616 (South Yorkshire) Squadron RAF - Group photograph of Pilots - Summer 1942

Above: Group of Pilots at Tangmere Summer 1942

Front Row: Left to Right: Sgt. Roffe, Plt Off. Mace, Sqn Ldr. Brown, Plt Off. Crafts, Plt Off. Wright, Sgt. Featherstone.

Back Row: Left to Right: Sgt. Miller, Sgt. Welch, Plt Off. Smithson, Sgt. King, Plt Off. Winter.

Front Row Left to Right:

Name: A.R. Roffe

Rank: Sergeant (Sgt)

Number:

Air Force: RAFVR

Role: Pilot

Awards:

Service History:

Posted to 616 Sqn on the 22nd June 1942 from 59 Operational Training Unit (OTU), RAF Crosby-on-Eden.

His only recorded sortie in the Operational Record Book (ORB) was on the 29th July 1942 when the Sqn moved to RAF Great Sampford.

Nothing further has been found in the Sqn ORB for this Pilot.

May have been Alfred Roy Roffe

1331322 Warrant Officer Alfred Roy Roffe was commissioned and promoted to 184164 Plt Off with effect 11th August 1944. London Gazette 24th October 1944.

Promoted to Fg Off. with effect 13th February 1945. London Gazette 27th March 1945

As an acting Flt Lt. was awarded the DFC whilst with 150 Sqn. London Gazette 7th December 1945.

Note: 150 Sqn was a Bomber Squadron which at the time of this airman’s award of the DFC was flying Lancasters

Biographical Information:

DoB:

DoD:

Burial:

Notes:

Name: James Robert Mace

Rank: Pilot Officer (Plt Off)

Number: 118169

Air Force: RAFVR

Role: Pilot

Awards:

Service History:

1294601 Sgt. James Robert Mace was commissioned and promoted to Plt Off with effect 7th January 1942. London Gazette 31st March 1942.

On the 30th July 1942 flying Spitfire VI BR597 YQ:? on a Ramrod to St. Omer. Failed to return. PoW No. 43091, Stalag Luft 3.

Promoted to Plt Off. whilst a PoW with effect 1st October 1942. London Gazette 18th December 1942.

Promoted to Flt Lt. whilst a PoW with effect 7th January 1944. London Gazette 21st January 1944.

No further information found.

Biographical Information:

DoB:

DoD:

Burial:

Notes:

Squadron Leader (Sqn Ldr). Harry Lennox Inns Brown

Name: Howard Arthur Crafts

Rank: Pilot Officer (Plt Off)

Number: 404901

Air Force: RNZAF

Role: Pilot

Awards:

Service History:

Granted a commission and promoted to Plt Off. with effect 4th July 1941.

Posted to 616 Sqn before April 1942.

Promoted to Fg Off. with effect 4th July 1942.

Posted overseas on the 25th August 1942.

On the 11th October 1942 Ju 88D-1 F6+KK (Werk #430319) from 2.(F)/Aufkl.Gr.122 was damaged in combat with two Gibraltar-based Spitfires while a flying recce sortie approximately 40-50 km east of Gibraltar and crash landed at Melilla in Spanish Morocco, sustaining severe damage to it’s engines, propellers and underbelly. Claimed by Fg Off. H.A. Crafts (“B” Flight Cdr) “Y” Sqn of the Gibraltar Defence Flight.

Promoted to Flt Lt. with effect 5th May 1943.

Returned to New Zealand

Transferred to the Reserve as a Flt Lt. with effect 29th June 1945.

Biographical Information:

DoB: Born 3rd Qtr of 1917 in Auckland, New Zealand

DoD: 20th May 1919 at St. Joans Hospital Auckland, New Zealand, Aged 73

Burial: Purewa Cemetery

Notes:

Name: Gilbert Graham Wright

Rank: Pilot Officer (Plt Off) = USAAF 2nd Lt.

Number: 112286 (ASN O-885139)

Air Force: RAF (USAAF)

Role: Pilot

Awards:

Service History:

Posted to 616 Sqn on the 7th May 1942 from 53 Operational Training Unit (OTU), Llandow, Wales.

Posted to 133 (Eagle) Sqn (3rd Eagle Sqn) at RAF Biggin Hill on the 9th August 1942.

First sortie flown with 133 (Eagle) Sqn was on the 26th September 1942 flying Spitfire IX BS138 on a Circus to Morlaix France. Ran out of petrol and believed to have abandoned the aircraft.

Courtesy of the The Wilkes Barre Record, dated Saturday October 3rd 1942.

He evaded capture for seven months with the help of French and Belgians who sheltered, fed, clothed and transported him before he was betrayed by a French collaborator working for the Germans in April 1943. He eventually was held as PoW No. 259929 at Stalag Luft 3.

When the United States entered the war after Pearl Harbour he was transferred to the US forces as a 2nd Lt. in the US Army Air Force (AAF).

After being liberated he returned to the United States. He was promoted to 1st Lt. with effect 22nd December 1945 and then transferred to the Reserve on the 16th September 1947, retaining his rank of 1st Lt.

Biographical Information:

DoB: 3rd August 1919 in Pennsylvania, USA

DoM: Married Audrey M. Smith in April 1942 in Cardiff, Glamorganshire, Wales

They had four children, two boys and two girls.

They were divorced and Audrey remarried on the 6th October 1962.

DoD: 13th August 1995 in Okalossa, Florida, USA, Aged 76.

Burial: Unknown

Notes:

Name: A.E. Featherstone

Rank: Sergeant (Sgt)

Number:

Air Force: RAFVR

Role: Pilot

Awards:

Service History:

Posted to 616 Sqn from 609 Sqn, Duxford on the 14th May 1942.

Posted Overseas on the 29th June 1942.

No further information found.

Biographical Information:

DoB:

DoD:

Burial:

Notes:

Back Row Left to Right:

Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt) Philip Charles Miller

Sergeant (Sgt) Norman George Welch

Pilot Officer (Plt Off) John Harold ‘Jack’ Smithson

Sergeant (Sgt) P.E. King

Name: Alan Reginald Winter

Rank: Pilot Officer (Plt Off)

Number: 80364

Air Force: RAFVR

Role: Pilot

Awards:

Service History:

Posted to the 616 Sqn as a Sgt.

778556 Sgt. Alan Reginald Winter was commissioned and promoted to 80364 Plt Off. with effect 1st May 1942. London Gazette 9th June 1942.

Promoted to Fg Off. with effect 1st November 1942. London Gazette 12th January 1943.

Posted overseas during October 1942.

Promoted to Flt Lt. with effect 1st May 1944. London Gazette 19th May 1944.

No further information found.

Biographical Information:

DoB:

DoD:

Burial:

Notes:

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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