Finding Crew Numbers

[Ladyshippers]

My uncle served with at least 2 different squadrons in WWII. In 1941 he was in 602 Squadron of RCAF and was awarded the Defence Medal, then in 1943 he was with the RAAF in 462 squadron. He was a rear gunner and was lost at sea after bailing out when the crew's Halifax was shot down near Sicily. I have been looking for badges to put with other memorabilia and have seen that some have specific crew numbers. Can anyone advise how I could find which crews he was in? I know they probably changed at times but I'd be grateful for any help or suggestions.

I have a copy of the notice in the London Gazette for when he was awarded his medal and there are some numbers quoted but I don't know what they refer to.
I will try to attach a copy.

 

[Crimea_River]

My uncle served with at least 2 different squadrons in WWII. In 1941 he was in 602 Squadron of RCAF and was awarded the Defence Medal, then in 1943 he was with the RAAF in 462 squadron. He was a rear gunner and was lost at sea after bailing out when the crew's Halifax was shot down near Sicily. I have been looking for badges to put with other memorabilia and have seen that some have specific crew numbers. Can anyone advise how I could find which crews he was in? I know they probably changed at times but I'd be grateful for any help or suggestions.

I have a copy of the notice in the London Gazette for when he was awarded his medal and there are some numbers quoted but I don't know what they refer to.
I will try to attach a copy.

I think you meant 405 Squadron RCAF, not 602. The Operations Record Book contains details of your uncle's crew here: Royal Canadian Air Force operations record book... - Héritage. Further details of the mission can be found on the couple of pages that follow the one on the link.

Your uncle was on Wellington II "Q" serial W5516.

 

[AL90]

My uncle served with at least 2 different squadrons in WWII. In 1941 he was in 602 Squadron of RCAF and was awarded the Defence Medal, then in 1943 he was with the RAAF in 462 squadron. He was a rear gunner and was lost at sea after bailing out when the crew's Halifax was shot down near Sicily. I have been looking for badges to put with other memorabilia and have seen that some have specific crew numbers. Can anyone advise how I could find which crews he was in? I know they probably changed at times but I'd be grateful for any help or suggestions.

I have a copy of the notice in the London Gazette for when he was awarded his medal and there are some numbers quoted but I don't know what they refer to.
I will try to attach a copy.

602 was "City of Glasgow" Fighter Squadron. As Crimea a River posted the details are on the Heritage site and not always easy to find. They are not alwas scanned in date order.
The Operational Record Books for 462 Squadron are on the link below start from page 587 (Halifax W7758) and work back for the aircraft and missions undertaken. Note: there were two "Parsons" on the squadron the other was a Sgt. Apart from the last fatal mission his normal crew were:
F/O H.L Baker
F/ R. Molyneux
Sgt. E.W Connor
Sgt F Jerrard

View Digital Image

recordsearch.naa.gov.au

The last mission is covered here:

Halifax II W7758 [Royal Air Force Aircraft Serial and Image Database]

This is a individual page for Aircraft Halifax II W7758 of the Royal Air Force. You may find some details of its career, loss details, maybe a photograph, and whatever mention of the serial that occurs in the forum. At the very least you will end up knowing what type of aircraft carried this...

www.rafcommands.com

426 Squadron is a bit of a strange one as 426 also exists as a Canadian Squadrion as well ans an RAAF one.
Hope this fills in some gaps

 

[Crimea_River]

426 Squadron is a bit of a strange one as 426 also exists as a Canadian Squadrion as well ans an RAAF one.
Hope this fills in some gaps

Aren't you mixing up 462 and 426?

 

[fubar57]

PM sent

 

[AL90]

Aren't you mixing up 462 and 426?

Yup, need my eyes tested 462 being the Australian one.

 

[Ladyshippers]

I think you meant 405 Squadron RCAF, not 602. The Operations Record Book contains details of your uncle's crew here: Royal Canadian Air Force operations record book... - Héritage. Further details of the mission can be found on the couple of pages that follow the one on the link.

Your uncle was on Wellington II "Q" serial W5516.

View attachment 721240

Thank you and yes of course it is 405 Squadron. I had trouble typing my post and didn't notice the error. Possibly auto correct being unhelpful as 602 refers to something else I'd typed previously.

Thank you so much for the correction and the information. I'm very grateful.
I'll have to look at it after checking this thread.

 

[fubar57]

Squadron ORB sent by Google Drive

 

[Ladyshippers]

I apologize if I've missed anything. I've been quite unwell. I am very grateful for the responses.

 

[fubar57]

Please let us know if you find anything