It was built to honour family who served... but I am sure there is a lot of actual detail to be found and added! J.J.
Further on the question of Essen, Adrian...The same site has this statement : Essen / 10/11 March 1942 "126 aircraft - 56 Wellingtons, 43 Hampdens, 13 Manchesters, 12 Stirlings, 2 Lancasters; this was the first participation by Lancasters in a raid on a German target. 4 aircraft - 2 Hampdens, 1 Stirling, 1 Wellington lost. ......" RAF History - Bomber Command J.J.
I guess both are true. Essen was the first ever Lancaster op. Augsburg the first in which it played the lead role (only role in that instance) - and the one in which it proved its worth; if you have to go all that way in daylight in a high-risk operation, you want to be carrying enough of a bomb-load to make it worthwhile i.e. considerably more than a Wellington could, and you would want something faster than a Stirling and considerably more reliable than a Manchester.
Hello again, Adrian... I imagine it was a frightful event each time...no matter what they flew in....and the "firsts" matter not... Dad said one of his crew members was always afraid that he might let the rest down...He was one of the poor lads really affected by it all post-war, and never did recover from it all. There are other casualties of war, I'm afraid... I wish my father was into computers... he love to chat about in here, I'd bet! Dad had a really good memory for all the planes....he said that after his training they held him back to help teach recognition skills. Hello, Andy...thank you for the welcome...and yes, I am very proud of my parents and their contribution! J.J.
Here we go...My first request...if anyone wants to look for some good real information on the net re: Augsburg raid and post them there,( please post your findings at this link http://ww2chat.com/forums/air-campa...-augsburg-raid-april-17-1942-a.html#post36030 that would be great! I know you will see which sites have real solid information for me to refer a link to them...Thanks! Here's the site I will refer from My site see under " Sgt. Brian Ignatius Joseph Daly" who was K.I.A. in that raid
Thank you so much, Annie, the sites are great!!!...but I reworded the original reply as I guess it was missleading? I meant for links/information to be posted into the other thread entitled Augsburg Raid April 17, 1942....can they be cut and pasted there or no matter if doubled up by copy/paste into that reply, whatever you think best? I want to link to that thread from my site as more information on the Augsburg raid...Thanks again if it's not to much trouble Can you all look at the request above ( post #11) & let me know if it is worded properly now, to be understood...
Hi JJ ! Sorry that was my fault ...... I didn't read it properly !! I've sent Andy a message - to ask if he'll move them for me !! Annie
Done. You can also delete your own messages ... after copying them of course for future pasting in the correct thread.
Thanks Andy & Annie, :high5: The thread looks good and I have posted a link to it from the remember site for those who find Brian........with all the keywording and information it will likely be high on search engines as well. It's amazing all the people who've written to me because of the site...I have more penpals than I can handle, already, but I can see more in the offing J.J.
Hi JJ ! I came across this ... maybe an email to the site might give some more information about George also !! I couldn't find an actual War Memorial but they did have a small place built in remembrance of WW1 ! ..... I wonder if his parents lived there ? Adel is a wealthy area north of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It is situated between Cookridge, Holt Park, Weetwood and Alwoodley. To the north are the villages of Arthington and Bramhope and the market town of Otley. George is remembered on the Adel War Memorial - The War Dead - as recorded in the church George Thomas RHODES He was the son of Harry Percival and Eleanor Mary, Leeds. As Sergeant 938642, 44 Squadron, RAF Volunteer Reserve, he lost his life on 17th April 1942, aged 29, when he was the pilot of Lancaster L7536 which was lost on the Augsburg daylight attack on the MAN factory, France. All 7 crew were killed. He is remembered at Evreux Communal Cemetery, near Paris. Adel War Memorial - The War Dead - The Adel Association
