Old Wizard
2nd Lieutenant
Obituaries (1 Viewer)
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michaelmaltby
Colonel
fubar57
General
Robert Porter
Senior Master Sergeant
S/L Nigel Stuart Rose
Squadron Leader Nigel Rose, who has died aged 99, flew Spitfires during the height of the Battle of Britain when he engaged enemy bombers and fighters on regular occasions.
Stuart Nigel Rose was born on 21st June 1918 and was a trainee quantity surveyor before joining the RAFVR at Southampton in December 1938 as an Airman u/t Pilot. He began his flying training at 3 E&RFTS Hamble and had logged 87 flying hours before being called up at the outbreak of war. On 22nd November 1939 Rose went to No. 1 ITW Cambridge and was posted to 14 FTS Kinloss on 3rd February 1940, moving to 14 FTS Cranfield on 19th April. With his training completed on 17th June he was commissioned on the 18th and he joined 602 Squadron at Drem on the 20th.
Rose claimed a Me110 destroyed on 25th August and on 7th September he shared a Me110. He was slightly wounded on the 11th, in the elbow, and was non-effective sick until 6th October when he rejoined 602. He began flying again on the 7th. He probably destroyed a Me109 on the 29th and on 6th November he shared in damaging a Ju88. Rose was posted to 54 Squadron at Hornchurch on 2nd September 1941. Tour-expired, he went to 57 OTU Hawarden on 12th November as an instructor. Rose was sent to CFS Hullavington on 11th November 1942 for a course before returning to 57 OTU, then at Eshott, on 11th February 1943. He went to CGS Sutton Bridge on 2nd June for a gunnery instructors course and returned to 57 OTU on 1st July. Rose was posted to 15 APC Peterhead on 10th January 1944, moving later to 14 APC Ayr. He went to the Middle East on 1st July to the B&GS at El Ballah. He returned to the UK in late May 1945 for a gunnery instructors course at CGS Catfoss. He went back to El Ballah in July but returned again to the UK in December and was released from the RAF in February 1946 as a Squadron Leader. He returned to his pre-war training and qualified as a chartered quantity surveyor.
He maintained his interest in the Royal Air Force through the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust. He was regularly seen at air displays, particularly at Duxford and Goodwood which was Westhampnett in darker days.
In 2013 he made a trip to Glasgow and was delighted to see the Spitfire in Kelvingrove Art Galleries although it was a more up-to-date version than those he had flown. He spoke about his affection for Glasgow 602. "The squadron was my closest relationship in the RAF," he said. "There was great camaraderie and friendship."
Nigel Rose was a real gentleman in temperament and manners and rather mild in demeanour and yet he was a Spitfire pilot during Churchill's Finest Hour. He was a widower and is survived by his daughter Barbara Erskine, the historian and novelist.
Squadron Leader Nigel Rose, who has died aged 99, flew Spitfires during the height of the Battle of Britain when he engaged enemy bombers and fighters on regular occasions.
Stuart Nigel Rose was born on 21st June 1918 and was a trainee quantity surveyor before joining the RAFVR at Southampton in December 1938 as an Airman u/t Pilot. He began his flying training at 3 E&RFTS Hamble and had logged 87 flying hours before being called up at the outbreak of war. On 22nd November 1939 Rose went to No. 1 ITW Cambridge and was posted to 14 FTS Kinloss on 3rd February 1940, moving to 14 FTS Cranfield on 19th April. With his training completed on 17th June he was commissioned on the 18th and he joined 602 Squadron at Drem on the 20th.
Rose claimed a Me110 destroyed on 25th August and on 7th September he shared a Me110. He was slightly wounded on the 11th, in the elbow, and was non-effective sick until 6th October when he rejoined 602. He began flying again on the 7th. He probably destroyed a Me109 on the 29th and on 6th November he shared in damaging a Ju88. Rose was posted to 54 Squadron at Hornchurch on 2nd September 1941. Tour-expired, he went to 57 OTU Hawarden on 12th November as an instructor. Rose was sent to CFS Hullavington on 11th November 1942 for a course before returning to 57 OTU, then at Eshott, on 11th February 1943. He went to CGS Sutton Bridge on 2nd June for a gunnery instructors course and returned to 57 OTU on 1st July. Rose was posted to 15 APC Peterhead on 10th January 1944, moving later to 14 APC Ayr. He went to the Middle East on 1st July to the B&GS at El Ballah. He returned to the UK in late May 1945 for a gunnery instructors course at CGS Catfoss. He went back to El Ballah in July but returned again to the UK in December and was released from the RAF in February 1946 as a Squadron Leader. He returned to his pre-war training and qualified as a chartered quantity surveyor.
He maintained his interest in the Royal Air Force through the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust. He was regularly seen at air displays, particularly at Duxford and Goodwood which was Westhampnett in darker days.
In 2013 he made a trip to Glasgow and was delighted to see the Spitfire in Kelvingrove Art Galleries although it was a more up-to-date version than those he had flown. He spoke about his affection for Glasgow 602. "The squadron was my closest relationship in the RAF," he said. "There was great camaraderie and friendship."
Nigel Rose was a real gentleman in temperament and manners and rather mild in demeanour and yet he was a Spitfire pilot during Churchill's Finest Hour. He was a widower and is survived by his daughter Barbara Erskine, the historian and novelist.
WARRANT Officer Andrew Morgan, who has died aged 96, was a Spitfire pilot with 602 (City of Glasgow) Squadron who took part in the operations to attack targets in Europe as a prelude to the D-Day Landings. The missions, combined with Bomber escort duties to France, were designed to minimise the enemy resistance to the eventual invasion of Normandy. He later had a career as a footballer, playing for Dundee, Chelsea and Fulham.
Andrew Hargreaves Morgan was born in Freuchie, Fife, the youngest of 12 children. He attended Freuchie Primary and completed his education in Auchtermuchty. He worked as an errand boy in the village chemist before being attracted by the lure of the linoleum works.
His dream, however, was to be a pilot and at 18 years he joined the Royal Air Force. After examinations in London he was sent for training in Florida. On graduating he initially towed gliders until he was posted to an operational training unit on Spitfires before being posted to 602 (City of Glasgow) Squadron, a leading unit from the Battle of Britain. In celebration, he did a low, unauthorised run over Freuchie and frightened the milkman's horse. When Andrew Morgan joined it in 1943, 602 Squadron was operating from Kingsnorth in Kent commanded by Sqn Ldr RA "Max" Sutherland. The early tasks for Sergeant Andrew Morgan's section was to escort bombers to targets in France. A typical operation called for escorting 21 Marauder Bombers of the US Army Air Corps to protect them from the attacking enemy fighters, thus allowing them to bomb on target. Similar operations continued when the squadron moved to Newchurch in Kent. These were combined with fighter sweeps looking for "opportunity targets" to harass the enemy. The squadron then moved to RAF Detling in November. As Christmas approached, in a sweep in the Cambria area, they were 'bounced' by 40 FW190 German aircraft. A Spitfire was seen to be hit emitting smoke and was spinning earthwards from 18,000ft. It was identified as being Andrew Morgan in Spitfire MK492. He was listed as 'Failed to Return". Flight Sergeant Morgan was taken prisoner and after interrogation was held in Stalag IVB. This was the main camp in Germany east of the Elbe River. He suffered the usual privations of a prisoner of war. In one of the so-called "medical trials" he was left naked in the freezing climate to test his endurance. Fortunately, he survived. He did succeed in obtaining parts of a camera, a very dangerous activity and captured photographs of the living conditions of the prisoners.
He thought that his release had come in 1945 by the advancing Red Army but this was an illusion. The prisoners were held by the Russians as hostage for the Cossacks who had fought alongside the Germans. On return to UK, he was promoted to Warrant Officer. On leaving the Royal Air Force he returned to Freuchie and the linoleum factory. He was always a sportsman and played cricket for the famous Freuchie Village XI and had a nine handicap at Ladybank Golf Club. He also performed with Kingskettle Brass Band until they discovered he could not read music! He did, however, turn to Freuchie Village Theatre Company before following his real love and signing for Dundee Football Club. Promotion at work saw him move to London in the sales office. He was pursued by Chelsea FC but decided on Fulham. He achieved fame as a striker but felt, in his own words, his career was eventually sabotaged by his experience in the POW camp as he could not stop eating and taking the 'odd' drink. He moved down the leagues eventually coming to Guildford City and his eventual retirement from the game.
He married Nita, a teacher, in 1950 and settled down to married life in Guildford. In 2001 he sadly lost his sight, a terrible affliction to one who loved flying. Despite this handicap he still continued with his daily keep-fit exercises and maintained his physical fitness.
He became involved with the Blind Veterans Association and indeed was invited to their centenary celebration at Buckingham Palace hosted by The Countess of Wessex. His wife, Nita, died in 2016 and he therefore appreciated the help of the SSAFA team in Guildford.
He is survived by two daughters, Isabelle and Jane, and four grandchildren.
Andrew Hargreaves Morgan was born in Freuchie, Fife, the youngest of 12 children. He attended Freuchie Primary and completed his education in Auchtermuchty. He worked as an errand boy in the village chemist before being attracted by the lure of the linoleum works.
His dream, however, was to be a pilot and at 18 years he joined the Royal Air Force. After examinations in London he was sent for training in Florida. On graduating he initially towed gliders until he was posted to an operational training unit on Spitfires before being posted to 602 (City of Glasgow) Squadron, a leading unit from the Battle of Britain. In celebration, he did a low, unauthorised run over Freuchie and frightened the milkman's horse. When Andrew Morgan joined it in 1943, 602 Squadron was operating from Kingsnorth in Kent commanded by Sqn Ldr RA "Max" Sutherland. The early tasks for Sergeant Andrew Morgan's section was to escort bombers to targets in France. A typical operation called for escorting 21 Marauder Bombers of the US Army Air Corps to protect them from the attacking enemy fighters, thus allowing them to bomb on target. Similar operations continued when the squadron moved to Newchurch in Kent. These were combined with fighter sweeps looking for "opportunity targets" to harass the enemy. The squadron then moved to RAF Detling in November. As Christmas approached, in a sweep in the Cambria area, they were 'bounced' by 40 FW190 German aircraft. A Spitfire was seen to be hit emitting smoke and was spinning earthwards from 18,000ft. It was identified as being Andrew Morgan in Spitfire MK492. He was listed as 'Failed to Return". Flight Sergeant Morgan was taken prisoner and after interrogation was held in Stalag IVB. This was the main camp in Germany east of the Elbe River. He suffered the usual privations of a prisoner of war. In one of the so-called "medical trials" he was left naked in the freezing climate to test his endurance. Fortunately, he survived. He did succeed in obtaining parts of a camera, a very dangerous activity and captured photographs of the living conditions of the prisoners.
He thought that his release had come in 1945 by the advancing Red Army but this was an illusion. The prisoners were held by the Russians as hostage for the Cossacks who had fought alongside the Germans. On return to UK, he was promoted to Warrant Officer. On leaving the Royal Air Force he returned to Freuchie and the linoleum factory. He was always a sportsman and played cricket for the famous Freuchie Village XI and had a nine handicap at Ladybank Golf Club. He also performed with Kingskettle Brass Band until they discovered he could not read music! He did, however, turn to Freuchie Village Theatre Company before following his real love and signing for Dundee Football Club. Promotion at work saw him move to London in the sales office. He was pursued by Chelsea FC but decided on Fulham. He achieved fame as a striker but felt, in his own words, his career was eventually sabotaged by his experience in the POW camp as he could not stop eating and taking the 'odd' drink. He moved down the leagues eventually coming to Guildford City and his eventual retirement from the game.
He married Nita, a teacher, in 1950 and settled down to married life in Guildford. In 2001 he sadly lost his sight, a terrible affliction to one who loved flying. Despite this handicap he still continued with his daily keep-fit exercises and maintained his physical fitness.
He became involved with the Blind Veterans Association and indeed was invited to their centenary celebration at Buckingham Palace hosted by The Countess of Wessex. His wife, Nita, died in 2016 and he therefore appreciated the help of the SSAFA team in Guildford.
He is survived by two daughters, Isabelle and Jane, and four grandchildren.
fubar57
General
at6
1st Sergeant
Heroes all. R.I.P.
Old Wizard
2nd Lieutenant
Ronnie Buckland, Halifax bomber pilot
Ronnie Buckland, who has died aged 94, was piloting a Halifax bomber when shrapnel from an anti-aircraft shell struck a cigarette case in his breast pocket, which almost certainly saved his life. On the afternoon of Christmas Eve 1944, Buckland and his crew of No. 640 Squadron took off from RAF Leconfield in East Yorkshire to attack an airfield near Essen. It was their 22nd operation. On the bombing run at 20,000 ft the aircraft flew through a barrage of flak, and shrapnel smashed through the windscreen, narrowly missing Buckland's head. He pressed on but almost immediately a heavier burst exploded on the starboard side of the cockpit and Buckland was hit, thrown across the cockpit and rendered unconscious. The flight engineer, pilot officer Trevor Watkins, standing next to Buckland, leaned across his inert pilot, grabbed the controls and steadied the aircraft. He opened the bomb doors and steered the bomber over the target, at which point the Canadian bomb-aimer, pilot officer Bill Holman, released the bombs.
Ronnie Buckland, who has died aged 94, was piloting a Halifax bomber when shrapnel from an anti-aircraft shell struck a cigarette case in his breast pocket, which almost certainly saved his life. On the afternoon of Christmas Eve 1944, Buckland and his crew of No. 640 Squadron took off from RAF Leconfield in East Yorkshire to attack an airfield near Essen. It was their 22nd operation. On the bombing run at 20,000 ft the aircraft flew through a barrage of flak, and shrapnel smashed through the windscreen, narrowly missing Buckland's head. He pressed on but almost immediately a heavier burst exploded on the starboard side of the cockpit and Buckland was hit, thrown across the cockpit and rendered unconscious. The flight engineer, pilot officer Trevor Watkins, standing next to Buckland, leaned across his inert pilot, grabbed the controls and steadied the aircraft. He opened the bomb doors and steered the bomber over the target, at which point the Canadian bomb-aimer, pilot officer Bill Holman, released the bombs.
fubar57
General
at6
1st Sergeant
Frank Lozito
Frank, age 98, passed away on October 6, 2017. He was born in Newport, R.I. on January 22, 1919.
After graduation from Rhode Island State College, he was a police officer in Newport, R.I. prior to being drafted into the Army in 1942. He trained with the Army Air Corps becoming a B-24 Bomber pilot and was stationed in Venosa, Italy with his crew.
On August 10, 1944, the "Miss Fitz" bomber and her crew flew a mission to the Astro Romano oil refinery in Ploesti, Romania. Their plane was hit by German anti-aircraft fire over Ploesti, losing three of the four engines and most of the fuel. The mortally wounded plane flew as far as Yugoslavia where the crew parachuted to the ground. Yugoslav Partisans rescued the crew amidst enemy firing from the ground. The crew eventually made it back to Italy thanks to the daring partisans. He earned a Purple Heart among other medals.
After the war, he was stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Field in Dayton for several years where he met his future wife, Beverly. They married at the Chapel at Wright-Patterson.
He was transferred to Wiesbaden, Germany briefly, then to The Hague in Holland for 3 years. He was stationed at the Pentagon for 5 years, then to Albuquerque for 4 years with the Atomic Energy Commission Weapons Office and finally back to the Pentagon. He later retired and worked for 17 years at Honeywell as a manager for the Air Force/NASA Program Analysis Aerospace and Defense Group.
After retiring from Honeywell, he and his wife ran an antique/folk art shop, Recollections, in Clifton, Va. As enthusiastic antiquers, he and his wife became close friends with the Shakers at Sabbathday Lake, Maine; he served on the board for the United Society of Shakers.
His interests included sailing, stamp and coin collecting, antiquing and traveling. He was an avid photographer for several decades and anenthusiastic animal lover with many pets and horses surrounding him and his family.
As the pilot, Frank was the last to jump from his mortally wounded B-24 plane and the last of his crew to forever soar in the heavens. Fly with the Angels!
Frank will be buried with full military honors. Services will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a date and time to be determined.
Frank, age 98, passed away on October 6, 2017. He was born in Newport, R.I. on January 22, 1919.
After graduation from Rhode Island State College, he was a police officer in Newport, R.I. prior to being drafted into the Army in 1942. He trained with the Army Air Corps becoming a B-24 Bomber pilot and was stationed in Venosa, Italy with his crew.
On August 10, 1944, the "Miss Fitz" bomber and her crew flew a mission to the Astro Romano oil refinery in Ploesti, Romania. Their plane was hit by German anti-aircraft fire over Ploesti, losing three of the four engines and most of the fuel. The mortally wounded plane flew as far as Yugoslavia where the crew parachuted to the ground. Yugoslav Partisans rescued the crew amidst enemy firing from the ground. The crew eventually made it back to Italy thanks to the daring partisans. He earned a Purple Heart among other medals.
After the war, he was stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Field in Dayton for several years where he met his future wife, Beverly. They married at the Chapel at Wright-Patterson.
He was transferred to Wiesbaden, Germany briefly, then to The Hague in Holland for 3 years. He was stationed at the Pentagon for 5 years, then to Albuquerque for 4 years with the Atomic Energy Commission Weapons Office and finally back to the Pentagon. He later retired and worked for 17 years at Honeywell as a manager for the Air Force/NASA Program Analysis Aerospace and Defense Group.
After retiring from Honeywell, he and his wife ran an antique/folk art shop, Recollections, in Clifton, Va. As enthusiastic antiquers, he and his wife became close friends with the Shakers at Sabbathday Lake, Maine; he served on the board for the United Society of Shakers.
His interests included sailing, stamp and coin collecting, antiquing and traveling. He was an avid photographer for several decades and anenthusiastic animal lover with many pets and horses surrounding him and his family.
As the pilot, Frank was the last to jump from his mortally wounded B-24 plane and the last of his crew to forever soar in the heavens. Fly with the Angels!
Frank will be buried with full military honors. Services will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a date and time to be determined.
ARTESH
Chief Master Sergeant
Dear V2,Frank Lozito
Frank, age 98, passed away on October 6, 2017. He was born in Newport, R.I. on January 22, 1919.
Frank will be buried with full military honors. Services will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a date and time to be determined.
Do you have any pic from these men?
Yes, I have...