The Crew
Click on the bold hyperlinked crew names in the lists below to go to their individual Stories.
197 Squadron RAF Personnel 21st NOVEMBER 1942 – 31st AUGUST 1945
This list is a work in progress. There are definite complexities, errors and absences that we are working to correct. All suggestions and additional information are welcome – particularly any photographs of 197 Squadron aircraft or personnel, labelled or otherwise.
Key: DFC = Distinguished Flying Cross award, C. de G. = Croix de Guerre, DFM = Distinguished Flying Medal, MID = Mentioned in Dispatches, KIA = Killed in Action, KIT = Killed in Training, KRTA = Killed in Road Traffic Accident, MIA = Missing in Action, POW = Prisoner of War, Tour Ex. = Tour of Operations Expired (complete). The “served” dates represent their time with 197 Squadron and the ranks listed were their ranks in 197 Squadron.
197 Squadron Commanders
S/L P.O. (Leon) Prevot (84285), DFC, Belgian, served 11/42 to 6/43
S/L A.H. (Allan) Corkett (41903), POW 1/7/43, served 6/43 to 7/43
S/L M.P.C. (‘Jacko’) Holmes (70320), DFC, KIA 24/1/44, served 7/43 to 1/44
S/L D.M. (‘Butch’) Taylor (40153), DFC, served 1/44 to 7/44
S/L A.H. (Alan) Smith (NZ11947), DFC & Bar, POW, New Zealand, served 7/44 to 1/45
S/L R.C.C (‘Dicky’) Curwen (47265), DFC, served 1/45 to 2/45
S/L J.K. (‘Ken’) Harding (119739), DFC, served 2/45 to 8/45
S/L R.E.G. (‘Ronnie’) Sherward, DFC, served 8/45 to 8/45
197 Squadron Pilots
Sgt D.A.E. Ackland (1804159), served 8/45 to 8/45
F/S J.C. (John) Adey (1271700), KIA 22/10/43, served 5/43 to 10/43
F/L W.C. (Wally) Ahrens (J/16213), Canadian, served 12/42 to 3/44
F/O R.M. (Roy ‘Gubby’) Allan (187443 / 1081404), Tour Ex., served 6/43 to 2/45
Sgt H. Askew (1077715), served 7/45 to 8/45
F/L D.A. (David) Backhouse (60127), POW 12/8/44, served ? to 8/44
P/O S. (Barney) Barnard (?), served 12/42 to ?
Sgt C.F. (Cecil) Beechey (656761), KIT 28/1/43, served 12/42 to 1/43
F/S S.L. (Stanley) Bell (1199790), KIA 18/8/44, served 6/44 to 8/44
W/O J.G. Bellamy (635936), served 3/45 to ?7/45
Sgt R. (Roger) Bokobza (124377), French, KIT 14/2/43, served 12/42 to 2/43
Sgt J. (Jack) Bowler (657896), KIT 14/2/43, served 12/42 to 2/43
F/L K.F.C. Bowman (143885), served 8/44 to ?
W/O ? Bratt (?), served 6/44 to ?
W/O L.S. Brookes (AUS429143), Australian, served 1/45 to 7/45
Sgt ? Brooks, served 12/42 to 6/43
Sgt ? ?Butcher (?), served 2/43 to 5/43
F/L J.C. (John ‘Zip’) Button (109664), served 2/43 to 5/43
F/O J.K. (John Kilgour ‘Paddy’) Byrne (56205), served 4/44 to 7/45
P/O L.S. (‘Nobby’) Clarke, DFC, KIA 5/7/44, served 12/42 to 7/44
Sgt D.H. (Dennis) Clennel (1332158), KIA 10/4/43, served 12/42 to 4/43
F/L T.E. (Thomas) Clift (123631), Burmese, POW 12/4/45, served 3/45 to 4/45
F/O H.W. (‘Tunna’) Coles (136412), KIA 24/5/44, served 9/43 to 5/44
F/S ? Collins (?), served 11/43 to1/44
W/O A. Crossland (1332341), served 8/45 to 8/45
Sgt E.C. Cruse (626792), served 7/45 to 8/45
F/L R.C.C. (‘Dicky’) Curwen (47265), served ? until appt. CO 197 1/45
F/O A.R. (André) De Bie (183838), Belgian, served 11/44 to 6/45
P/O W.D. (‘Jock’) Ellis (186112), C. de G., Tour Ex., served ?5/44 to 8/45
F/L J.F.D. (‘Tim’) Elkington (44184), 2/43 to 9/43
F/S R.B. (‘Bobby’) Farmiloe (1897232), 8/44 to 7/45
F/S ? Figgis (?), served 5/43 to ?
Sgt E.H. (Ernest) Fletcher (1336582), KIT 22/4/43, served 12/42 to 4/43
? ? J.F. Frith (?), served ? to ?
W/O A. Fulton (1138232), served 8/45 to 8/45
F/L G.R. (George) Gibbings (139631), POW 12/4/45, served 1/45 to 7/45
P/O B.L. (Bruce) Gilbert (177250), served 6/43 to 11/44
F/S H.A. Gilby (1328682), served 8/45 to 8/45
P/O A.S.N. (Stephen) Gould (124422), KIT 24/1/43, served 12/42 to 1/43
P/O C.B. (Charlie) Hall (J/88816), Canadian, KIA 21/11/44, served 6/44 to 11/44
P/O H.K. (Harry ‘Red’) Ham (?), served ?9/44 to ?10/44
P/O ? Hardy (?), served 11/43 to ?
F/L K.J. (Ken) Harding (119739), served 11/43 until appt. OC 197 3/45
? ? Harris (?), served ? to ?
F/L J. Harrison (AUS417073), Australian, served ? to ?
F/L G.J.B. (Geoff) Hartley (44134), served 1/45 to ?6/45
P/O G.K. (Gordon Kirby ‘Bud’) Hignell (J/16808), RCAF, Canadian, KIA 23/7/43, served 5/43 to 7/43
Sgt J.R. (John) Hill (R/1049893), RCAF, Canadian, KIT 7/5/43, served 12/42 to 5/43
F/S R.E. Hiley (1582976), served 2/45 to ?
F/O A.W. Horner (178017), served 8/45 to 8/45
F/O R.A. (‘Dickie’) Hough (157407), served 1/45 to 7/45
Lt(A) A.J. Houston (?), Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR attached), served 4/45 to 5/45
P/O J.W. (‘Johnnie’) Howell (AUS 425852), MID, Australian, served 1/45 to 7/45
F/L R.J. (‘Reg’) Hyde (115301), AFC, MID, New Zealand; served 12/42 to 10/43
Sgt G.H. Hydman (?), served 2/43 to ?
P/O J.M. (Jim ‘Sport’) James (187057 / 1584391), served 7/44 to 4/45
P/O A.E. (‘Cobber’) James (AUS 413870), Australian, served 7/44 to 7/45
Sgt J.F. Jane (1606028), served 7/45 to 8/45
F/L W.J. (‘Johnnie’) Johnson, served 12/42 to ? and 11/43 to 8/44 respectively
Sgt E. (‘Ted’) Jolleys (?), served 1st tour 12/42 to ?
F/L E. (‘Ted’) Jolleys (160929), DFG, served 2nd tour 2/45 to 6/45
F/O R.H. (Robert Henry ‘Bobby’) Jones (R.85509), RCAF, Can, KIA 31/12/44, served 9/43 to 12/44
F/O M.E. (‘Mike’) Jones (169739), served 1/45 to 3/45
F/S R.S. Jones (1653057), served 2/45 to ?
F/L S.J. Khin (123634), Burmese, 3/45 to 7/45
F/O A.W. (‘Killy’) Kilpatrick (125463), tour ex., served 8/44 to 11/44
W/O J. (‘Jimmy’) Kyle /177078), DFM, served 12/42 to 7/44
F/S W.C. (‘Bill’) Laing (R78639), Canadian, served 11/42 to 12/43
F/L ? Lallemand (?), DFC 1/44 to ?
F/O R. (Roy ‘Lulu’) Lane (?), served ? to ?
P/O E. (Earl) Lavery (925918?), served 12/42 to 12/43
P/O D.G. (Derek) Lovell (185974 / 1333668), served 6/44 to 8/45
F/O G.G. (Gerry) Mahaffy (133739), served 10/43 to 3/45
Sgt I.O. Mason (63527), served 8/45 to 8/45
P/O P.C. Mason (186866), tour ex., served ? to 3/45
P/O D.E. (Dennis ‘Red’) Matthews, (187551?), served 8/44 to 4/45
P/O D.I. (Donald ‘Fibber’) McFee (187266), MID, POW 24/12/44, served ? to 12/44
P/O R.R. (Ralph) McNair-Taylor (127884), served 1/43 to 2/43…
Fl/S N.F. (Neville ‘Taffy’) Miles (1317256), KIA 3/1/44, served 1/43 to 1/44
F/S J. Morgan (1622544), served 2/45 to ?
Fl/S L.C. (Leslie) Morris (1199879), KIA 16/10/43, served ? to 10/43
F/L R. (Rex) Mulliner (?), served 12/42 to to 1/44
F/L E.K. (Eric) Necklen (NZ40422), New Zealand, KIA 21/11/44 served 7/44 to 11/44
F/S C. Newcomb (?), served 5/43 to 1/44
Sgt K.W. Norminton (1177180), served 7/45 to 8/45
F/O F.W. O’Brien (174334), served 3/45 to ?
P/O E. St. J.B. (Paddy) O’Callaghan (52653) KIT 18/12/43, served 12/42 to 12/43
F/O A.J. (‘Bunny’) Oury (138848), MID, tour ex., served ? to 11/44
P/O J.F. (Jean) Parisse (?), Belgian, served 11/44 to 8/45
W/O T.E. (‘Ted’) Parkinson (1336479), served 11/44 to 8/45
Sgt ? Partridge (?), served in 1943
F/O H.W. Patullo (?), served 2/43 to 1/44
P/O G.S.M. (George) Pearson (127030), KIA 11/8/43, served 12/42 to 8/43
F/O G.L. Pendred (160701), served 5/45 to 7/45
F/L J.M.G. (‘Plum’) Plamondon (J9821), Canadian, DFC, served 7/44 to 8/44
F/O ? Pollock (?), served 11/43 to ?
F/O D.E.F. (‘Doug’) Potter (157417), KIA 7/6/44, served 2/44 to 6/44
F/O ? Powell (?), served 12/43 to ?
F/S D.J.A.W. (‘Taffy’) Price (1322377), KIA 17/8/44, served ? to 8/44
W/O H.W. (Henry) Read (1292518), KIA 24/12/44, served 8/44 to 12/44
F/O MD (‘Mac’) Reid (J/85448), Canadian, KIA 13/9/44, served 9/43 to 9/44
Sgt ? Richard (?), served 11/42 to ?
P/O J.L. (‘Dickie’) Richards (159478), KIA 1/11/43, served 2/43 to 11/43
W/O M.C. (Maurice) Richards (1312263), KIA 13/6/44, served 2/43 to 6/44
P/O L. (Len) Richardson (177113), DFM, served 11/42 to 2/45
F/O J.C. (‘Johnny’) Rook (177289), DFC, tour ex., servd 10/43 to 8/45
F/S P. Ross (?), served 1/44 to ?
W/O M.H. Ruge (A434019), Australian, served 4/45 to 7/45
F/O H.T.S. Rumbold (212370), DFC, served 8/44 to 10/44
P/O A. (Alec) Shannon (187273), 3/45 to 7/45
W/O A.C. Shaw (1315649), served 8/44 to 1/45
F/S P. (Peter) Shelton (?), served ? to ?
W/O J.E. Shelton-Smith (1583072), served 4/45 to 8/45
F/O W.B.T. (William) Smiley (J/26137), Canadian, POW 13/10/44, served 7/44 to 10/44
F/O ? Smith (?), served 12/43 to ?
F/S D.M. (Derek) Smith (187268 / 1553639), Scottish, tour ex. 8/44 to 4/45
F/O W.M. Setterfield (162388), served 4/45 to 8/45
F/O M.L. (Martin) Soors (131867), Belgian, MIA 10/11/43, served 4/43 to 11/43
Sgt A.E. Squibb (1211539), served 8/45 to 8/45
P/O D.E.F. (Derek) Tapson (190180), POW 10/2/45, served 12/43 to 2/45
Sgt W.A. Tart (1584467), served 7/45 to 8/45
P/O P.A. (‘Dumbo’) Taylor (54685), KIA 27/6/44, served 9/43 to 6/44
F/S K.J. Taylor (569587), served 7/45 to 8/45
F/S G. Thomas (1423114), served 8/45 to 8/45
F/O K.A.J. (‘Ken’) Trott (133105), POW 13/7/44, served 2/44 to 7/44
F/O J. (Jack) Turton, served 12/42 to ?
F/O W.H. Upperton (182231), served 8/45 to (/45
P/O F.J. (‘Frankie’) Vance (183180), KIA 18/10/44, served 2/43 to 10/44
P/O J.W. (John) Vane (146492 / 1383892), served 12/42 to 11/43
F/O H.F. (‘Freddie’) Wakeman (J/27820), Canadian, KIA 5/10/44, 7/44 to 10/44
Sgt A.J. Walder (?), served 7/45 to 8/45
P/O J. (Jack) Watson (169431), DFC, KIA 17/6/44, served 4/43 to 6/44
F/S W.A. Webster (?), served ? to ?
F/O K.K. (Ken) Welsh (AUS409631), Australian, served 11/44 to 7/45
F/S D. (‘Dave’) White (932205), servd 1/45 to 4/45
F/O ? Williams (?), served 12/43 to 1/44
197 Squadron RAF – Administrative Staff & Ground Crew
(list incomplete, if you have further information please get in touch)
F/L K. W. (Ken ‘Doc’) Horn (?), Doctor, served 12/42 to ?
F/O C.G. Mace (?), Adjutant, served 11/42 to 10/43
P/O A.D. McLaren (?), Intelligence officer, served 11/42 to 3/43
? ? (‘Spanner’) Crawford (?), Engineering Officer, served ? to ?
P/O ? O’Connor (?), Intelligence Officer, served 3/43 to ?
P/O V.G. (‘Vic’) Whitear (148993), Adjutant, served 6/44 to 6/45
F/O S.I. Williams (133308), Intelligence Officer, served 7/44 to 1/45
F/O C.V. (George?) Wood (?), Engineering Officer, served 11/42 to 8/43
6197 Servicing Echelon – Personnel (April 1, 43 – Aug 45)
F/S J.H. (Jack ‘Chiefy’) Adcock (524788), BEM, served 4/44 to 8/45
AC1 J. (Jack) Amos (1644145), served late 43 to 7/45
LAC F. (Frederick) Bentley (1626846), KIA, served ? to 3/45
LAC E.J. (Edward) Blaskett (1447236), KRTA, served ? to 9/44
AC2 J. Bowden (1344950), served? to 9/44
LAC W. (‘Willie’) Brierley (1527800), KIA, served ? to 10/44
AC1 J. ? (1210394), served ? to ?
Cpl H.T. (Harold) Day (864656), KIA, served ? to 12/44
LAC R.W. Douglas (1075063), served ? to 2/45
Sgt J.A. Fleet (819067), served ? to 4/45
? ? Gibbs (?), served ? to ?
LAC G. (‘Greg’) Hayward (587735), served ? to ?/45
? ? Lumb (?), served ? to ?
AC1 T.J. McIlwaine (1559369), WIA, served ? to 10/44
LAC M. (Maurice) Moore (?), served ? to ?
? ? Pilgrim (?), served ? to ?
LAC S.G. (Stephen) Price (1836130), KIA, served ? to 12/44
LAC ? Trout (1073???), served 12/44 to ?
AC1 G.A. (Gerald) Wickens (578579), KIA, served ? to 10/44
Cpl N. Wright (1162957), served 9/44 to ?
Roll of Honour
Below is a list of the names and known final resting places of 197 Squadron members killed during WWII.
| Name | Christian Name | Rank/ Decorations | Service No. | Date of Death | Cemetery & Grave Location | Country | Age |
| Adey | John Charles | Flt. Sgt. | 1271700 RAF | 22.10.1943 | Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, U.K. Panel 134 | UK | 21 |
| Beechey | Cecil Francis | Sgt. | 656761 RAF | 28.01.1943 | Solihull Cemetery, Warwickshire, U.K. Grave 262 | UK | 22 |
| Bell | Stanley Lawrence | Flt. Sgt. | 1199790 RAF | 18.08.1944 | St. Desir War Cemetery, Calvados, France Plot 6 Row f Grave 6 | UK | 23 |
| Bokobza | Roger | Flg. Off. | 124377 RAF | 14.02.1943 | Lincoln (Newport) Cemetery, Lincolnshire, U.K. Grave Ref. Sec. H Grave 292 South | UK | 21 |
| Bowler | Jack | Sgt. | 657896 RAF | 14.02.1943 | South Hayling (St. Mary) Churchyard, Hampshire, U.K. Sec. H Row 10 Grave 500 | UK | 28 |
| Clarke | Leonard Stanley | Plt. Off. DFC | 177137 RAF | 05.07.1944 | Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, U.K. Panel 210 | UK | 22 |
| Clennell | Dennis Herbert | Sgt. | 1332518 RAF | 10.04.1943 | St. Sever-Calvados Communal Cemetery, Calvados, France. Grave 1 | UK | N/K |
| Coles | Harold William | Flg. Off. | 136412 RAF | 24.05.1944 | Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, U.K. Panel 215 | UK | N/K |
| Fletcher | Ernest Henry | Sgt. | 1336582 RAF | 22.04.1943 | Woolwich Cemetery, London, U.K. Grave Ref. Sec. 19 Grave 336 | UK | 21 |
| Gould | Auriol Stephen Nutcombe | Flg. Off. | 124422 RAF | 24.01.1943 | Dalmeny and Queensferry Cemetery, West Lothian, U.K., grave 436 | UK | 20 |
| Hall | Charles Burnham | Plt. Off. | J/88816 RCAF | 21.11.1944 | Schoonselhof Cemetery, Antwerpen, Belgium Grave Ref. IV E 11 | CAN | N/K |
| Hignell | Gordon Kirby | Plt. Off. | J/16808 RCAF | 23.07.1943 | Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery, Hautot-sur-Mer, Seine Maritime, France, grave Ref. H.60 | CAN | 24 |
| Hill | John Richard | Flt. Sgt. | R/104983 RCAF | 07.05.1943 | Tangmere (St. Andrew) Churchyard, Sussex, U.K., grave Ref. Row 3 Grave 507 | CAN | 20 |
| Jones | Robert Henry | Flg. Off. | J/85509 RCAF | 31.12.1944 | Drunen (Elshout) Roman Catholic Churchyard, Netherlands. Grave 1 | CAN | 21 |
| Miles | Neville Francis | Flt. Sgt. | 1317256 RAF | 03.01.1944 | Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, U.K. Panel 220 | UK | 21 |
| Morris | Leslie Charles | Flt. Sgt. | 1199897 RAF | 16.10.1943 | Chichester Cemetery, Sussex, U.K. Grave Ref. Square 115 C. of E. Plot Grave 23 | UK | 22 |
| Necklen | Eric Kingsley | Flt. Lt. | 40422 RNAF | 21.11.1944 | Schoonselhof Cemetery, Antwerpen, Belgium Grave Ref. I A 10 | NZ | 24 |
| O’Callaghan | Edmond St. John Brendan | Flg. Off. | 52653 RAF | 18.12.1943 | Kilcrumper Cemetery, County Cork, Ireland. | IRE | 21 |
| Pearson | George Sholto Manning | Flg. Off. | 127030 RAF | 11.08.1943 | Aarsele Communal Cemetery, Tielt, West Vlaanderen, Belgium (At Cen. Path end on the left) | UK | N/K |
| Potter | Douglas Edward F. | Flg. Off. | 157417 RAF | 07.06.1944 | Bernay (St. Croix) Communal Cemetery (France 925) Row 1 Grave 14 | UK | 23 |
| Price | David John A.W. | Flt.Sgt. | 1312237 RAF | 17.08.1944 | St. Desir War Cemetery, Calvados, France 1075 Plot 5 Row D Grave 2 | UK | 23 |
| Read | Henry Walter | Wt. Off. | 1292518 RAF | 24.12.1944 | Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany, Grave Ref. 14 A 14 | UK | 23 |
| Reid | Mackenzie Davidson | Flt. Lt. | J/85448 RCAF | 13.09.1944 | Calais Canadian War Cemetery, Leubringhen, Pas de Calais, France, grave Ref. 1 B 5 | CAN | 20 |
| Richards | John Leslie | Plt. Off. | 159478 RAF | 01.11.1943 | Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, U.K. Panel 133 | UK | 27 |
| Richards | Maurice Charles | Wt. Off. | 1312263 RAF | 13.06.1944 | Putot-en-Auge Churchyard (France 1143) Row C Grave 9 | UK | 22 |
| Soors | Martin Lambert | Flg. Off. | 131867 RAF | 10.11.1943 | Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, U.K. Panel 129 | UK | N/K |
| Taylor | Patrick Alexander | Plt. Off. | 54685 RAF | 27.06.1944 | Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey, U.K. Grave Ref. 22 D 10 | UK | 20 |
| Vance | Francis Joseph | Plt. Off. | 183180 RAF | 18.10.1944 | Bergen-Op-Zoom Canadian War Cemetery, Netherlands, grave Ref. 5 C 2 | UK | 22 |
| Wakeman | Harold Frederick | Flg. Off. | J/27820 RCAF | 05.10.1944 | Veenendaal General Cemetery, Netherlands, grave close to the entrance | CAN | 22 |
| Watson | Jack | Flg. Off. DFC | 169431 RAF | 17.06.1944 | St. Martin-de-Sallen Communal Cemetery, Calvados, France | UK | 23 |
And:
S/L Melville Percival Conrad (‘Jacko’) Holmes (70320) RAF, 24/1/44, 25 years old, Marissel French National Cemetery, Grave 208, France